Factory Cartridge for Whitetail Deer????

[Mawgie]

Folks -

I am headed to Alabama for my first travel hunt next season, and will be leaving my Central New York 20 gauge rifled Encore barrel behind.  I need input on a good whitetail deer barrel.

I have a scope set aside for it: a Leupold Vari-X III 1.75x-6x. (Sweet!!)

I have done a bunch of research, and intially wanted a .270 WSM.  However, when I called FoxRidgeOutfitters, they told me that TC will not be chambering anything in the ShortMagnums, due to worries of unsafe pressure with potentially reckless handloaders.

I do handload, but am not at all reckless.....

I don't want to spend $300-$400 for a custom ShortMagnum barrel, so I thought I'd post here, and get some input to help me pick out a nice factory cartridge that will do the following:

1) have the potential for sub MOA groups at 100 yards, if I do my part;
2) low to medium low recoil;
3) flat enough to shoot out to 150 yards with the same hold;
4) lots of different bullets to choose from.

My list includes, in no particular order:

1) .243
2) 7mm-08
3) .270
4) 7-30 Waters
5) 308

I'd appreciate any input.  Thanks.

Regards- Mawgie

[Rev]

I had a contender super 14 7x30 with a 2.5x7 Thompson scope on it. Each time I pulled the trigger on a white tail I had fresh venison. Not bragging, but saying it is a great round. I am now looking for a 308 encore barrell. Used the black powder this season. Eating fresh venison. Love the Thompson Center Family.

[New Hampshire]

Ya might want to eyeball a custom bbl in 6.5 Swede.  really good in the recoil dept. and shes a flat shooter.  The swedes have used it as a match cartridge for years.  Enough power (despite its lower recoil) to take Moose (again, the Swedes have done it for years.)  Ive been tossing around caliber decisions for a while cuz I want to someday have a custom made for myself.  In the end the two calibers that I keep coming too are the .35 whelen and......yup, the 6.5.
Brian M.

[Will_C]

With the criteria you stated, you really can't go wrong with the .270, 7mm-08, or .308. I use a Model 7 7mm-08 on deer, and never have been let down. I am interested in hearing more about your planned hunt. I am a fellow New Yorker, and am thinking about an Alabama deer hunt sometime in the next couple of years. Would you mind sharing some details about your hunt?
Thanks, Will

[Graybeard]

Wal I live in Bama and hunt here all the time not just for trips. My choice for me and the Mrs. is the 7-08. There are others just as good but none better. The rifle she uses has been with us for well over 20 years, used first by me, then our oldest son and now her. We've used in here in Bama and in several other states and so far every time the trigger has been pulled on game it has been a one shot kill. No misses and no second shots required. That covers white tail deer, hogs, small game and a variety of exotics.

My other 7-08 rifles have been around for a shorter time but their record is the same. No misses, no second shots needed. Just one shot kills.

We use Hornady Light Magnum ammo exclusively.

[bubba]

the 7-08 is an excellent choice. I have one in a savage 11gns and one in my encore. it is proving itself to me to be a great white tail cartridge.  Recoil is livable and knock down power is there.  I have just started using this caliber the past couple years and am well satisfied. The only onther one that really gets high on my list is 25-06. But the way I loaded it it was too much for whitetail. Too much waste and devastation. Plus the recoil is a bit more noticable.

[hardertr]

As always...I think GB has given the best advice (on the 7-08 ).

I bought my first Encore about a month ago with the 7-08 on it and LOVE it more than any other rifle I have.  I enjoy shooting thumbtacks at 50 yards and bottle caps at 100.  I am sure the barrel (no mods...just straight out of the box on the receiver and barrel and rem. ammo from Walmart) is just WAITING for me to take it out to the range without having downed a pot of coffee before hand.  I just bought a vice so I can start testing reloads and am curious what the barrel is REALLY capable of.

My buddy shoots a Browning 7-08 and has made several 1-shot kills on deer in the 250 to 300 yard range.  I was there for 2 of them..so it is legit.

[Encore28]

Since you are a handloader.........How about the .257 Roberts??
The .257 "Bob" is a tried and true deer cartridge and has very light recoil.
Encore28

[hardertr]

Looks to me like Mawgie is looking for his FIRST rifle barrel.

He probably doesn't realize he will end up with MANY more barrels over time.  For a first barrel, I would suggest something you can enjoy using and not have to worry about having to reload before you can take it out next time.  I reload, but I stay away from "wildcats" because I like knowing that I CAN easily find factory ammo at any store if I need it.

Everyone has thier favorite rounds, I just prefer mine to be one that won't become obsolete in the next 10 years.  In my highly uneducated opinion, I think the WSM and WSSM are prime examples of a "fad".  They will still be around, but you probably won't be able to find factory ammo as readily as the tried-and-true mainstream calibers.

[retrieverhunter]

I have a Virgin Valley 300 WSM barrel in full bull that no amount of money could buy.  That would be my first choice.  My son has a T/C custom shop heavy barrel in 270, and with a limbsaver pad on a composite stock, you get the recoil of a 223.  It is a sweet shooter even out to 250 yards(which is as far as my range goes).

[Gregory]

I'd pick a .270, ammo is everywhere and a 130 gr load will take a deer as far as you can shoot accurately.

[poncaguy]

I really like my 7mm-08 barrel........great cal

[leverfan]

7mm-08 Remington, 6.5x55mm, or 260 Remington, in that order.  Those will all do the trick on deer as far out as most folks have any business shooting at them, and recoil is very mild.  I found the 260 to be my personal favorite in my Encore, but the 7mm-08 is probably a slightly better all-around cartridge.

[iiibbb]

My .308 barrel seems to not like heavier bullets... in the 180 gr range. 3-4"@100yd

It's shot well with lighter stuff I've tried ~150gr.  .75"@100yd.

I haven't worked out which load works yet.  I'd like to be using these Nosler partition bullets.  We'll see how they fair when the weather warms.

[hornet_hunter]

I have barrels in both 7-08 and 308 and they both work just fine for deer up here in Canada.  With the calibers you listed I don't think you can go too far wrong.   That being said, if I had to pick just one barrel it would be a 7-08.  Good bullet selection, easy on the shoulder, big enough to shoot any deer (including elk and moose if you are careful).

[Mawgie]

Thanks for all the input, guys.  My mind got made up for me!

I threw in a low bid on a 24" 308 Win barrel on ebay, and was surprised to win the auction.  This should be fine for me to get started, and represents a modest investment if I don't care for the caliber.

I've been perusing my reloading manual, and the Mid South Shoter's Supply website, and I'll say this.  There's a whole lot of different loads for the .308, and some of the factory ammo, light the Hornady Light Magnum rounds, look absolutely superb.

I should be heating it up in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for all your help.

Regards-Mawgie

[Encore28]

Rockfish
You have a PM

[Mawgie]

Well, boys, the 308 barrel arrived from ebay, and was not cosmetically all it was advertised to be.  Fortunately, the seller has promised to take it back without any hassled and refund my money, though I am out the $16  to reutnm the barrel.

I am going to nose around some more.....and think a Wildcat, or at least a "Feral" cat cartridge are in order.  I've always preferred something a little different.....

How about that 6.5mm Swede?