Author Topic: Deer hunting rifle selections (Read 2001 times)

mauser98us · « **on:** June 20, 2009, 01:07:53 PM »

For those of you fortunate enough to be able to go after deer.what will you be using? I am going to use my Marlin 336 dl in 32 special with Lyman sights. My scoped selection will be a Model 98 in 7 Mauser and a handi in 30-06

dukkillr · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2009, 01:19:15 PM »

My favorite rifle for anything under elk is a custom 98 in .270

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2009, 01:31:31 PM »

Again, much is dictated by the country hunted. But for sure there will be a .300. I usually make a very early deer hunt to the northwest. Here one of the rifles will be my heavy barreled coyote rifle in .300 win. Others will include my 7mm Rem. for a spare, and a model 336 24 inch half magazine in .30-30. For mulies around home, I will again take a .300 but a lighter rifle, probably the .30-30 for timber. If I draw my whitetail licenses, I will use my old Model 336 in .25-35 and a model 99.300 Sav. for the other. There is also the chance of a hunt in Eastern Wy. Haven't made a choice for that one. Maybe the .25-06. When and if I return to the east coast of a deer hunt, I will probably take the .25-06, of course a .300 for mt. to mt. shots, and maybe my grandfathers .30-06. He carried it when we went on my first deer hunt 50 years ago this fall.

Doesnt seem that long, but time slips away. $:-\$ Somewhere I would like to fit in my Dad's 32 spl. that I carried on that first hunt long ago, and also a model 70 06 that I have had for 15 years and never chamber a round in it.

nomosendero · « **Reply #3 on:** June 25, 2009, 05:49:10 PM »

duk, that's a fine Whitetail & nice 270 as well. My 270 is a Mod 700 with alot of scars.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** June 26, 2009, 11:21:25 AM »

Iffin I get to go this year I'll take my Remington 700 LS .257 Whby. Magnum most likely shooting Nosler 110 AB bullets or 115 PT.

BBF · « **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2009, 03:03:50 AM »

To early to tell, the general season doesn't open 'til end of October.I got a brand new, never been fired Savage in .243 Win sitting here. I hope to head south by mid November provided their isn't a civil war going on by then. That would only give me two weeks or less and I don't think it is worthwhile to even start here.

Skunk · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2009, 03:55:26 AM »

I'd definitely take my 6.5 X 55 and the .270, but it would be a coin toss on which one would be the starter and which would be the backup.

james · « **Reply #7 on:** June 29, 2009, 04:32:28 AM »

I just got back from shooting p dogs and scouting for antelope in Wyoming. I took my McGowan barreled (Savage receiver) 6.5 x 55 and a couple of .223s. I had no trouble popping the dogs at 300 yds with the 6.5 -140 gr. handloads so it should already be sighted in when I go back in Oct. for a buck and doe antelope. I've noticed my rifles hit higher in Wy when they are sighted in here in Arkansas. Its a lot easier to range antelope than prairie dogs too. On the flat terrain my Nikon 600 range finder wouldn't pick up the dogs very well at long distances. At about 800 yards my Leupy 3x9 scope cross hairs were wider than the dogs which also made things interesting on hold over for those long shots. I had no confirmed kills at anything much over 450 yards but that's probably the longest shot I would take at an antelope. Of the three of us going lope hunting we'll likely be using a .270, 25-06 and 6.5 x 55. Oh, and my back up gun will be a 6.5 x 55 Encore.

dukkillr · « **Reply #8 on:** June 29, 2009, 05:17:25 AM »

Quote from: james on June 29, 2009, 04:32:28 AM

I just got back from shooting p dogs and scouting for antelope in Wyoming. I took my McGowan barreled (Savage receiver) 6.5 x 55 and a couple of .223s. I had no trouble popping the dogs at 300 yds with the 6.5 -140 gr. handloads so it should already be sighted in when I go back in Oct. for a buck and doe antelope. I've noticed my rifles hit higher in Wy when they are sighted in here in Arkansas. Its a lot easier to range antelope than prairie dogs too. On the flat terrain my Nikon 600 range finder wouldn't pick up the dogs very well at long distances. At about 800 yards my Leupy 3x9 scope cross hairs were wider than the dogs which also made things interesting on hold over for those long shots. I had no confirmed kills at anything much over 450 yards but that's probably the longest shot I would take at an antelope. Of the three of us going lope hunting we'll likely be using a .270, 25-06 and 6.5 x 55. Oh, and my back up gun will be a 6.5 x 55 Encore.

The air is thinner at elevation so it creates less resistance on your bullet, thus it doesn't drop as fast.

BBF · « **Reply #9 on:** June 30, 2009, 09:08:30 AM »

I'd re-check that zero. Not only does altitude affect zero, so does temperature.

dukkillr · « **Reply #10 on:** June 30, 2009, 09:46:07 AM »

Quote from: BBF on June 30, 2009, 09:08:30 AM

I'd re-check that zero. Not only does altitude affect zero, so does temperature.

Huh, hadn't thought of that but I guess it makes sense. I'm sure some of the more technical shooters here can answer this: Let's assume I'm zeroed at 200 yards on a hot summer day at 90 degrees. Now it's October 15th and that big bull is 450 yards away and it's 25 degrees. What affect will that temperature change have on my impact point?

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #11 on:** June 30, 2009, 12:48:36 PM »

Well all things being equal? Same humidity and altitude? the hotter day will have thinner air and you will be shooting low on a colder day.
how much lower will depend on how dense the air is. More air more resistance faster loss of velocity more impact gravity will have on that distance. Will it make that much of a difference.... Don't think so. Now add in humitidy and the hotter the day the more moisture it will hold and that will add to the density of the air. Cold Air is very dry air so.... It will be a wash on a kill zone of 20" on a bull and 10" on a deer. Of course the faster the bullet is launched the less effect any variation will have on external ballistics.

1marty · « **Reply #12 on:** June 30, 2009, 03:34:39 PM »

When I hunt in the heavy woods by me I use my Win 94 30-30 with iron sights. If, i intend to set up by power lines where the deer cross I use my rem 700 in a 7-08

BBF · « **Reply #13 on:** July 01, 2009, 05:45:55 AM »

My Sierra ballistic software won't load in Microsoft Vista, otherwise I could get you a better answer.

nomosendero · « **Reply #14 on:** July 02, 2009, 07:49:01 PM »

Quote from: dukkillr on June 30, 2009, 09:46:07 AM

Quote from: BBF on June 30, 2009, 09:08:30 AM
I'd re-check that zero. Not only does altitude affect zero, so does temperature.
Huh, hadn't thought of that but I guess it makes sense. I'm sure some of the more technical shooters here can answer this: Let's assume I'm zeroed at 200 yards on a hot summer day at 90 degrees. Now it's October 15th and that big bull is 450 yards away and it's 25 degrees. What affect will that temperature change have on my impact point?

There is more to it than just the air. Some powders are more temp. sensitive than others & it can even vary from lot to lot. So there is no formula that can give you the desired answer. The best thing to do is shoot before the hunt with these different conditions & then you can adjust to the changes.

BBF · « **Reply #15 on:** July 03, 2009, 07:03:07 AM »

The weird thing with all of these variations is that some will cancel each other out and some will aggravate it. No telling which do what. Yep, the only way to be sure is to re-check at the location

dukkillr · « **Reply #16 on:** July 03, 2009, 07:06:27 AM »

Quote from: BBF on July 03, 2009, 07:03:07 AM

The weird thing with all of these variations is that some will cancel each other out and some will aggravate it. No telling which do what. Yep, the only way to be sure is to re-check at the location

I already do that. I was offering the question to better understand the impact the altitude has on point of impact.

JW/OK · « **Reply #17 on:** July 28, 2009, 11:49:17 AM »

For Colorado Mulies I'm taking a Ruger M77 MII in 7mm Rem Mag 150 grain corelocts. For backup the Encore in 280 Rem with 140 grain corelocts and the Model 94 XTR BB with receiver sight. Be neat to kill a mulie with an old lever gun!

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #18 on:** July 28, 2009, 01:58:56 PM »

Last season I got mine with a model 99 .300 Sav. It was not a big buck, but as you say, fun with the lever gun.

zoner · « **Reply #19 on:** July 29, 2009, 02:17:38 AM »

760 Gamemaster 30-06...no wait,308 handi rifle....no,maybe m94 winchester 32 Special....no,357 handi......see what you guys started

BBF · « **Reply #20 on:** July 29, 2009, 05:23:21 AM »

Stress !!

wackmaster · « **Reply #21 on:** July 29, 2009, 09:25:54 AM »

A 270-338 ultra 3615fps 130 b-tip. rem 700 action lilja bbl 26"