I want a new Deer rifle!

[JSLHandgunner]

I'm looking for a new deer rifle to shoot 150 yards or further. I was looking at the 357 max or the 358 or 460. I really don't know what is available. I do reload myself. I from southern Indiana. I shot a 130class 8 point with my Marlin leveraction .41cal. Any suggestions?

[Dee]

Sounds like you already have a good deer rifle. I suspect it'll do anything the ones you just mentioned will do, and do it just as well.JMO

[Dinny]

I'm looking for a new deer rifle to shoot 150 yards or further. I was looking at the 357 max or the 358 or 460. I really don't know what is available. I do reload myself. I from southern Indiana. I shot a 130class 8 point with my Marlin leveraction .41cal. Any suggestions?

Unfortunately the .460 S&W is not legal to hunt deer in Indiana. The case is too long. I have a solution though, the 460 Dinny Special. Similar to the design of the .500 S&W Special it is the same case just shortened to meet the Indiana law's length requirements. The way I figure it, a H&R Handi in .45LC could be rechambered very carefully to the max length of 1.625" using a 460 S&W chamber reamer. If my WAGs are even close, you could achieve nearly the same ballistics with the Dinny Special as you do the S&W Magnum.  

That'll reach-out to 125yds just fine too.   On a separate note, the .357 Maxi is always a good choice!

What county are you from? Some of us are from Washington, Floyd, and Clark counties in the South.

Thanks, Dinny

[JSLHandgunner]

I'm from Dubois county.

[Dinny]

I'm from Dubois county.

Great!  Seen any wild/feral hogs there?! If so, we have a hunting possee on-call and ready in a minute's notice to dispatch some hogs.

Thanks, Dinny

[Lon371]

JSLHandgunner
 Welcome

 I opt for the .357 max. I recently piked up a .357 mag. Waiting on the site reamer to Maxumize it

 Hogs someone mention hogs Quit teasing us Dinny, my trigger finger starts itching

Lonny

[Old Syko]

I'm looking for a new deer rifle to shoot 150 yards or further. I was looking at the 357 max or the 358 or 460. I really don't know what is available. I do reload myself. I from southern Indiana. I shot a 130class 8 point with my Marlin leveraction .41cal. Any suggestions?

So you own a Marlin in 41 mag yet you're looking for something different.   You must just be wanting to buy a new rifle because you're not going to find something better for where we live.   Yes, you can find others that will equal it, but I doubt you'll get anything that is enough better suited that you would notice.   Investing in a matching handgun of the same caliber might be a better move for hunting here in the south.

[schoolmaster]

Read up on the .358 BFG or 358 wssm. Probably a 300 yard deer cartridge.

[burntmuch]

I like old syskos idea. A lever gun & revolver in 41 mag. Bout perfect

[Dinny]

I like old syskos idea. A lever gun & revolver in 41 mag. Bout perfect

There is a .41 Mag Ruger in the classifieds........

I can understand, using my ill logic, why someone would part with a .41 Mag gun. Bullet selection is good at very best, it lacks a bit of versatility and is harder to find reloading components for, and when you do find it--it's more expensive. That is when compared to .44 Mag, .45LC and .357 Mag/Maxi stuff.

Thanks, Dinny

[teddy12b]

You may not like this answer, but I think the best way to get a really long range gun for Indiana deer hunting is going to be with a muzzleloader.  Everything else just falls off too much.  I'd look real hard at the savage inline muzzleloader that handles smokeless powder and a good scope.  You may be able to reach out father with one of those, but that's as close to a regular rifle that I know of.

[sportsman223]

I did more than think about it I built first one four years ago in 357 Max my gun was built for the IN hunting regs for my daughter.  I would not hesitate at a 200yd shot. I looked at all the combinations and the max was the best in my book. We have shot five deer with it so far , very little recoil and hits like a hammer, with my reloads I am getting 2275 fps that's smokin pushing a 180SSP bullet. MGM built barrel .358 bore , Leupold 2X7, TC G2

[Dinny]

Nice rifle!!!


Dinny

[LaOtto222]

A 357 max loaded up hot is equivalent to a 30-30 or darn close. The 30-30 is considered a 200+ yard gun so I would think a 357 Max would do the deed at 200 yards also.

[Old Syko]

Just a thought that means no disrespect to the OP or anyone else.  Why all the concern for a deer gun that will get the job done at 150 yds. or more?  Over the years I've taken my share of deer in the state and I would venture to guess some 90% or so were taken at 50 yds. or less.  Shoot, where we hunt here in the southern part of the state, you can't see farther than that unless you're in one of the open corn or bean fields and since the crops are gone that time of year the critters spend as little time as possible there.  When in an open field, they tend to travel somewhere around Mach 3 and I don't care for long distance wingshootin.  Now I have taken deer over 200 yds. here but it was always with a handgun and a very rare event.  Maybe we would all be better off just becoming more skilled at the task at hand.  Now I know you guys up north are used to ground flat enough it takes 20 minutes to drive as far as you can see but the critters still tend to stay in the trees and brush don't they?   

[dukkillr]

Just a thought that means no disrespect to the OP or anyone else.  Why all the concern for a deer gun that will get the job done at 150 yds. or more?  Over the years I've taken my share of deer in the state and I would venture to guess some 90% or so were taken at 50 yds. or less.  Shoot, where we hunt here in the southern part of the state, you can't see farther than that unless you're in one of the open corn or bean fields and since the crops are gone that time of year the critters spend as little time as possible there.  When in an open field, they tend to travel somewhere around Mach 3 and I don't care for long distance wingshootin.  Now I have taken deer over 200 yds. here but it was always with a handgun and a very rare event.  Maybe we would all be better off just becoming more skilled at the task at hand.  Now I know you guys up north are used to ground flat enough it takes 20 minutes to drive as far as you can see but the critters still tend to stay in the trees and brush don't they?   

Actually, no.  As deer get pressured here (Kansas) they will often go to the big CRP fields where they can bed down and see a mile in each direction, no trees.  For my Kansas buck this year I was sitting on the dam making a small cattle pond (highest point around) roughly in the middle of a big prairie grass pasture.  Shot was 125 but that was only because I happened to be closer to where the bucks were trying to bed.  When they first appeared they were closer to 300 and had they chosen to go left or straight they would never have gotten closer than 300, and I would have still expected to kill the one I was after.  I'm not advocating a magnum, (I killed deer this year with a 6.5x55 and a .270) but I do get a kick out of the guys who make the, "good hunters just get closer" argument, particularly from guys who have never hunted West of, say, the origional 13 colonies.

[sportsman223]

I spend most all of my time bow hunting and have killed several very nice deer and a couple P&Y's
I could use one pin on my bow, but I have three why would I want to limit myself to just a 15 to 20yd shot. When I know for sure 30 to 35yds would be my max distance
Same applies for my Max, I might never shoot a 200+ shot on a deer, but I know without a doubt  it will do it so why limit myself.

And it's only wingshooting if you have not sent several hundred rounds down range at that distance and beyond. After shooting at that distance 50 to 60yds like most are probably killed at is a chip shot

[Dinny]

Just a thought that means no disrespect to the OP or anyone else.  Why all the concern for a deer gun that will get the job done at 150 yds. or more?  Over the years I've taken my share of deer in the state and I would venture to guess some 90% or so were taken at 50 yds. or less.  Shoot, where we hunt here in the southern part of the state, you can't see farther than that unless you're in one of the open corn or bean fields and since the crops are gone that time of year the critters spend as little time as possible there.  When in an open field, they tend to travel somewhere around Mach 3 and I don't care for long distance wingshootin.  Now I have taken deer over 200 yds. here but it was always with a handgun and a very rare event.  Maybe we would all be better off just becoming more skilled at the task at hand.  Now I know you guys up north are used to ground flat enough it takes 20 minutes to drive as far as you can see but the critters still tend to stay in the trees and brush don't they?   

Actually, no.  As deer get pressured here (Kansas) they will often go to the big CRP fields where they can bed down and see a mile in each direction, no trees.  For my Kansas buck this year I was sitting on the dam making a small cattle pond (highest point around) roughly in the middle of a big prairie grass pasture.  Shot was 125 but that was only because I happened to be closer to where the bucks were trying to bed.  When they first appeared they were closer to 300 and had they chosen to go left or straight they would never have gotten closer than 300, and I would have still expected to kill the one I was after.  I'm not advocating a magnum, (I killed deer this year with a 6.5x55 and a .270) but I do get a kick out of the guys who make the, "good hunters just get closer" argument, particularly from guys who have never hunted West of, say, the origional 13 colonies.

It's quite a bit different hunting here in IN than out West of the Mississippi.....

Thanks, Dinny

[Old Syko]

I'm not advocating a magnum, (I killed deer this year with a 6.5x55 and a .270) but I do get a kick out of the guys who make the, "good hunters just get closer" argument, particularly from guys who have never hunted West of, say, the origional 13 colonies.

Funny you should say this.  The times I've hunted Colorado and Wyoming with relatives that have lived there all their lives, "good hunters just get closer" was always their mantra.  They always frowned on the guy willing to take the 600 yd. plus shot rather than put in the effort to close the distance.  After all, we were there to test our hunting skills which include both shooting and the stalk.

I might never shoot a 200+ shot on a deer, but I know without a doubt  it will do it so why limit myself.

Sportsman, I'm not suggesting limits but merely making full use of what we already have, just like your bow sight pins or practicing at longer ranges with your Max.  The limiting factor here is the terrain more so than the equipment being used.  I've always thought of wingshooting  as shooting at a moving target or a target in flight.  A deer in full run is right next to being in flight.

[sportsman223]

The OP was about "Wanting" not making use of what we already have. Most of the places I hunt the long shots are not possible, but there is others that it's very possible. I would hate to pass a buck of a lifetime because I thought I would never shoot passed 50 to 60yds. On that same token I would pass a buck of a lifetime if the shot was out past my limitations I owe that to the deer. The terrain differ's from Southern IN to Northern IN a good bit.
I would never advocate shooting out passed someone's limits or shooting at a moving target at any distance unless it's a "coyote"

[bobg]

If  you want a new gun just because you want one i don't think you can go wrong with a 7-08. I sold mine to a friend of mine and his son as killed three deer with it. He told me it is instant death.
                 bobg

[Dinny]

If  you want a new gun just because you want one i don't think you can go wrong with a 7-08. I sold mine to a friend of mine and his son as killed three deer with it. He told me it is instant death.
                 bobg

Unfortunately we can't use a 7mm-08 rifle in Indiana, it would have to be a handgun. 

Thanks, Dinny

[Lon371]

They always frowned on the guy willing to take the 600 yd. plus

I have seen one of those long shots. But the noise and blast off of the barrel makes you jump every time. I love those M1 tanks

Indiana forum has a new sponsor I think they have a few suggestions for all Indiana hunters looking to expand

http://www.bfgcartridges.com/


Lonny