I thought I would get a lot of comments on this, as I said in the beginning, white tail deer, but just like all the post I mentioned about the best Rifle/bullet, something that is always missing is, the fact that something that might be reasonable in Montana or Wyoming, is the last thing you would want in a Pa Deer rifle, heavy timber and thickets, Pa most shots on a 150 pound Deer are under 100 yards, with a 338, well you must not like Deer meat much, As said if you can stretch the distance out, 200-250 yards. It might not be a bad rifle; even a 3006 is too much rifle for most Pa, deer shots.
As too judging a guys ability by the Rifle he uses, well the guy in question, hunted with a 3006. shot at deer, did not drop anything, next year sold the 06, and bought the 7MM Mag, same thing. Last I knew he had sold the 7MM and bought the 338.
So you tell me, was it the rifle the shooter or my crystal ball. .
It just seems strange that some guys will swear and declare this rifle is better than another. Without any consideration for the area the rifle will be used in.
Yes there are Pa, Deer taken at 200 plus yards, but the majority are more like 40 to 80 yard range. And yes everything has to do with shot placement, but you are seeing more and more 243, and 270, and fewer of the big 30 in Pa, yes there are plenty of 06s still being used in Pa, I have one, if I am hunting large fields or Bear, I carry the 06. But if hunting , my regular area it’s the 270, or 3030, why beat your self up with three time the rifle if you don’t need to.