Author Topic: most accurate ?? (Read 1032 times)

sureshot2040 · « **on:** October 25, 2004, 01:01:20 PM »

what caliber offers the best combination of accuracy and performance on whitetail deer??
i was told the best three all around cartridges for deer were the 7mm mag
the .270win. and the 30-06
this was told to me by an older shooter
is there anything new on the market now that blows them all away??
of those three which is the best??
im gonna be shooting from 200 yards on out to around 400
also which brand of rifle is best ??
thanks,
sureshot

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #1 on:** October 25, 2004, 02:14:42 PM »

Of the 3 you mentioned, I'd take the 7mag. I have Browning BAR in 7mag. and it's very easy on the shoulder,and it shoots the green box Rem. ammo at 1.25" at 100 yds. When I get some spare time I'll try some good handloads and try to get it down under 1".350 yds and up,I drag out the 300 Wby. and B.T."s. Digger

22KHornet · « **Reply #2 on:** October 26, 2004, 03:28:05 AM »

Why people seem to think you need a howitzer to kill a deer is beyond me. I shot my first antelope with my 7 mag and I will not shoot another one with it (what a mess

). I would say a good old 25-06 would be my choice for deer hunting. Of course if it is just one of the 3 you mentioned I would take the 7 for the long range shooting, but if you get a shot under 75 yards you might not have much left to take home. As for what brand, everyone will have a different opinion on that one. :grin:

Paul5388 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 26, 2004, 05:03:35 AM »

22KHornet made a very astute observation about not needing a cannon to ensure the demise of deer sized game.

The late Jack O'Connor would tell you the .270 is more than enough gun for your purpose, with a 130 gr bullet and almost a case full of H4831.

The .30-06 was used sucessfully in 1000 yard shoots for years and was used for a long time (50+ years) as the official sniper rifle cartridge for the US military. Any .30 caliber has the advantage of bullet selections over any other caliber, if you hand load.

The sniper rifles, in later years, were based on Rem 700 actions. That should say something positive for Remingtons.

However, this is a Handi rifle forum. The .270 and the .30-06 are available in Handi rifles, whereas the 7mm Mag isn't. There isn't any concern about magazine lengths to hinder loading bullets as long or short as one would want. Even though I don't have either chambering in my Handis, I think the necessary degree of accuracy is achievable in these easy to carry guns.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #4 on:** October 26, 2004, 05:27:58 AM »

I like the 7x57, 7mm-08, 30-30, .32 Special, .35 Remington or 45-70 for deer. Those you mention are all used around my camp and in the "big woods" up north. In fact the 30-06 leads all calibers used in Maine every year for deer and Moose. They have always seemed a bit of overkill to me. Just me of course, and as you can probably tell from my selection, I tend to prefer the older calibers rather than the newer ones. Of course the 30-06 has been around a long, long time, much longer than the 7mm-08. Now I'm so confused!!! Time for another cup of coffee and try to regroup!!!....<><.... :grin:

Mac11700 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 26, 2004, 06:46:56 AM »

Quote from: sureshot2040

what caliber offers the best combination of accuracy and performance on whitetail deer??
i was told the best three all around cartridges for deer were the 7mm mag
the .270win. and the 30-06
this was told to me by an older shooter
is there anything new on the market now that blows them all away??
of those three which is the best??
im gonna be shooting from 200 yards on out to around 400
also which brand of rifle is best ??
thanks,
sureshot

All 3 calibers offer excellent terminal performance of deer size game at 400 yards with the right loads...in the right gun....

There will always be something new on the market that...according to someone...is the latest-greatest-most awsome performing cartridge that ever was invented....some of them may be...most likely though...they will be marginally better than what's beeen out for some time...but for a Handi rifle...you can't get a 7mm mag...you can get reasonably close to the performance level with the 280..

Of the 3 cartridges you asked about...the answer isn't that easy...and tends to go in the direction of personal preference...again...they are all capable of cleanly taking deer sized game at 400 yards...and all of them can be quite accurate...but as far as I know...there is only one that can put most of the bullets offered for it close to the same point 0f impact ...with the right loads and the right gun...and that would be the 270...if that is a concern of yours...

I'll ask you a couple of question...which type rifle do you like ? Why ?......Asking which type rifle is best...isn't a full question...but only a partial one...Best for what...or Best for whom? Best for taking deer at 200-400 yards?...Again...they all are...but...as stated...this is the Handi forum...so we'll state at least for here...the Single Shot Handi rifle is the best...best value for the money and most fun to shoot...ask anyone here...they'll tell ya :wink:

Mac

Mohawk · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2004, 07:06:23 AM »

I favor my .280 Handi gun. I used to use a .30-06 when I was younger and they perform identical. And with a 26" barrel they literally are the same with the exception of the .28 cal and .30 cal bullets. It is my new favorite caliber. I used a .243 for a dozen years also in a carbine before many gunwriters said it was a crippler and I didn't know it was unethical to use it :roll: And for some reason they never replied to my letters about those articles. :grin:

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2004, 07:38:05 AM »

You did'nt mention the 280, but if I use my Ultra it will be the 280. I can get the 280 with the 26" barrel very close to the 7 mag. Will it tear up much meat,yes if you hit something solid,but to kill something you have to destroy tissue,and if it leaves a large exit hole its a lot easier to trail. Digger

MSP Ret · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2004, 07:49:09 AM »

Gheez! I forgot about my .280!!!. Now that is a fine deer caliber. So many fine cartridges, so little time..... :-D ....<><....

22KHornet · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2004, 07:57:18 AM »

Yep the 280 and the 22 hornet are the next two barrels I am getting for my handi. Of course I will have to rechamber the hornet :grin:

I still think the 25-06 would be a great choice for long range deer, but hey that is just me.

Mohawk · « **Reply #10 on:** October 26, 2004, 08:02:05 AM »

I had the same concern, Ditch, but if you use the 150gr. Rem. Core-lokts, which your handi should love, you get about a golf ball size exit hole. Not bad at all. The only animal I tore up was a little 25lb hog that I hit high in the chest as it was facing me. The bullet took out the spinal column from neck to almost the pelvis. There went the pork chops but my wife through it on the grill whole and that was some sweet eating! But all the other hogs and deer were very close to a 1.5"-2" exits and that was that. Had one 3" hole in a deer's neck but that was not a factor, plus it was 35yds.

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2004, 11:21:20 AM »

Mohawk I've only shot a couple of pigs with the 280 (120 pds.) and the 150 coreloks did'nt expand. They did drop on the spot though. I don't know if the next one will,because as you probably know hogs rarely ever drop on the spot unless neck shot. I once shot a 25pd. pig in the air,jumping the road at 70 yds.with a 444 marlin,and the little ignorant thing landed on his feet and kept runing. It made a golf ball size exit,and it left a blood trail a blind man could follow. I could not believe it, since it was a perfect heart lung shot,and the 265 gr. hornady was clocking 2275 at the muzzle. Digger

sureshot2040 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 26, 2004, 11:30:45 AM »

ok guys i went out and bought a handi in .270win. the guy had it for a real good price.
i put the only scope i had on it, a simmons 8 point 3x9x40
just holding it against the arm of my chair i boresighted it as best i could by holding a bottle cap looking thru the barrel then looking thru the scope
i traced a dime on a paper plate and set it up at abt 45yards ( the farthest i could get in my back yard) and held semi steady against the porch post i put two shots 5/8" apart at nine and ten oclock touching the bullseye
i was using pmc's 130 psp factory stuff
not to bad for the first two shots
the story will probably be alot different when i hit the bench at the real shooting range that i shoot at.
i only got abt 160 bucks in it now including the scope and ammo
not to bad i think
sureshot

Mohawk · « **Reply #13 on:** October 26, 2004, 11:49:16 AM »

Wow, Ditch. I've never seen a .280 150gr. Core-lokt not expand. They have worked perfectly, at least for me. That's odd. Thinking back on it, I've never had a .243, .30-06 , .270 not expand either. That's really strange. Was the exit hole like .28 caliber?

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #14 on:** October 26, 2004, 03:00:37 PM »

Mohawk; The exit an entry holes were the same in the 280. I thought at first that they did not exit,after closer examination I found the exits. I had the same problem with a 3006 corloks so I started using 150 gr. BT's., since I shoot behind the shoulder everytime it works very well. Digger

Mohawk · « **Reply #15 on:** October 26, 2004, 03:14:54 PM »

I'm glad your placement was good without the expansion. I don't know what to think of that. Has anyone else had this problem? This is all new to me. I did, however, see a .444 Marlin bullet that refused to expand on two hogs before. They were neck shots so it really didn't matter though. On my last hog I shot with the .280 I shot this 120lb sow through the lungs and it just froze for about 10 seconds after the shot and just fell over. Strangest reaction I've ever seen. Anyway, the bullet left a exit hole of around a golf ball. That seems to be typical of this load in my gun. However, I am shooting through a 26" barrel.

bull b 25-06 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 27, 2004, 10:09:28 AM »

Of course this is all personal opinion,as everyone else has stated. Last year about 2 months before deer season i decided i needed a new deer rifle(current rifle at the time being an SKS,can you blame me). I decided that instead of going to the gun shop and choosing from what they had or suggested,that i would get on the old internet and research as much as i could to reach my own decision. I wanted a rifle that was the best the manufacturer had to offer. I like heavy guns,and don't have a problem carrying them for long distances. I also like varmint hunting ,and plan on doing more with the rifle i chose. I really like deer hunting, and wanted a caliber that would reach out and touch them if i needed to. After a month of research it came down to the .25-06REM M77VT(varmint edition)MARK II HEAVY BARREL TARGET GREY. The cartridge i chose to start with was the 100 gr. NOSLER BALLISTIC TIP. This cartridge/bullet even at 400 yards still maintained 2280 fps. and 1150energy,ft.-lbs. This rifle after scope was added is right at 12.5 pounds. Last year i shot a spike and drove a quarter sized hole 3/4 of the way through him,and then the mushroom tore off and let the base go the rest of the way through. The entrance wound was explosive and bored a major hole through his heart and lungs. I am very confident in my rifle,and caliber choice. I wouldn't be scared of taking a prone-supported on bipod shot at 400 yrds at a deer.

later bull b 25-06

thecowboyace · « **Reply #17 on:** October 27, 2004, 04:14:05 PM »

Quote from: Ditchdigger

Mohawk I've only shot a couple of pigs with the 280 (120 pds.) and the 150 coreloks did'nt expand. They did drop on the spot though. I don't know if the next one will,because as you probably know hogs rarely ever drop on the spot unless neck shot. I once shot a 25pd. pig in the air,jumping the road at 70 yds.with a 444 marlin,and the little ignorant thing landed on his feet and kept runing. It made a golf ball size exit,and it left a blood trail a blind man could follow. I could not believe it, since it was a perfect heart lung shot,and the 265 gr. hornady was clocking 2275 at the muzzle. Digger

I may have been lucky but I have shot two sows with my .NEF 243 loaded with the 100g. BTSPT Speer. Both were heart-lung shots at 50-85yds at night. Both drop as if they had been poleaxed with a 16# sledge in a meat locker plant. Their legs just crumbled. One's legs extended to the side and the other's knees folded in all four legs. Went to touch it with the barrel and it then rolled to its side. These are not normal shots though. Most hogs will go a few feet to ..........

I wish that I had all of my reload data for all of my guns. Over the years I slacked off on shooting and then separation and lost a lot of data binders. Fishing, photography, shooting, reloading, automobile repairs all of that stuff.
Thanks,
TC & GB,
Cliff