Author Topic: Decisions, Decisions!?! (Read 1195 times)

Muddy05 · « **on:** May 22, 2005, 03:37:30 PM »

I'm wanting the perfect deer rifle and I want a handi. What model and caliber should I choose for hunting with shots no further than 150 yards?

jason280 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2005, 03:48:39 PM »

Prepare yourself for many different opinions!

I would suggest the 7mm-08 with 140gr Noslers, which is a tough combo to beat for deer.

poncaguy · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2005, 04:10:06 PM »

7MM-08..........that was easy. :grin:

tallyho · « **Reply #3 on:** May 22, 2005, 04:23:50 PM »

Them two responses don't count as "many different opinions" just one - spoken twice :lol:

Here's mine: :arrow: 30/30 :wink:

Datil · « **Reply #4 on:** May 22, 2005, 04:35:36 PM »

Jason I think we need to know about the size deer and hunting
conditions, the two list would be good, along with a lot of others.
Any calibers made by NEF/H&R Except 22 Hornett 223 rem 204
Rugar, I like 243 Win. Bullet placement is most important in deer
hunting in MHO. Datil

mitchell · « **Reply #5 on:** May 22, 2005, 05:00:52 PM »

Quote from: Muddy05

I'm wanting the perfect deer rifle and I want a handi. What model and caliber should I choose for hunting with shots no further than 150 yards?

well the perfect deer rifle , no matter what the range really, is the 7mm-08 and the 270win. flip a coin

Muddy05 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 22, 2005, 05:02:27 PM »

I hunt in eastern Alabama. Most of the deer here aren't enormous and I dont hunt any farms or open ranges.(mostly wooded areas) I like the versatility of the .243, but I'd like to hear some opinions or suggestions.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #7 on:** May 22, 2005, 05:24:50 PM »

Do you reload? If you do you could really make out with a .30-30 and pointy bullets, But any of the ought six based rounds are excellent deer rounds.

handirifle · « **Reply #8 on:** May 22, 2005, 07:15:51 PM »

muddy
If you are going to use it to varmint hunt a little too, then 243, if deer only then 7-08 or 308. Recoil gets sharper as you go up, if that is a concern.

Not sure how hard ammo is to find on the 7-08, but around here it's kinda scarce. 243 and 308 are common.

The 243 Handi's seem to like the lighter bullets, like 85gr or so. Some shoot the 100's but most don't.

If you don't reload, and ammo is hard to get, buy the 308 and don't look back. Ammo everywhere in lots of weights. It will even serve for heavier game than deer (can you say elk?) with a good bullet.

A 165gr Nosler partition at about 2700 is good on elk to 300yds, so I know it will do deer nicely. Less recoil than an '06 too.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 22, 2005, 07:58:50 PM »

Quote from: Muddy05

I'm wanting the perfect deer rifle and I want a handi. What model and caliber should I choose for hunting with shots no further than 150 yards?

If I could only have 1 rifle to use the rest of my life...I would emphaticly choose...without a doubt...the 30-06...

And I thank the Good Lord...I don't have to have just 1 rifle.....but I would choose the 30-06 first...no matter if your hunting just at 150 yards...or 300...you have the option with the Handi to purchase as many different barrels as you can afford...after getting the first one...there are many that will do what you want...from light kickers...to those that will rattle every bone in your body...but...if you can't do it with the 30-06...you just won't get it done with any of the others...

Mac

lonewolf7396 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2005, 12:37:10 AM »

I myself feel the 30-06 handloaded still is the best all around bullet for any game ,over the years I also favor the 8mm mauser,7x57 mauser .I have sold off many of my custom mauser and springfield rifles,only to the fact all my hunting now is with black powder,but it nice to have a least one centerfire rifle in the gun safe.I will set up the handi o6 in about three weeks for is first test at the range,if it a shooter my last custom mauser will be for sale.

My safe is full of m/l 2 flinter ,1 sidelock,1 inline all t/c and don't forget the HANDI 06 :-D

James B · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2005, 03:34:02 AM »

7MM-08. Perfect for deer.

Varminter · « **Reply #12 on:** May 23, 2005, 09:17:52 AM »

The 270 win. would be perfect. But you can't forget the 25-06.

Muddy05 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 23, 2005, 09:19:19 AM »

Ammo here is very easy to find. I can get just about anything from .17 to .458. And i dont know anything about reloading so I'll have to stick with factory ammo for now.Recoil is an issue because i have weak retina's.(eye condition) How bad is the recoil from a 7-08 or .270??

quickdtoo · « **Reply #14 on:** May 23, 2005, 09:22:16 AM »

Here's a recoil table to make comparisons...

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

mitchell · « **Reply #15 on:** May 23, 2005, 09:29:24 AM »

if recoil is an issue then for your 150 yards deer (although you could shoot much farther) get a 243 it wont kick that much at all and will still kill with authority.

even though most are going to tell you to get the 7mm-08 (one of my favorites) for the close range your talking about the 243 will work great.

Muddy05 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 23, 2005, 09:35:38 AM »

Thanks Quick! Looks like the .243 bull barrell might be my best bet as far as recoil goes. I have the .25-06 in a handi and like it fine. I just started thinking about shooting something with a little less recoil. Would the .243 bull shoot 100's well??

Muddy05 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 23, 2005, 09:45:56 AM »

I want to give the .30-30 a chance too. Should i go for a .243 or .30-30??

quickdtoo · « **Reply #18 on:** May 23, 2005, 10:06:24 AM »

Recoil wise, the 243 would have about 1-1½lbs less recoil given the same rifle weight and shooting the 100gr bullets in the 243 compared to 150gr loads in the 30-30. In a Handi, accuracy from either caliber with factory ammo is gonna be minute of deer, so you would have to decide if you want to risk the greater recoil of the 30-30. If I were in your position, I'd opt for the 243 and try the new Federal Fusion 95gr ammo that's due out soon, Mac has shot the Fusion 150gr 30-06 ammo in his UltraComp and it shot so good that he entered the resulting target in the postal match!! I have the 30-30 and 243 Fusion ammo on backorder at Wholesale Hunter, but the 30-30 and 30-06 ammo is available locally, now....still no 243 though...

Tim

tallyho · « **Reply #19 on:** May 23, 2005, 10:08:04 AM »

My personal preference and opinion only: 30/30 over 243 if you are only going to have one. And only having one is an entirely different subject

I happen to prefer rimmed cartridges. I use pointed bullets in my single shot 30/30 so I am not limited to the 'store bought' round nose, or flat point (though there is nothing inherently wrong with them) and it may be (in fact, is) completely subjective, but I think there is less noise and blast with a 30/30.

There may be practical and performance reasons for choosing one over the other, and I am just giving personal and subjective reasons.

Others, more technical minded will likely provide more objective responses.

Anyway, you asked...

Cheers
Kerry

270_Abolt · « **Reply #20 on:** May 23, 2005, 10:12:03 AM »

.270 no doubt about it.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #21 on:** May 23, 2005, 10:19:26 AM »

Quote from: Muddy05

Ammo here is very easy to find. I can get just about anything from .17 to .458. And i dont know anything about reloading so I'll have to stick with factory ammo for now.Recoil is an issue because i have weak retina's.(eye condition) How bad is the recoil from a 7-08 or .270??

Maybe some of you missed this important post by Muddy05! If this means the possiblity of a detached retina, recoil would be my primary concern, the least, the better. An alternative to the lighter caliber would be to add weight to the stock hole, I have a lead filled pipe that fits snug in the stock bolt hole, it adds 2¼lbs of weight to the stock. Another option without so much dead weight, would be to add a 16oz mercury recoil suppressor to the stock. They cost $40-$50.

http://www.mercuryrecoil.com/

Norseman112 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 23, 2005, 10:22:37 AM »

I bought a .243 handi a couple of months ago and I free floated the barrel and I get 3/4 to 1 inch groups with 95 grain nosler. I never owned a
30-30 however it states in my hornady book for the deer hunter who hunts in a area where 100 - 150 yard shots are the longest the 30-30 is more than sufficient. The .243 will work great at longer yards with proper shot placement

tallyho · « **Reply #23 on:** May 23, 2005, 11:06:14 AM »

Quick, again you are on top of things.

I (and perhaps others) had forgotten - or missed - that bit about the eye for Muddy. Recoil is more important than would normally be considered.

:agree:

Muddy05 · « **Reply #24 on:** May 23, 2005, 11:11:25 AM »

Thanks for the info about the weight. I'll be sure to try that. I'm gonna go for the .243 and give it a try. Should I get the bull or the standard barrel?

cheatermk3 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 23, 2005, 12:28:39 PM »

The bull barrel will weigh more, hence have less recoil.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #26 on:** May 23, 2005, 01:27:40 PM »

The bull barrel Ultra is also 2" longer at 24", and with the laminated stock, weighs a tad more, too. It's in stock at Sports South, so you could order it from Walmart....

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=3138385&cat=170092&type=1&dept=4125&path=0%3A4125%3A4155%3A170080%3A170091%3A170092

http://www.hr1871.com/firearms/index.php?cat=4&subcat=22#43

Markus · « **Reply #27 on:** May 23, 2005, 01:38:38 PM »

I can't believe none of the 357max shooters haven't chimed in. Hows the 44mag handi for deer?

mr.frosty · « **Reply #28 on:** May 23, 2005, 01:52:37 PM »

hey guys how about the 280?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #29 on:** May 23, 2005, 02:02:38 PM »

Come on people, you should read the entire thread before adding comments or suggestions. :wink:

Quote

Muddy05 wrote:
Ammo here is very easy to find. I can get just about anything from .17 to .458. And i dont know anything about reloading so I'll have to stick with factory ammo for now. Recoil is an issue because i have weak retina's.(eye condition) How bad is the recoil from a 7-08 or .270??