Author Topic: Rookie looking for experienced opinions (Read 2406 times)

soggybottomboys20 · « **on:** May 29, 2005, 04:44:26 PM »

Recently I have been looking into buying a rifle. I am looking for something with not much recoil, superb accuracy, and something I can shoot 100-300 yards. The guns main purpose is for deer. When I started looking up different calibers, I was considering guns anywhere in between the 270 win to the 300 rum. Now I am more or less leaning to three choices. This is my question: If you had a choice would one prefer the new 6.8, a 270 win, or a 270 wsm.

Ramrod · « **Reply #1 on:** May 29, 2005, 05:16:43 PM »

soggybottomboys20, if its opinions you want, you came to the right place!

Here is mine. Out of the three you mentioned, the .270 Win. would be the way to go. Although a bit more powerfull than you need for deer, I would stick with the tried and true. Doubtfull ammo supply rules out the other two choices, neither will probably still be with us 5 or so years down the road.
There are plenty of other rounds that would make a great deer gun, but of the three you asked about, the .270 Win. is the only reasonable choice.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** May 29, 2005, 06:24:40 PM »

Remington Model 700 LSS Mtn. Rifle in 7-08. All you need to know about deer rifles. Just do it. Everyone else who has at my suggestion has fallen in love. Been using the 7-08 on deer, hogs and exotics now for well over 25 years. Never missed and never needed a follow up shot. Neither have my wife or oldest son when using the round. There is no better.

Mikey · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2005, 03:12:46 AM »

soggy - Graybeard's suggestion is most excellent and although I do not use the 7-08, it is an excellent cartridge for the needs you have identified. I would choose the 7-08, as a modern day update to the great 7mm Mauser, over the 270 or 270 WSM.

You also mentioned the 6.8mm caliber - did you mean 6.5mm, as in 6.5 Swede?

? That would be one of my first choices. Remington, I believe, made the same rifle Graybeard recommends in the 6.5mm Swedish caliber. The 6.5 Swede is world reknowned for its low recoil and superb accuracy. The 6.5 Swede is used for Moose and Elk, so whitetail shouldn't be any problem. An alternative to the 6.5 Swede is the 260 Remington. HTH. Mikey.

beemanbeme · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2005, 03:56:45 AM »

Naah, the 6.8 is a .30 rem necked down. 'posed to be the new gi round.

As far as rifle choices go, I'll agree with greybeard 100%. 7-08.

savageT · « **Reply #5 on:** May 30, 2005, 04:08:58 AM »

You said: Recently I have been looking into buying a rifle. I am looking for something with not much recoil, superb accuracy, and something I can shoot 100-300 yards. The guns main purpose is for deer.

In your words, " something with not much recoil....." So stay away from from the newest short-fat-magnums!!! As Graybeard and my buddy Mikey recommend....look into a 7mm-08 or a 6.5x55mm. Nuff said>>>?? Now just pick out the one you like best.
Jim

longwinters · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2005, 04:20:21 AM »

I too would go with the 7m-08. But out of your given options the 270 would be my next choice. My 16 yr old has the exact rifle GB has mentioned and he loves it. Several times I have told him to maybe ck things out and see if he would like a more standard size rifle (he is 6'4") in maybe , my favorites, 280 or 30-06 calibers. No way he says . . . never giving up that rifle!

Long

buckenbass · « **Reply #7 on:** May 30, 2005, 10:51:31 AM »

Hay soggy glad to see you took my advice and come here to Graybeard and ask this question Told you there is a lot of knowledge here a lot of good people too.. ask more and you will learn a lot more than you would picking my small brain at work...

Jimi · « **Reply #8 on:** May 30, 2005, 11:48:53 AM »

Of the calibers you suggested, I would encourage you to go with the .270 Win. It is a classic that is tough to beat. I tend to run away from these trendy modified cartridges like the WSM, RUM, or other TLAs (Three Letter Acronyms).

I am not as familiar with the 7mm-08 as Graybeard and others on these boards, so I won't hazard an opinion about it. However, I would throw in 7x57mm Mauser and .308 Winchester. Both are proven cartridges that don't have much kick and will comfortably shoot out to 300 yards.

Happy hunting!

lgall · « **Reply #9 on:** May 30, 2005, 12:57:38 PM »

I'm with Graybeard on this one 7mm-08, but with your selections .270.

dukkillr · « **Reply #10 on:** May 30, 2005, 03:06:17 PM »

Savage .250 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 31, 2005, 04:36:40 AM »

Opinion #10...........................
A Savage 110 in .243. DEADLY! Lite enough to carry all day
and will put the groceries on the table.

mountainview · « **Reply #12 on:** May 31, 2005, 04:51:51 AM »

25-06 fills the bill for what you are looking for, low recoil, accurate, and can reach out and touches 'em. 7-08 also does these things well. 270 is also very good with a bit more oomph behind the buttplate. If you are shooting factory ammo, the 270 can be found anywhere though it is not that difficult to find the other two.

Make sure the rifle you pick out fits you well since even the mild cartridges can really get yer attention if the rifle fit ain't there.

Safe shooting.

Squeeze · « **Reply #13 on:** June 01, 2005, 03:12:55 AM »

First, I believe the predicted death of the WSM line, is a little
myopic. These things are very popular with the young shooters,
that like the word "Magnum", in the name of their cartridge.
Sure we crusty ol' Turdy O Six" guys have no use for them, but
the young rifle crowd, and even a few of the crusty guys have
picked up on the short fat magnums. One of the carpenters,
building my new home, saw my reloading room, and had to tell
me about his new elk rifle, and how well it performed out west
last year, on a couple of elk....It was a 270 WSM. Then this crusty
ol' Turdy O Six guy had to pull out a couple of load development
targets, and show him some sub-MOA groups shot with his
300 WSM :-) Whether we like it or not, these are the .30-06s/.270s of
the new century. Given the number of these rifles, I expect finding
ammo for the WSM line is safe for a good long time.

Now the 6.8 Rem, on the other hand, it remains to be seen how
long that one lasts. Remington does not seem to be hitting the
market hard with that one, so it may be dead, on delivery.

Of the three choices, stated, I also would suggest the .270 Win,
although the "not much recoil" requirement may not
be met with this cartridge. I would call it a moderate recoil
round.

I have to pile on the 7mm-08 recommendation. Somewhere
between the 7mm-08, and the .308 Win, lies the perfect, out
to 300 yard, deer rifle cartridge. If you want to shoot factory
ammo, then I would shade towards the .308 Win, since it
comes in a ton of choices, and is available everywhere.
If this is not a concern, and you prefer a slightly softer recoil,
and a touch flatter shooting round, then I would shade towards
the 7mm-08.

Squeeze

Big Paulie · « **Reply #14 on:** June 01, 2005, 08:50:46 AM »

You mentioned the 6.8 Do you mean the new Remington 6.8 SPC? On paper this is a fine medium range deer round. In reality though, it is still in the "newborn" stage, and may die in childhood. Remington has screwed around with the announcement, retraction, announcement, and now release of this round for almost 2 years now, ticking off everone. It is still in the experimental stage, as evidenced by the fact that Remington is not even offering it in their basic model 700s or model 7s.

Of the choices you listed, the .270 is definitely the proper choice. However, the 7mm-08 is a very excellent round, and has been referred to by alot of writers as absolutely the perfect deer round. It has significantly less recoil than the .270 Winchester. Only drawback is that I believe that it only comes in a factory load of 140 grain bullets. I personally believe that the .308 Winchester is a better choice as an all purpose round, and the recoil is only about 5% more than the 7mm-08. (The 7mm-08 is a .308 cartridge, necked down from .308 caliber to 7mm, which is believe is .284 caliber.)

If you choose either the 7mm-08 or the .308 Win, you really can't go wrong.

By the way, you often hear that the .270 is a super flat-shooting cartridge compared to rounds like the .308. WRONG! Check the ballistic charts. If both rounds, with 150 grain bullets, are sighted in for 200 yards, then at 300 yards, the .308 hits only 7/10ths of an inch lower than the .270. That's right, just 7/10th of an inch. In truth, the wind and the ground temperature will have more effect on your round than that. No deer, bear, moose, antelop or sheep is going to know the difference if your bullet hits him 7/10ths of an inch lower! I haven't checked the charts, but I believe that the trajectory of the 7mm-08 is about the same.

Best Regards,

Big Paulie

Big Paulie · « **Reply #15 on:** June 01, 2005, 08:55:26 AM »

Gee Whiz,

See the article posted two slots below your post, called The Perfect Deer Rifle. Read the article. It chooses the 7mm-08 with a 22 inch barrel.

Sound advice.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2005, 12:03:16 PM »

I killed my first deer, many years ago, with a 7 X 57mm sporterized Mauser 95......shot a 175 grain remington corelot.......I had that little deer mounted and it's still on the wall to this day.........I paid $27 hard earned dollars for it........I consider the 7mm/08 to be a modern version that is ballistically the same............but in a short action......

My guess is that the .270 has killed about as many deer as any round except possibly the .30.30, or the 30.06.........I don't think you'ld go wrong with either..........I'd probably treat it like trading cars, and buy the one you could get the best deal on........all other things being equal........

poncaguy · « **Reply #17 on:** June 01, 2005, 01:42:40 PM »

I have a 270 WSM, it's recoil seems the same as my 270's did, but it's suppose to be more. Hunted with a 7MM-08 last years, really like it, in fact , just got a 14" 7MM-08 barrel for muy Encore pistol .Got a Ruger 77 260 yesterday which I think is another excellant deer round. They are all very good .............just take ur pick! :grin:

cobrad · « **Reply #18 on:** June 01, 2005, 06:46:02 PM »

Of the rounds you mentioned, the .270 would git my vote, but I would also suggest the 7-08. I bought my then 12 year old daughter one because it offered adequate power and low recoil-for elk. So far, at 16, she has killed 4 elk and 2 mulies with it. It is maybe not a 300 yd elk rifle, but it has worked great at 200 or less. I will also put a plug in for a Kimber rifle; light, graceful and accurate.

147 Grain · « **Reply #19 on:** June 01, 2005, 06:49:51 PM »

Remington 700 SPS Stainless

Rifle is $469.00 from Sportsman's Warehouse in Utah and includes a 24" stainless / parkerized barrel and Limbsaver Recoil Pad. Blued version is only $398.00.

http://www.remington.com/firearms/centerfire/700sps_ss.htm

Slamfire · « **Reply #20 on:** June 06, 2005, 03:13:04 PM »

The .270 Win. if you are gonna use just factory ammo. The .270 WSM if you're gonna reload. The 6.8 isn't gonna make it as a sporting round, it don't have enough bullet weight for good ranging and if you put heavier bullets in that little case you won't have enough velocity to get the bullet out of the smokeless smoke.

Bearwolf31 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 07, 2005, 04:50:25 PM »

Definitely go with the 270 win. Easy shooting, good long range accuracy and very easy to reload for if you are into that sort of thing.

2ndtimer · « **Reply #22 on:** June 07, 2005, 07:49:11 PM »

Quote from: Slamfire

The .270 Win. if you are gonna use just factory ammo. The .270 WSM if you're gonna reload. The 6.8 isn't gonna make it as a sporting round, it don't have enough bullet weight for good ranging and if you put heavier bullets in that little case you won't have enough velocity to get the bullet out of the smokeless smoke.

I agree with Slamfire. If you handload, then having a 270WSM means you also have a .270 Win, but in a short action. The short magnum can be loaded down to duplicate standard .270 Win ballistics (and recoil) or even 7mm-08 ballistics and recoil. On the other hand neither of those can be loaded up to .270WSM ballistic levels, at least not at safe pressure levels in normal barrel lengths. I know my .270WSM will push a 140 gr Nosler Accubond over the skyscreens at over 3100 fps. Don't think you will find any 7mm-08's that will do that and only a few standard .270 Winchesters with long barrels (or lunatics at the reloading bench). Oh, by the way, Remington does chamber the .270WSM in their new SPS model, so you can probably get one for less than $400. I am tempted to pick up another one myself...

jro45 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 08, 2005, 03:38:32 AM »

Myself I have a 270 Win. That gun can do it at 100 yds, 200 yds, & 300 yds. For 100 & 200 yds if you shoot at 200 yds theres nothing else to do but for 300 yd I'd set the rifle up for that range.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #24 on:** June 12, 2005, 11:48:38 AM »

Quote from: soggybottomboys20

Recently I have been looking into buying a rifle. I am looking for something with not much recoil, superb accuracy, and something I can shoot 100-300 yards. The guns main purpose is for deer. ... If you had a choice would one prefer the new 6.8, a 270 win, or a 270 wsm.

soggy

Of the three choices you list, I would get the .270 Win, no question. But If you were looking for suggestions that meet your needs I would suggest any of the following would work very well:
.25-06
.270Win
7mm-08
.308Win

The older I get the more I appreciate fatter bullets when the task is to kill big game as quickly and humanely as possible hence the .308 recommendation. The 7mm-08 will handle slightly heavier bullets than the .270 but the .270 will shoot a little flatter. The .25-06 is the best choice if the rifle will see any duty on prairie dogs or chucks and is a great choice regardless.

S.S. · « **Reply #25 on:** June 12, 2005, 03:31:02 PM »

The 6.8 is far more potent than its size suggests, but
so far I have only seen it in M-16 semi-auto clones.
Special forces do now have it in full auto but I have as yet
been able to convince them to let me "PLAY" with one.
The 270 WSM looses about 300 fps when you reload it
because the powder used in it is apparently not sold
to the general public....I still search for it though!!!
SO I would stick with the old tried and true 270 Win.

RaySendero · « **Reply #26 on:** June 12, 2005, 04:52:28 PM »

270 Winchester

Slamfire · « **Reply #27 on:** June 12, 2005, 06:32:56 PM »

Quote from: S.Sumner

The 6.8 is far more potent than its size suggests, but
so far I have only seen it in M-16 semi-auto clones.
Special forces do now have it in full auto but I have as yet
been able to convince them to let me "PLAY" with one.
The 270 WSM looses about 300 fps when you reload it
because the powder used in it is apparently not sold
to the general public....I still search for it though!!!
SO I would stick with the old tried and true 270 Win.

I'm sure it's fine for injurin' people, but that isn't what I'm lookin for in a game rifle. I'm stuck on the 115 grain bullet, which .270 wise is kinda small. The 130 doesn't make my criteria of an SD of .250 for medium game, although the difference is so slight it isn't worth thinkin' about. As for slower than normal powders we are in pretty good shape with H870, .50BAR, RL 25, and H-1000. The first two make the .264 Winny perform up to advertised velocities.

PEPAW · « **Reply #28 on:** June 13, 2005, 06:44:39 AM »

I can see there are no lack of opinions, but I mine is slightly different. For sectional density, check out the 260. With 140 grain bullets, you are good for almost anything. I have done as much field testing as possible

and it is close to the perfect deer cartridge.

pepaw

cal sibley · « **Reply #29 on:** June 27, 2005, 04:41:35 AM »

I got my moose last year with a 6.5x55 in a Remington Classic using a 160 RN bullet, so I don't imagine too many deer will trot away from it after being hit. The rifle is quite accurate, commonly printing under an inch (5 at 100yds), and has surprising little recoil, certainly nothing that will jar you badly. It doesn't have speed demon velocities but raises merry olde hell in the old boiler room. I'm quite happy with the caliber.
Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal