Author Topic: The Perfect Deer Rifle (Read 5660 times)

oso45-70 · « **Reply #30 on:** June 05, 2005, 01:21:13 PM »

Looks like we got lost again, Not me i aint going there.........Joe..........

Rick Teal · « **Reply #31 on:** June 05, 2005, 03:23:42 PM »

Talking about bolt actions and deer rifles in the same post?

:?:

You guys need some serious counselling!!!! :twisted: :blaster:

Randy Flowers · « **Reply #32 on:** June 08, 2005, 02:02:58 PM »

In response to firstshot:

I intend to mount a Leupold 2.5 X 8 Vari-X III scope on the new 7-08.

I took this scope off of a Remington 700 Classic chambered in 300 Wby Mag. It has served me well, to be sure!! I just wanted a little more magnification on the 300 magnum and wanted to try the new Boone and Crockett reticle, so I bought a new VX-III 3.5 X 10 Leupold. I liked it so much I bought another one and put on my 7mm Wby Mag!!

The 2.5 x 8 scope was sitting in the drawer gathering dust and I think it will be the perfect match for the light weight 7-08. I intend to mount it in Leupold dual dovetail bases with low rings.

Stupid waiting period! I have a bunch of guns already, I even have a concealed weapons permit, but I have to wait 10 days to pick up a new rifle! Purely stupid!

I am really looking forward to wandering the mountains this fall with this new light weight rifle. The 7-08 is not fast or flashy, it just gets the job done.

R F

Slamfire · « **Reply #33 on:** June 08, 2005, 03:55:55 PM »

Quote from: Jimi

Most of you guys seem to like the smaller calibers... I just don't like them for deer. I've taken several deer where I found wounds that looked about .24" to 6mm... it's just not enough lead to please me. And yes, I know a well-placed .243 will kill a deer dead... and I don't want to sound like a loser that isn't confident in what I'm shooting at... but I'm not going to kid myself or try to fool anyone else. Of course there is a chance I won't make that perfect shot, and then I'm looking at tracking down a wounded deer. I just don't feel good about that. Give me at least a 150 grain bullet... and preferrably a 165 to 180 grain bullet... and I am a lot more confident in a clean kill and minimal meat damage.

I don't know... are Southern deer pretty small? What is a typical weight? I hunt mostly Michigan and California... Michigan is typically 140 - 180lbs.. Cali can be anywhere from 120 for coastal whitetail to well over 200 for blacktail and mulies. Maybe that is the difference.

Jimi, I've shot them 200 lb mulies that come out of Yosemite when it snows, and the little desert deer around Jawbone canyon. My 6.5-.257 was plenty of gun for all of them, but I never saw a 200 lb blacktail, I never made it far enough north for them, only those around Clear Lake. :lol:

firstshot · « **Reply #34 on:** June 10, 2005, 04:25:27 AM »

Quote from: Randy Flowers

In response to firstshot:

I am really looking forward to wandering the mountains this fall with this new light weight rifle. The 7-08 is not fast or flashy, it just gets the job done.

R F

This upcoming season is my first with the 7-08, and, like you, I am anxiously awaiting opening day. Sure hope the 7-08 lives up to its billing. Based on all the positive comments about it on this forum and others, I'm sure it will.

firstshot
-----------------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

S.S. · « **Reply #35 on:** June 12, 2005, 02:45:13 PM »

If any of you folks ever figure out the perfect
deer rifle/cartridge.............Don't let that info leak out!
Then our Wifes might only let us have one gun!!!! :eek:

jim21 · « **Reply #36 on:** May 01, 2006, 03:50:20 PM »

I think just about everyone has their own favorite Rifle.So,what I say dont mean squat.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #37 on:** May 07, 2006, 06:40:31 PM »

My hunting buddy for the past 20 years has watched me go through many perfect deer rifles. A 7 mag bolt, a 6.5 bolt, 44 mag semi, 300 mag semi and lately a 308 semi. His patience is amazing. All this time he has hunted with a 308 semi and has never said "I told you so". 308 Winchester configured in a semi auto rifle is the PERFECT deer rifle. IMHO

Cheese

NYStillhunter · « **Reply #38 on:** June 07, 2006, 10:23:04 AM »

Kimber Little sky in a 308 topped with a leupy 4x and a set of Talley rings! :grin:

Game_Stalker · « **Reply #39 on:** June 07, 2006, 11:47:39 AM »

Quote from: S.Sumner

Then our Wifes might only let us have one gun!!!! :eek:

My wife has been trying to use that one on me for years. Most times, I get the rifle after hoarding a little money here and there without her knowledge. Then, once I have it, she'll ask where I got it and my respose is usually something along the lines of, "Oh, THAT old thing? I've had that for years." :twisted:

Slamfire · « **Reply #40 on:** June 08, 2006, 05:49:31 PM »

Whenever my wife thinks I only need one rifle or two fishin' rods, I point to her golf bag, and it's 14 clubs. :-D

Argonaut · « **Reply #41 on:** October 15, 2006, 06:49:41 AM »

Ya know, I have never heard a complaint ever voiced about the 7X57 Mauser as a deer cartridge. So is stands to reason that a 7mm-08 is just a 7X57 that fits in a short action. it should get the same rave reviews.

firstshot · « **Reply #42 on:** October 15, 2006, 07:59:16 AM »

Quote from: Randy Flowers on June 08, 2005, 02:02:58 PM

In response to firstshot:

I intend to mount a Leupold 2.5 X 8 Vari-X III scope on the new 7-08.

I took this scope off of a Remington 700 Classic chambered in 300 Wby Mag. It has served me well, to be sure!! I just wanted a little more magnification on the 300 magnum and wanted to try the new Boone and Crockett reticle, so I bought a new VX-III 3.5 X 10 Leupold. I liked it so much I bought another one and put on my 7mm Wby Mag!!

The 2.5 x 8 scope was sitting in the drawer gathering dust and I think it will be the perfect match for the light weight 7-08. I intend to mount it in Leupold dual dovetail bases with low rings.

Stupid waiting period! I have a bunch of guns already, I even have a concealed weapons permit, but I have to wait 10 days to pick up a new rifle! Purely stupid!

I am really looking forward to wandering the mountains this fall with this new light weight rifle. The 7-08 is not fast or flashy, it just gets the job done.

R F

Randy

Havn't tried the Leupold "Boon & Crocket" but I've got a Burris 3-9X40 Ballistic Plex on my 7mm-08 LSS. Absolutely outstanding! I love being able to sight in dead on at 100 Yds and then use the other aim points for 200 / 300. Haven't tried >300 yet but using a 145 Grn Speer HotCor and the appropriate aim point I'm dead on at 100 / 200 / 300.

This year I going to use some 154Grn Hornady Round Nose for woods hunting. I've heard they are real thumpers on deer. Sighted in dead on at 100 (like the speer), it's 1.1" low at 200 Yds and 2.1" low at 300 Yds. Not that I will be shooting the 154 RN that far. If I get set up on a field or power line where a long shot is possible, I'll just load up the 145 HotCor's.

Both of these loads are very accurate in my LSS shooting 1/2" to 3/4" groups @ 100 day in and day out. Can't wait to see how the 154 Grn RNs perform.

firstshot
--------------------------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

Don Fischer · « **Reply #43 on:** October 15, 2006, 09:52:52 AM »

I think that the discription of the perfect deer rifle was good but might choose a different cartridge. As for the scope, I like lower power scopes for the most part. My old mod 660 in 308 had a 2 3/4x scope, my 30-06 has the same scope (my son thought he needed more scope). My mod 70 on 6.5x55 has a 1-4x scope. I've never felt at a loss with these in fact I think they inhance the handleing qualities, or at least take nothing away. Persently my 6.5-06 has a 3-9x scope on it but that's gonna change as soon as I get a new 223. The 223 will get the 3-9x and I'm gonna get a 2-7x for the 6.5-06. I don't understand putting together a nice handling rifle like what was described then mounting a big scope in it.

Seem's to me that most discussions about rifles for what ever always center around the cartridge rather than the rifle itself. This is pretty good!

jro45 · « **Reply #44 on:** October 16, 2006, 07:35:42 AM »

To me the perfect deer rifle would be my 30/06 or my 7mm Mag, or the 257 WBY Mag or my 270 Win. One of those are all I need to kill a deer.

nasem · « **Reply #45 on:** October 16, 2006, 12:16:23 PM »

whats the difference between a "perfect" deer caliber and a "non perfect" deer caliber ?
Cause the way I see it is,
a) the deer is either dead or
b) almost dead or
c) track it for 2 hrs long and never find it dead or
d) never dead.

A bad shot from ANY of the mentioned calibers will give you either option C or D and a good shot will give you A or B.
So there is no real reason a caliber is "perfect" for deer.... I mean someone will read this and say "oh wow a 7mm-08 is perfect for deer" and goes and hits the deer in the gut and guess what......he/she better be ready for a long walk in the woods.

I say the perfect deer rifle is one that can be used by a hunter and ALWAYS (95% of the time) puts a shot in the vitals, thats the perfect deer rifle (with of course, being with a legal hunting caliber)

Eagle Eye · « **Reply #46 on:** October 16, 2006, 01:25:33 PM »

Quote from: Randy Flowers on June 08, 2005, 02:02:58 PM

Stupid waiting period! I have a bunch of guns already, I even have a concealed weapons permit, but I have to wait 10 days to pick up a new rifle! Purely stupid!

R F

I agree with you...a ten day waiting period for a hunting rifle purchase is stupid. Where do you live? I thought our Canadian gun laws were overdone, but I don't have to wait more than a few minutes before taking home a rifle. Of course, I already hold a firearms license. Do they still do a time consuming FBI check every time you buy a gun in the USA?

BlackWolf · « **Reply #47 on:** October 18, 2006, 12:56:11 AM »

Here in good 'ol Pennsylvania I walked out of the store the same day with my last 2 firearms purchases. .358 Browning BLR and Smith & Wesson .357 magnum revolver. I have the CWP too but it doesn't make a difference in purchasing, only carrying. Have a good morning!

BW

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #48 on:** October 18, 2006, 04:49:38 AM »

There is no such thing as a "perfect" deer rifle any more than there is a "perfect" elk rifle or a "perfect" rifle for anything else. But there are lots of good choices to fit different situations. All are a compromise in one area or more.

The author, for example, eliminated .30-30 lever guns because of “300 yards of Wyoming prairie”. That’s great if you live in Wyoming or someplace else where 300 yard shots are a possibility, but the vast majority of deer are taken at distances well under 300 yards. A .30-30 will reach out to 200 yards with plenty of authority for deer. My .30-30 handloads push a 170g Speer to 2160fps and faster. Sighted for a Maximum Point Blank Range for a 6” diameter target (the bullet is never more than 3” above or below line of sight), MPBR is 209 yards. At 230 yards the bullet is down less than 6” and still retains 1000fpe. Can you say “dead deer”?

I’m not knocking the 7mm-08 or any other cartridge, but favor the .25’s in a bolt gun deer rifle. My .257 Roberts with a 22” barrel is as good as it gets in a bolt gun. My soon-to-be son-in-law and I both popped clay pigeons at 500 yards with it last weekend. With a 115g TSX pushed to 3013fps using +P data, the energy level at that range is still 1000fpe. While it’s not the rifle I would choose for such long range work on live game, it is quite capable at 400 yards (-14.8”, 1253fpe). My load of choice is a 120g A-Frame at a bit under 2950fps. It will do a deer quite reliably at ranges further than I’ve shot at game in 25 years of hunting Colorado. Don’t think anything bigger is needed. If an occasional elk was on the menu the 7mm-08 is a better choice – but then we’re not talking about the “perfect deer rifle”, we’re talking about a multi-purpose rifle.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #49 on:** October 18, 2006, 06:16:57 AM »

Quote from: nasem on October 16, 2006, 12:16:23 PM

whats the difference between a "perfect" deer caliber and a "non perfect" deer caliber ?
Cause the way I see it is,
a) the deer is either dead or
b) almost dead or
c) track it for 2 hrs long and never find it dead or
d) never dead.

A bad shot from ANY of the mentioned calibers will give you either option C or D and a good shot will give you A or B.
So there is no real reason a caliber is "perfect" for deer.... I mean someone will read this and say "oh wow a 7mm-08 is perfect for deer" and goes and hits the deer in the gut and guess what......he/she better be ready for a long walk in the woods.

I say the perfect deer rifle is one that can be used by a hunter and ALWAYS (95% of the time) puts a shot in the vitals, thats the perfect deer rifle (with of course, being with a legal hunting caliber)

What else would we have to argue about?

The Sodbuster · « **Reply #50 on:** October 18, 2006, 03:15:30 PM »

I'd like to get a 7mm-08 one of these days (that and a bunch of other rifles!), but my preference would be for a Browning lever gun over a bolt gun. Got a handful of bolt guns and will no doubt get more in the future; but, to me the 7-08 just seems a good choice in a BLR.

S.S. · « **Reply #51 on:** October 20, 2006, 07:42:17 AM »

The perfect deer rifle?
Is kinda' like UFO's, Big-Foot and Unicorns.
Some of us believe they are out there,
we just can't seem to prove it to every one else !

Slamfire · « **Reply #52 on:** October 20, 2006, 05:28:32 PM »

Mine is perfect for me. Git yore own box!

joshco84 · « **Reply #53 on:** October 20, 2006, 07:01:24 PM »

i love the search for the perfect deer round ( or cartridge, or round) here is how i found mine. talked to my grandpa about deer hunting, he has a been a trapper for a long time and a big coyote caller in between. he says well josh i have a gun upstairs that has been sighted in for five years and never been shot since. so i take it to the dump for a quick sight in and kill two does with it that same night. it is a 7mm rem mag and i have killed about twenty deer with it so far and have not been let down yet. so here goes my little argument. i shoot winchester ballistic silvertips in 140 grn. that is a lighter bullet than many and i do mean many 30 caliber rounds. i have shot anywhere from 75 to almost 500 yards and have never had a bad or unsportsmanlike kill either way.from one extreme to the other that little 140 grn bullet does the trick every time, i have never lost one deer yet, and would hate to mess with that perfect score except i am switching to a 25.06 for two reasons. wayyyyyy less recoil, and it is more than plenty of rifle even for the big whitetails everyone is apparently afraid of. i do have to say though there will always be a special spot in my heart for a sako IV in 7mm rem mag with a nikon 3X9X40 monarch gold. (just for the sake of argument it did not kill a whole lot deader than the three i killed with a 243 winchester, actually it performed about the same, anywhere from 20 to 40 yard run and drop (combination heart/lung shot))

Don Dick · « **Reply #54 on:** November 05, 2006, 05:05:15 AM »

I thought I needed a little more gun so this year I plan to hunt opening day with a 375 RUM with Nosler custom 260 grain Accubonds at 2970 fps. My plan is to keep my shots under 50 yards so I have enough energy left for those Pa whitetails.
There are reports of rabid chipmonks attacking hunters so the upgrade was necessary for self defense.

kyote · « **Reply #55 on:** November 05, 2006, 05:30:13 AM »

Hmmm,I like to herd shoot,my perfect gun is the M-204...it has sights for being over run to waaaaay out there..

alsatian · « **Reply #56 on:** November 08, 2006, 05:39:07 AM »

My perfect deer rifle is a .25-06 with a 24" barrel and a 3.5-10x 40 mm scope. Just in case, I have another nearly perfect deer rifle, a .243 in Winchester Model 70 Featherweight with a 22" barrel and a 3.5-10x 40 mm scope. I can't imagine a deer walking away from a good hit from either of those rifles if I have done my part and placed the bullet in the vitals. Flat trajectory. Light recoil. Sufficient power. Yah baby! I originally acquired the .243 because I've got some kids growing up who are liable to hunt deer. My son sort of messed me up by spending some of his stashed money buying a Winchester Model 94 in .30-30, but I've got a 10 year old daughter who is very interested in deer hunting who may be destined to use this .243 to take her first deer. Meanwhile I prefer to use the .243 because it is such a beautiful, elegant rifle and right sized to my hunting situation.

BUSTER51 · « **Reply #57 on:** November 08, 2006, 09:16:14 AM »

Perfect ,to me the Perfect rifle for any thing in north America is a 3006.dead is dead. it may be the perfect because of the fact the ammo is always available in just the right loading at the best price .it is powerful enough for varmints to Bears. you can find ammo anywhere at a good price . howeve if you are a sick bastard like me than you will need more rifles and calibers than you have a need for .but if you only want one than 3006 is it .

Don Fischer · « **Reply #58 on:** November 08, 2006, 09:52:20 AM »

Well here's a crappy question for the 7mm-08 fans. What real world advantage does it have over the 7x57, 280 Rem or 284 Win when all use the same bullet? And for the people who favor 22" barrels, what real world advantage to them? I am one of those 22" barrel fans. One last question, at what range will a 3-9x scope or even a 2-7x scope give you some real advantage over a fixed 4x scope?

jro45 · « **Reply #59 on:** November 08, 2006, 10:33:04 AM »

Well Don i've used my 3X9 at 9 power to see clearly at 300yds. Couldn't go any farther to many trees.

I've used a 4X power scope at 200yds and could see but the x in the scope covered up what I wanted to shoot.