OK rifle hunters, got a question for ya

[JD]

Perusing through the safe, I noticed that I do not have a deer rifle. Right now, don't have a need for one. But, in a couple years when the chitlins are older, I will need one.LOL

I already know what rifle I will be buying. That has been decided for a while now. But what caliber to use?

The rifle is light, coming in just under 6.25 pounds without scope. So, add in a scope, rings, full magazine you would be looking at the rifle coming in at roughly 7.25 pounds. Pretty light, which is what I need.

What I do not need is a lot of recoil. Shooting once or twice in the field will not bother. Shooting a couple boxes off the bench in an afternoon could be painful for my back if it is too stout.

My personal max range limit for this rifle will be 300 yards, as long as it groups well out to that distance.

Here are my considerations with preferred loads, let me know what you would choose and why.

243 Win 95gr SST
25-06 Rem 117 gr SST
7mm-08 139gr SST

I am leaning more towards the 243/25-06 but the 7mm-08 does have its draw. Anyone use any of these rounds? I know they will all work just fine, but am looking to here some first hand accounts.

Thanks

[buckfever]

well, bullet size is what will determine your recoil amount. i like the 7-08 in the selected cal's because you can still get a good weighted bullet with low recoil. the 25-06 isn't bad either, but both rounds are higher than you'd think they'd be. that's the only drawback to the two, but i would go with the 7-08 first and then the 25-06. there's nothing wrong with the .243, but when i first started hunting that's what my buddy was using and we spent more than a few hours tracking deer. that's the only thing that will ever keep me from considering that round. it'll kill a deer , but even with a clean heart or lung shot, they still like to run a looooooong way sometimes.

managed recoil ammo will help out too as you probably already know. good luck choosing, it's always the hardest part for me.

[bertman]

# good choices that's tough.I think I would go with the 243.Maybe the 7-08.

[JD]

OK, I crunched the numbers for recoil energy. Each is represented as free recoil ft-lbs of energy (FRE)for each given load. These will be very close to factory loaded ammunition in a 7.25 pound rifle.

243 WIN 95gr SST @2946 fps
FRE 9.24 ft-lbs

25-06 Rem 117gr SST @3037 fps
FRE 14.07 ft-lbs

7mm-08 139gr SST @2874 fps
FRE 14.98 ft-lbs

For comparison

308 Win 150gr SST @2839 fps
FRE 16.69 ft-lbs

270 Win 130gr SST @3059 fps
FRE 16.14 ft-lbs

30-06 150gr SST @2928fps
FRE 18.08 ft-lbs


I also know my 20ga shotgun is roughly 14 ft-lbs of free recoil energy. I would feel comfortable up to that. So, in that regard, any of the three should be just fine. My only concern with the 7mm-08 is the lack of factory loaded ammunition. There simply isn't much to pick from. The 243 has the most, but even the 25-06 has quite a few. My only real concern with the 25-06 is the barrel on this rifle is right under 22 1/2" long. I would like to see a 24" tube with that much powder in a case. So theoretically, the 243 win would be the best choice.

I'll have to see if I can scrounge up some data on a 25-06 in a 22" barrel.

[allhunter]

um 300 RUM=sweetest best load on the market

[terminator]

Have you considered a muzzle break to reduce the recoil? A 308 with a muzzle break would be an ideal solution to your deer hunting needs. If a muzzle break is not on the menu, then the 7mm-08 would be a sweet choice. Nothing wrong with a necked down 308 in the 7mm caliber! Now thinking about it, the 25-06 would be potent using Barnes X-Bullets!

[JD]

A muzzle brake is not out of the question, other than it will add a couple hundred to the rifle. I am leaning more towards the 25-06 as it will penetrate better. The 7mm-08 would be a honey for sure, but ammo is more expensive and very limited. Round and round I go.LOL


Allhunter- I'll give you credit, you do have a lot of faith in that cannon.LOL Curious though, have you ever fired one? Priced ammo? I have, and it unpleasant and expensive. I also do not really see the point. I can see where the 338 RUM fits in, but not the 300. It is an answer to a question that doesn't exist. If you can't get the job done with a 300 Win Mag, you need to be stepping up the caliber. Unless it is just a want, than I can see it. LOL JMHO, from a guy who once owned a Grizzley Big Bore 50 BMG. LOL

[buckfever]

it may just be the particular shop, but my buddy is looking at a couple of cannons in the 300 mag arena. both are used if i'm not mistaken, one is a 300 win mag the other is a 300 ultra mag and the bullets for the ultra mag were only a couple dollars higher for the ultra mag. but like i said that was at that particular store.

jd, how important is the weight of the rifle? if you can stand a couple extra pounds (2 or 3) why not consider a .308 with a heavy bbl? that extra weight could help with some of the recoil, and accuracy is there too. since my last post about my dream .308, i've kinda decided on a starting point before i get my $1000+ rifle. take a look at a remington 700 sps tactical. They come in around $550 and aren't quite as heavy as other guns thanks to the 20" bbl. haven't shot one yet, but i've held one and it's a pretty neat set up. just another thought. you never mentioned what gun you had in mind........

[allhunter]

Sept 30, 2010 15:47:54 GMT -5 JD said:

A muzzle brake is not out of the question, other than it will add a couple hundred to the rifle. I am leaning more towards the 25-06 as it will penetrate better. The 7mm-08 would be a honey for sure, but ammo is more expensive and very limited. Round and round I go.LOL


Allhunter- I'll give you credit, you do have a lot of faith in that cannon.LOL Curious though, have you ever fired one? Priced ammo? I have, and it unpleasant and expensive. I also do not really see the point. I can see where the 338 RUM fits in, but not the 300. It is an answer to a question that doesn't exist. If you can't get the job done with a 300 Win Mag, you need to be stepping up the caliber. Unless it is just a want, than I can see it. LOL JMHO, from a guy who once owned a Grizzley Big Bore 50 BMG. LOL

yes ammo is expensive and no i have never shot one which is the only thing that scares me cuz i dont want it to blow my shoulder away. as for the ammo its a little high but i love the 3 level system. i can shoot anything with that gun and i decide how big of a bullet and how fast i want to it be

[JD]

It does take the reloading factor out of the equation. If you reloaded, you could do the same with a 300 mag, only cheaper. But factory only gets tougher. Of course Remington is supposed to expand the power level ammunition to other cartridges.

If you do go for the RUM, I would strongly recommend a brake. You would need to have hearing protection on when ever you fired it, but you should really be using hearing protection without a brake as well. That thing is a cannon.

Anyways, with a good brake it is quite tolerable. Just make sure it is a baffle brake, not a ported brake. Porting will not do that thing much good, you really have to slow the gasses down and redirect them.

[JD]

buckfever, I had actually considered that. I used to have a heavy 700 that was a tack driver. It weighed in at 10 pounds and didn't recoil very much.

I am really starting to lean towards a heavier rifle. I would feel better with a heavier, bigger bullet.

[grassi25]

I was wondering the same as Buckfever, What rifle do you have in mind when you decide the caliber?

And I wouldn't really let the ammo availability pick the caliber, but like you said the .243 has the most options. I just got a .243 last Christmas, havent had much opportunity to hunt with it. But it does shoot quite nice. Its a Ruger M77. I need a rifle besides a Ruger. I was gonna trade my dad. I am gonna start a diff thread to see what yall think I should tade for.

[JD]

The rifle is a Tikka T3 Lite. No matter what cartridge you get, it is a long action. It feels great, and has a user adjustable trigger that goes from 2-4 pounds. Butter slick action, and every one I have ever shot have all had tremendous accuracy. Granted, I have only shot them in 223 and 22-250. But I have heard from others who mirror the sentiment.

When I said availability, I really should have stated selection. You don't have near the choices with the 7mm-08 in factory loaded ammunition. I looked at Gander a while back, and they had like four different offerings. the 25-06 had 10 or 12. I didn't bother counting the 243. LOL

[buckwacker]

I would prefer the .243 or the 7mm08, but its just my opinion. I have both but never hunted with the 7mm. That will change after this season. I like the 7mm because of the high ballistic coeff of those bullets which means better downrange perfromance. But like you said, factory ammo is not always easy to find, its pricey, and there arent a lot of load choices. You cant go wrong with the .243. I have killed a lot of deer with mine and every single one has been taken with a single shot and no tracking was required.

[passinthru]

Jd i have both the 25-06 and 243. I would take the 25-06 anyday on any size deer. This gun normally will take deer right off their feet. It hits like a rock. The 243 is a great deer rifle but it can make the tracking tough if its hit high. My buddy has a 7mm and its shoots awesome but you will know you shot it for sure. His kicks pretty good imo. Could just be the rifle. Hope that helps.

[buckfever]

Oct 1, 2010 11:59:57 GMT -5 passinthru said:

Jd i have both the 25-06 and 243. I would take the 25-06 anyday on any size deer. This gun normally will take deer right off their feet. It hits like a rock. The 243 is a great deer rifle but it can make the tracking tough if its hit high. My buddy has a 7mm and its shoots awesome but you will know you shot it for sure. His kicks pretty good imo. Could just be the rifle. Hope that helps.

do you know what kind of 7mm it is? the only other bullet that has more case options is the 30 cal. 7mm's come in the regular 7mm, 7 mag, 7 ultra mag, 7-08, 7mm wsm, seems like i'm missing one. lol. 7mm's aren't too bad, 'bout like a 270. 7 mags are pretty stout, 7 ultra mags are rough. only shot one of those once, it was all i needed.

[JD]

Yep lots of 7mm's.

7mm-08
7X57 Mauser
7x64 Brenneke
7-30 Waters
7mm SAUM
7mm Dakota
7mm Rem mag
7mm Weatherby
7mm STW
7mm Ultra mag

Thats just what comes to mind, and I am also not counting the 7mm rounds that are named after the American calibers. 280 Rem, 284 Win, etc. LOL

My guess is he meant the 7mm-08. And yeah, it can thump pretty good in a light rifle with the heavier 140gr+ loads.


I think if I stick with the Tikka, I will go with a 25-06. If I go with a heavy rifle I will go with a 308, or something similar. I looked at a used Sendero today in 7mm Rem Mag. The way it was set up, it weighed in at just under 13 pounds without scope. Add bases/rings/ful mag and you are right at another pound or so. The guy said it shoots very soft with that much weight, and I would believe him. LOL That thing was HEAVY. But, he had it stupid priced. I asked if he would take $1000 for it, and he said no, lowest he would consider was $1400. Heck, I got a Savage I could build up just like it for less than $700. Maybe that is the way to go.

[Predator]

Well, y'all are probably going to groan when I say this, but nobody's mentioned the 30-06 yet.
I don't think you can beat it for versatility. With different ammo loads, you can hunt any animal in North America with it. Ammo is available everywhere. Anyplace that sells ammo will carry a deer load in 30-06.
My Savage is a very heavy gun. I'm guessing it weighs 9 or 10 pounds with the scope and strap. And the recoil is so light I can shoot it with no shirt on, even with 180 grain Winchesters. I love this gun. The extra weight doesn't bother me, and the confidence that it gives me, knowing I can squeeze the trigger and not have to worry about the recoil, is something that can't be bought. The only thing I would change about this gun is the trigger. It's a bit heavy. But most of your time spent hunting is spent with the gun either on your lap or hanging from a hook. So to me, weight is not that important.

[serioushunter]

JD- I like my Browning White Gold Medalion in a .300 win mag. I shoot a 150gr bullet. It has a BOSS whihch adds to the hefty weight but it is a sweet shooting firearm. It is consistenly accurate.

I also have a Wetherby Vangard in a .300 win mag. It is synthetic and stainless but packs a heck of a recoil even with a limb saver recoil pad.

[passinthru]

Turns out i was wrong my buddies gun is a 8mm. My mistake. That would explain the mule kick. lol