best hunting rifles? [Archive]

cmdrost

08-24-2009, 02:35 PM

Jordan

08-24-2009, 02:39 PM

I don't really do much hunting that requires a rifle, so I'm curious.....whats the best all round rifle out there? Good for hogs, deer, coyotes, etc.

.243
.270
.25-06
7mm-08
.308
.30-06
7MM

I think I have them ranking in order of power, so if wrong let me know. Anyways.....which one is the best all round? Range, knock down power, light recoil, fun to shoot, etc...

can't get a better all around gun... i got a winchester not sure what model... but its a .270... took out a watermelon--- drew a dot size of quarter on side... nailed it at 200 yards... at least i think i hit the dot... there was nothing left but a fence post..

wtretrievers

08-24-2009, 02:41 PM

It's all Opinon. Some people like Mercury & some Yamaha....... It's all what you're comfortable with. They all kill dead. My favorite is the 7mm-08, next would probably be the .308, I'm a fan of the short actions. But then again the 30-06 & .270 are probably the most popular. They all kill dead!

Hopedale Hustler

08-24-2009, 02:46 PM

.300 winn mag...i dont deer hunt much but wen i do..it always kills..

Jordan

08-24-2009, 02:49 PM

u couldn't kill a bottle of jack daniels... lol

"W"

08-24-2009, 02:49 PM

I shoot a 300mag and it drops everything.....I like head shots

270 is a good all around gun!!

LaAngler

08-24-2009, 02:51 PM

i've been dying to get a 7mm-08

the .284 dia bullet has the best ballistic coefficient

light recoil & better numbers on paper than a .308

trajectory matches the .270

Out of the ones you mentioned, I've taken game with the .243 win, .270 win, & 7mm rem mag...

I like the 7 mag the best, .243 second, then .270....

The great writer Jack O'Connor touted the .270 as one of the best cartridges made, but I heard he secretly thought the .280 rem (7mm) was better.....

wtretrievers

08-24-2009, 02:54 PM

i've been dying to get a 7mm-08

the .284 dia bullet has the best ballistic coefficient

light recoil & better numbers on paper than a .308

trajectory matches the .270
I own 4 of them. I like the 7mm-08. Got plenty of bone on the wall to show for it.

RaginCagin

08-24-2009, 04:03 PM

In my unprofessional opinion I like them in this order .270, .308, 7mm-08, 30-06.

SULPHITE

08-24-2009, 04:05 PM

I have a 7 mag..but hunted with a 25-06 and .270 both were accurate as hell...

huntin fool

08-24-2009, 06:57 PM

270, 30-06, or 30-30..lil 30-30 is a good lil gun.

corndog

08-24-2009, 07:38 PM

300 wetherby mag will take em down

cajunman7925

08-24-2009, 08:23 PM

270 or 30-06 can't go wrong 30-06 has probably killed more animals than anything else out there plus you can pretty much find ammunition anywhere for both of them.

Ray

08-24-2009, 08:28 PM

I have been shooting the same old Remington model 700 30-06 with a 3 X 9 Leopold scope for about 30 years. I cannot seem to want to change to anything else. It is and always has been a great gun. I have shot deer, hogs and coyotes with it.

Ducktrickster

08-24-2009, 09:29 PM

SULPHITE

08-24-2009, 09:41 PM

gotta love "whats the best" threads...

cajunman7925

08-24-2009, 10:00 PM

did you get your answer yet?:*****: I personally have only shot a 270 and 7mm-08. Being a novice rifleman, i would be nervous to shoot the 270 at live game because i can only group about 10 inches at 50 yards. I recently bought the latter and can group about 1.5 inches at 100 yards. Not sure what causes it but i have no confidence with that 270.

are u serious about the 270???

flounder_smacker

08-24-2009, 10:13 PM

the 308 is a good all around cartridge. light recoil and very accurate. out to 300 yards it hits like a sledge hammer. i have 3 rifles in 308 and have killed my share of animals deer and hogs. i shoot core locks and very few animals run and if they do its not but maybe 20 yards. the 308 would be my choice out of the calibers you mentioned but my all time favorite cartridge is the 257. weatherby mag. very fast and a good long range gun. its what i use to take long marsh shots and play with at the range.

LaAngler

08-24-2009, 10:57 PM

Did you get your answer yet?:*****: I personally have only shot a 270 and 7mm-08. Being a novice rifleman, I would be nervous to shoot the 270 at live game because I can only group about 10 inches at 50 yards. I recently bought the latter and can group about 1.5 inches at 100 yards. Not sure what causes it but I have no confidence with that 270.

my .270 groups 3/4" at 100 yds. with core lokts

.264 win mag is also a good long range whitetail caliber

gotta love caliber wars

Hopedale Hustler

08-24-2009, 11:37 PM

I like the .577 T-Rex..its good for smaller deer and bobcats and such...haha

Red Devil

08-25-2009, 08:29 AM

Did you get your answer yet?:*****: I personally have only shot a 270 and 7mm-08. Being a novice rifleman, I would be nervous to shoot the 270 at live game because I can only group about 10 inches at 50 yards. I recently bought the latter and can group about 1.5 inches at 100 yards. Not sure what causes it but I have no confidence with that 270.
Have you tried different bullets. I had problems grouping with the .270 Core Lokts so I switched to the Winchester XP3 130 grain and have had no problems. Dropped two in their tracks last year.

cmdrost

08-25-2009, 08:42 AM

"Did you get your answer yet?"

Yeah somewhat. Right now the only rifles I own is a .22 & a 30-30. I don't big game hunt much, so want something thats a good all round gun, light, accurate, and low recoil. I don't like borrowing other peoples stuff when I get invited to go somewhere.

I'm leaning on a 308, 7m08 or 270

SWAMPUS

08-25-2009, 08:59 AM

270 is a very straight shooter and has enough power to get the job done--My 13yr old son has been using this round for 7 years now and smacks the B'Jesus out of everything he shoots at from pigs to Red Deer Dead! My 7 yr old daughter shoots it with "Reduced Recoil" loads and it makes it like a 243-- I shot a Axis doe with it at 485 yds last year and dropped her right behind the shoulder--3 weeks ago a Spanish Ram at 385 yds--so I do like this round and the ammo is alot cheaper than some of the 7mm Mag rounds I shoot. Rem. Core Lock Loads. Smackum and stackum!

swamp

Finfeatherfur

08-25-2009, 09:23 AM

CMDrost-
I have been around firearms a long time and learned a lot of things from a guy Ducktrickster probably knows that lives in Iota and was retired military gun nut and our former Swat commander. We reloaded literally thousands of rounds by hand, weighing each casing, match grade projectiles, custom trigger jobs, etc., etc., etc...... Not trying to sound like some know it all, but lets just say, I shoot alot!

I have in my hunting guns at home my 3 that put game in the freezer. Two of these are purchases I made since I have had kids coming up into the hunting world. They are Weatherby Vanguard .270, Ruger Compact .243, and Savage 7mm-08.

Of all the ones listed as my 3 "go to guns", the most accurate, fun to shoot with best "performance" of kills and recoil is by far the 7mm-08. I would like to get another in a little larger frame, w/ thumbhole stock for me, instead of taking my kids gun all the time! Lighter recoil than the .270, excellent range and ballistics with better knock down than the .243.

Now, if it's just for fun and we are talking about varmit shooting, that little .243 Compact is a blast. It's like shooting a .22 @ 200 yd targets!

We are getting ready to tune up some guns for the upcoming season, so let me know if you want to drive out to the range and "test fire" some guns. Whatever you decide, spent the money to send your gun to Mike Brazda in Arnuadville @ Bayou Teche Guns for a custome trigger job. You will not believe how much better you shoot with a trigger job. Also, test different rounds for your best group.

Jordan

08-25-2009, 09:28 AM

I like the .577 T-Rex..its good for smaller deer and bobcats and such...haha

http://www.saltycajun.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3799&stc=1&d=1251175064

squirrel shot...

wtretrievers

08-25-2009, 09:48 AM

FFF......how do like the Ruger compact. Those are sweeeeeettttt. I bought my oldest one in wood & blue & My wife one stainless & laminate both in 7mm-08. Like a toy! I'm left handed so I'm S.O.L. for one.

Finfeatherfur

08-25-2009, 10:11 AM

I have the SS in laminate w/ Nikon 3x9 and it is awesome. We use that little gun for everything - deer hunting, hog trap checking, coyote shooting, and the occasional democrat attitude adjustment. I went to west Crowley one night to drop off some crawfish and some HomeBoyz decided they wanted to screw w/ the white boy. It's amazing what a silver rifle w/ scope will do for crowd control!

Red Devil

08-25-2009, 10:14 AM

LaAngler

08-25-2009, 10:45 AM

i'm ready

LaAngler

08-25-2009, 11:04 AM

here is my 700 .270

i keep going back to this rifle, used it for 10+ years

takes a good beating when i'm hunting with my climber, never failed to fire & always sub moa

i think the best rifle for the money is the $399 weatherby vanguard personally

wtretrievers

08-25-2009, 11:15 AM

Here go La. here's my 7mm-08. I'm left handed so I went with 7600. Just couldnt find a 7mm-08 in left hand bolt back in '92 & have put no tell'n how many on the ground with it. One at 290 yds (w/ rangefinder). Everyone at the camp calls it my pop gun. I bought a Winchester SXR in 300 short mag last year & havent shot it at a deer yet. I always go back to my "pop gun".
All three bucks in my Avatar were with a 7mm-08.

cmdrost

08-26-2009, 03:40 PM

almost made my mind up.....just looked at remington 700 ADL at Academy. Its only $399 right now.

I think I want the 7mm-08.

wtretrievers

08-26-2009, 03:51 PM

almost made my mind up.....just looked at remington 700 ADL at Academy. Its only $399 right now.

I think I want the 7mm-08.
Good Choice! They're all good calibers, the 7mm-08 w/ a 140 grain core-lokt is all you need. You'll enjoy it!

Slidellkid

08-26-2009, 04:42 PM

Well, last year I killed my 160th deer and about 140 of those have been with a high powered rifle. I have used lots of calibers and it really is hard to go wrong. I've killed a couple with a 7mm-08 and it worked perfect. My brother has killed over 75 deer with his 7mm-08 in the last eight years (in South Carolina where there is no limit on bucks) and loves his. He had a 30-06 before his 7mm-08 and did just fine with it as well but the little 7mm-08 does the same job without all the fuss. By the way, my brother uses the regular old Remington Core-Lokts (140 grain) and loves the way they perform and kill deer. He's tried other brands including the Hornady SST 140 grain and was less than impressed.

About two-thirds of my deer have been killed with one rifle - a Remington model 700 in .264 Winchester magnum. This caliber is 6.5mm and is smaller than a .270 but larger than a 25-06. I shoot the 140 grain bullets and I have never found a round that kills deer quicker. It's like lightning struck them - there really is a difference between it and the other calibers I have used and that is why have continued to use it since 1986. I had a 25-06 before the .264 and killed eleven deer with it one year and most dropped in their tracks, but the ones that didn't left a very skimpy blood trail that was difficult to follow through thick swamps and brush. Prior to the 25-06 I owned two different .270's and both were very good.

Knowing how well my brother has done with his little 7mm-08, if I had to buy a rifle today I would probably pick one up. The short action is very handy and makes for a more compact rifle and that would make it much lighter than my .264. I also have a close friend that has killed well over 100 deer with a beat up old Reminton modell 788 in .308. You've picked some good caliber and really can't go wrong. Though I would personally shy away fromt the .243 I have buds that swear by them too.

Finfeatherfur

08-26-2009, 04:56 PM

SlidellKid: -good intel and I could read this stuff all day! I love talking ballistics and performance and playing with different loads.

Well, the only thing I refuse to shoot are ballistic tips, no matter the make! I shoot the trusty old Corelocks in my .270, in the 7mm-08 we use either Fusion 140gr or Hornandy 140gr, and the .243 throws 90gr hollowpoints. I tried all kinds, and at the end of the day, the best group wins.

Now, if I get a wish list from the wife this year, I will be hard pressed to decide between another 7mm-08 or the new Marlin .308Express round. I have gotten to shoot that round recently and could not believe I was shooting a leveraction! Shot a sub -1" group at 100 yards w/ LeveRevolution ammo, then let the barrel cool, and shot a 1.25" group @ 200. Way cool and they had some guys that field tested it on elk. Did very well!

LaAngler

08-26-2009, 05:16 PM

and I could reSlidellKid: -good intel ad this stuff all day! I love talking ballistics and performance and playing with different loads.

maybe i will add a shooting/firearm forum and this one can stay hunting/tips/kills

Slidellkid

08-26-2009, 09:44 PM

LaAngler,

That's a good idea about the shooting/hunting forum. With both duck and deer season approaching lots of folks will probably want to talk guns and shells.

cmdrost

08-27-2009, 08:19 AM

I think shooting & ballistics fits just fine in a hunting discussion forum......don't want too many to have to track whats going on in which forum.

specktator

08-27-2009, 09:59 AM

personally i think 7mm-08 is a little too small. my buddy bought one and used it one year. he lost a few deer and instantly went back to his 7mag. i like to know i have some extra pop if i need it. i shoot a browning 300wsm stalker with boss. before that i shot browning stainless stalker 300 win mag with boss for about 8 or 9 years. and the boss is loud , but drastically reduces recoil. i was shooting this 300 win mag with boss when i was like 12 or 13 years old. and my short mag rifle is only like 22" long. great small gun if thats y u looking to get 7mm-08. i dont like to blood trail, i like to drop em like its hot!

LaAngler

08-27-2009, 10:12 AM

it really only takes 1000 lbs of energy for whitetail

specktator

08-27-2009, 10:23 AM

true dat! i go elk hunting in october every year so that is also why i carry a big stick!

cmdrost

08-27-2009, 10:45 AM

yeah my biggest game would prob be deer....never shot one. Usually go play around and shoot hogs or coyotes

Feesherman

08-27-2009, 12:19 PM

Slidellkid

08-27-2009, 02:04 PM

Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against a magnum. The big 7 and the 300 are great killers (my preference would be the 7 as it's a little more comfortable to shoot) but they aren't nearly as fun to shoot as the 7mm-08. My brother has lost exactly one deer with his 7mm-08. 85% of his kills drop in their tracks or run less than 25 yards. Occasionally with a lung hit he might have one travel 40 yards.

It's not always the caliber that causes a deer to be lost. Lots of guys get really shook up when shooting at deer and hit them in all sorts of bad places. A larger caliber really won't help much if you hit them wrong. Also, if you use the wrong kind of bullets you can have real problems. My brother shot a few with the Hornady SST's and they didn't perform nearly as well as the Core Lokts. The deer that have traveled the farthest on him were shot with the Hornady SST's and that is why is stopped using them. He bought some partitions this year because they were on sale for $12.00 a box but I told him I had had very bad experiences with them in years past. Well, he killed a nice 8 point on August 15 (opening day in SC) and dropped the deer in his tracks. He's pretty sure he clipped the spine, so I guess that would be expected. He did mention that the exit hole was much smaller with the partitions than it was with the Core Lokts. He's going to shoot a couple through the lungs and see what kind of performance he gets out of the partitions. My experience with them was not good and both my ex-wife and I had deer running a very long ways with very good hits, so I personnally would not recommend a partition though lots of guys swear by them. There was also a study done in SC with over 400 deer kills that proves that deer shot with deep penetrating bullets like the partition cause deer to run farther. I will see if I can look that one up on the web again.

Gerald

08-27-2009, 03:22 PM

wtretrievers

08-27-2009, 03:34 PM

LA.....even way less [~500] will do the job and put a deer down.

I shoot a .243 and have been using it for 20 years.

It is plenty of gun to knock down a deer. A 7mm-08 is a step up from a .243. If anyone is "Loosing" a deer with a 7mm-08.....IMO.....they need to wait for a better shot......and....spend some time practicing shooting.

IMO.....propping you gun on a sand bag at the range is not practicing.
Thats the botton line Gerald! I've never had a problem with any of my rifles in different calibers. I use core-lokts in all of 'em. I seen one guy at our camp loose 4 bucks in three weeks with a .270. Was it the gun or the size calibers fault......NO! 2 of 'em were found a week or two later. He blamed the gun then the bullets. All boiled down to bad shot placement.

Gerald

08-28-2009, 12:10 AM

Lots of people say or think that a .243 rifle is too small for Deer hunting. I totally disagree.

My first few deer were killed with buck shot or a slug. Then I borrowed a 30-06 and that gun almost cut the neck in half on a small deer. Over kill.....IMO. I want to have some meat left after shooting a deer, so I got a .243 and been shooting 100 gr. core-locks ever sense.

This is a picture of a kill shot I made several years ago. I only had a 6" gap between trees to make the shot. What I did not see was this small tree about 25 yards past this narrow gap. The deer was standing back by the tree that is leaning in the background. I would have never thought a .243 bullet could hit a tree and then still hit a deer 8 yards farther away. The deer did run 150 yards without much blood to trail.

.

LaAngler

08-28-2009, 08:51 AM

LA.....even way less [~500] will do the job and put a deer down.

I shoot a .243 and have been using it for 20 years.

It is plenty of gun to knock down a deer. A 7mm-08 is a step up from a .243. If anyone is "Loosing" a deer with a 7mm-08.....IMO.....they need to wait for a better shot......and....spend some time practicing shooting.

IMO.....propping you gun on a sand bag at the range is not practicing.

that's true about practice. i can't count how many bricks of 22 LR i've shot with a scoped gun just to get used to pulling the trigger again before hunting season.

i've also practiced shooting left handed which comes in handy in a climber where you want to keep your movements to a minimum. killed several deer shooting off of my weak side.

Too Tall

08-28-2009, 02:24 PM

A .270, .308 or 30/06 will take any big game animal in America with correct shot placement. Personally I wouldn't want to test that theory on a Grizzly Bear but its been done. For coyote/deer/light recoil the .270 may be your best choice. You can always have a muzzle break installed to manage recoil. If you don't want to spend a lot of money but still have an accurate rifle check out a Stevens rifle. @$400 minus the scope.

Being a novice rifleman, I would be nervous to shoot the 270 at live game because I can only group about 10 inches at 50 yards. Not sure what causes it but I have no confidence with that 270.Flinching. You are probably anticipating the recoil. Go to the range with a buddy and have him load your rifle. Have him watch your reaction to the shot. Tell him that sometime during the shooting session to not load a round and see how much you flinch when you pull the trigger. Another thing to do is get a box of reduced recoil rounds and try that. If you are not flinching and still shooting that spread have the rifle and scope checked out by a gunsmith.

Slidellkid

08-28-2009, 04:26 PM

Gerald,

That picture reminds me of a deer I killed years ago. A very nice buck was feeding out in the large, leafy soybeans. I could not see his body because the beans were so deep. I waited and waited until I was running out of light and then decided to shoot him in the neck. He was about 175 yards away, so a neck shot was not my first choice but I had no time to wait. I was shooting a 25-06 and when I pulled the trigger and the gun recoiled I saw a pine tree with about a 4 inch diameter falling behind where the deer was standing. I was puzzled as hell because I didn't see the deer but saw the tree falling. Anyway, I walked over there and immediatly looked at the tree and the thing was completely blown in half right about 4 feet high. I was cussing myself for missing and then noticed some very slight movement in the beans. Well, you know the rest of the story - neck shot 8 point with the bullet blowing through and killing the pine tree too. It was really pretty amazing.

Regarding your .243 I've not killed one with a .243, but I have a buddy that has used a 6mm on a Mack truck full of deer. All of his sons have started out with the 6mm and he has video taped them killing deer. He mostly used 100 grain Sierra game kings and the video footage was awesome. You wouldn't think such a small bullet would be so devastating but they are.

By the way Gerald, are you going to hunt up on Clear Creek any this year? I live in Deridder now and will probably hunt there, West Bay and Fort Polk unless I decide to join a club.

matt1118

08-30-2009, 07:03 PM

I have a ruger 7 mag and I love it. I shoot 175 grain bullets. It is an all around good gun. You can kill deer, hogs, or go to Nebraska, Colorodo and kill Elk. You can kill anything you want with this one gun.

matt1118

08-31-2009, 08:00 PM

7 mag man!!!!

BayouFX4

09-02-2009, 02:24 PM

I love my Rem 700 .270. It's got very little recoil, and it can reach out pretty good.

RaginCagin

09-02-2009, 02:58 PM

The best rifle is the one you own b/c no one is going to admit a rifle different than theirs is better. With that being said a .270 loaded with 130 grain remington scirricos(bad arse bullets) is the best.:D

whunter29

09-02-2009, 03:18 PM

I personal have a 25-06 that I love and I have killed six deer with it in the last two seasons without having to track one over 100yards. The only reason I had to track the deer one hundred yards was because we were running dogs and it was a rushed shot that entered the shoulder but came out the chest. Blood everywhere and deer still went close to 100 yards to die. I also have a 270 and have killed 20 plus deer with it. I like the gun but the exit hole is huge. I find the deer I shot with the 25-06 die faster than with the 270. In the 270 I shoot 130 grain corelocks and in the 25-06 I shoot 100 grain corelocks. I also like my 45-70 and last year I killed my first deer with it a 6 point at 100 yards. Man that thing puts a huge hole in deer.