1sttruck

Long range for what ? In my opinion it's irresponsible to be hunting deer much beyond 300 yds due to the need for accurate wind and range estimates due to drop and deflection. I use to use a 30.06 for high power rifle target shooting, everyone that was serious about it used a .308, and from a 100 yd zero I usually needed a bit over 7 clicks of elevation at the 300 yd line (21 inched of drop) and 21 inches of elevation at the 600 yd line (126 inches of drop). Wind was harder for me to estimate, and it was nice to be able to hit black on a sighting shot when it was windy. Could I kill a deer at 600 yds ? Sure. Could I consistently make clean kills at 600 yds ? No way, besides wind and range estimates in part because hunting bullets usually aren't as consistent as target bullets. Is long range shooting fun ? I think that a good range is like a piece of heaven on earth.

That being said, a .308 will do better at long range than a 30.06, some use a .300 Win Mag for 1000 yd shooting, but a 30.06 will handle the heavier bullets better for hunting. I use to use Sierra 168 gr HPBT out to 300 yds, and Sierra 190 gr HPBT at 600 yds. I plan on using 180 gr Nosler Partition in my pre-war M70 30 Gov't (30.06) for heavier game.

Fronty Owner

A flat trajectory has other benefits beyond being able to hit a deer at 600 yrds.

You have a good 5" diameter kill zone on a white tail. If your peak is 1" high when zeroed at 150 yards, you dont have to worry about distance as much out to 300 yrds. Granted this doesn't help with the wind. When you get buck fever and take an off hand shot (dont tell my you haven't EVER done this), your first reaction is to put the cross hairs on your target and shoot. If you stop to think about wind, range, elevations, etc, the deer bounds off and your without dinner.
Personally, I shoot a 7mm Rem Mag, its zeroed at 150 yrd, and will tear up a 3" clay at any range upto 200 yrds without thought taking off hand shots.

TxDiesel007

All of this is true

But like i said, i have seen my dad drop deer at 400 plus, its insane i know, this year he wants to go 600 plus.. You need a total of 1000 ft lbs of energy at 500 yards to drop a deer in its tracks, and the 308 just dont pack that, ive been researching myself..


Bentwings

I did say a 300 winne mag, which is a 300 winchester mag, im lookin for one for my dad for christmas this year....

To those that said the 300 RUM.. i have fired a 7mm STW and my shoulder just hated me for two days, But its a super fast round. dad and I are deaf enough as it is, so 300 RUM and 7STW are out of the question, I dont like muzzlebrakes for louder bang, and i dont like too much recoil. Plus we dont hand load, and bullets are $$ for those rounds. I know for sure ill get a 300 rum in the future, but not as of yet

I also have a 260 remington, super accurate round, yet expensive to hand load, and factory ammo aint cheap.. Its a good all around cartridge tho. I also have a model 722 remington in 300 Savage, and that poor round beyond 250 is pretty much hopeless, awesome kiddy gun tho... i still have fun plinkin does with it...

also in the collection is the family heirloom (IMHO) Winchester model 670A 30.06 that belonged to my grampa (RIP) that one is just as is at the moment, but i have killed many deer with it...

Thanks for the opinions fellas, keep em coming.. Im all ears,

Rick

edehn

You didn't mention it, but the 7MM Rem Mag is about as flat a shooting round as you're gonna get this side of a custum. The 300 Win Mag is good round, too. Bought a Tika T3, stainless in 7MM, mounted up a Leupold scope and can drive tacks with it. As was previously stated, any of the guns you listed will get the job done in the right hands. Buy the best optics you can afford. You'll be glad you did.

jughead

if one can carry it use the 50 cal. just be sure to salt the bullet so the meat wont spoil before u get to it.

Brock

If that is the case....I would go with the .338 Win Mag or .300 Win Mag.....300 will have more manageable recoil but 338 will have more energy at those distances. I have a .300 Win Mag in a Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker....most likely the most accurate rifle out of the box I have ever owned. Good trigger, free floating barrel, awesome bolt with box fed magazine well on fiberglass stock.

I have done some competitive shooting at long ranges and even shot the 600 and 1000 meter ranges at Ft Meade....and if your dad can consistently drop deer at 400 actual yards (measured) then he is in the top 10% shooters in the world that are not world class competitors. If he can do it at more than 400yds then my hat is off to him. I have known many many people that are great shots but the average GOOD SHOT can be consistent in kills out to 200....the misses to hits gets to be around 4 misses for ever hit in kill zone at 300....400 is about 6 misses per hit........over that the play of mirage, wind, bullet drop, energy, etc...plus the shooter having rock solid rest with ice in his veins not to flinch, jerk or breathe at wrong time. Like I said my hat is off...
I have shot a sniper setup at those ranges with a spotter and known wind speeds at known ranges. My farthest shot is 300yds on wild game....I dont like gut shot or long trails...I like shots on the point of the shoulder or through the pump house.

Good luck...

blown32

.........

tsmay51

I checked the 270. I actually shoot a 25x06 myself. It's ballistics are up there close to 22-250 with much more knock down power. It is easy on ur shoulder and easy to shoot.It's great for white tail but a little light for mule deer or anything bigger. I shoot a 7mm rem mag for the bigger game. For an all around gun I love the 7mm rem mag. A gun of choice for the bigger game though would be the 300 win mag for sure though. I guess it all depends on what u are going to do with the gun.

DustyRock

Ditto: Cant go wrong with the .06. Open your reloading manual and check out how many bullet combinations you can use. It is a very versatile round. And as already stated you can get ammo anywhere for it. Have to agree on the 180 gr spitzer boat tails. They have a great B.C.

smokin05

I can’t help this one! I have a 300 weatherby mag. w/ a Nikon gold 2.5x10 w. 30mm tube and 56mm recital! I love it, well I don’t love the kick that’s why at the range I use the accubrake weatherby has...this has been the best weapon I ever owned I shoot 165 boat tail bullets at 3350 fps muzzle velocity if its between me and five hundred yards I can put it on the wall! my second is the 270 it has very flat trajectory at 200 yards just not a really far shooter....and its lighter really better for most Texas hunting....I cant go on a trip w/ out them both....I also like the automatic 30.06 for east Texas

Dusty Ratcliff

what are all the military & swat/police sniper rifles chambered in???? .308 hands down, can't beat a good one with a stick, although for deer hunting here in s.w. va the 7mm-08 works very well, bigger isn't always better, all are superb guns, but for reaching way out there I'd have to go with the tried & true .308, Dusty

1sttruck

"I have a 300 weatherby mag. w/ a Nikon gold 2.5x10 w. 30mm tube and 56mm recital! I love it, well I don’t love the kick that’s why at the range"

I was trying out some new loads in my 30.06 and noticed a couple of guys trying to sight in a loud rifle. When I wanted a break I went over to see what they were doing, and they said that they couldn't get their 300 Weatherby sighted in as both of them were flinching badly. I offered to try it, saying that I'd gone thru almost 100 rds of 30.06 off of the bench, and that I should be good for a at least a few rounds. I didn't find the recoil to be a problem but the muzzle jump was ridiculous, at least compared to my 26in target barrel. I managed to do over a 2in 3 rd group, which they said was good, and we got it sighted in. Interesting as some of the 30.06 loads were less than 1in 5 rd groups with iron sights :^)

RATTLINRAM

the left when he goes hunting.

jrkerns

We used a .308 when I was a sniper and we all hated it. 300 win mag was our rifle of choice for long shots(even chose it over the 50 cal). The police use .308 because they shoot at short ranges and have to worry about overpenetration. At long ranges 308 gets tossed around by the wind.

neveragain

They must be fine for the lower states wildlife. Mine preference is the 180 green tip. better flight charactoristics. The Federial 165's 3" high at 100 these shoot 8 1/2 " @ 100 M