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The Deer Rifle

Doc

By Doc,
in Rifle and Gun Hunting

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NYSuperSportsman Newbie

NYSuperSportsman

Posted
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I have a savage model 11 in .243. Killed 3 deer and a 275 lb black bear with it last year. 2 heart shots and a neck shot on the deer. The largest one ran all of 20 yards. and the first shot on the bears shoulder dropped him in his tracks. (even tho I added 2 more for good measure) I would say if you are looking for whitetails only you do not have to enter in to the 30 caliber range. I would say 243 25-06 or 270 or maybe a 7mm-08 either way. Oh and I have been really loving the Redfield Revolution scopes. I have one on my rifle and one on my ML and they are a great bang for the buck. Plus lifetime warranty and made in America! Good luck!

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Doc
Doc

Ok, I can now officially say that he .270 works awesome ....... twice. It works good at 150 yards and it works good at 15 yards.....lol.

steve863
steve863

Don't want to hijack Doc's thread, but this has got to be the laugh of the month. A mallet over it's head will kill a deer, too, but it would be FAR from my first choice to kill a deer as would eithe

Doc
Doc

It's just something that I have to do ... lol. For me, I guess I won't be satisfied until they are all going into the same hole. It's a sickness. It's all about finding the absolute limits of the gun,

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Lawdwaz Grand Master

Lawdwaz

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Seems like a good time to post up a couple pics. I posted this a few weeks ago but I don't remember a law against a repost. <grin>

This bullet is from a 243 (6mm) that I used to kill a doe at (what I laser measured again in ML season this past October) 236 yards in PA. She was HEAD ON. I punched it right into her chest at a very slight angle. She did a back flip and was done. I'd say about 40" of penetration. 80 grain Barnes TTSX. Recovered in a roast I was slicing up for a stew early this fall. I looked at the time of the kill & butchering and couldn't find it. Well, it spent the last 10 months in my freezer tucked inside this roast. Cool deal.......

IMG_3313.jpg

IMG_3314.jpg

Hey Doc..........no deer walking is too big for the 243.

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nybuckboy Enthusiast

nybuckboy

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Between loud construction equipment and guns I am probably a few years away from needing some help. On the bench I use plugs and muffs now

As a hearing specialist, may I suggest you get checked out sooner rather than later. An audiological test is quick, painless and will give you a baseline for the future.

You see, we hear with our brain not our ears. The tiny hair cells in the cochlea become permanently damaged from noise exposure thereby shorting out and slowly shutting down the pathway from the cochlea to the brain. That's what the "huh" is from. You may not want to hear this (No pun) but you may already be there - not a few years away.

High frequencies are generally damaged most from noise exposure. You see, the low tones are the Vowels sounds of speech (a e i o u). They give our words there sound. The highs are the Consonant sounds of speech (s t f p th k) which are the sounds of speech that help us understand the difference between similar sounding words, like "thin" and "fin" or "him" or "win" or "twin". The vowel is why they rhyme.

Most people that need help for there hearing are "NOT" deaf or even "Hard of Hearing". They hear someone speak to them but they can't catch what was said, therefore they say "huh" or "what" or "pardon", etc.

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nybuckboy Enthusiast

nybuckboy

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The .243 IS the perfect deer gun. Low recoil, accurate, flat shooter. I'd take ANY shot with the 243 that I'd take with an <insert unnecessarily overpowered caliber here>. You really think a 243 can't fully penetrate a deer? Give me a break. You guys keep using your <insert unnecessarily overpowered caliber here> and I'll keep using my 243. I'll kill as many or more than you will.

I've seen TWO deer shot at with a 243, 55 grain VARMINT bullet. BOTH were DRT. Granted one was a head shot, but the other was a high shoulder shot. Would I recommend that bullet or those shots? Hell no, but the fact that a VARMINT bullet out of a 243 can do that tells me that a deer bulletin out of a 243 will have no issue whatsoever.

What exactly do you people think these deer are made out of? Have you not seen what an arrow does to them? It's ok to hunt them with a bow but a 243 is underpowered? What are you guys smoking?

I honestly don't mind that you're shooting them with an <insert unnecessarily overpowered caliber here>, but don't sit there and tell me that the 243 is lacking something when it comes to deer hunting. Actually, go ahead and say it all you want, I K N O W better.

Why do I bother? Clearly the marketing departments for the <insert unnecessarily overpowered caliber here> is way better than I am. They sure have you guys eating out of their hands!!

Zhe Wiz

I agree 100% with what you said. The only advantage the much bigger calibers have is a bad shot but a well placed shot from a 243 with 95-100 grains is deadly in the neck or the vitals and will penetrate the shoulder and drop the deer as well.

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steve863 Community Regular

steve863

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So you admit to making statements without having absolutely no experience hunting with this caliber to actually know. I rest my case. 308 definately works just as well as a 270 I'm just saying that a 270 shoots flatter so don't have to worry bullet drop as much. But there isn't a deer that I have killed with my 270, 308, 12 gauge that my 223 wouldnt have killed. The only caliber that I would complain about is a 30/30.

Look, I've been hunting since before you were born and been around hunters longer than I really should have been and probably would have been better served if I did something more productive with all that time. In all my freakin years hunting I have NEVER heard of any serious and experienced deer hunter recommend a .223 over all the other well known and proven cartridges. So I may be a stupid idiot, but I know that at least some of the other hunters out there do know a thing or two about what works best. Until I hear the majority of others say that a .223 is a perfectly good deer round in all the different hunting situations that may arise, I surely won't be taking your word for it. Sorry.

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Uncle Nicky Apprentice

Uncle Nicky

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a lot of deer where killed with spotlights and .22's as well.....

And probably for every one that was killed, 4 or 5 were maimed and never recovered. Honestly, I will never understand why anyone would want to show up under-gunned. Use the right tool for the job, this isn't rocket science.

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Doc Experienced

Doc

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It is all in how you handle the kick I love shooting my 300 weatherby mag but it hits hard and kicks like 8 legged mule so most of the time I use my 243 Remington I have shot alot of deer with both guns good luck

Lol .... I did my time with a deer weapon that was nearly as devastating on the hunter end as it was on the deer end ..... my 12 guage Ithaca. Now it is time to get a gun that I can actually enjoy shooting for as long a shooting session as I want without the eventual flinch from the swat. Plus, I have no need for a gun that flame cooks the deer as it passes through. Also, I don't want my deer to look like some kind of road-kill when the bullet hits it.

Yes, that is a bit of exaggeration, but there does come a point where you have to say dead is dead, and it sounds like the right answer is somewhere between the .223 and the .300 mag. I am starting to focus on the .270 Ruger American, but I have a lot of testing, reading, and trying to do before I make any firm decisions. Remember, I have until some time into next summer before I have to make the decision, Although I am sure it won't take anywhere near that amount of time. Actually I would like to make the purchase somewhere near Christmas so it is a bit more like the intended Christmas present .... lol.

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Pygmy Experienced

Pygmy

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Doc, old buddy...

As I'm sure you have gleaned from all this discourse, there are MANY good choices in rifles and chamberings..

But for medium game, ( such as deer) a bolt action in .270 Win is NEVER a bad choice...

I think you are on the right track...

Good luck and have fun....

Edited by Pygmy
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Lawdwaz Grand Master

Lawdwaz

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Lol .... I did my time with a deer weapon that was nearly as devastating on the hunter end as it was on the deer end ..... my 12 guage Ithaca. Now it is time to get a gun that I can actually enjoy shooting for as long a shooting session as I want without the eventual flinch from the swat. Plus, I have no need for a gun that flame cooks the deer as it passes through. Also, I don't want my deer to look like some kind of road-kill when the bullet hits it.

Yes, that is a bit of exaggeration, but there does come a point where you have to say dead is dead, and it sounds like the right answer is somewhere between the .223 and the .300 mag. I am starting to focus on the .270 Ruger American, but I have a lot of testing, reading, and trying to do before I make any firm decisions. Remember, I have until some time into next summer before I have to make the decision, Although I am sure it won't take anywhere near that amount of time. Actually I would like to make the purchase somewhere near Christmas so it is a bit more like the intended Christmas present .... lol.

Don't over think this Doc as there aren't many bad choices these days. Your choices are as follows:243, 260, 7mm-08, 308, 270, 280 or 30-06. Sounds like the 270 is what your going to end up with. Remington 700 would be easy to find. Grab a $250 Leupold used from the web and some Talley Lightweights and your ready to rock.

Are you opposed to buying a used gun off the 'net? If not, I'll keep my eyes peeled for a winner.

Merry Christmas!!

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Doc Experienced

Doc

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Well, I went out and did it! I told my Brother-in-law not to bring all his guns down for me to try. I shot my son's .270, and decided that was just about right for my purposes. I've always had a bit of an impulsive streak in me when it comes to buying guns .... lol.

I went for the Ruger American bolt action. It is a heck of a gun for the price ($379). Topped it off with a Nikon ProStaff, scope rings, and a sling and a double rifle case and a couple boxes of ammo.

Now all I need is for the law to be changed so I can hunt deer with it ..... lol.

Also, I would like to thank everyone for the help in this selection. It sounds like the .270 is right smack in the middle of what you all were recommending, which is right where I wanted to be. All the comments on the various calibers really helped me make up my mind.

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Doc Experienced

Doc

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So, how did all the discussion about having a centerfire rifle in the woods during a shotgun only season actually come out? My shooting range is in the woods. So do I have to wait until shotgun season is concluded before I can legally shoot the darn thing?

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