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New Deer Rifle

Posted on 12/4/23 at 6:27 pm
Posted by sigsauer
LA
Member since Jan 2009
488 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 6:27 pm
Yes I know the search button works. This is a little more in depth question. I'm in search of a new deer rifle for mainly whitetail but other North American game as well. My price range is up to around $1800 without scope.
So now the question should I go tried and true, 30-06, 270, and 308 or entertain some of the "newer" rounds like 6.5CM which almost falls into the older catageory now or 28 Nosler, 7CM, or 300 PRC? Are any of these new rounds really wowing hunters enough to offset ammo cost/ scarcity? I know the old saying if I'm in backwoods Arky I can always find 30-06, 270 or 308. So what's the boards opinion?
Posted by Rize
Spring Texas
Member since Sep 2011
16581 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 6:33 pm to
I’ve got a lot of deer rifles and most just sit in the safe if they don’t have a suppressor on the end of them.

Shorter barrels and cans for the anything 100 to 200 yards. They are lighter to spot and stalk with and easier to move around in the deer blind.

If you don’t have a compact bolt action with a suppressor I say go that route.
Posted by LSUA 75
Colfax,La.
Member since Jan 2019
3929 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 6:34 pm to
My first choice would be 7mm Magnum,2nd would be 30-.06.
Posted by Ol boy
Member since Oct 2018
3187 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 6:52 pm to
quote:

I'm in search of a new deer rifle for mainly whitetail but other North American game as well

How far do you anticipate shooting?
What other calibers do you already have.
Strictly whitetail at normal ranges I would say a Christensen arms ridgline in 308 with a 22in barrel.
Posted by Citica8
Duckroost, LA
Member since Dec 2012
3671 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 6:59 pm to
quote:

what's the boards opinion?
if I'm in backwoods Arky I can always find 30-06, 270 or 308

Those two 30 cal guns and the 270 are more than capable of killing any animal on this continent within the shootable limitations of 98% of the hunting population. A lot of cartridges come and go, but I believe those three will stand the test of time for deer and other big game long after I’m gone, and I would personally rank them 30-06, 270, 308.

As for rec’s for a $1800 rifle without glass, I can’t help you other than I’d go stainless synthetic.
Posted by jimbeaux82
Natchitoches, La
Member since Oct 2008
1342 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 7:14 pm to
Beware of the “exotic” calibers unless you handload or intend to learn. I was reading on other websites where 270 WSM is almost impossible to find now. So if you go with the exotic stuff like 7mm PRC , 28 Nosler etc you better buy a lifetime supply or get set up to handload.

I have a large variety of deer rifles. There is virtually nothing you cannot do with a 30/06 , 7 Mag or a 300 WM and you will always be able to find ammo
Posted by TurkeyThug
Member since Jan 2019
221 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 7:17 pm to
I bought my son a Christensen Arms 6.5 PRC mesa. I have shot 3006 and 308 all my life. Wanted to try a semi wildcat round so I went with it. 1500 for the rifle. Put a Leupold 4x16x44 Boone and Crocket reticle. If he ain’t hunting with it I am….
Posted by sigsauer
LA
Member since Jan 2009
488 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 7:20 pm to
I have both an Omega 300 and Hybrid 46. I will be running one of those two on whichever rifle I buy. I shot a very light 300 PRC this summer with a Hybrid 46 on it. Tamed the 300 way better than I expected.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
67273 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 7:22 pm to
quote:

Deer Rifle


.270, .30-06, .308, 6.5 creedmoor*

Anything else is making this harder than it needs to be just for the sake of making it hard. Which is fine, but let's not talk "better."

Caliber is basically irrelevant with the right bullet and right shot placement when shooting deer. So get something that's easy to get ammo for and go kill deer.

quote:

Are any of these new rounds really wowing hunters enough to offset ammo cost/ scarcity? I


No. If you aren't shooting deer at 1500 yards it's totally irrelevant and it become slightly relevant at that range. The majority of people rarely shoot 200 yards and at that range literally anything works with good bullets and good shot placement.


*the Creedmoor gets an asterisks because there's loads of ammo out there that really sucks for hunting. Otherwise it's an excellent deer caliber.
Posted by sigsauer
LA
Member since Jan 2009
488 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 7:25 pm to
I am also interested in the 6.5 PRC. Seems like a hopped up 6.5 Creedmore.


Also another poster replied the 7mm Mag, if I'm going that route why not the 28 Nos? It's pretty much better in every catageory, minus availability.
Posted by Ol boy
Member since Oct 2018
3187 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 7:27 pm to
quote:

I have both an Omega 300 and Hybrid 46. I will be running one of those two on whichever rifle I buy. I shot a very light 300 PRC this summer with a Hybrid 46 on it. Tamed the 300 way better than I expected.

Buddy of mine has a CA ridgline FFT 22in bbl 300wm with a leupold vx6 all in weighs less than 7.5 pounds or so. With a suppressor it’s less recoil and noise than a 410shot gun, pretty impressive combo.
Posted by sigsauer
LA
Member since Jan 2009
488 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 7:34 pm to
I've killed two deer this year with my brother's 6.5 Creedmore out of a nice custom Rem 700. Now given the rifle has some heft to it, that was still a very soft shooting rifle and neither deer ran more than 50 yards. Only complaint was a small blood trail on a double lung heart shot. Three small spots until the puddle where he was laying.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
67273 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 7:41 pm to
quote:

Also another poster replied the 7mm Mag, if I'm going that route why not the 28 Nos?


quote:

availability


This. You'll likely never realize any difference in performance.

What's the biggest animal you ever plan to shoot with this rifle, and what's the farthest you think you'll ever shoot it?
Posted by 257WBY
Member since Feb 2014
6060 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 7:43 pm to
Does other NA game include elk? If elk are on the list, I’d consider a .30-06, 7 mag, 28 Nosler, 300 mag

My 257 WBY has killed an elk (son shot it), big horn ram, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, and truck loads of whitetails. Three bang-flops out of four kills this season. Flat shooting and mild recoil.
Posted by SportTiger1
Stonewall, LA
Member since Feb 2007
29286 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 7:52 pm to
You can read my comments in the other thread, but I'm not buying another non-mainstream (let's say, top 10 hunting calibers re: popularity) for my main hunting rifle.

A) even in normal times, you will have less selection of ammo types and brands
B) you run the risk of it dying out and having no options.

With as many calibers and cartridges made today, ammo manufacturers aren't going to keep producing them all. Some of these new calibers from the last 20 years will fade away in the next decade.

Which ones, who knows. But I bet 8t ain't .308, .30-06, .270 etc

Hell, people don't talk about the .260. it's a great round and was fairly popular recently. But not as widespread available today.
Posted by sigsauer
LA
Member since Jan 2009
488 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 8:11 pm to
That's impressive out of a CA Ridgeline. They are scary light and have to be brutal shooting a 300 WM out of it. We are planning on putting my 46 Hybrid on my Dad's 300 Weatherby to see how much nicer it is to shoot suppressed.
Posted by sigsauer
LA
Member since Jan 2009
488 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 8:17 pm to
I'd say mainly whitetail but will probably throw in a couple of elk hunts eventually.
Posted by Griff Nasty
Rigollette
Member since Jan 2016
126 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 8:20 pm to
30-06 has been killing shite and killing it well for well over a hundred years. Has probably killed more wild game and human targets than any other caliber on the planet. Every manufacturer out there makes a rifle chambered in it. Has a plethora of different ammo manufacturers for it and an unending bullet selection. Nothing wrong with any of the other calibers discussed they all serve a purpose and work but the tried and true aught 6 is gonna be hard to beat. This is just my very very humble opinion.
Posted by prostyleoffensetime
Mississippi
Member since Aug 2009
11687 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 8:21 pm to
quote:

Shorter barrels and cans for the anything 100 to 200 yards. They are lighter to spot and stalk with and easier to move around in the deer blind.

If you don’t have a compact bolt action with a suppressor I say go that route.


What’s your setup? I’ve got a long narrow strip of land bordered by a river perfect for still hunting, but I don’t feel like lugging around a BAR with a 56 mm scope. A little short stubby “scout” gun would be perfect.
Posted by Ol boy
Member since Oct 2018
3187 posts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 8:23 pm to
Yeah after shooting his i kinda regret buying my 300wm mesa last year. I think I’m put together a similar type build using a Mack brothers action and proof carbon barrel.
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