Best deer rifle, caliber, setup for whitetail?

Nothing wrong with a .270 at 300 yards.

Great caliber.

Doesn't matter the caliber if you are going to miss them

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I missed two deer at approximately 300 yards this year with my .270.

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Sorry bud, but you didn't miss because of the caliber.

As others have said, .270 Win is more than capable of connecting at 300 yards. Check your optic's zero and make sure you're doing your part behind the rifle. You also could move to lighter-for-caliber loads that may have less drop at long distances.

If you're just concocting an excuse to buy another rifle, the first step is admitting the truth... You will get plenty of support here if that's the case.

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what would y'all recommend to reach out there at longer distances, optics included?

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Nothing wrong with a .270. It's probably your optics.

The difference in a 3x9 40mm and a 4x12 50mm is quite noticeable.

I think the bigger scope looks a little goofy on a rifle, but for reaching out down a pipeline or any other long shot the extra magnification is huge.

3x9 40mm


4x12 50 mm


Then you even have options like this...

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I have been shooting a Browning A-bolt chambered in .270 basically my entire life. We have recently picked up a new hunting lease in the South LA marshes that will allow for fairly long shots late in the year once the marsh begins to fall from the freeze.. I missed two deer at approximately 300 yards this year with my .270.

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Honestly, .270 is pretty dang sufficient for this shot. But, it's a lot harder shot than a lot of people expect.

I bought a 270wsm for pipelines, just to shoot a little bit flatter....i would fully expect it to be fine at 300-400...if i am.

A .270 at 300 yards with a decent scope is no problem at all. You are there equipment wise. Wouldn't purchase anything until you go to the range and make sure there isn't a problem you haven't identified yet.

Get a copper solvent and clean the fouling out of the rifling in the barrel. You need the proper spin rate to be accurate. This is likely your issue at distance given your limited description.

Assumption is that you are relaxed and comfortable shooting at 300 yards... once again the range is vital to figuring this out.

screw a .270. Get you a 7 mm mag, .257 weatherby, or a .300 win mag or wby mag

with a scope of at least 14 -20 power magnification

took two big does this year with a .270 at 150ish yds and over 200 yds - A-bolt with Nikon 3x9 shooting Hornady Custom 140gr. Missed one at 225ish. The miss was on me- to quote another poster, calm and comfortable shooting posture on longer shots is key. I zeroed the rifle at 200yds w/ 1" groups of 5. so I know it was me that missed. The two I hit, the bullet went right where the crosshairs were aimed, they fell over dead, not one step. First deer killed with this rifle as I normally use a 243 or a 300 wby. the trauma shock to the thoracic cavity looked like hamburger stirred up in red jello.

For louisiana honestly the most practical deer killing rifle Ive hunted with is a rem 7600 in .270

Accurate as any bolt gun ive ever shot so its good for pipeline hunting. Its lightning fast on follow-ups. Very reliable. Its a fantastic hunting rifle. Its unfortunate that remingtons quality has gone to hell because a 7600 from the late 80's is a damn fine bang stick.