Elk & Deer Rifle

[Cole022]

I’m sure this question has been asked multiple times, but wanted to get some advice. Currently am avid Waterfowl hunter, I’ve shot a couple deer with either a borrowed .270 or .308 and determined it’s my time to buy a rifle to start hunting Deer and Similiar game more seriously. I personally don’t want a huge gun case full of rifles I never shoot so I want to stick to a fewer rifles that I shoot better and more often.

My over all goal is elk and deer with the possibility to shoot NRL hunter, even though there’s a good chance I never do. I at first leaned towards a 8.6 BLK so that I could hunt hogs and big game since I live in Texas but the ballistics past 300 yards don’t excite me. So currently I’m leaning towards a 7 prc or 300 win mag and then later on building a dedicated thermal gun In 22-250, 22 Creedmore or 25 Creedmore. I’d like to be able to easily purchase ammo from a major manufacturer like Barnes or Hornady but I do have an interest in reloading if I get the time and money for it.

So my question is am I on the right path caliber wise or should I look as something else. I also would prefer a Short action if possible, however I do know that 7 prc and 300 win mag are not short action so it’s not a requirement.

 

[Taudisio]

A 6.5prc will cover everything you want and some. Which is nearly a 270win but short action.
Your 8.6 blk comment is throwing a wrench in my following of your thought process. Subsonic rounds are not the best for overall hunting.

 

[Wrench]

I'd probably look at something that lasts longer and is more fun to shoot. A creed, 7-08, 308....all are lower recoiling and plenty capable to twice as far as you can imagine.....and a bit cheaper to practice with.

 

[Fogalo]

I’ve really enjoyed hunting deer and elk with a 300 win mag. But as said it’s not the most practical do everything gun because of recoil and cost of ammo. But if you’re comfortable shooting it, it’s a great hunting round.

 

[D_wit22]

.300 is heavy for deer but it kills them! Potential for a lot of waste. 6.5 PRC or 7mmPRC would be my choice.

 

[nettereo16]

I’d go lower recoil and cheaper to shoot. The more enjoyable it is to shoot, the more you’ll shoot. The more you shoot, the better you’ll shoot. 6.5creedmoor or 308 fit that role well

 

[ResearchinStuff]

T3x in 6.5 creed.

 

[HuntingAddict]

300 wsm for short action. 7mm rem mag for long. Love these 2 and if you don't handload finding ammo is not hard to find. If recoil is an issue get them with a brake. To be honest the old 30-06 is still an awesome caliber for deer and elk

 

[AZ_Hunter]

T3x in 6.5 creed.

Agreed. 6.5CM will do everything you want with a ton of types of factory ammo available everywhere, all while having soft recoil making it fun to practice with and get good.

Since you sound new to this game, don’t let YouTube tards influence you that the 6.5 is too small for elk, it isn’t.

 

[aachey]

New fancy calibers id go 6.5prc or 7prc. Old school the ole 270 or 30-06 would do the trick.

 

[hiker270]

270, 308, 7 PRC

 

[rabbithuntr]

Start with a 223 will do great for big game just use the right bullet. Also a suppressor is a great investment. It’s cheap to shoot and good for practice. If you go on a elk hunt and have to used a bigger caliber worry about that then. There’s lost of good info in these threads.

P

Thread '.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.'

Jun 3, 2019

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET.

---

“Bullets matter more than headstamps.”

“Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”.

I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened.

The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223 is where I ended up after many discussions and objective data regarding bullet performance and numerous pics of field results.

Now for the delivery system. Accurate. Repeatable. Reliable. Reasonable weight to afford steady shot placement and the ability to spot my own impacts...

• PNWGATOR
• Replies: 11,072
• Forum: Firearms

• 
• 
• 

Thread '6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game'

Oct 28, 2022

With the success of .223 and 6.5 threads on big game, thought I’d throw this one into the mix.

Show and detail your results harvesting big game (deer, bear, elk, moose, African game) using 6mm/.243 cartridges. Please detail bullet, MV, impact velocity, and whether hand load or factory ammo.

• BjornF16
• Replies: 1,868
• Forum: Firearms

• 

Thread '.25 Cal (Quarter Bore) / Big Game Success - 25 Creed, 25-284, 25-06, 25 PRC, 25 SAUM'

Nov 29, 2022

With Berger making high BC 25 Cal bullets and Hornady jumping in, I would love to see people’s results.

• Rooggvc
• Replies: 784
• Forum: Firearms

• 

Thread '6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....'

Dec 17, 2021

Seeing that the 223 thread is such a success, I thought maybe I would start one for the Creedmoor/260. Seems like people are asking a lot about using them and various bullets, especially for elk. I've used mine for the last few years almost exclusively. I have some pics of bullet damage, albeit not nearly as many as I should have, from a couple deer. I'll try to briefly describe the ones I don't have pics of.

If you have experiences, good or bad, post them up. Of course, pics are great, and add a lot of valuable information. Maybe it will take off, maybe it won't, but if it does it...

• woods89
• Replies: 1,619
• Forum: Firearms

• 

 

[Cole022]

Thanks for all the helpful insight, I’m going to take a look at 6.5 prc and other Similiar cartridges.

 

[Jack321]

Any .30 cal & 180 gr bullet will do the trick. If both elk & deer. Hard to beat a .308, or 30-06.

No need to over think.

There's a reason they have been around (some) for over 100 yrs. Why? Cuz they work.

Ammo for a .308 you can find anywhere.

K.I.S.S.

Keep It Simple Stupid.

 

[littlewolf]

300 wsm for short action. 7mm rem mag for long. Love these 2 and if you don't handload finding ammo is not hard to find. If recoil is an issue get them with a brake. To be honest the old 30-06 is still an awesome caliber for deer and elk

7mm rem mag would be my first choice also.

 

[cowdisciple]

If you don't want a case full of rifles and like the ones you have, the .270 and the .308 will work just great.

Personally I'd look at a .223 as a "practice" rifle. You may find that you like shooting it so much that you want it to be your deer gun, and it will be ideal for that inside about 450 yards.

Edit: I think I missed that the . 270 and .308 were borrowed rifles. Carry on!

 

[cowdisciple]

Thanks for all the helpful insight, I’m going to take a look at 6.5 prc and other Similiar cartridges.

I am totally supportive of you buying a 6.5 PRC. But honestly the ballistic differences between it and a .270 are not meaningful at normal hunting ranges (say inside 600 yards) and the recoil level is almost identical as well

 

[hereinaz]

I agree with those above, 6.5 creed is as big as I would go for your purposes.

And, inside 600 they are equally effective, between any long action like .270 to 300 magnums.

You’ll see that the 6mm is equally effective inside 600 as well. It doesn’t “feel” right, but men are normally the ones to say, “screw your feelings.” It’s scoreboard baby, and the 223/6 mm are killing just as effectively while being more fun to shoot.

Between the two you chose a 7 or 300 magnum, it doesn’t matter a whole lot inside 500 yards. They are both gonna recoil relatively the same and damage will be identical across bullet types.

Having killed elk and deer past 600, that’s when the 6.5 PRC and other high BC/velocity cartridges come into their own. Inside 600 short actions work just fine.

 

[rookieforever33]

Under 400 yards .308. Over 400 6.5 prc. Shoot coyotes with the .223 you buy because ammo is cheap and fun to shoot.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Threads are fun to discuss options, don't overthink it. Occam's razor. Simplest solution to what you've described would be a 270 Winchester. Which you have already had success with.

A good middle of the road bullet weight, it'll take deer and elk until pigs fly and the cows come home with fantastic range. And they are not hard on barrels.

I started my adult hunting with a 300 Win Mag. I shot hundreds and hundreds of hand loads at the range and practiced to where it was a one shot wonder on everything from pronghorn to deer to elk. I've gone to a 35 Whelen Ackley Improved, more bullet weight, less recoil and absolutely hammers things. However my 270 Winchester kills all of the above creatures just as dead with just one shot as well. If I was doing it all over again, 270 Winchester or 280 Remington / 280 ai. Those two rounds are the beginning and the end with good bullets, IMO.