Mule Deer Cartridge

[Muley_Addict 317]

Hi all,

I’ve been thinking long and hard about the next rifle I buy. I started hunting mule deer very recently. Not knowing much of anything related to rifle hunting out west, I went into the store and purchased a .308 Ruger American Gen2.

The rifle shoots…. Okay. I’ve been getting a lot of time on the range with it and have had some good guidance on how to use the .308 and the Ruger to its potential. Nonetheless, I am uninspired. I could of course upgrade that terrible stock and trigger… but I don’t feel like putting money into this gun.

I’ve decided to get a new rifle. Budget isn’t very large, but with what I hear about Tikka rifles, I’m thinking I’ll be okay. I love the way a tikka action feels, so Tikka it is.

I’m stuck on what caliber to pick. My two preferences are between a 6.5 PRC and a 7 PRC. Im here wanting to know people’s opinions. To help inform your opinion, I’ll be hunting mule deer in CO, where I live.

Thanks in advance,
GC

 

[Taudisio]

Hi all,

I’ve been thinking long and hard about the next rifle I buy. I started hunting mule deer very recently. Not knowing much of anything related to rifle hunting out west, I went into the store and purchased a .308 Ruger American Gen2.

The rifle shoots…. Okay. I’ve been getting a lot of time on the range with it and have had some good guidance on how to use the .308 and the Ruger to its potential. Nonetheless, I am uninspired. I could of course upgrade that terrible stock and trigger… but I don’t feel like putting money into this gun.

I’ve decided to get a new rifle. Budget isn’t very large, but with what I hear about Tikka rifles, I’m thinking I’ll be okay. I love the way a tikka action feels, so Tikka it is.

I’m stuck on what caliber to pick. My two preferences are between a 6.5 PRC and a 7 PRC. Im here wanting to know people’s opinions. To help inform your opinion, I’ll be hunting mule deer in CO, where I live.

Thanks in advance,
GC

Out of your two calibers you want, I’d pick the 6.5 prc, 7 days a week.

Your 308 is a fine cartridge choice though. I have 3, gen 2, Americans. All 3 have a Timney trigger.

 

[Muley_Addict 317]

Out of your two calibers you want, I’d pick the 6.5 prc, 7 days a week.

Your 308 is a fine cartridge choice though. I have 3, gen 2, Americans. All 3 have a Timney trigger.

No doubt that the .308 is a great cartridge. I don’t mean to throw hate on the .308 or the ruger. I’m just a sucker for a good looking cartridge and a smooth action. The action on the ruger is pretty rough in my opinion. Every time I go to cycle the action, it moves my scope off target.

I know, I’m very nitpicky. But I’m just looking an excuse to get a PRC. Thanks for the rec!

 

[Pistolpete28]

6.5 prc, but a 6.5 creed will probably handle the job just aswell with less recoil.

 

[graniteghost]

I’d go 6.5 prc. You really aren’t losing much stepping down to it. And gaining a little more shootability. I have a 7prc and while I love the gun, sometimes wish I had gotten the 6.5 instead. I’m primarily a mule deer hunter as well.

 

[Taudisio]

No doubt that the .308 is a great cartridge. I don’t mean to throw hate on the .308 or the ruger. I’m just a sucker for a good looking cartridge and a smooth action. The action on the ruger is pretty rough in my opinion. Every time I go to cycle the action, it moves my scope off target.

I know, I’m very nitpicky. But I’m just looking an excuse to get a PRC. Thanks for the rec!

I get that. Tikkas are fantastic rifles and always smooth. Good luck on your rifle search!

 

[glock233]

Read the big threads on calibers here. For your use case, my choices would be 22 creed or 6 creed for up to 800 yards. 6.5 PRC if you need to stretch to 1000 yards.

The 7 PRC doesn’t add anything to your use case except extremely long range shots you won’t be taking.

 

[Cherokeeguide]

My opinion is that you don't need a new rifle.

An uncle of mine piled up a impressive number of mule deer tags with a Remington 740 in .308 Winchester.

Whatever you don't like about your Ruger can probably be corrected / changed for less than the cost of a new TIKKA.


On paper, the difference between cartridges seems vast. In the real world, they all pretty much do the same thing on deer.

From 1985 to 2015, I filled 21 mule deer tags with the pipsqueak .250 Savage, made even more of a weakling by being fired from the 20" barrel of my Ruger M77RL Ultralight. My current 5.56 NATO hunting load has more energy at 200 to 300 yards and beyond, yet I never had to shoot an animal more than once with it. I also tagged to caribou with it and one bull elk.

A .308 Winchester will kill mule deer stone-cold dead beyond 400 yards. There is no such thing as deader than dead. None of the cartridges on your short list will kill mule deer deader than a .308 Winchester will.

 

[GuyMontag42]

Why do you feel the need for a prc?

Colorado is not the land of dangerous beasts.

If you’re shooting at distance where the caliber matters, I hope your focus is more regarding placement.

If the fps between 6.5cm and 6.5prc is the deciding factor, it shouldn’t be.

 

[22rave]

25-06, 6.5 PRC, 280AI, 280, 6.5-284 Norma, 308, 270. Depending on range too. According to your preference, the 6.5prc would be great foe you.

 

[B Harrison]

A 130 grain bullet at 3060 fps has been killing deer for over 100 years now.
Don’t be afraid of a plain cartridges.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk