Rifle Hunters!

[Jacob Chapman]

I've never really rifle hunted before.

Grandpa gave me a '61/'62 Rem 700 7mm Mag, I put a nice Vortex Vulture (I think) scope on it, cost me close to $600 so for what I know it's a pretty good scope. I believe it's a 4-12x magnification.

I've always been a bowhunter, but am heading out to Colorado for an early rifle hunt.

I have a pair of Swaro SLC 10x42 and a nice tripod, going to see about renting a spotter to bring along as well.

Any particular recommendation as far as how to hunt muley's with a rifle?

What about loads?

 

[realunlucky]

Find them shoot them! You won't need any thing special to shoot them find something the rifle likes to shoot well. Colorado has multiple seasons which one are you planning on hunting?

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[2five7]

Practice out to, and beyond, the range you hope to be proficient at. Don't rely on the drop tables on your ammo box, get out and shoot some rocks at known distances to verify.

 

[Muley Buck]

Since you are new to rifle hunting, I would say to find an accurate load for your rifle and shoot often, all spring and summer if you can. Get comfortable with your rifle. It can be one helluva confidence booster and game changer in the field knowing you are proficient with whatever your method of take is. In doing so it will also reveal what your effective range will be, which is important and I am sure you are very aware of that, being that you are bowhunter.

When you ask "How to hunt muleys with a rifle" I would say glass with your rig till you find a worthy animal then put a stalk on till you are within your effective range, then drop the hammer. Good luck, I'm sure you'll have a great time! My favorite is hunting muleys with a rifle!

 

[PNWGATOR]

Buy Robby Denning's book Hunting Big Mule Deer and dive in!

 

[mcseal2]

Find an ammo it likes and practice from field positions. I personally like to have a shooting rest for my tripod too so if I can't go prone I can shoot off it. I run an Outdoorsmans head and their rifle rest. Their stuff is all expensive but their rest that supports the rifle in 2 places can really help me get steady compared to a simple Y rest or shooting sticks.

For a starting place I'd likely try a 140 or 160gr load with the Nosler Accubond. Nosler ballistic tips and accubonds have been pretty easy to get to shoot well for me in most rifles. Either would work fine for muleys, the 140 will have a bit less recoil and the 160 will have a higher BC. If you plan to also rifle hunt elk at some point the 160 might make more sense. The Hornady Precision Hunter ammo has shot well in several friends 6.5 Creedmoors and my 25-06 loves it. That might be another good ammo to try.

For tactics it very much depends on what season you end up hunting and what type of country. Binos on a tripod are a huge advantage in all of them in my opinion. I hate carrying my Swaro 15x in the pack but I do it anyway for muleys. Even 10x binos benefit greatly from the tripod when trying to see the slightest movement of a muley turning his head or flicking an ear.

 

[mcseal2]

Buy Robby Denning's book Hunting Big Mule Deer and dive in!

Great point I forgot, that book is excellent. I think it taught me the most and I've read a bunch. Mike Eastman, David Long, and Kurt Darner's books are also very helpful.

 

[Jacob Chapman]

I'm going early rifle, so first couple weeks in September.

I have Robby's boo, starting it over again!

 

[Muley Buck]

You're gonna have a blast! I'm jealous!

 

[mcseal2]

Me too.

 

[Jacob Chapman]

I have to assume that most of their velvet is going to be rubbed off or really close to it?

 

[realunlucky]

From what i see here--By the first week of September atlest half will be rubbed off by the second they all will be.

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[Jacob Chapman]

For loads, is a heavier bullet better?

 

[Muley Buck]

What is your realistic goal or anticipated effective range?

 

[Jacob Chapman]

What is your realistic goal or anticipated effective range?

Honestly I don't know. I have great eyesight, a good scope and have always been a good shot.

How far is a 7mm rem mag effective on muleys? I'm going to get as close as I can, I would think 400 yards should be a realistic goal? Like I said I never rifle hunted before and have no clue as to the effective range

 

[Muley Buck]

What the load/rifle combination and your personal ability is what will equal your effective range. 400 yards is very realistic and should provide plenty of opportunity in the field.

For the 400 yard anticipated range, I would go 150gr or higher. I personally shoot Hornadys 162gr ELD-X(reloads). Find something the rifle likes and you can shoot accurately. To me that is most important. Most bullets are gonna kill em. But if you can't hit em, none of them will.

 

[Jacob Chapman]

What the load/rifle combination and your personal ability is what will equal your effective range. 400 yards is very realistic and should provide plenty of opportunity in the field.

For the 400 yard anticipated range, I would go 150gr or higher. I personally shoot Hornadys 162gr ELD-X(reloads). Find something the rifle likes and you can shoot accurately. To me that is most important. Most bullets are gonna kill em. But if you can't hit em, none of them will.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Muley Buck]

No problem. If I can help and have a positive impact, even a little bit, well then we're both doing good.

 

[6mm Remington]

You have a nice set-up. I would load up some 160 gr. Nosler Accubonds or Partitions for a start. That seems to be a perfect weight for the 7mm Remington and the 160 gr. Partition is the only bullet my father used for antelope, deer, and elk. H4831SC is a classic in the 7mm but there are lots of newer powders too that would work well. IMR7828SSC would be a good one also.

 

[swampokie]

I have a 71 Winchester model 70 and it loves the 175 grain Remington corelokts. Excellent bc and holds energy very well. Not as flashy as some mentioned but I couldn't imagine a better load for a new rifle hunter. Good luck.