Rifles for Hunting Big Mule Deer

[2Stamp]

My favorite mule deer rifle is my X-bolt in 25-06. Light to carry, quick bullets. I love to hunt with it.

 

[Article 4]

I have a 6CM running 115s that has never let me down. So far its an Antelope, Whitey, Coues rifle - with some LR javelina and coyotes mixed in.

If I know I am headed into big body buck country - e.g. 200lb plus and the potential for longer shots, I up to a 6.5 or 7 running bigger bullets. Prefer a 135+ grain for it.

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

Shortest range buck kill 80 yards
Furthest buck kill 300ish

Elk/bear/pronghorn seem to be a different story ranging from 230 to 595.

I have been using a chassis for the last couple years and I think it cost me a close range cow elk while tracking in the snow through deadfall. I had it strapped to my pack (uncomfortable and awkward to hand carry) and i felt as though the terrain was open enough for me to see a decent ways ahead. Well I was wrong, elk stood up at 60ish yards and gave me a second to get a shot off....I wasn't ready. It has me rethinking the chassis gun. I love it for alot of reasons but there is times a reasonable weight stock that is comfortable in the hands can be beneficial.

 

[robby denning]

Shortest range buck kill 80 yards
Furthest buck kill 300ish

Elk/bear/pronghorn seem to be a different story ranging from 230 to 595.

INTERESTING difference ^

I have been using a chassis for the last couple years and I think it cost me a close range cow elk while tracking in the snow through deadfall. I had it strapped to my pack (uncomfortable and awkward to hand carry) and i felt as though the terrain was open enough for me to see a decent ways ahead. Well I was wrong, elk stood up at 60ish yards and gave me a second to get a shot off....I wasn't ready. It has me rethinking the chassis gun. I love it for alot of reasons but there is times a reasonable weight stock that is comfortable in the hands can be beneficial.

Those hurt^

 

[Tmac]

The 5 biggest MD bucks I’ve taken: 8, 415, 80, 30, & 350. Avg. 177 yards. Two shortest shots taken still hunting. The others in fairly open high desert/mountain type terrain. The 415 remains my longest shot at a big game animal. I do dial and practice to 600 occasionally. On 3 of the 5 I had just a few seconds to get set and shoot, the 8, 30, and 350 yard shots, sitting, offhand and sitting with sticks, respectively.

Generally shooting fairly mid to light weight rifles in 25-06, 270 Win, or 280 Rem. The 35 yo 25-06 happens to have taken all 5 above, it wears an old Leupold 3x9. Scopes are a mix of set & forget and dialable scopes, but I’ve yet to dial for a shot.

The 25-06 is getting a Trijicon mounted this winter, a 3x9 Huron that has the elevation bdc style hash marks, only because that reticle type was on sale. I will also mark the turrets to 600 in case I want to dial.

With all my guns hitting about 2” high at 100, they are all 6” ish low at 300, 12” ish low at 350 and 21” ish low at 400. With an approx. 18” deep target, I just hold my crosshairs where needed for a given range. A couple scopes have hash marks, but I’ve yet to use them on an animal.

 

[RaggedHunter]

My favorite deer (everything) rifle is my 6.5-06 Ackley Improved. Shooting 140 Berger Elite hunters @3075fps.
Scope is NF SHV with turret.
All in rifle weighs ~8.25lbs.

Average shot on deer specifically over the past handful of years is ~460 yards. Closest being 75, furthest being 650.

Have also shot elk and antelope with this rifle ranging from 200 to 900 yards and had excellent results.

This has been a great all around hunting rifle. I wouldn't change a thing with regards to performance. My only complaint is since I've started using a suppressor, the overall length is a bit more than I would like. If I ever spin a new barrel on it, I will likely switch it from the current 24" to something in the 18-20" range.

Shot a buck this fall with a muzzleloader at 120 but that is a different ballgame all together.

Currently setting up my wife with a 6mm creedmoor. Final weight depending on scope should be ~7lbs. depending on scope selection.

This rifle will be a little shorter and lighter. I can definitely see myself taking it in place of my Ackley in certain situations.

This was my closest buck @ 75 yards.


This buck was shot at 450 yards.


This was my furthest buck taken at 650 yards.