What Caliber for Deer and Elk?

N2TRKYS said:
How far do you shoot game, on average?
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So far this year has worked out to be 230, 170, 300. I am prepared for farther if needed and that just makes these shots feel very comfortable. I had to pass on some shots in the past I wasn't prepared for and in response put in my time to make sure that wouldn't happen again (assuming conditions are right). Everyone has their preference and mine is to prepare for what I want to do within reason and for me that means I want a decent BC bullet, it doesn't have to be the latest hot rod though.
 
pods8 said:
So far this year has worked out to be 230, 170, 300. I am prepared for farther if needed and that just makes these shots feel very comfortable. I had to pass on some shots in the past I wasn't prepared for and in response put in my time to make sure that wouldn't happen again (assuming conditions are right). Everyone has their preference and mine is to prepare for what I want to do within reason and for me that means I want a decent BC bullet, it doesn't have to be the latest hot rod though.
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That's what I figured.
 
I never disagreed that shots are statistically 200 or less, I just said prepare for what you want to be able to shoot. ;)

One incident of passing on a shot I wasn't ready for and going home with tag soup is burned into my brain, I'm now comfortable shooting beyond that same distance and it has made all my other shots since that much more comfortable and confident.
 
pods8 said:
I never disagreed that shots are statistically 200 or less, I just said prepare for what you want to be able to shoot. ;)

One incident of passing on a shot I wasn't ready for and going home with tag soup is burned into my brain, I'm now comfortable shooting beyond that same distance and it has made all my other shots since that much more comfortable and confident.
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Oh, I don't disagree with you. Most folks probably don't even practice at 300 yards, then get out West and think they can shoot 500+ yards. At least the ones I know. Lol
 
as stated earlier, recoil now bothers me after how many thousands of rounds out the muzzle - I shoot a Tikka T3 superlight in 30.06 A.I., not a lot more than an '06 but heck, we're splittin hairs in all direction so ..... it has a 22" barrel and spits a 180 Accubond at 2900 which has regularly killed elk at a touch over 500 yards (which is a poke for most hunters) Every time I pop a cap I am amazed at how soft the recoil is and this after many years of shooting 338 Win Mags as light as 7lbs all in, which is what my '06 AI weighs hunt ready (forgot to mention the Limbsaver II pad, makes a heck of a lot of the difference)
 
N2TRKYS said:
150 or 165 grain Partition/Accubonds, whichever the rifle shoots best.

If I had to shoot Barnes bullets, I would shoot 130 grain TTSX.
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having done a lot of load development with 130, 150 & 165 I can see no use outside of first time shooters limited to 250 yards for the 125/130 class of .308 bullets - shoot an easy loaded 150 monolithic and you're leaps and bounds ahead in terminal performance with virtually no perceived felt recoil gain - I realize that we're all destined to be using lead free bullets but for now Nosler Accubonds fill my needs for accuracy and DRT terminal performance - 130 TSX's get passed by 150 Accubonds before getting to 300 yards from the 30.06, use a 150 Nosler Etip and hunt anything on the continent you choose
 
Going in to pick up the Hells Canyon in 30-06 right now! Very excited. Gonna pick up either some Hornady or Nosler Ammo. Always been a big Hornady fan. Can't wait to hit the range!!

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Jjamesdean said:
Going in to pick up the Hells Canyon in 30-06 right now! Very excited. Gonna pick up either some Hornady or Nosler Ammo. Always been a big Hornady fan. Can't wait to hit the range!!

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Nice congrats! I think you will be very happy with that rifle/round!

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Jjamesdean said:
Going in to pick up the Hells Canyon in 30-06 right now! Very excited. Gonna pick up either some Hornady or Nosler Ammo. Always been a big Hornady fan. Can't wait to hit the range!!

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Click to expand...
Been looking at hc myself. Not sold on the creedmore but am sold on the rifle. Was told the same thing from a browning techy, next year will bring another boatload to us. Leaning on 243. Very interesyed in your future with this rifle, keep us posted, and good luck
 
I handled it last night and it felt like home in my hands!! Unbelievable looking rifle. Can't wait to start putting rounds through it!

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mtswampfox said:
Been looking at hc myself. Not sold on the creedmore but am sold on the rifle. Was told the same thing from a browning techy, next year will bring another boatload to us. Leaning on 243. Very interesyed in your future with this rifle, keep us posted, and good luck
Click to expand...

Don't overlook the 260 Rem either - I think either one of these 6.5's will easily outdo the 6mm on game for virtually 0 additional price to pay on the back end
 
e46ff1eb7dc4d03802c3006c71bdff9b.jpg


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So just a little update. I put some rounds through the gun today just in the field behind my house. Absolutely shoots like a dream. I have always had a problem shooting guns with heavy recoil well. This gun has the least recoil of any 30-06 I have ever shot. Feels more like my .243. It shoots absolutely amazing. Shooting 150 grain Rem Silvertips through it, havent shot farther than 100 yards yet but it was deadly at 100! Put 20 rounds through it and shoulder feels great. Muzzle Break of course makes it really loud, but not real bad.

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The eight screw base was one of the first thing that interested me, probably #6 screws but has got to be a bullet proof set up. What brand of base did you use ? Glad you are happy with your choice!
 
mtswampfox said:
The eight screw base was one of the first thing that interested me, probably #6 screws but has got to be a bullet proof set up. What brand of base did you use ? Glad you are happy with your choice!
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I went with Leupold

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GKPrice said:
as stated earlier, recoil now bothers me after how many thousands of rounds out the muzzle - I shoot a Tikka T3 superlight in 30.06 A.I., not a lot more than an '06 but heck, we're splittin hairs in all direction so ..... it has a 22" barrel and spits a 180 Accubond at 2900 which has regularly killed elk at a touch over 500 yards (which is a poke for most hunters) Every time I pop a cap I am amazed at how soft the recoil is and this after many years of shooting 338 Win Mags as light as 7lbs all in, which is what my '06 AI weighs hunt ready (forgot to mention the Limbsaver II pad, makes a heck of a lot of the difference)
Click to expand...

This is one hell of a setup. I also have the t3 lite in an 06 Ackley and it really does make me laugh everytime I shoot it. Shot it a total of 3 rounds this season and took 2 muleys at 287, 555 and my elk was at 400. Unbelievably accurate and effective. What is depressing is that I have quite a few rifles some of which cost 5 times as much as this setup and this is becoming my backpacking favorite.
You just cannot go wrong with the plain old boring 06 for both deer and elk.

Randy
 
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