Deer caliber

[Gunsnwater]

I would pick the 30-06 but but but since the great ammo shortage has proven 40 years of gun wisdom incorrect I say pick the .270 because it was on the shelf the longest and came back the soonest. Then get the ot six and then the seven mag. Life is short treat yourself a little.

[ATBackpackin]

Is there a reason why 7mm-08 wouldn't work for the OP's needs?

[MOUNTAINORACLE]

I could sugguest a few quickly

25-06
257 Roberts
250-3000 Savage
7mm-08
308
35 Remington
35 Whelen

[ungawa]

I voted for other. You'll never guess what.

Is it this?

[Pilot321]

Is there a reason why 7mm-08 wouldn't work for the OP's needs?

Great choice. 7mm-08, or .260 Remington if he wants longer shots than our typical PA distances. .30-06, or .308 is fine also.

[Qtrborecrazy]

Having just bought a 06 I voted for it. I also own 223, 257weatherby, 270wsm, 7mm08, 308 winchester, 338 win mag, 30-30, 35 rem, black powder, had 300weatherby and 300 win mag both great cartridges just don't need the recoil anymore and assorted handguns. My next purchase will be 264 win mag, I need to fill some gaps. Who really kills deer or any other animal at 1000 yards? I hunt not snipe.

[onefunzr2]

I do agree that the 6.5x284 has been a very popular long range caliber when it comes to benchrest competitions. It's very accurate, very high BC's on the bullets, and good brass. I'm not sure who told you it wasn't a "barrel burner", but it most definitely is.

The 6.5mmx284 you reference and the one long range competitors use is the wildcat 6.5x284 Winchester using reformed 284 Win brass. They stuff lots of powder in. A reloader, like me, who reloads the Norma legitimized version doesn't have to load a balls-to-the-wall load for hunting needs just like downloading a 300WSM (I have one of those, too) to '06 speed or an '06 to 308 speed. I have thousands of rounds, most were Barnes solid copper bullets, through my 6.5 Blaser barrel. No signs of degraded accuracy.

I am not opposed to recommending the 260Rem. But for whatever reason, I just don't consider it a 'long range cartridge.' And that's what the OP said he is looking for. So I still stand by the 6.5x284 Norma. Good brass is available and no fireforming needed like Ackley Improved cartridges.

[FO 1/501]

35 in lever
7 08 in bolt
308 in bolt 2nd

[*Klutch*]

OK. I want a gun that will be a good deer gun to put meat in the freezer. I have a 30-30 Marlin but want more range than what it provides. I had and love the 243 but at times question it's ability beyond 250-300yds because of the bullet weights and speed at those distances.
I don't know why but the 308 just doesn't do it for me and I have no interest in it, maybe because in the ammo shortage it's the first one gone and last to return.
I've used the 270win and the 06 is very close to what the 270 is and what I know about it. That said I've reloaded the 243 also and truly love it for what I've done with it as far as accuracy and distances; but I've not to shoot a deer with it.
The belted mags I only have an interest in but I don't see the reason to have one especially in PA we just don't shoot that far.

For long range I consider that to be 1000yds, I've never done it before and want to get into it mostly for fun. I want to use 1 gun to do it all; I am looking for a good caliber for reloading and shooting all ranges from 100-1000. I don't see myself using any more scope than a 12x or 16x so I can dial it back for hunting. The farthest I've shot is 400yds (with my REM700 243) with any sort of accuracy with a 3x9 scope and stock BDL REM. I like the idea of being able to shoot my gun at distance without changing guns or scopes to go further out, one option I haven't mentioned that I've been looking at is the 6.5x55.

I also thought about buying something for LD shooting and grabbing an old Mauser or K31 or Swede for deer.
I feel like I'm all over the place with this idea which is why I haven't bought anything yet and also why I made this post. I guess I was just listing the calibers I had considered in the recent few weeks; but the reality of it is I don't feel I want a MAG and long distance is second to hunting but a definite on the to do list.


Thanks for all the help and keep the post coming cause I'm really interested in this.

[Pilot321]

OK. I want a gun that will be a good deer gun to put meat in the freezer. I have a 30-30 Marlin but want more range than what it provides. I had and love the 243 but at times question it's ability beyond 250-300yds because of the bullet weights and speed at those distances.

Here's a 688 yard shot on an Elk with a .243, and 105 grain bullet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY0w1c-gf18

That being said, my next rifle will either be in 6.5x55, .260 Remington (similar in performance to the Swede), or 7mm-08, but I reload so don't have to worry about finding ammo on shelves.