bolt action

[billy]

What do you thing are the best all around bolt gun to deer hunt with from 50 yards to 400?

[DocHolladay]

you have opened a can of worms on that one. you are about to be overwhelmed with answers. my personal preference is the .270. i dont think i would push 400yds though with any rifle if you didnt have to. a .30-06 is a good one, 7mm-08, 7mm mag., .308, .280, any of these in a Remington model 700. ill let some of the others anwer you too, get ready. you will need a notepad and 2 sharpened #2 pencils....lol

[bambeklr]

Hey I shoot a browning A-bolt 7mm mag. She will geterdone real good. Never tried her past 400 but I know she has confirmed kills at 350 free hand. It's the model with the boss.

[progers]

hey billy and welcome to DHC!

I like the 7mag my self and the 308 runs a close 2nd! As Doc said, you have a choice of the 270 which is a great gun and so is the 280! The 30-06 will probably start dropping a little faster, having a larger projectile! You could even go with a 300 ultra mag!

The main thing you need to worry about is the long distance! They all work well up close! But, if you have more up close shots, in brush, the 308 is a good choice! If it is real thick, you may want to consider the 45-70 but, it is out the window for the long shots! You could even go with the 7mm ulta mag! That will reach on out there and touch somebody!

[DocHolladay]

i think ol' quigs. will tell you about the .45/70. i bet it will reach out there and kill a deer at 400yds. and the one standing beside it to. have you not seen "Quigley Down Under"?

[progers]

Yea, if you aim about 10 feet high!

That's an aweful large projectile! And besides, Quigley Down Under is an expert marksman! That's why he has that flip up sight on that old gun!

The projectile looks like a dang 20ga. slug! It does has the powder to back it up but, she will start dropping before some of the others! It comes down to that ol' eyeball and reading tha wind!

Here is a balistic run down of it for you:

45-70........yards/drop in inches______________________________
Bullet........100......150.......200.......250.......300........400.........500
300grn......zero.....-4.6.....-13.8.....-28.6.....-50.1.....-115.7.....-219.1
405grn......zero.....-8.5.....-24.0.....-47.4.....-78.6.....-169.4.....-301.3

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Bullet......Muzzle......100......200......300.......400.......500
300grn.....1810.......1497....1244....1073......969.......895
405grn.....1330.......1168....1055.....977.......918.......869
ENERGY (ft-lbs)
300grn.....2182.......1492....1031.....767.......625.......533
405grn.....1590.......1227....1001.....858.......758.......679


7mm mag________________________________________________
Bullet........100.......150.......200.......250......300.........400.........500
140grn.....+2.2.....+2.6.....+1.9.......zero.....-3.2.......-14.2.......-32.0
150grn.....+1.3.....+1.2......zero.......-2.3.....-5.9.......-17.0.......-34.0
160grn.....+1.6.....+1.4......zero.......-2.8.....-7.1.......-20.8.......-42.4

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Bullet......Muzzle......100......200......300.......400.......500
140grn.....3175......2923.....2684....2458.....2243.....2039
150grn.....3110......2830.....2568....2320.....2085.....1866
160grn.....2950......2724.....2510....2305.....2109.....1924
ENERGY (ft-lbs)
140grn.....3133......2655.....2240....1878.....1564.....1292
150grn.....3221......2667.....2196....1792.....1448.....1160
160grn.....3091......2636.....2237....1887.....1581.....1315

7mm ultra mag____________________________________________
Bullet.........100......150.......200.......250......300.........400.........500
140grn.....+1.8.....+2.2.....+1.6......zero......-2.7.......-11.9.......-27.0

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Bullet......Muzzle......100......200......300.......400.......500
140grn.....3425.......3158....2907....2669.....2444.....2229
ENERGY (ft-lbs)
140grn.....3646.......3099....2626....2214.....1856.....1545


270_____________________________________________________
140grn....+1.7......+1.5......zero......-3.0......-7.6.......-22.5.......-46.4
150grn....+2.0......+1.8..... zero......-3.6......-9.4.......-28.6.......-61.2

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Bullet......Muzzle......100......200......300.......400.......500
140grn.....2925.......2667....2424....2193.....1975.....1771
150grn.....2850.......2504....2183....1886.....1618.....1385
ENERGY (ft-lbs)
140grn.....2659.......2211....1826....1495.....1212......975
150grn.....2705.......2087....1587....1185......872.......639

300 ultra mag_____________________________________________
Bullet........100.......150.......200.......250......300.........400.........500
150grn....+1.7......+2.1.....+1.5.......zero.....-2.6.......-11.2.......-25.3
180grn....+2.0......+2.3.....+1.7.......zero.....-2.8.......-12.3.......-27.3

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Bullet......Muzzle......100......200......300.......400.......500
150grn.....3450.......3208....2980....2762.....2556.....2358
180grn.....3250.......3048....2856....2672.....2495.....2325
ENERGY (ft-lbs)
150grn.....3964.......3427....2956....2541.....2175.....1852
180grn.....4221.......3714....3260....2853.....2487.....2160

30-30___________________________________________________
Bullet........100.......150.......200.......250......300.........400.........500
150grn.....+1.6......zero......-4.3......-12.1....-24.0......-64.2.....-133.2
170grn.....+1.8......zero......-4.6......-12.6....-24.5......-62.6.....-125.3

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Bullet......Muzzle......100......200......300.......400.......500
150grn.....2390......1973.....1605....1303.....1095......974
170grn.....2200......1895.....1619....1381.....1191.....1061
ENERGY (ft-lbs)
150grn.....1902......1296......858......565.......399.......316
170grn.....1827......1355......989......720.......535.......425

[T-bird]

Doc hit the nail on the head with the caliber selection --- my only difference is that I like the Winchester Model 70 and the .30-06, but that's just a personal preference. Remington, Browning, Winchester, and most of the other "major" manufacturers make good guns capable of good accuracy. If you plan to shoot 400yds ---- practice, practice, practice.

[progers]

Oh yea, I forgot to add the 30-06 and I will put a few others, also!

30-06 yards/drop in inches________________________________
Bullet.........100......150.......200......250......300........400........500
125grn.....+1.5.....+1.4......zero.....-2.8......-7.4......-22.4......-47.6
150grn.....+1.8.....+1.6..... zero.....-3.1......-8.0......-23.8......-49.3
180grn.....+2.1.....+1.8......zero.....-3.5......-9.0......-26.3......-54.0

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Bullet.......Muzzle....100......200.......300.......400.......500
125grn......3140.....2780....2447.....2138.....1853.....1595
150grn......2910.....2617....2342.....2083.....1843.....1622
180grn......2700.....2469....2250.....2042.....1846.....1663
ENERGY (ft-lbs)
125grn......2736.....2145....1662.....1269.......953......706
150grn......2820.....2281....1827.....1445......1131.....876
180grn......2913.....2203....1635.....1192.......859......625

308___________________________________________________
Bullet.........100......150.......200......250......300........400........500
150grn......+1.8.....+1.6.....zero......-3.1.....-7.8......-22.7......-46.0
165grn......+2.0....+ 1.7.....zero......-3.3.....-8.4......-24.3......-48.9

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Bullet.......Muzzle....100......200.......300.......400.......500
150grn......2820.....2546....2288.....2046.....1819.....1611
165grn......2700.....2501....2311.....2129.....1956.....1792
ENERGY (ft-lbs)
150grn......2648.....2159....1744.....1394.....1102......864
165grn......2670.....2292....1957.....1661.....1401....1176

280___________________________________________________
Bullet.........100......150.......200......250......300........400........500
140grn......+1.5.....+1.4.....zero......-2.8.....-7.0......-20.5......-42.0
150grn......+1.8.....+1.6.....zero......-3.1.....-8.0......-23.6......-48.8

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Bullet.......Muzzle....100......200.......300.......400.......500
140grn......3000.....2758....2528.....2309.....2102.....1905
150grn......2890.....2624....2373.....2135.....1912.....1705
ENERGY (ft-lbs)
140grn......2797.....2363....1986.....1657.....1373.....1128
150grn......2781.....2293....1875.....1518.....1217......968

7mm-08_______________________________________________
Bullet.........100......150.......200......250......300........400........500
120grn......+1.6.....+1.4.....zero......-2.9.....-7.3......-21.7......-44.9
140grn......+1.7.....+1.5.....zero......-2.9.....-7.3......-21.1......-42.5

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Bullet.......Muzzle....100......200.......300.......400.......500
120grn......3000.....2725....2467.....2223.....1992.....1778
140grn......2860.....2625....2402.....2189.....1988.....1798
ENERGY (ft-lbs)
120grn......2398.....1979....1621.....1316.....1058......842
140grn......2542.....2142....1793.....1490.....1228.....1005

243___________________________________________________
Bullet.........100......150.......200......250......300........400........500
80grn........+2.2.....+2.7.....+2.0.....zero.....-3.5......-15.8.....-37.3
90grn........+1.4.....+1.3......zero.....-2.5.....-6.4......-18.8.....-38.3
100grn......+1.6......+1.5.....zero.....-2.9.....-7.3......-21.6.....-44.3

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Bullet.......Muzzle....100......200.......300.......400.......500
80grn........3350.....2955....2593.....2259.....1951.....1670
90grn........3120.....2871....2635.....2411.....2199.....1997
100grn......2960.....2709.....2471....2246.....2033......1832
ENERGY (ft-lbs)
80grn........1993.....1551.....1194.....906.......676.......495
90grn........1946.....1647.....1388....1162......966.......797
100grn......1945.....1629.....1356....1120......917.......745

6mm__________________________________________________
Bullet.........100......150.......200......250......300........400........500
100grn......+1.4....+1.3......zero.....-2.6......-6.7......-19.8......-40.8

Velocity (ft./sec.)
Bullet.......Muzzle....100......200.......300.......400.......500
100grn......3100.....2829....2573.....2332.....2104.....1889
ENERGY (ft-lbs)
100grn......2133.....1777....1470.....1207.......983......792

[deerhunter10pointer]

I use a 30-06 weatherby.The 30-06 has been around for long time and I opion it is one hard Cal. to beat.

[progers]

In what perspective do you mean by "beat"? Surely not accuracy!?!Between 250 and 500 yards, the 30-06 does beat a 30-30 and the 45-70 out of all the "main" deer hunting rifles listed above!

It is about average when it comes to velosity and energy! Look at the size of the projectile that it has! That is the main reason it is not as flat shooting at futher distances as the rest of the gang!

It will kill a deer, though! But, so will a 30-30!

[deerhunter10pointer]

Yea it isnt the flatest shooting bullet around but take in the fact the a big percent of the time it wont be a open shot,more than likely there will be brush, from my experiance you take a flater shooting bullet and it will be deflected by the brush.Now dont get me wrong this may not be in all cases.But I have found just like a ol 30-30 the 30-06 will go right threw it. All I am saying I have never had a problem with the 30-06 and I would recommend it to any of my fellow hunters.

[progers]

Good point made!

I can say that alot of folks that I know, including me, have had problems with the 30-06 automatics jamming up! That is really the only problem that I have ever had with them!

I have never had any experience with the bolt actions 30-06 so, I can't say anything about them! I will say that the two deer that I dropped in one shot was with that 30-06. There is just something about the noise it makes when it shoots that I don't like about it, also!

I hunt pastures and cleared food plots and some deep bottoms. I will leave my 243 at the house when I go into the bottoms but, I love it on open range, almost as much as I like that 7mag! I can tell you that the 7mag has no problems handeling the brush! And I can count on it shooting true to up to 300 yards! Over that is when I have to compensate a little! Top of kill zone at 400, just over top of back at 500 yards.

Really, it all boils down to the type of gun you have to be the one that you defend the most!

All in all, just get the 300 ultra mag! It will blow thru brush on those close, 50 yard shots and it is very accurate up to 400 yards, dropping only 11 inches! It has more velocity and more energy than any other! I don't own one, never shot one but, ballistically wise, you can't beat it. Period! It is the BIG DOG!

[DocHolladay]

i had looked at getting the new .325 WSM but i'd like to have some deer meat. i think it would be good on elk and hogs though. to much for deer, but thats my opinion. i'd still like to have one though.

[KwackWacker]

I'm gonna leave y'all to bicker about ballistics and velocity and blah blah blah. Here's what it boils down to. Find a gun you're comfortable with, make sure it's dead on the range, make sure it is big enough to punch through ole mossy horn. And go kill a deer. I've seen deer killed with a .22 Hornet and I've seen whitetails killed with a .458 Win Mag. (no kidding, It wasn' pretty). Niether one of those deer was deader than the other. Here's my opinion, You want flat trajectory? .270. You want knockdown power? .270. You want something to reach out to 400 yards? Find a stand closer to the deer. Most of the mid caliber guns are capable of making good , solid hits at 400 yards. Most of the deer hunters I know don't practice enough to be shooting 400 yards. So, if you plan on shooting 400 yards, .270 but with LOTS of pratice. Lots of thing can happen in 400 yards. A little wind will push a bullet way off. And a twig that would be hard to see at 15 yards will be impossible to see at 400. Just my opinion.

[progers]

Great advice!

Sounds to me, you just need to buy 2 guns! If you live in a place that has those 400 yard shots, set up a gun just for that. Have another gun for those upclose and personal shots! That would be the best advice I could give you!

And practice! Alot!