Rifle choice

Katoom

Katoom

Active Member
Messages
543
Heading for my long awaited 1st muley hunt to CO in October and debating the pros/cons of my rifle choice and I'd be interested in hearing some insight from the experts on the attributes I should be emphasizing. I am not an experienced long range shooter (longest on game was an antelope at almost 290, longest at a target is 300). Back home everything else I've done has been with bow, shotgun, or muzzleloader. My rifle choices are:

1) 260 remington model 7. Light, short, not that stable but easy to carry and shoulder. Lose a bit of trajectory due to 20" barrel, 2-7x.

2) 270 Winchester 70 featherweight. A pound heavier or so and 2 inch longer barrel, 3-9x.

3) 7mm rem mag 700 BDL, another pound or more heavier, 24" barrel, 3-9X.

I know all the calibers are killers, so only asking about the platform, and I'm not looking to start yet another cartridge war! Thanks!
 
That's a solid list of calibers. If you are going to keep it under 400 yards or so I would get the 260. If you think you might end up stretching it out, 7mm is about as good as it gets.
 
From your available choices I'd probably take the .270 with weight playing a significant roll in the decision. I'd mainly choose that over the .260 to get the extra 2x on the scope.
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-26-18 AT 09:38PM (MST)[p]Are the scopes on 2 and 3 the same? If one scope is better quality than the other, I would choose the rifle with the better scope (e.g. Leupold vs. Bushnell...).

If they are the same or close enough, I'd go with the 7 MM because of the 22" barrel on the 270. The 24-inch 7 MM should be going a bit faster than the 270 and will have less drop which equals to less error for an inexperienced long range shooter.

In this scenario, you should be able to sight in 3 inches high at 100 with the 7 MM and be dead on at 300. If that is your max practice range, you shouldn't be shooting an animal any further.

If you can practice at 400 however, this set-up could still work as you would be 10 inches low at 400 yards. You definitely need a range finder if you are going to be shooting 300+...even a cheap or used rangefinder should work.

10 inches low would allow you to be able to put the cross hairs right on top of a mule deer's back and be right in the boiler room as they are 20 inches wide at a minimum.

You should practice at 400 yards with the 7 MM (sighted in at 3 inches high) and aim right at the top of a standard 12 inch wide target where you can put the cross-hairs right across the top. That should put you 4 inches low. If you can put together a good group at 400, you should be confident with that set-up and a dead rest (doesn't happen that often in the field though). Never ever aim above an animal, it is impossible to judge the amount of air above where you are holding...always aim for hair.
 
I have shot at animals in the 300-400yds range out here in Colorado, but never needed to go beyond that. You can almost always get closer. You may be very close, which could be problematic for a long action, long barreled gun. I wouldn't get too worried about shooting passed 300yds.
 
>LAST EDITED ON Aug-26-18
>AT 09:38?PM (MST)
>
>Are the scopes on 2 and
>3 the same? If
>one scope is better quality
>than the other, I would
>choose the rifle with the
>better scope (e.g. Leupold vs.
>Bushnell...).
>
>If they are the same or
>close enough, I'd go with
>the 7 MM because of
>the 22" barrel on the
>270. The 24-inch 7
>MM should be going a
>bit faster than the 270
>and will have less drop
>which equals to less error
>for an inexperienced long range
>shooter.
>
>In this scenario, you should be
>able to sight in 3
>inches high at 100 with
>the 7 MM and be
>dead on at 300.
>If that is your max
>practice range, you shouldn't be
>shooting an animal any further.
>
>
>If you can practice at 400
>however, this set-up could still
>work as you would be
>10 inches low at 400
>yards. You definitely need
>a range finder if you
>are going to be shooting
>300+...even a cheap or used
>rangefinder should work.
>
>10 inches low would allow
>you to be able to
>put the cross hairs right
>on top of a mule
>deer's back and be right
>in the boiler room as
>they are 20 inches wide
>at a minimum.
>
>You should practice at 400 yards
>with the 7 MM (sighted
>in at 3 inches high)
>and aim right at the
>top of a standard 12
>inch wide target where you
>can put the cross-hairs right
>across the top. That
>should put you 4 inches
>low. If you can
>put together a good group
>at 400, you should be
>confident with that set-up
>and a dead rest (doesn't
>happen that often in the
>field though). Never ever aim
>above an animal, it is
>impossible to judge the amount
>of air above where you
>are holding...always aim for hair.
>

All Leupolds and the 7mm is a shooter. I am less familiar with the 260 and 270. But 7mm is noticeably heavy which concerns me a bit. I might be able to practice to 400 on a buddy's farm in western PA. The longest public range I have access to is 300. My local club only has a 100 yarder!
 
Goggle the formula on where your trajectory for 300 yards pass in the 100 yard length.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
>Goggle the formula on where your
>trajectory for 300 yards pass
>in the 100 yard length.
>
>
>"I have found if you go
>the extra mile it's Never
>crowded".
>>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>>the MM green signature club.[font/]


Usually with a 7mm, 300 win etc. the sight height is 2.6-3" high at 100 is close to dead on at 300.


There are obviously variations. But it's close. While I highly reccomens practicing out to the range you "might" shoot. I cut my teeth by constant practice with anything from a pellet gun to a .22 and up to my larger calibers shooting thousands of rounds all under 200. It builds confidence, it builds muscle memory, and technique.

I have the confidence to shoot 1000-1200 yards and be able to put it in the boiler room I would never shoot one at that range. I can shoot targets at that range constantly. But I built that confidence not on the 1000 yard range.
 
From the choices of those three platforms, I am going to choose the 270 every time I need to go deer hunting

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
If you don't plan on shooting beyond 300 yards, I'd lean towards the 260. All of your caliber choices are great. However, I would focus primarily on which gun you are most comfortable/accurate with.
 
All kill deer plenty fine. Shoot what you are most accurate with and most confident with. If your are not a practiced or competent long range shooter don't make your decision on a gun based on which is flattest shooting or has the most KE at extended range. Will being able to shoot over 400 yards help improve your odds yes, but there are factors you must remember; Colorado is much higher in elevation than PA. You zero will most likely change to some extent and your gun will shoot flatter with less air density. This won't make much difference at reasonable distances but it will come into play out past 400 yards. Best advice is set reasonable and ethical limits for yourself and don't let excitement allow you to make bad judgement calls when deciding when or when not shoot.

Coloradoboy
 
Whichever rifle you can shoot the best and are most comfortable with. All 3 will definitely get the job done to 400 yards on deer. I'd pick one and start practicing now.
 
Any of those cartridges should work well at any reasonable range limit you may set based on your stated experience. To choose the rifle, I would shoot some groups prone and off a pack with all 3 at 300 yds. If there was one I shot markedly better than the others, that is what I would take. If none stood out, I would take the lightest.
 
After these comments I'm feeling good about the choices I have. Thanks fellas. Practice time! I can't see myself shooting past 350 given my lack of experience there.
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-31-18 AT 02:46PM (MST)[p]The 7mm and the .270 is essentially the same caliber bullet with the difference being that the .270 cartridge is identical to a 30-06, and the 7mm cartridge is substantially larger. If you're thinking .270, you may want to reconsider the 7mm only because it does offer you the best option at greater distances.
 
Always go with a Winchester model 70 when it's an option. You really can't beat a .270 for mule deer either. Second choice would be the .260 model 7. Last but not least, throw that P.O.S. Rem 700 in the deepest lake you can find ;-)
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-07-18 AT 02:57PM (MST)[p]>Always go with a Winchester model
>70 when it's an option.
>You really can't beat a
>.270 for mule deer either.
>Second choice would be the
>.260 model 7. Last
>but not least, throw that
>P.O.S. Rem 700 in the
>deepest lake you can find
>;-)


I guess your not real fond of the Remington 700
 
All good choices and plenty of others out there to include the oldie but goodie 30-06 and newbie 6.5 Creedmore. Keep in mind that the 7MM will rock your checks a lot more than the other two fur sure.
 
I need to chime in for one reason: I keep hearing people say go 7mm because it is better for longer ranges.

It would be a crying shame if you've literally never taken a shot beyond 300 yards to have your first ?long range? attempt be on a live animal. I am not against long range shooting, and have defended the practice on these forums for years...for those qualified to do it. You are not qualified if you've never done it before.

I'd still go 7mm, since you say it's the gun you're most familiar with and you shoot it well. That is the most important thing in hunting situations. But .270 is a great option as well. Stay 300 or less and go kill a monster!
 
My choice would be the .270 and a 130 gr bullet if you're keeping shots below 300 yds (which is a long ways for most people in a hunting scenario).

If you can get out to 500 yds, it would still be the .270 but I'd up the bullet ante to a 150 gr.
 
I have killed several bucks in Colorado with a .270 and it is an awesome round. Make sure your optics are up to the task. Good luck
 
Your 3 available ***cartridges*** that you listed will perform just fine on mule deer out to your self-imposed max range of 300 yards.
You're over-thinking this! Take which rifle "platform" YOU want to hunt with. Bigger isn't always better and isn't usually warranted.

Almost any cartridge in .264, .277 or .284 calibers will work great for deer.

Zeke

#livelikezac
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos

Member Gallery Photos and Videos!

6F4BE571-7CFC-4BF5-82A1-13D9BB4DD87E.jpeg
FullSizeRender (3).jpg
Resized_20211120_083144.jpeg
IMG_27741.jpg
203-inch Wyoming Buck
A5D813C3-2C3F-4AE2-8F4E-F4F96B08CBBD.jpeg
02D8A190-0C62-4AEE-8930-ECC50B07CE2A.jpeg
2001 Buck.jpg
2020 High Country Bucks #1
49627E96-02F9-4A8A-B9F3-C593D3FFFF17.jpeg
corykirkpatrick91108-1.jpg
34022D1B-4445-4BEC-AC1D-095EA4D0DBA5.jpeg
Back
Top Bottom