Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting Best caliber for hunting long range whitetails .

How about a 7mm ultra mag with a 140 accubond or a 26 Nosler with the 142 LR

I've killed whitetails at 704 with a 300rum, and I've killed them at 698 with a 6lb 7wsm. now a days i use the 7wsm. it don't kick, shoots 160gr NABS into 1/2" and feels like a 22 when carrying it, last 5 shots with the gun have been head shots, at distances to 180yards

Wow. After a 3 year break, this one is back on top!

Anyway, my furthest actual shot at a whitetail was a lasered 363 yards, and a 308 with a 165 NBT did the dirty work handily.

These days, I'm about as likey to have a 308 and the 168 AMAX or the 243 and a 95 NBT in my hands while deer hunting. Both topped by a SWFA SS 6X MQ scope with the dope on it.

Still, far to me is 500 yards, although I shoot regularly at up to 600 just because.

I wish I had a place to regularly shoot out to 1,000 yards like Big Stick. I'd probably go further if I had more trigger time at longer ranges.

Me, too, but I don't shoot all that far most of the time. I have a Ruger American .308 that is 1/2-moa with Hornady Interlocks. With the ss scope, I have no problem keeping them minute of deer chest at 550 yards (that is how far my range goes). I have never killed one past 400, though.

I built 3 rifles every year for myself.
The 7mmRemMag 140 gr always seems to win with keeping the group in the kill zone on the target at 500 yards. Other cartridges are only good to 400 yards for me for a sure kill.

I can fill a mule doe tag every morning.
I can fill an antelope doe tag in 3 days.
I can fill an antelope buck tag in 5 days.
I can find a 3x3 mule buck in 4 days.
I can find a 4x4 mule buck in 7 days.
I have never been able to fill a whitetail doe tag.. they hide and bounce. I typically miss at 100 yards while they are running.

But in October 2015 with a Dumoulin Mauser action, 8" twist ratchet rifling #3 taper Shilen Select match stainless barrel, 6.5-06 chamber, Boyd's pro varmint stock, home made Aluminum bedding, Sightron SIII 3.5x10 scope, 120 gr NBT, IMR-4166, 3200 fps, I was getting good groups at 600 yards.

I caught a white tail doe at 629 yards in wind with a hail Mary shot. I finally filled a white tail doe tag.

I still think 7mmRM is better, the big variable is my low skill.

There isn't a "best".....

Agreed.

The "best", is how well you shoot whatever caliber that you pick. There are so many good bullets, scopes, etc., now that it is only up to you what caliber you pick and what your abilities are.

I like to keep things fairly reasonable at 300 or less, but have stretched it a bit on elk a few times. I can do it, I just don't particularly like to.

My 7 mags rule, though.

I like them...

Many will work. That distance doesn't require a large magnum case. I would just use my 7-08......

270 Weatherby 140gr Accubond

From 0-500 practically anything worth owning is good enough. The next hundred starts sorting them out. Good enough" is sort of damning with faint praise though and includes "barely good enough".

The question is "best", and it is very hard to top an STW for 0-600 deer slaying in a no muss no fuss fashion.

For those considering the lighter calibers, accuracy is only one part of the equation. What kind of energy is left with an 80-100gr small caliber bullet at 650 yards? Is it enough for a clean kill?

On a deer? Oh yeah. A 105 HPBT launched from my .243AI at 3100fps still has 2150 fps and if you care for some reason about remaining KE, the bullet still has 1080 ft-lbs.

How about my RC Custom shop MK V in 6.5x300 Bee. 130 NAB at 3500 fps?

Now that should reach out and make an impression.

I've enjoyed my 26 Nosler which isn't far behind that one.

At those speeds, I like the Barnes 120 TTSX. Mine goes half MOA at 400, which is my max distance so far. The 120 TTSX was more accurate than the 130 NAB and 129 ABLR. Tissue damage is pretty impressive. Here's what it did to a hog last year.

DF

Nice work on the vermin DF!

Thanks, JG.

That hog was around 100 yds, sorta messed'em up. DRT, of course.

At hyper speed, I trust mono's more than some of the other type bullets. As you see, tissue destruction was pretty profound without a bullet "going to pieces"...

At slower speeds, maybe another story.

Matching velocity with bullet type and critter being hunted is more art than science, IMO.

DF

You gotta love speed with tough bullets!

6 -47 105grain 3080 kills them

Yes..