Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Best 600-750 yard Coues and Mule Deer Cartridge?

I just got off the phone with an AZ outfitter that mentioned, for the slightly easier draw unit in 2013, he can get me into some B&C-class bucks IF I'm able to pull off shots over 500 yards and in one area, between 600-750 yards across a mountain.

I have both a 270 Win. and a 300 Win Mag.; that said, both have 24" barrels and I was thinking of something different for next year.

Any other cartridges that might work even better at longer range? Maybe ballistically, a 6.5 or 7mm with lots of power?

Thoughts?

If you want to stick with what you've got, order some 165gr Matrix VLD's for your .270, and rock on. If you want a new rifle, a .243AI with 105gr Hornady HPBT or 115gr VLD, a 6.5 Creedmoor, .260AI, 6.5-06, 7mm Rem Mag, 7WSM, .280AI, 7SAUM, etc, would all to the trick very well at 750 yards.

As long as you have high-BC bullets available for whatever chambering you choose, I'd be more concerned with the rig being set up properly to facilitate LR shooting, and with getting enough practice in so that you're confident in your shooting ability at those ranges.

.257 weatherby mag.

A light recoiling death ray.

Get closer!

My thoughts too.

Is 750 yds ...getting into them?

Hmmm- good points.

My 270 is set up with 140 gr. TSX at about 3050 fps and my 300 Win mag is set up with 180 gr. Accubonds at about 3050 fps.

I haven't shot higher grain bullets than those two before and my max range at the range has been at our 500 yard marker. The 300 win mag seems to be more accurate and drop less than my 270 at that range.

Should I consider anything more fancy than the cartriges that you list, like a 6.5x68 or a wildcat or just hunker down with one of my rifles and see where I end up at the end of the summer?

Apparently, if we came up and over the ridge that they are on, we'd not see them and risk spooking them because of the loose rocks.

There are apparently great glassing points from the other side of the mountain and in some cases, shot opportunities from 500-750 yards (he said actually 761 yards max). Said that a 100+" coues would be very possible. He also has another unit that he hunts in where the mulies can get over 180" regularly (if you see one) and shots are also over 600 yards.

That said, most of his hunters get shots under 300 yards. It's just that for the best chances at the biggest deer, he's suggesting the above.

Getting closer is not always an option. In some of the areas I hunt, 400/500 is as close as you are going to get. Just my experience when chasing coues in bag areas, especially B&C type bucks.

If you want a new rifle, I would look at a 264 win mag with a high BC bullet. I shoot a 7mm Rem Mag With 154's, but am thinking of going to 168 bergers. With my 154's, I have my rifle set up to 650ish. Figure with the better BC of the Bergers, I can extend that range a bit. Plus I am looking at a better scope too.

Of the rifles you have, I would take the 300WM just cuz the ballistics would be better than the 270. A ton of Coues fall to the 270 each year, but not too many of those are shot at long range.
My buddy shoots a 300 Roy with 185 bergers and he has been practicing out to 800 busting milk jugs. Those deer fall flat when hit with that connon.

Hard to go wrong with any round really, but when you talk long range, I love the big 7's. I bet that 7mm Roy with the 180 bergers would be fantastic long range.

If you want sensible, stick to the 7RM, 264WM type stuff with a high BC bullet and that little coues will drop like a ton of bricks. Not saying a 257 Roy or 300 Roy would be bad, but the 6.5's and 7mm's have that high BC in a reasonably average bullet weight. I think the Berger BC in the 168's is .617ish and the Hornady Amax is around .625ish in the 7mm. With those weights flying at 3000/3100FPS, you can basically shoot to the moon.lol

Good luck on your decision and keep us posted. BTW you need any info on coues, send me a PM, I can try and help with what I can.

Kique

And find another outfitter.

If you must and there's no chance in getting closer, I'd opt for a 7mm mag of some sort. I'd feel comfy shooting my 300 wsm at that range myself but you already have a 300 winny and want/need another rifle so.........go with a fast and accurate 7 and call it a day......and start doing a lot of practice at the intended ranges.......make sure you feel 100% confident in your ablities before you pull the trigger on an animal at those ranges.....

Tell your lazy outfitter to get off his ass and get you closer. If he can't get you closer than 700 yards, he ain't much of a guide IMO. You're just as well off DIY.

I think you answered your own question with your earlier reply:



Spend a fraction of the new gun money on some cartridges, practice with either rifle through the summer and go hunting....

If nothing else, you'll learn alot about LR shooting, mirage and wind.

FWIW, I have a 270 that shoots like this at 300 meters:



And a 308 that shoots like this at 760 meters:

Then try a 270 WSM

Given your time constraints, I'd use your .270, order a bunch of 165gr Matrix VLD's, mount a scope that has repeatable, reliable turrets, and get to practising. Your .300WM will likely get pushed around in the wind a bit more, but if you want a quick and easy solution, just start practising with those 180gr AB out to 900 yards. The key word in all of this being "practice". Better bullets will increase the margin of error in your wind calls, but practice is going to be the biggest deciding factor in your ability to pull off a 750 yard shot on an animal.

If you had more time, you could get as fancy as you wanted with the chambering. They all work. The bullets, rifle setup, and optics are what make the difference.

You don't need another rifle to hunt deer, even at long range. But I understand the overwhelming urge to buy more guns.

I think it's kind of funny the east coast and out of country dudes who have probably never seen a coues deer let alone what some coues country looks like try to tell folks how it should be done -

Carry on with the advice gentlemen -

I'd get a fast moving 6.5 or 7, shooting a BC nearing or above 0.500, as fast as you accurately can if you need to get to 700 or 800 -

Jordan is, once again, spot on. He's consistently one of the most valuable posters on this forum, with real world experience and a pragmatic outlook.

Lots of good rounds to choose from that will get this done. I'd worry more about the shooter and the scope choice than any of the rest of the gack.

Dober

Thanks for the kind words, seven_miller

There are plenty of guys on this forum that have more experience and wisdom than I do, but I try to tell it like I see it, based on what I've seen

You know Marcos that 7mashedpotato you shoot I bet would be an awesome gun for long range coues as would your 6-06. Then again to find out you would have to come share a hill with my fat butt and your rifle(s) might not leave AZ.

Jordan,
I keep hearing about the matrix bullets. What speed could a 270 with a 24" barrel shoot em and how far? Seems like 165 grains is a lot of lead for a little 270.

Kique