Im planning on building a semi-custom "beanfield" rifle next spring to use for deer hunting from one if my stands overlooking a.. well, a bean field but im unsure on the caliber. I've narrowed it down to either the 7 or 300 WSM, 7mm rem mag, or 300 winny. Im leaning towards the 7 rem mag but would lije to hear all your opinions before i make a decision.

Thanks

any of them will work.

My friend Danny had the 7rem mag, I had a 300WM. His Dad had a 7rm also. None of us had any problems at those ranges.

I've since dropped back to a 30-06 and still haven't had any problems.

A couple of years ago I started hunting over some bean fields so my search for the perfect beanfield gun began. I found it the the form of a 257Wby Mag. Laser flat shooting from 0-400yds with recoil less than a 30-06 and absolutely flattens whitetails, what's not to like! I don't ever plan to be without one in my safe.

If you don't handload, ammo is ridiculously expensive. My second choice would be the 7mmRM.

You don't need a magnum for deer at 500 yards. Unless you're planning some longer-range elk at some point look at the ballistics on cartridges from .260 to 30-06. A .260 or .280 would be my choice.

This - IMO, I'd be looking at 260, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 Swede, 6.5x47 Lapua, etc.

Of the cartridges you narrowed down to, if you handload, 7 WSM, if not, 7 Rem Mag. Others I would consider would be the .257 Wby, .260, 6.5-06, 7mm-08 or .280.

John

264 Win Mag.

If it were only deer on the menu out to 500, I would personally opt .280 Rem or a 6.5/06, both with 24" pipes and throated for heavies.

270 is fine,also.

A magnum is not needed for 200-500 yard whitetail, or deer period, for that matter. Whatever you have now (within reason, of course) will work fine, as long as it shoots decently, you know your dope, and most importantly, that you can shoot it decently.

In reality a guy who can shoot could shoot about anything for deer from 200-500yds......but you guys know this.

Platform is more important that cartridge if only hunting deer in a beanfield. I would opt for something heavy and steady.

I would opt for a 6.5 Swede, 260 rem, or 280 AI/Rem.

If I remember correctly Kenny Jarrett first built his long range "beanfield" rifles using the 280 Ackley. He must know a little bit.

Some do...

Out of your choices, the 7 Rem Mag. My choice would be a 260 Remington.

I'd be all over doing a 7 Mashburn Super.....

Dober

Of the choices, 7 RM.

I just use a lil' old 7mm-08 myself......

7RM always rocks. Now look at what bullets your gonna use...

That about sums it up.

500 yds. is a 'gimmie shot'!!

Pick which ever one does it for you. I use a 6br for a lot of culling and as it gets longer 300wsm or 338 Norma. On a bean field you get to see them run and go down so I dont mind using the smaller calibers.
More important than caliber is have good dope and practice with a LRF. I dont let anyone range for me on bean fields it is too easy to range over a deer and get a bad reading, flat ground ranging is tough, range it, range it again and range it some more then kill it.

I actually think that'd be a cool rifle but since i already have a 25-06 it wouldn't make a whole lot if sense to me. I don't like to have multiple rifles in the same sized bullet. Well i would if i was rich! There are a few Weatherby magnum rounds i wouldn't mind having but like you said, ammo would be really spendy. Im also not too familiar/fond of Weatherby rifles. Not sure if it's the way they look or what. I wouldnt mind trying one out (the mark v ultralightweight is one i do like) but for the price i could just buy a really nice Cooper.

Yeah id probably just use my 25-06 but since i go to Colorado every other year for a week i figure i better get something with a little more knockdown power and use it as my bean-field deer/ elk & mule deer rifle.

.300 WSM, in that case.

Agree with 338Norma. Ranging is an art and the info critical to long shots, especially over large, flat bean fields. I really like my Zeiss Victory 8x43 T* RF binocs. Those things are really accurate out to 1,500-1,600 yds. Reportedly, the Zeiss RF has the smallest laser beam on the market, thus more accurate ranging in such conditions.

My go to rifle is a custom Pre-64 M-70 in 6.5-284, shooting 140 VLD's at 3,000 fps. I like good turret scopes and am not a fan of ranging reticles. I tried them, traded them and am 100% into turrets.

DF

FWIW, my furthest deer kill was 400 yds, only went 25 steps after a 105 Amax punched both lungs, via a 6BR at 2850 mv.

Accuracy. Shootability. Good bullet. Shot placement.

Less recoil is MORE shootable IMHO. Accuracy over power.

Three pages and nobody even mentioned a 270?? Not bad for whitetails from 2-500.

Didn't see Bob's post earlier...

Does a slingshot [bleep] count...geesh...

Both of these will anchor an elk at 800 yds.

For deer at 500 yds or less If that was all I was hunting I'd opt for a 260.
However in your hands Tanner I have a sneaking suspicion that game will not safe at closer to 1000.....hence the reason the 280 and 6.5/06 are so prevalent on your mind.

Shod

Your 25-06 will work perfect in your bean-fields as well as out west. Hell if your in one of those SE shooting house's, bag it and snipe it.

Randy

Shod - smart man, what I use

7mm STW.

I'd just go a 260 rem or 7-08.

Further? I step it up to the 7Rem Mag. Just my preference.

Something burning no more than 50grs of powder. Lean heavy on the .260 area. No need to beat yourself up unless your trying to push heavy bullets real fast and you dont need that for 500 yards. If you question wanted ability to 1000 yards I would go with any of the 7mm set up for the 168-180gr vlds.

308 for me. 500 I'd do with a 223 though too without thinking twice either. 500 just doesn't take much.

Dubya - You've already got an accurate .25-06 rifle?

That's all you need for deer out at 400 - 500 yards. Think 115 Berger VLD, 115 Nosler Ballistic Tip. Retumbo will get them into the 3100 - 3200 fps realm with good accuracy. Works for me!

Completely understand if you want to fling a bigger bullet at elk, or deer for that matter. I've got a .300 WSM for that purpose now, and used to rely on a 7mm Rem mag. Either of them will do.

If you grab the 7mm mag, take a hard look at Sierra's under-appreciated 175 gr SPBT, which can be driven to 2900+ fps with the right powder and enough barrel. Very good accuracy and slips through the wind nicely.

Regards, Guy

1st Gen .270 Sendero is a surprisingly good "beanfield" gun.

Really???

Let me rephrase it.

In reality a guy who can shoot could shoot about anything from 223-50bmg for deer from 200-500yds......but you guys know this.

Better?

Personally the only cartridges that I've killed deer in the 300-500yd ranges with are the 223AI, 22-250, 243AI, and 25-06AI. 75Amaxes in the 223AI and 22-250, 105VLD's in the 243AI, 100NBT's in the 25-06AI. They all worked.

I've shot 'em all....but I wouldn't trade this one for a 'Blue-Nosed Mule'!!


Savage1000 by Sharps45 2 7/8, on Flickr

That one's alright, cept for the bolt being on the wrong side