Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Deer rifle with mag boltface

Just thinking out loud here, looking to get a discussion going.

For several years I've only hunted elk. My two standard weight elk rifles are both custom 700s, a 7STW and a 300H&H. I'm looking to start hunting deer. I am afraid that either of those two would perhaps make a mess of a deer's shoulder (and I'm always looking for an excuse to expand the rifle inventory).

My thinking was that instead of looking for a new rifle, maybe I could just screw on a take off barrel - or buy a cheaper custom barrel - onto one of my current rifles. The problem is that they are both mag bolt face rifles. Anybody have a suggestion as to what would work? A 264 mag loaded down?

Sorry if its a silly question, just wonder if anyone has been down this road...

I'd run the 300 H&H and call it a day. If you don't load it to the gills it's just a long 30/06. Load up some Barnes TSX or TTSX if you worried about bombs.

East or west side? I have shot several deer with mono bullets from my now gone 7 set without issue. I also wouldn't fear using your H&H with a good bullet. I have shot many with .264 and 7 mags again without issue. Pick your pleasure and use a bullet of good construction and you will be more then happy. On the west side with timber I would want a shorter lighter rifle due to thicker terrain, if my plan was to hunt clear cuts and reprod then your first 2 are great

^^^ agreed. If it ain't broke don't fix it. But, if you do want to scratch that itch to expand and get a bona fide great deer round, maybe a 7mm Mauser,6.5x55, 7mm-08? A new rifle in a new shorter action? I'm wanting g a 257 Roberts. Yeah, go with another rifle. Can't have too many of them.

West side.

.350Rem Mag or 6.5 Rem Mag.

I also would not switch barrels. I'd use the 300H&H with 200 grain bullets and you'll find it ruins less meat than a 25-06 with a 100 grain.

Buuuuuuuuuuuut.......................I, like you, would maybe buy a whole new rifle, as it's never a bad thing to get a new rifle.

If I were to buy a dedicated Deer Rifle with a 30-06 length action I'd look at the 25-06 and the 270. I love the 270, and it's all I could ever ask for as a deer and antelope rifle, but to be honest, it's more power than truly needed. Not that it will ever stop me from killing more deer with it.

I have always liked the 257 Roberts and the 6.5 Swede too.

Or if you want a short bolt action, an auto or a lever action but want something fast, look at the 7-08 and the 260 Remington. If you don't care how fast it is, there is still nothing wrong with a 30-30.

Howa 6.5 Creed $299 at Whittaker Guns. Hin

I see guys in camp using 300 RUM for deer as it their only rifle and they use it on elk. SO you should be done with either.
I am fortunate I can buy a rifle for almost every occasion.
IF it was me, I'd go with 270 its cheap, get it everywhere and proven. recoil is mild (i think) and It carries long ways in case you see buck on the other side of the clear cut.
The other day I was out testing the CDS, and I was at least a minute of deer on a rocks at 700 yards.

slm

I don't think you're being silly. Nothing wrong with contemplating and planning.

Not in order of recommendation.

A. Reduce load the 300 HH to 06 OR 308 levels. I'd do this before reduce loading the STW.

B. Rebarrel to 264 WM and load down.

C. Buy dedicated Deer rifle, 270, 308, 7-08, 6.5X55, L A or S A your preference.
----Check with Shortactionsmoker (Darrick) at Whitaker's >> some great deals !!

Take the pick that's LEAST painful or melts your butter. Good Luck. Good Hunting

Jerry

Yep, pretty much exactly how I'd do it. Unless,of course, you'd like to have some REAL fun and turn the 7stw into a 30/40 or 303 Brit. Both may require a bit of work to get them to feed well. The good news is that the bolt face won't need to be modified.

Hard to argue with that!

Load down the .300 with H4895 to .308 level. Something like a 150-165 NP at 2600-2700 is a killer-diller.

Don't shoot 'em in the shoulder. Aim for the heart or just above.

On the other hand, since you don't mind adding something new to the pile, a nice light, handy rifle in anything from .243 to .280 would be just dandy. I left out the .30/06 because you have the .300.

The last thing I would choose is messing around with re-barreling either of your existing rifles that you seem to be happy with. You won't save much if anything compared to a medium-priced rifle like a Ruger, Howa, Tikka, or (urk!) Savage.

Are your rifles actions trued? Oversized recoil lug? If so a takeoff might be more of a hassle than it's worth. Also If you want to switch barrels I would have the lug pinned. For a magnum face strictly deer rifle 257wby is a great choice.

What Steelhead said. Reduced load with heavy bullet will punch right on thru without much meat loss, and do just fine. (The least meat loss I've ever had on a moose was one taken at 35 yards with a 12 Ga. slug, high thru the back, just under the spine, severing the big artery there. - lost about an inch of meat around the holes, coming and going.- He made it about 80 yards....)

Me, I'd buy a "deer rifle"..... . Hell, ya only got 2 rifles now, right? Yer way behind....

You killed a moose with a slug? My hero!

Gotta ask two things though:

What kind of slug?

Was using the slug part of the plan, or was Mr. Moose (sorry Kaptain!) a target of opportunity taken with your bear gun?

264 is a great round... especially if you get it twisted fast enough to shoot the 140 class BB's if you are gonna do that, might wanna consider the 26 Nosler =]

257 weatherby is cool too but the bullet selection isn't great

neither are big kickers...

I've hunted the west side for going on 30 years. Of the rifle you mentioned, I'd go with the 300 and load it down a little.

If you want something new just for hunting the west side, I'd get a Tikka T3x Stainless Lite in 308 and I'd use 150-grain ammo. It has the punch to drop deer in the brush on close shots and can reach out across a big clearcut.


Okie John

I'd use the H&H, 150gr bullets and "starting load" right out of the manual of your choice with your favorite powder. That's what I do when I use my .300 Win Mag for deer. Isn't any worse on the meat than a full power 30-06 with the same bullet.

Another vote for a "gentle" H&H load. Gives you a hot 30/06...easy to do, and hard to beat.