Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Help finding a new deer rifle

Joined this forum because of a lot of good info I've seen while lurking. Anyway, I need to buy a new deer rifle.

A little background, I bowhunted for decades, shot a little black powder and rifle a few times at deer. My shoulders are shot and I've lost all my bowhunting land, so it will be rifle from here on out. Shots are typically 50-300 yards. I've shot 30-06, .270, and .243 over the years (my Dad's guns) and an 8mm Mauser that was my grandfathers (which I inherited). The 8mm is pretty much a no-go for accuracy at this point being 80+ years old and 2" groups at 100 yards with any ammo I can run through it. So, I need to buy my FIRST deer rifle. My shoulders really can't take the recoil of a 270/30-06 anymore, so I'm looking for something that will have less recoil but still good terminal ballistics. I've been looking at the 6.5 Creedmoor due to its low recoil. I like the idea that I could use it for target shooting at longer distances as well and not have to quit after 6 shots due to pain. I've thought about the .243 as well, but I've seen too many deer lost over the years due to a lack of a blood trail, which is the main concern I have with the 6.5 CM too.

The two rifles at least in 6.5 CM I'm looking at are the X-Bolt HC with brake and the Tikka T3X Lite with a brake. I would only be using the brake for target shooting most likely anyway due to the noise. One thing I can't seem to get a good answer on is if the X-Bolt HC with the brake (Cabela's) is an 18" or 22" barrel and is the twist 1:7 or 1:8. I get different answers from two stores and Browning. Obviously I'll be handling them or others before deciding.

So if anyone has any recommendations I'd appreciate it.


Edit: should put a max $$$ at $1300 and would like thread barrel for a brake to target shoot.

I would fret not about a 243 or the 6.5

My son has a 243, shoots the 105 Amax and over 4 deer, the cumulative tracking distance is less than 30 yards. Combined for all of them. I don't expect different results this year. Good bullet in good places and you're done.

Maser?

Sounds like you have a good handle on it. Anything in the .24-.26 caliber range generating 2500+fps will serve your needs well. I personally would expand those parameters quite a bit but you seem focused there.

As for accuracy, don't turn your nose up at 2moa. Super accuracy is the goal/dream of everyone here (me included) but truth be told a 2" gun will kill stuff all day long (and well into the night😁).

Same experience here. Ditto with a 270, 130 Sierra at 2600.

I’d lean towards the 6.5, not because of any issue with the .243 and killing power, but because the 6.5 is pretty much available across the board now and also because besides a bit more flexibility, it offers significantly longer barrel life and none of the well-known quirks that can afflict the .243 after some barrel erosion develops. If you only plan on shooting it to sight in and hunt, then forget that last bit.

A 7-08, if you can find one, is a fine choice as well.

Tikka t3 or a Bergara b14 in 6.5 CM/7/08 would get my vote.

Howa 1500 or Winchester XPR in 243. Either can be had for $500ish if you look around online.

I'm a big fan of Browning A Bolt rifles, but don't have any experience with the X Bolt. I like the ergonomics of the Browning (palm swell and safety where God intended it to be are among my favorites) and all of mine have been quite accurate. Brownings tend to have a love-or-hate relationship with members here, so you'll likely hear some differing opinions on them. You didn't mention where you would be hunting, but it seems like people have issues with them in more extreme climate conditions. I've never had a single issue, but I've only used them in Missouri.

You might check out the Steyr Pro Hunter. I bought one on a whim several years ago in 7-08 and really like the rifle. Mine is quite accurate and God smiled on the location of its three-position safety once again. Mine is the original Pro Hunter and I don't have any experience with the current Pro Hunter II, but I'll bet it's a good rifle as well and they have threaded barrels so you can add a brake. I don't believe that you can get one in a Creedmoor, but the .243 is an option, along with the 7-08 and a couple of others. Personally, I'd go 7-08 and never look back.

2 MOA isn't super terrible. But the thing kicks like a mule. Worse than any 30-06 I've ever shot. I've shot the downloaded US ammo and some of the European ammo (that has ballistics more like an 30-06) with no luck either way. Years ago it shot much better groups, but it has had an untold amount of ammo ran through it since 1945 or so. And it weighs about 50 lbs

Really the recoil is the major thing. But out here on the plains of Kansas a 300 yard shot is not uncommon.

This especially the Tikka in 7-08.....

Never having shot a 7-08, what’s the recoil like as compared to say, a .270? I’ve never had the opportunity to shoot a 7-08, 6.5CM, or a .308.

In an 8lb rifle, a 140gr bullet at 2,850 using 45gr of powder produces about 15lbs of recoil (7mm-08). Moving to a 140gr .270win load at 3,000 using 57gr of powder is about 20lbs of recoil. These are approximations of typical loads.

The 7-08 is a pussy cat

The 6.5 Creed or 7mm-08 would be great in a stainless Tikka

I never noticed much difference in recoil between a 6.5 and a 708. But you can also install a nitro pad or at least a 1" kick eez and drastically reduce what you feel from either.

My family has killed a good many deer with a .243 Winchester pushing a 95gr Nosler partition. Recoil in an 8lb rifle is close to non-existent...

Especially with 120 bullets.

A 7-08 pushing 120 TTSXs is a soft shooter and will kill anything in the lower 48.

Winchester M70 Featherweight would be a great option. Even with some excellent optics it will come in at, or under, budget.

I have no doubt the .243 can do the job and recoil is practically nil. I’ve just had some iffy experiences having to track deer for others even on good shots. Think 200 yard plus, standing in 3’ tall thick CRP grass. If they don’t bleed good or drop right there it’s easy to lose them. Practically non-existent blood trails due to no pass through. How are they out to 300 or so yards? I know that’s a pretty common range where I hunt.

I'm not really a huge fan of the 243Win for a dedicated deer rifle, but I'll admit that the 95gr Partition was rather effective when I used it as a kid.