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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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The funny thing is that this answer by George is the only one who answers the caliber question with a caliber. Everything else mentioned here are cartridges...grin... Debating pretty much any cartridge on the '06 or .308 case at 400 yards is not really worth the effort. Four hundred yards is just getting going. For me personally, I'd run a .260 (120's or 130's) or a 7mm-08(140's).
- Greg
Success is found at the intersection of planning, hard work, and stubbornness.
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Best Short Action caliber rife for Mule Deer/White tail out to 400 yrds???? You'd do better to change the title to the worst S/A caliber to narrow it down..... That's easy ... .223AI ..... Just in case this thread wasn't interesting enough ....
George Associate Gypsy Order of Sleepless Knights ... That is when I carried you ...
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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The .280 is probably the coolest cart of all time sir. Clean it up. That would be the 300 H&H .... and it big brother 300 WBY While I certainly agree about the H&H, a short action cartridge it ain't. Almost as short as the aforementioned .280Rem
George Associate Gypsy Order of Sleepless Knights ... That is when I carried you ...
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Campfire Regular
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The funny thing is that this answer by George is the only one who answers the caliber question with a caliber. Everything else mentioned here are cartridges...grin... After you said that, you went ahead and answered the question with a cartridge.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Yup -
I had to fit in since that's what he meant to ask...grin...
- Greg
Success is found at the intersection of planning, hard work, and stubbornness.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I shot a deer at 400 yds dead once, went about 25 yds after a 105 amax went thru both lungs, from a 6BR at 2850 mv. Put good bullet thru vitals, and most any bullet 24-30 cal if designed for hunting will do the job. The 308 is not my fav, but I know it's a solid choice. Proven to 1,000 yds, a deer at 400 is a chip shot for a guy who knows his rifle. I like the 130 TTSX in the 308 to that distance, less recoil and flat (within 1-2" drop at 400 yds vs a 260/130AB load, when zero at 200).That said, I personally like my 260s using 130AB, but it's subjective. How fast do you get that 130 TTSX going to do that? IIRC, I used 3,000 mv w/.350 BC
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Campfire Ranger
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I know, just had to get my dig in on you.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Best Short Action caliber rife for Mule Deer/White tail out to 400 yrds???? You'd do better to change the title to the worst S/A caliber to narrow it down..... That's easy ... .223AI ..... Just in case this thread wasn't interesting enough .... If we gotta go there, how about a .22-204. No fire forming and you can use a full length .223 mag (700 or 7 Rem) with the block knocked out and a modified .308 follower, narrowed with a file to fit the .223 box mag. With a 7.5 or 8 twist, you can run 75 gr. bullets at 3,000 fps. Not my choice for the OP's original question, but pretty cool set up. Probably won't phase the .223AI advocates... DF
Last edited by Dirtfarmer; 08/16/12.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Since I regularly shoot pdogs at 400+ yards with the 25 WSSM, I'd probably shoot either of my regular "go to" deer rifles in 25 WSSM, both Winchester/USRA 70s bedded in McM Compacts and either 100 grain Partitions or 110 grain ABs.
If I didn't have to carry it too far and I knew that the ranges would be long, I'd consider the Savage 11 in 260 with the 26" stainless Shilen barrel and McM Savage Hunter stock with either the 129 grain Hornady or the 130 grain AB.
Although I shoot a few 284s and 284 bases wildcats, I think that the 55mm case allows for less COAL latitude than the 51mm case in a short action, so I'd probably go with the shorter case, accept a little less speed, and remember to bring my laser range finder.
Jeff
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In a factory cartridge, I would go with a .270 WSM and whatever 120-140 grain bullet grouped well in my rifle. In a wildcat, maybe a .25-284 and 100 TTSXs or 110 ABs...just to be different.
Ben
Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...
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7-08 WITH A 139 GR SST ON H414. EVERY WHITETAIL I HAVE SHOT HAVE EITHER BEEN DRT OR HAD A BLOOD TRAIL A BLIND GUY COULD FOLLOW. HAVENT KILLED DEER AT 400 YET BUT 300 IS NO PROBLEM AND WITH THE HIGH BC FROM THE 7MM 4OO SHOULD BE A CAKE WALK.
"If you got it, you got it!" In memory of Pops, gone but never forgotten
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6.5mm (.260Rem).
"There's more to optics than meets the eye."--anon
"...most of us would be better off losing half a pound around the waist than half a pound on our rifle."--dhg
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Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
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If I can't have my 270 Win, I'd have to go with .308. I know some won't agree with my bullet choice, but deer really hate the 155 grn A-Max. Especially at greater distances I think you'd find the A-Max expansion to be more controlled.
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When I went through this same dilemna years ago when trying to decide what to build, I settled on the 7mm-08, and have never regretted it.
It has worked fine on both whitetail and mule deer, though well inside 400 yards (I've never shot at a big game animal that far away; however, I have no doubts that both me and the cartridge/rifle are up to it if it should ever happen).
You mentioned recoil. While the 308 is hardly a beast, there is a noticeable difference (to me anyway) between the 7mm-08 and the 308. Not a lot, but it's there.
Bullet selection runs the gamut in the 7mm family, so you are going to find a bullet that suits all of your needs, and, shoots well from your rifle.
I wouldn't hesitate to use the 308, the 338 Federal, or the 260 Rem with appropriate bullets, but like I said, when it came time to build my "go-to" deer hunting rifle, I happily settled on the 7mm-08.
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OK guys, if you were gonna build or buy a short action rifle (Not WSM) to primarily hunt Mule Deer/White Tail deer with shots topping out at 400 yards, what caliber would you choose and why??? I've run the WSM course and just don't feel I need the added recoil. I'm thinking an accurate, relatively light, short action rifle is the optimal package. Given these parameters, what caliber would you choose?? For just deer? I'd find a decent 308 or 7mm-08, make friends with it, and kill deer. No need to even use really fancy bullets or anything. NBTs have done me well on deer. I use 150gr bullets in the 308 and have used 140gr in 7mm-08.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Hey Dan you feeling better?
The CENTER will hold.
Reality, Patriotism,Trump: you can only pick two
FÜCK PUTIN!
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Campfire Tracker
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I have a .250 Savage in the works. Can't wait to see what I can do with some 80-100 grain bullets at 2800-3100 fps. I don't imagine they will have a problem handling deer at 400 yards. Now u're talkin! You left "Boring" way out in left field! Going 3000fps for a mere 97 years!! (3.058992e+9) . Sometimes normal is a little too boring isn't it? I know a lot of people get wrapped up around BC, SD, and bullet selection, but IMHO is who cares. The little quarter bore will work just as well as any other cartridge being discussed even with the sub standard bullet selection it has.
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