Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Best Short Action caliber rife for Mule Deer/White tail out to 400 yrds????

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).

That's easy ... .223AI .....

Just in case this thread wasn't interesting enough ....

Almost as short as the aforementioned .280Rem

After you said that, you went ahead and answered the question with a cartridge.

Yup -

I had to fit in since that's what he meant to ask...grin...

IIRC, I used 3,000 mv w/.350 BC

I know, just had to get my dig in on you.

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

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

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.

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.

YES.

6.5mm (.260Rem).

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.

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.

.284

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.

Hey Dan you feeling better?

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.