Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Your Perfect Mule Deer Rifle

Think I'll to tote a Montana .243 next year. Sweet rifle.

This 6x42 HD is coming for it

http://img831.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=img4127i.jpg

My next project would fit for this question. Not sure yet on the details but thinking something along the lines of this:

Ruger M77 MKII 270, Boat paddle stock, VX3 4.5-14 with a CDS

So far I have the stock, and can't make up my mind if I want to go 270 or 280AI... Won't start looking for the action/barrel until spring/summer so no rush.

Great run! Nice shooting.

I don't know what's perfect but I know what's killed more mule deer bucks for me than anything else...a M70 FW in 270 wearing a 4X scope.

I'd use a 99 of one flavor or another. Probably this same 270 Titus I always use for blacktails and stuff.

Custom .284 Winchester mountain rifle. 24" Lilja barrel 1-9 twist. Loaded with 120gr TTSX.

That a .308 or .300 Sav necked to .277?

Kind of a neat one ya got there.

Honest to God I was looking at donors today....

Very sweet!

Got a squirrel dinner that way! My pic, Ruger boat paddle, SS 270WCF, Leupold 2x7x32.

Thats the first one: SUCKS SS .280 AI 24" King tube fluted (roughly a #3) in a McSwirly (Blue, black, grey) McHunter pattern. Does the 160 AB's and Deepcurls over the same load of RL22 into the same hole. Can't hate. 8lbs 2oz with the Talleys and 2.5-8.

6.5 Rem Mag on a SUCKS SS again, in a Mickey Edge McHunter with a Shilen custom contour (close to Krieger #2) topped with another Leupy 2.5-8. Moves 120gr Btips at 3250 and 140gr Accubonds at 3000fps with only 1" of vert. impact difference.
Weighs 7lb 2oz pictured.

Since discovering the mighty 257WBY about 30 years ago, that round has been my all time mule deer favorite by miles. I have played with, during that time, a couple of others like the 6/284 and 7mm Mashburn Super but the rifle that is at the smith's shop right now is an FN Sporter getting a 27.5 inch tube in 25 ROY. So in essence the ideal Mule Deer Rifle is a CRF Model 70 or Mauser action with nice wood and a good quality long tube (minimum 26 inches) in 257WBY, but I will concede that a 264 WinMag is its twin brother. My favorite scope for these has been a Loopy 4.5-14x40 Gloss AO, but last year I used a newly found and acquired (here in classifieds) Burris Signature Posi Lock 4-16x44 Gloss finish model and I like that one even better.

Turret twisting NOT needed when launching a Moly'ed 100gr TTSX at 3800fps or a skosh more.

Here is mine, blueprint above (FN Sporter)







While in the shop to get its new barrel, this one is also getting a LaPour Model 70 style Safety, Burris Dual dovetail bases and DD signature posi align nylon insert rings, and will be re blued in a very high gloss and very dark hot salt bath blueing. Polished and Blued, then RE Polished and blued AGAIN and one final polishing to give it that Weatherby Deluxe or old Colt Python dark shiny look all over.

Right now my perfect muley shooter is a Weatherby in .257.

Either of these two, both 26" .264 WM. A pre-64 Model 70 or a similar vintage Colt Sako.

The best Mule Deer rifle is the cheapest 22-250 you can buy in Montucky and vel-cro to your dashboard of a half ton pick-up.

I'm thinking its the same as my whitetail rifle

Kimber MT 308 Leupy 6X

That's funny......Toad is the one bitchin and he thinks you are the one who needs the Midol.

Shod

go read TAK's Kimber posts and get back to us on that...