Deer Gun and Recoil

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Boom, Bam, Bingo -- count it, Bay-Beee! [/d. vitale]

You're done.

Scope: Nikon Omega 3-9x40mm
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Haha, that seems to pretty much be the general consensus. Thanks for all the help guys, I appreciate it. A paycheck or two from today and I'll have it in my hands.
 
6.5 X 55, you'll never need anything else....much more accurate than a 7mm-08 and the .308.
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It is NOT more accurate, but rather has better external ballistics (such as a flatter trajectory that makes it more friendly at longer ranges). There are no "inherently accurate" rifles, only ones that have been loaded correctly with good components. It would take a world class benchrest shooter or machine rest with the proper equipment to be able to tell a marginal (negligible really) difference in two cartridges due to the case design. That is not to suggest that the 6.5x55mmSwede is a bad design, it is one of my favorite, but no cartridge is inherently accurate, only shooters, equipment (rifle, rest, mounts, and optics), and the cartridge components (match grade bullets, good brass, consistent powder and primers).

:)
 
I'd get one of the Savage Model 10 packages from Walmart with the accu trigger in a .243. I don't think you can go wrong with a Savage Model 10. If you really don't care for the accu trigger I'd get a Stevens 200 which is basically the older model 10 without the accu trigger.

One other gun I'd consider is the Marlin XL/XS 7 although I'd really end up with the Savage if it was me.

I thought my shooting skill wasn't up to sub 1" groups either until I shot a Savage model 10 and realized I got under 1" 3 shot groups with it. I was impressed to say the least.

Browning BAR in .243 would be my choice if you want a semi auto.
 
My deer rifle choice would be the Remington Model 700 BDL in 270 win, 308 win, or 30-06 springfield. You can't go wrong with any of those calibers for an all around deer rifle in PA. I've hunted PA, primarily in the mountains, and have never had a good shot over 75 yds. IF you don't want to spend any money, the Marlin is just fine for almost every situation under 200 yds.
 
My own feeling is the .308/30-06 will cover most of your needs with appropriate hand-loading.

Load the 308 with a 125 grain bullet at 2800fps for a 243 recoil equivalent that will take PA deer out to 300 yards. Load the 125/130 grain bullet up to 3150 fps for a long range sheep, antelope and deer round good for 400+ yard shots when your shooting abilities improve.

For something harder to kill like a 3-400 lb hog, load a 150gr bullet at around 2900fps for a good solid hit. Load up to a 165/70 bullet at 27-2800fps to nail hogs down. Also a good round for elk and moose.

The 308 can be loaded to roughly .243, 260, 7mm-08 and 338 equivalence by choosing different bullets and powder loads. As your handloading skills improve you can tune the load to your rifle for better than factory ammo accuracy.
 
The 308 can be loaded to roughly .243, 260, 7mm-08 and 338 equivalence by choosing different bullets and powder loads.
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Which .338? You can't be talking about the .338WM...surely you mustn't. :confused:
 
Which .338? You can't be talking about the .338WM...surely you mustn't.
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Sorry Maverick, I meant to say .338 Federal. The point I was trying to make was handloading the 308 can pretty closely duplicate the 308 family of cartridges from .243 to .338 Federal. The .358 Win is in a separate class because of the heavy weight bullets it can throw.

I feel handloading can make a bigger difference in rifle performance than necking the 308 cartridge up and down, least for deer hunting. I think the caliber changes in the 308 family are more subtle than the handloading changes that can be made to the 308.

However, I'm open to persuasion from those with a different perspective. But the opposite viewpoint seems to involve endless discussion of the distinctions between the 270 and the 7mm-08 and whether the 260 is better than the 6.5mm Swede. All those guns would be nice to have but the deer and hogs are unlikely to notice the difference.
 
Sorry Maverick, I meant to say .338 Federal. The point I was trying to make was handloading the 308 can pretty closely duplicate the 308 family of cartridges from .243 to .338 Federal.
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Now that I'll buy...the .338 Win. Mag. would be a pretty nice stretch. ;)

I feel handloading can make a bigger difference in rifle performance than necking the 308 cartridge up and down, least for deer hunting. I think the caliber changes in the 308 family are more subtle than the handloading changes that can be made to the 308.
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Handloading definitely helps any cartridge diversify, but the .308Win. has a few limitations (many that are not important to most folks), such as greater recoil, and poorer trajectory. I really believe the .260Rem is better suited to the .308 case capacity, but I would rather have a underbore cartridge that overbore.

:)
 
uh...what would you like me to say, exactly...?
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haha what you always do...Savage. It's just funny because before I scroll down I already know what I'm going to find.
 
Vertical453
if you are concerned about recoil check out "Chuck Hawkin's Web site, particularly the recoil caparison charts. This moved me from my 30-06 to a 6.5x55 Swede. It was a wonderful change for me. It has the same recoil pulse as a 30-30. Now I shoot my deer rifle regularly with no recoil headache or soreness. Being able and willing to practice is very important. I found with my bolt action 30-06 that after several shots I was sighted in "good enough". The gun went to deer camp then home and into the safe until the next season. With my Swede it is such a pleasure to shoot it follows me to the range 2-3 times a month. It is also good medicine for deer. I dropped a buck and a doe one shot each this year. Do some reading, the Swede is the number one big game cartridge in Europe and this includes Elk hunters. The long shanked 6.5 bullets is something of a marvel. Its terminal performance is way better than one would expect and it doesn't turn the meat into "jelly" as do many of the overly high powered/ velocity calibers.

Bottom line, buy a gun that you will enjoy shooting, ie. recoil that doesn't bother you, or you'll spend the next 35 years wishing you had.
 
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