Bruno2
Member
I am looking for a deer rifle that would have plenty of energy and accuracy at 400 yds.
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Great Long Range Deer Rifle
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Gryffydd
Member
I think your zero key might be not working quite properly.
30Cal
Member
Pretty much anything centerfire will do at that range. Assuming you meant 400yds, and not 40; pretty much any rifle cartridge will fit the bill, but something a little faster (ie. magnum) will make dealing with wind and elevation a lot easier. Past about 200yds, the shooter is probably going to be the limiting factor.
NYH1
Member
A good bolt action (I like Remington model 700's, everyone has their own brand preference), with a good scope in 257 Rob., 25-06 Rem., 260 Rem., 6.5x55 Swed., 270 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., 7x57 Mau., 280 Rem., 308 Win. and 30-06 Spr. will do. Any of the 6.5mm, 7mm and 300 mag's will also do. They shoot a little flatter and buck the wind a little better. A lot of guys don't consider magnums necessary for deer hunting, but some like then. To each their own.
Good luck, NYH1!
Good luck, NYH1!
okiewita40
Member
Hmmmmmm? 40yards a long shot. I didn't know my SKS turned into a magnum.
Ridgerunner665
Member
For 400 yards...and without getting all exotic on calibers...25-06 or 270.
Nuff said...
Nuff said...
jonn5335
Member
257
Sav .250
Member
Don`t for get there is an edit button.
Lloyd Smale
Member
I shoot alot of deer at those ranges and if i had to do it with only one gun it would probably be a 7mag. Theres others i like like the 264 257 various 300 mags and even the 2506 but a 7mag is hard to beat when the range sneaks past 400 yards.
The 7mm rem mag is a great long range gun that does not beat up a shooter. Recoil is in the 30-06 range and it still offers enough energy for game as large as elk at extended range. The various 300 magnums will offer a bit more energy at long range, but with about the same trajectory and a another step up in recoil.
If you are going to be shooting at deer at 400 yards and you don't know what kind of caliber to use, I think you better think about developing some shooting skills first. I have shot many deer in my lifetime and none of the shots were more than 100 yards. To me, the hunt is as important as the shot. chris3
BoilerUP
Member
Something you can buy ammo for at Wal-Mart?
270, 7mm-08, 30-06, 7mm-08.
Personally, I'll stick with my 260 Rem; the 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip @ 2775fps in my mild handloads has over 1000ft/lb @ 450yd. And if I really want to reach out there, the 130gr Berger Hunting VLD can be pushed to 3000fps, which carries 1000ft/lb out to 700yd.
All with the high sectional density 6.5mm bullets offer and less recoil than any of the above options.
270, 7mm-08, 30-06, 7mm-08.
Personally, I'll stick with my 260 Rem; the 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip @ 2775fps in my mild handloads has over 1000ft/lb @ 450yd. And if I really want to reach out there, the 130gr Berger Hunting VLD can be pushed to 3000fps, which carries 1000ft/lb out to 700yd.
All with the high sectional density 6.5mm bullets offer and less recoil than any of the above options.
MachIVshooter
Member
.25-06 is the obvious choice for long shots on deer. Plenty of energy and very flat trajectory with moderate recoil. There really isn't a better cartridge for deer and antelope on the open plains. The .25-06 can be safely handloaded to move a 117 gr. boat tail (with a B.C. of ~.430) to 3,200 FPS from a 24" barrel. It is simply Thor's hammer on deer sized game.
Though the .257 Weatherby mag is a touch faster, rifles and ammo are far more scarce and expensive. For the handloader, the .257 Roy uses a disproportionately larger powder charge to gain a whopping 100 FPS.
Most any centerfire from .243 on up and with muzzle velocities in excess of 2,700 FPS can accomplish the OP's task, but it is my opinion based on experience that none is better suited to this than the .25-06.
Though the .257 Weatherby mag is a touch faster, rifles and ammo are far more scarce and expensive. For the handloader, the .257 Roy uses a disproportionately larger powder charge to gain a whopping 100 FPS.
Most any centerfire from .243 on up and with muzzle velocities in excess of 2,700 FPS can accomplish the OP's task, but it is my opinion based on experience that none is better suited to this than the .25-06.
Jim Watson
Member
Not many opportunities for long range hunting shots around here, the ones I know of were done with 7x57, .30-06, .300 Win Mag. The old 7mm Mauser produced the quickest kill at 400 yards. Of course its owner was almost certainly the best shot of the bunch, too.
beatledog7
Member
For me it's gotta be the 10.5 Columbia until I'm at about 150-200 yards, then 7mm Rem Mag.
I think you could fill the bill with any of the standard calibers; my preference is either the .270 Win or the 30.06. The ammunition can be found in a variety of the bullet configurations and can be found in almost every store selling ammunition. Some of the other calibers may be slightly harder to come by. This is evident when travelling to out of the way places i.e. northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan. Just my $.02 worth.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
It's uncommon for deer--and probably, elk--to be shot at much beyond 200 yards. Sure, folks do 300 and 400, but as a lesser percentage of all shots.
400 yards, IMO is a bit of a stretch for a .243, but no big deal for .260 to .30.
Main thing is learn the trajectory and how to figure wind drift if you're shooting out beyond 300 yards. Pretty much, up to around 300 yards is "Point it and pull."
400 yards, IMO is a bit of a stretch for a .243, but no big deal for .260 to .30.
Main thing is learn the trajectory and how to figure wind drift if you're shooting out beyond 300 yards. Pretty much, up to around 300 yards is "Point it and pull."
Bruno2
Member
Thanks for the edit Art. I didnt catch the missing zero.
This post was for a friend of mine that is new to the game. I could go on and on about what calibers and I did . I really wanted for him to hear it from a few other sources. I was pushing for the 30-06 Springfield. The reason being is that the ammo is extremely common and everyone makes a 30-06. I like the 25-06 , but , the field is extremely narrow when looking for heavy barrel bolt guns in this caliber. He is a little hung up on .308 Winchester. I had a friend that shot competitoin professionally. He shot everything there was until he conquered that realm and then he moved on. The last rifle competition he was shooting was 1000 meter 50 BMG where he achieved 2nd in the nation. He had an extreme prejudice against the .308 for some reason. So I had never looked into owning one. The match shooter I am referring to had his own range since the early 50's and was one of the most knowledgable hand loaders I have ever met. When you stepped into his trophy room it was intimidating b/c he had hundreds. I always took what he told me as gold and didnt question it. However, I have personally shot some .308's that I would consider extremely accurate. One in fact was a Rem 700 PSS. That gun shot like a dream IMO, but , not wanting to go against what I had been told by a credible source I never had any inclination to own one.
My buddy wants to set his budget around $1,000.00 for the gun and optic.
This post was for a friend of mine that is new to the game. I could go on and on about what calibers and I did . I really wanted for him to hear it from a few other sources. I was pushing for the 30-06 Springfield. The reason being is that the ammo is extremely common and everyone makes a 30-06. I like the 25-06 , but , the field is extremely narrow when looking for heavy barrel bolt guns in this caliber. He is a little hung up on .308 Winchester. I had a friend that shot competitoin professionally. He shot everything there was until he conquered that realm and then he moved on. The last rifle competition he was shooting was 1000 meter 50 BMG where he achieved 2nd in the nation. He had an extreme prejudice against the .308 for some reason. So I had never looked into owning one. The match shooter I am referring to had his own range since the early 50's and was one of the most knowledgable hand loaders I have ever met. When you stepped into his trophy room it was intimidating b/c he had hundreds. I always took what he told me as gold and didnt question it. However, I have personally shot some .308's that I would consider extremely accurate. One in fact was a Rem 700 PSS. That gun shot like a dream IMO, but , not wanting to go against what I had been told by a credible source I never had any inclination to own one.
My buddy wants to set his budget around $1,000.00 for the gun and optic.
Ridgerunner665
Member
I really like the 308, and have killed a fair number of deer and bear with one...but a flat shooter it is not. I shoot 165 grain bullets...namely 165 Nosler Ballistic Tips.
A deer at 300 yards is pretty easy with a 308...put the crosshairs high on the shoulder (2" or so below the back line), and pull the trigger (wind notwithstanding).
400 yards...the crosshairs are gonna be a bit over the deer on this one (8-10" or so)
Thats with a 200 yard zero...I've killed deer with a 308 at ranges from a few feet to a tad over 800 yards, its a good deer round...but its not as flat shooting as a 25-06, 270, etc.
A 270 firing a 130 grain Ballistic Tip has about 5" less drop at 400 yards...in all honesty, it isn't that much of a difference....you'd still have to hold 2-3" over the deers back.
A deer at 300 yards is pretty easy with a 308...put the crosshairs high on the shoulder (2" or so below the back line), and pull the trigger (wind notwithstanding).
400 yards...the crosshairs are gonna be a bit over the deer on this one (8-10" or so)
Thats with a 200 yard zero...I've killed deer with a 308 at ranges from a few feet to a tad over 800 yards, its a good deer round...but its not as flat shooting as a 25-06, 270, etc.
A 270 firing a 130 grain Ballistic Tip has about 5" less drop at 400 yards...in all honesty, it isn't that much of a difference....you'd still have to hold 2-3" over the deers back.
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you don't need WM for 400 -500 yards, 6 mm cartridge and 105 gr bullet will do just fine, it has 1050 ft*lbs energy @500 yards and the velocity 2120 fps, the other choices would be 25-06, 260, 6.5x55, 6.5-06, 270, 280, 7x57, 284WIN, 7x64, 7mm-08, 308WIN, 7.62X54, 30-06
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