guided preserve hunt...rifle (caliber) & shotgun (rifled vs sabot) ???'s

[kmrcstintn]

I have been invited to join a planned hunting excursion to a wildlife preserve in Northcentral Pennsylvania to take place in January 2008; I am planning to hunt either a large red stag deer and/or a medium exotic like a gazelle or impala; the reserve owners state that the longest average shots are @ 100 yards; I have not hunted anything larger than Pennsylvania whitetail and wish to equip myself with the proper type of firearm for a 'clean' kill;

1) for an animal like a large red stag deer or elk, what rifle caliber (common & established) would be enough for a 'clean' kill

2) for an animal like a gazelle, impala, or ram, what rifle caliber (common & established) would be enough for a 'clean' kill

3) for an animal like a gazelle, impala, or ram, what type of shotgun slug (sabot vs rifled) would give me a 'clean' kill out to 100-125 yards

Tanx!

 

[B.D. Turner]

.30/06 will work for all of em.

 

[Grumulkin]

I agree, a 30/06 would work for all.

A 12 guage shotgun slug would work for all as well as long as one could hit the target. In my rather limited experience with shotgun slugs and sabots, I have found accuracy excellent at 50 yards and marginal at 100 yards. I think 150 to 200 yards shots with a shotgun is so marginal that I wouldn't try it.

 

[one-shot-one]

1st check with you host!

does your host require a minimum?

for red stag/elk .270, 7mm mag, .308, .30-06, and up using premimum bullets.

for gazelle, impala, or ram, minimum for me would be .243 and up through the cal. listed above.

as for shotgun slugs 100yrds. for me would be streching it, if it must be then if your shotgun has a screw in choke get a rifled choke and test it with both rifled slugs with the different chokes and sabots with the rifled choke, then go with what groups the best.

 

[bub8889]

What rifle do you hunt deer with? I would say stick with that if it's above
.243. A "clean kill" as you say is more about shot placement than power, though power does give a little wiggle room. Your deer rifle should be just fine.

Unless of course you're looking for an excuse to buy a new rifle, then any of the above mentioned are good choices along with all the WSM's.

 

[kmrcstintn]

1) I have an inquiry into the guides about their recommedations, but I haven't received a response yet

2) I don't have a rifle for deer hunting; I have a Remmy 870 12 ga SPS-T w/adjustable sights and I sighted it for 25-35 yards with Brenneke/Kent K-O 1 oz slugs

 

[one-shot-one]

so if we are looking for a new rifle:

stevens will get you a good serviceable gun at a reasonable price. even if you have to pay list of$327 and add a good leupold or nikon scope for $200 and mounts you have invested $580. less than many listed prices for rifles alone. the short action in .308 or the long action in .30-06 or 7mm mag would be my choices again depending on the remarks from your host.


http://www.savagearms.com/st_200short.htm

http://www.savagearms.com/st_200long.htm