Which Rifle for Whitetail?

BIGREDD said:
Thanks fellas... I appreciate your input and experience, I have limited experience with the barnes bullets. I have had good results with accubonds and they are as good or better than any spitzer I have tried for accuracy.
But after seeing some of the groups that I have seen from the triple shocks I admit to being intrigued.
I am not wedded to the Accubond and if I can shoot flatter and more accurate I will use whatever bullet it takes.
In my limited experience shooting at the longer ranges I have found that MOA becomes a serious factor in the equation. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong in a bigger way at long range.
I realize that deer are not Elk and that either bullet will kill them with a vital's hit... but if I am faced with a long range shot I want to be confident that I have the best bullet available to me. :|

So you decided on the 30-30 right :?:
:lol: :lol:
 
in theory the TSX will develop more pressure being a solid copper bullet, but Ive found that they produce similar speeds (and thus pressure) as a regular bullet like an Interlock.

My experience has been that the tsx develops more velocity with less powder than conventional bullets.They are very accurate in my rifles and have exibited no more copper fouling than any other bullet.
 
I love the 'what rifle?' conversations...

My Grandfather killed a lot of deer with a .30-06 or a .30-30 at many ranges over his lifetime. The new 'fandangled' bullets are fun...but in my mind, if it ain't broke...don't fix it.

Either one of the 'old boy' calibres works for this young lad...
 
RDS said:
I love the 'what rifle?' conversations...

My Grandfather killed a lot of deer with a .30-06 or a .30-30 at many ranges over his lifetime. The new 'fandangled' bullets are fun...but in my mind, if it ain't broke...don't fix it.

Either one of the 'old boy' calibres works for this young lad...

The poster did mention the possibility of 300-400 yard shots.I doubt that your grandfather killed many deer at 400 yards with the 30-30. :D
 
stubblejumper said:
RDS said:
I love the 'what rifle?' conversations...

My Grandfather killed a lot of deer with a .30-06 or a .30-30 at many ranges over his lifetime. The new 'fandangled' bullets are fun...but in my mind, if it ain't broke...don't fix it.

Either one of the 'old boy' calibres works for this young lad...

The poster did mention the possibility of 300-400 yard shots.I doubt that your grandfather killed many deer at 400 yards with the 30-30. :D

You're right...he stalked closer and knocked'em dead from there. I have Super 8 film of him doing such a thing...he knew the limitations of his rifle and he adapted to the situation.
 
You're right...he stalked closer and knocked'em dead from there. I have Super 8 film of him doing such a thing...he knew the limitations of his rifle and he adapted to the situation.

Your line of argument is similar to this:

Your grandfather stalked closer because he wasn't a good enough shot to make the long shot.

You see the flaw?

Also, don't forget that when our grandfathers were young bucks the game was much more plentiful and received less hunting pressure (for the most part).

So...instead of knocking someone when they ask for opinions (especially when they probably have killed more game than you have seen), offer them your opinion on the question. BigRedd didn't ask who killed what at what distance with a 30-30 or a 30-06.
 
awww hell just walk a few 40 mm rounds up the line an lob a few napalm barels at em to pre BBQ them for the after party :twisted:
but in all seriousness go with what your comfertable with and can garuntee that vital shot at the distance you require and if that doesnt work take your shoes off and toss a sock at em
 
Your grandfather stalked closer because he wasn't a good enough shot to make the long shot.
No need to put down the man's ancestory.
The 30-30 is quite capable of hitting a deer at 400 yards. But a humane kill with it is in question out there. I respect his Grandfather's hunting abilities in being able to get closer, and not sniping at long range like many now days would do.
 
I don't think 1899 was putting down his grandfather J/C... just stating the obvious... hitting a deer and making a shot are two entirely different things :wink:

RDS:
You're right...he stalked closer and knocked'em dead from there. I have Super 8 film of him doing such a thing...he knew the limitations of his rifle and he adapted to the situation.
I can empathize with the way your grandfather hunted... we do much the same 99% of the time, hunting deer with shotguns bows and muzzleloaders. :)
And what this thread is about is ADAPTING TO THE SITUATION... A LONG RANGE SITUATION that is the most likely given the circumstances :idea:
I am looking for opinions on rifle and bullet choice from people who have the knowledge and experience in this situation.
I asked the question knowing full well that I would get good advice from people who hunt at long range.... and some of the other kind :wink:
 
I know that, and I hope you know that my 30-30 responses were in jest. Taking shots on game with a 30-30 past 200 yards is not sporting in my view, and 200 is a damned long shot for the cartridge. Not because you can't make a decent hit, but because the bullet may not do the intended job on arrival. It's getting pooped.

So, "adapt to the situation" get closer :twisted:
 
Yeah J/C ... and I know that you know that... don't start singin the rest of that song :lol:
The property in question is wide open and unaproachable on the three sides.... Private property, a river and a Highway. The cover is all at one end and the prevailing wind would make this an unlikely scenario for a close approach or shot :wink:
Lots of hunting situations are not conducive to getting closer... thats why they make long range guns and scopes :mrgreen:
 
Hmm...long range choice? I'd pick the .270WSM (unless I had a .270Win :wink: ) for the conditions you've described. My .270Win dropped a mature northern BC whitetail buck across a hayfield at 418 paces last year utilizing the awesome 140gr Nosler Accubond. The bullet blew off the top of the heart & destroyed the lungs before leaving a loonie sized exit hole. As expected, the buck didn't go anywhere. I would imaging you would experience similar results with the WSM case pushing the bullet even quicker. Either way, a clean kill (with the proper shot placement) would be the end result when using the Accubond in .277 caliber. Best of luck...KF
 
BIGREDD said:
Yeah J/C ... and I know that you know that... don't start singin the rest of that song :lol:
The property in question is wide open and unaproachable on the three sides.... Private property, a river and a Highway. The cover is all at one end and the prevailing wind would make this an unlikely scenario for a close approach or shot :wink:
Lots of hunting situations are not conducive to getting closer... thats why they make long range guns and scopes :mrgreen:

There's that difference in hunting terrain again. Where I hunt, even on an open hydro cut, the ground alone is so rough that getting closer is usually possible. Of course having the deer wait for you isn't likely given the hydro cuts width.

We hear shots from the hydro line magnums every year. Bang, Bang Bang Bang...... Missed agin :roll:
I have yet to see even one of those guys having anything aproaching a proper rest for long range shooting.
I've been toying with getting back into the longer range stuff myself. There are a few spots moose hunting where even with a 308, you just watch if a moose passes. Maybe if I sell some stuff....
 
Here in the Okanagan your shots can be anywhere from 25 to as far as you can see.I try not to shot beyond 300 yds.but have many times.The 7x57 with 160 grn.Nosler Partitions going @ 2700 fps.which is not too hard to handload for has lots of killing power out to 500 yd.How much more do I need.
 
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