Author Topic: If you could only have one. (Read 1927 times)

DalesCarpentry · « **on:** July 05, 2008, 07:09:22 AM »

I would like one round that would be good for Groundhogs and Whitetail Deer. Which one of the ones listed would you choose? I would be shooting Groundhogs out to 500 yards and deer 400 yards and less. Thanks Dale

tn_junk · « **Reply #1 on:** July 05, 2008, 07:16:52 AM »

.270-

But I am biased.
My first, and still favorite, cartridge.

alan

Freezer · « **Reply #2 on:** July 05, 2008, 07:25:27 AM »

The 25-06 a good bullet selection. Hornaday makes a 117gr lite Mag that when zeroed @ 200yrds will drop 10.5" at 500. It also has plenty of power for deer.

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** July 05, 2008, 10:34:30 AM »

I cannot imagine me EVER putting myself in the situation of having to limit myself to only one rifle for deer and varmints or for that matter even limiting myself to one for either chore much less both chores. I have a hard time limiting myself to a half dozen for each chore and never even think of a single gun to do both.

Still from the list I guess I'd say the .25-06 is the most likely candidate as a combination do both type round as I see it as an excellent long range limited rounds fired round for ground hogs and also an excellent long range deer round.

I rank the 7-08 as about the most perfect deer round out there and it would work for ground hogs fine but it's not ideal for that chore and the .25-06 is in my opinion a superior varmint round to it.

beemanbeme · « **Reply #4 on:** July 05, 2008, 10:58:22 AM »

You didn't have a vote for none of the above. That'd be my vote. If you're just shooting Ghogs, you may only get say 10 shots in a day which wouldn't be a strain, but when you start shooting beyond 300 yards or so, you have to start setting up your rifle for the longer shots.
Maybe you could have two scopes. In Weaver mounts. One a 4x16 for the varmints and the other a 3x9 or less.
I didn't vote but I'd make mine a .260 --if that was one of the choices-- and use light bullets for the Ghogs and 140s for the deer. If it wasn't one of the choices, I'd pick the 7-08 and make do with it as a varmint rifle. I've never shot any BG at 400 yards. And only one over 300 yards. An antelope at 380 and it was a kinda hot dog shot.

superdown · « **Reply #5 on:** July 05, 2008, 11:14:16 AM »

It would be none of the above fore me also my choice would be a 308win because there is probably as many different loadings for it as all the other choices put together ? probably the for rifle options as well . superdown

nodlenor · « **Reply #6 on:** July 05, 2008, 11:17:08 AM »

My first love; 270 win.

longwinters · « **Reply #7 on:** July 05, 2008, 12:43:04 PM »

My 1st choice was the 7m-08, but when I read the distances for deer etc... I went to the 280. I also think the 7m-08 is the perfect deer caliber especially with a 140 gn bullet, but I guess I would rather have overkill for the small stuff to have enough schooze for the bigger game. The 270 would do the same.

Long

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #8 on:** July 05, 2008, 02:48:15 PM »

what no .243?

That would be my first choice.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #9 on:** July 05, 2008, 03:21:47 PM »

Quote from: krochus on July 05, 2008, 02:48:15 PM

what no .243?

That would be my first choice.

I just sold my 243. That is why it is not on the list. I figure when I buy another rifle I would want it better suited for deer than the 243. I am leaning toward the 260 or the 7MM-08 as of now. Altough the 280 can't be ignored. With this set up I think I would buy Leopold Quick Release Rings. I would also buy 2 different scopes. One high powered for Groundhogs and a 3x9 for deer. Dale

Tom W. · « **Reply #10 on:** July 05, 2008, 06:01:35 PM »

Dale, you know that you want a 7mm-08. Might as well save up and get it...

victorcharlie · « **Reply #11 on:** July 06, 2008, 07:22:56 AM »

I have a couple of .270's.....but I voted 25.06 having never owned one.

I may change my mind if the 115 grain .277 bullets shoot well!

victorcharlie · « **Reply #12 on:** July 06, 2008, 07:24:08 AM »

Quote from: DALESCARPENTRY on July 05, 2008, 03:21:47 PM

Quote from: krochus on July 05, 2008, 02:48:15 PM
what no .243?

That would be my first choice.
I just sold my 243. That is why it is not on the list. I figure when I buy another rifle I would want it better suited for deer than the 243. I am leaning toward the 260 or the 7MM-08 as of now. Altough the 280 can't be ignored. With this set up I think I would buy Leopold Quick Release Rings. I would also buy 2 different scopes. One high powered for Groundhogs and a 3x9 for deer. Dale

I don't know you you'll find a round better suited for deer......especially if you want to shoot groundhogs......

dw06 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 06, 2008, 01:13:32 PM »

Only good thing about answering these one round questions is, its too dam late for me to be held to just one since I got too many in the safe already!!

But I did pick one, the 25-06, and I don't even own one, but hey I'm not done yet.

charles p · « **Reply #14 on:** July 06, 2008, 04:34:28 PM »

With respect to all who have voted otherwise, I think the 25-06 is the only rifle perfectly suitable for hunting both animals without being over or under gunned.

no guns here · « **Reply #15 on:** July 07, 2008, 12:17:18 AM »

Within the constraints listed... I'd pick the .25-'06 first and the .270 second but tomorrow I might reverse the order. Personally and this is no indictment of your parameters or of you, I'd try to never constrain myself with such wide parameters. It's extremely hard to have a single round that can cover the wide scope of bullets needed, energy, and velocity and do all of it well... Bullets that will expand on a GH at 500 most likely will be too lightly constructed for deer at 300. Deer bullets at 75 will be too tough at 350 for GH's. You would definitely need two scopes. Trying to keep data tables and scope settings for two bullets all the way to 400 and 500 yds would be a nightmare. If I had to do that most of the animals would be GONE by the time I figured out what my gun was set for, what bullet I had in my pocket and where the table was and then I'd have to get the range and read the cards and then shoot. Getting closer might well be the best option. If you can get both targets into the less than 300 range, it all gets much simpler.

ngh

billy · « **Reply #16 on:** July 07, 2008, 12:55:11 AM »

All but three of my deer have come with 270 ,the other with 7mm-08,both are great rounds.

jro45 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 07, 2008, 04:35:12 AM »

I would take the 22-250 for deer and groundhogs.

K.K · « **Reply #18 on:** July 07, 2008, 07:59:37 AM »

Life is far too short to hunt with only one caliber, but my first was a .270, and it has killed lots of deer, and a few other "targets of opportunity" over the years. I'll choose to "dance with who brung ya". Oh, yeah, the .270 not only works great on whitetails, it is adequate for groudhog sized game too!

superdown · « **Reply #19 on:** July 07, 2008, 08:36:26 AM »

Have you thought about maybe getting getting a handi rifle for deer since you will be shooting far less ammo and a used bolt gun in an appropriate varmint round since something with a quicker follow up shot is generally more desirable for varmints ? superdown

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #20 on:** July 07, 2008, 11:05:23 AM »

I think if I were to go the 2 different gun route I would buy a marlin bolt 30-06 for $279.00 plus shipping. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=104167992 Then I would buy another Remington SPS Varmint in a 22-250. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=104169822 I have been tossing that idea around also. Dale

ratgunner · « **Reply #21 on:** July 07, 2008, 12:47:28 PM »

Quote from: tn_junk on July 05, 2008, 07:16:52 AM

.270-

But I am biased.
My first, and still favorite, cartridge.

alan

+ 1

no guns here · « **Reply #22 on:** July 08, 2008, 01:51:17 AM »

I guess if I was going to shoot a lot of 400 yard deer I'd probably move up to the .300 Win Mag class of chambering. If I were going to shoot GH's consistently at 500 yds I'd probably step up to a hot 6mm of some kind. The 6x284 would be great for GH's not for PD's though. Would be more fun to sneak up closer and shoot'em closer.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #23 on:** July 08, 2008, 03:13:34 AM »

It does not require a 300 Win. Mag to kill a deer at 400 yards and less. Every one of the ones listed deliver at least 1,000 pounds of energy at 400 yards. Some even much more with the heavier bullets. The rifle I am really considering is a special run. I see them on Gun Broker still and hope I can get one before they sell out. It would be a Remington 700 SPS 7MM-08 Varmint with the 26" heavy barrel. There is a member here that goes by Kensal that bought one a little over a month ago. He just recently got it shooting 1/2" groups with hand loads. If you want to see his rifle you can go to the Remington section of this site. Dale

beemanbeme · « **Reply #24 on:** July 08, 2008, 03:56:19 AM »

Uhhhh, not to pee pee on your parade but IMO a ground hog rifle and a deer rifle are carry rifles. Not a "set up" rifles like you might use on a Pdog shoot. Where and how you hunt might be different from me but what would a rig like that weigh, with scope, strap, loaded, maybe a bipod? It could get awful heavy at the end of the day.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #25 on:** July 08, 2008, 04:38:49 AM »

I had the same rifle before. It weighed about 10 pounds set up. It is not bad when Groundhog hunting because I just walk a few feet from the truck and set up and watch the fields. Now when deer hunting it does get heavy but I just had to tuff it out. Dale

beemanbeme · « **Reply #26 on:** July 08, 2008, 09:22:02 AM »

Just to jack this thread for a sec, why wouldn't the 6x284 work for Pdogs?? Other than blowing fur into the next postal zone? (you don't save 'em do you?

) The 6.5x284 is aquiring quite a following amongst the 1000 yard boys.

Graybeard · « **Reply #27 on:** July 08, 2008, 10:09:43 AM »

Quote from: beemanbeme on July 08, 2008, 09:22:02 AM

Just to jack this thread for a sec, why wouldn't the 6x284 work for Pdogs?? Other than blowing fur into the next postal zone? (you don't save 'em do you? ) The 6.5x284 is aquiring quite a following amongst the 1000 yard boys.

Never been on a prairie dog shoot have ya? It's not a PD hunt it's a PD shoot and shoot is what ya do and LOTS of it if the shoot is a good one. The recoil of a 6,5x284 would be prohibitive for the volume of shooting done. It's nice to have low enough recoil that you don't lose the sight picture on firing so you can tell for yourself where you hit on a distant miss so you can take corrective action next shot. A spotter is helpful but most commonly not available cuz they wanna be shooting too.

Freezer · « **Reply #28 on:** July 08, 2008, 05:27:55 PM »

I like the 6.5x284 but it requires a long barrel to reach it's full potential thus it's not a good choice as a carry gun. I own a 280 and a 308 both are superb cartridges but the 25-06 is more versatile for the criteria he set.
In Pa where Dale hunts I don't believe you can use a .22 caliber for deer.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #29 on:** July 08, 2008, 07:44:28 PM »

Believe it or not you are aloud to hunt deer with any center fire round that is designed to expand on impact. I think that is crazy. That means I could legally hunt deer here with a 17 Remington Fireball. Dale

Poll

If you could only have one round for Groundhogs and Deer. Which would it be?

Author Topic: If you could only have one. (Read 1927 times)