Ready for the mule deer

[shoot'n hogs]

After debating wheither I should or shouldn't, this last weekend I purchased a Remington Sendero 300 RUM w/ a Leupold M4 6.5-20x50.  The rifle was $790 and the scope was purchased for $890.  I got the store owner to throw in 30mm rings and bases and also some custom rifle work for free (float and bedding the rifle).  Thanks for all the opinions and help in the previous post.

[CEJ1895]

Congrats on the new rifle! Sounds like just the ticket for some real long range work with that Leupold 6.5x- 20x scope!  CEJ...

[Selmer]

Not that there isn't a little bit if envy when I read your post, but my father and I have been shooting mule deer for a combined 30+ years with .30-06's and .308's, scoped with either a 4x or 3x-9x variable scope, and I wish you the best of luck on your hunt, I only hope that you don't run on to the muley of a lifetime at 25 yds with that scope or all you'll see is hair even at 6.5x!!!  I'm not flaming you or your purchase, and if this is a once in a lifetime muley hunt I'd probably use more than a .30-06, (or if I hadd enough money to buy a specialty rifle, but my Encoritis kind of finished that dream), but I hope your scope setup doesn't backfire because I'll sheepishly admit that I've been caught at less than 20yds. with my scope on 6x or better, and it makes for tough shooting!  Have fun and good luck!!  
Selmer
PS  Make sure you're loading a Nosler Partition or bullet of equal structure in that behemoth .300 RUM!

[Lawdog]

shoot'n hogs,

Question if you Please!  Where re you going for your Mule Deer hunt and what type of hunting will you be doing?  The reason I ask is in the over 40 years I have been chasing Mule Deer in most of the western states that have them the most successful method I have found of hunting them is spot-n-stalk.  If this is the method you plan on using you may be over scoped!  The chances of jumping a Mulie buck at close range, 25 - 35 yards, is very good and at 6.5 power you are not going to see much.  You may want to think about dropping down to a 4 - 16X to cover your bases.  Also like “Selmer” said,

PS Make sure you're loading a Nosler Partition or bullet of equal structure in that behemoth .300 RUM!,

use a 180 Nosler Partition bullet and stay away from those plastic tipped bullets(Ballistic Tips and SST’s for example) or you could very well end up regretting your decision.  Keep us informed on your progress and your hunt.  Small groups and tight lines to you.  Lawdog
 

[shoot'n hogs]

no no no, just sitting up on a ridge over looking the valley below.  As for the bullets, what do you guys think about barnes triple shock in 180 grain?

[Lawdog]

shoot'n hogs,

I am just now starting to load Barnes Triple-Shock X-Bullets so I don't really have an opinion on them.  If they work as other Barnes bullets I have used then they should work great.  In fact you may be able to go down to lighter weight bullet instead of using 180 grain bullets.  In fact I am just now working on loads for the 150 and 168 grain Triple-Shock bullets for Mule Deer hunting this fall in my .300 Weatherby.  As for you just sitting on a ridge, I wish you good luck.  That method has rarely worked for me.  Small groups and tight lines to you.  Lawdog
 

[Zachary]

I haven't shot the new TSX yet, but I have shot many a Barnes X.  In my guns, they are very accurate, while some people will tell you that they are not accurate in their rifles.  However, it seems that, from what many shooters have said, the new TSX, with its three rings, shoot much better in all of their rifles.

As far as the bullet itself, keep in mind that a 180 grain Barnes X is the equivalent of a conventional 165 or even 150 grain bullet.  As such, you can use lighter bullets with the TSX.

Also, I don't think that TSX is ideal for mule deer.  The TSX has 4 petals that open up and the bullet "drills and cuts" as it passes through, as opposed to "mushroom and push" like a conventional bullet.  On elk, hogs, or moose, I think an TSX is great.  On deer and mule deer, I think the TSX is a bit too much.  Don't get me wrong - it will certainly work, but I like more frontal area on deer than a TSX.

Zachary

[Coyote Hunter]

...
As far as the bullet itself, keep in mind that a 180 grain Barnes X is the equivalent of a conventional 165 or even 150 grain bullet.  As such, you can use lighter bullets with the TSX.
...
Zachary

Barnes would suggest that the X bullets, for any given X bullet weight, will penetrate as far as a HEAVIER standard bullet.  This includes the TSX.  Thus a 180g TSX would be the equivalent of a 200 or maybe even 220g standard bullet.

I think what you meant to say was that a 165g X would penetrate like a 180 standard bullet?

As to accuracy, the TSX's are very accurate in my .257 Roberts.

[oldelkhunter]

I guess if your watching an Alfalfa field your rig would be ideal but I guarantee after 1 mountain mule deer hunt the rifle and scope will be ditched. While it is and should be a very accurate powerful setup it is a little too specialized for mule deer hunting. Like others have mentioned I too have had monster muledeer explode in front or behind me at 30 feet and not been quick enough to shoot using a  relatively lightweight rifle.

[Coyote Hunter]

shoot'n hogs -

I didn't really answer your question in my first post, as it was more of a response to Zachary.  So here goes.

First, though, I agree that you are overscoped for mulies. Chances are good that you will never use more than 9 or 10x on a hunt, but you may often want less than 6.5x.  I tend to keep my scopes at 4-4.5x when walking, knowing that I can reliably take game at 300 yards at that setting and also knowing that at that distance I probably have plenty of time to crank it up if desired.  I'd put that scope on a good varmint rifle and get something along the lines of a good 3x9 for hunting purposes.

As to bullets - my first choice would be a heavily constructed bonded bullet, something that would withstand high impact velocities.

Speer Trophy Bonded
Swift A-Frame
Swift Scirocco
North Fork

Second choice would be one of the following:
Barnes TSX or XLC
CT Failsafe (Winchester or Federal)
Hornady Interbond
Nosler Accubond
Nosler Partition
Remington Core-Lokt Ultra

Because of the RUM velocities, I would stay away from "standard" cup and core bullets, with the possible exception of Grand Slam bullets..

You might notice I included the Scirocco in my first choice list but the Interbond/Accubond/Core-Lokt Ultra in my second choice - this is because the Scirocco has a MUCH heavier jacket than the others.  

The X and Failsafe bullets get second choice status because they tend to loose their petals at high velocities, leaving a caliber-diameter slug to finish the job.   My preference is for more frontal area.

[Zachary]

...
As far as the bullet itself, keep in mind that a 180 grain Barnes X is the equivalent of a conventional 165 or even 150 grain bullet.  As such, you can use lighter bullets with the TSX.
...
Zachary

Barnes would suggest that the X bullets, for any given X bullet weight, will penetrate as far as a HEAVIER standard bullet.  This includes the TSX.  Thus a 180g TSX would be the equivalent of a 200 or maybe even 220g standard bullet.

I think what you meant to say was that a 165g X would penetrate like a 180 standard bullet?

As to accuracy, the TSX's are very accurate in my .257 Roberts.

I got my initial thoughts mixed up. :oops:

As I later said, you should use lighter bullets in the X-Bullet.  I should have said that a 150 or 165 X will be about the same as a 180 conventional.  

Zachary