Building a hunting gun for SC whitetail

[Nandy]

Right now I have a 110 on 30-06 and was looking for a flatter shooting build. 7mm rem ultra mag comes to mind. We shoot a lot on the power lines and shots presented can be from a few yards to up to 400 yds. We shoot a lot out of sturdy structures so it makes the long shot a lot easier. I have only shot the 30-06 so I am not too familiar with most other calibers that might be better suited. I like to hear opinions. I will be reloading and probably using Nosler bullets.

Thanks

[tyler.woodard04]

a ultra will be like hitting them with a train. if 400 is the goal shoot a 6mm or 6.5. lots of good cases out there.

[bootsmcguire]

243AI, 6mmAI, or 6.5x55 all sound like great choices

[savageboy]

Ive hunted Upstate NY, NC and SC deer. It dosent take too much to put them down w/ a proper shot. A good 6.5mm retains enough energy at that range. I took the biggest buck I have ever shot last year opening day here in NC at 320yds. w/ a 7-08, 22" skinny hunting barrel, 3-9x compact scope w/ a 140gr. Nos. bal tip, top of back hold and it buckeled, ran 25-30yds and that was it, shot clean thru it. The load was 2800+fps at the muzzle and shot clean thru it. I ran the numbers and my 260AI retains as much if not more energy at 1000yds as a 300win mag so, it would def. get the job done at 400yds.

[Nandy]

So the ultra might be a little overkill... ;D I will probably have the opportunity this weekend to shoot a 7mm reg mag. Most of the guys on the lease are using that. Im not writing off the 6mm but the statistics on paper seem to favor the 7mm for a flatter trajectory. The 7mm rem mag for a 150 gr bullet is only 1/4 inch lower at 300yds than what the 7mm rum for the same bullet so I cannot see why to go for the added kick and faster wearing barrel cartridge. Would love to be able to try a 6mm to have something to compare as far as recoil. Im loosing just 1/2 an inch between the 7mm rem mag and the 6mm using 2957 fps on a 95 gr bullet.
Thanks for the info.

[AKShooter]

While I think everyone should buy a new gun once in awhile, I'd look into a quality scope with a mil reticle, save your money and load/buy ammo and learn your rifle. There's nothing a 7mag will do at 400yds that an 06 won't do. That is if you know what your doing, no amount of velocity makes up for not knowing your gun/load. If you are trying to use a mag/ultra hi super faster than speed of light catridge to make up for lack of long range shooting knowledge your not taking an ethical shot anyways.
That said I'm partial to the .270win.

[Nandy]

AKShooter, you make many assumptions with very little information.
You dont know what scope I have or what reticle is in it.
I can shoot to 325 yds without making a change on the scope elevation turret with the use of my scope reticle. With a 7mm rm I will be 2 inches low at 400 using the same reticle (assuming the calculator is correct). I cant do that with the 06.
You assume I dont know my rifle. I have a chart in my rifle just under the safety with all the amount of clicks needed to be zeroed from 50 to 400 yds in 50 yards increment and a drawing on my rear scope flipup cover with the rage of every markings on my scope, tested on paper. I shoot quite a bit, not as much as I like though, it is getting expensive and I find myself short on time.
The 7mm with the scope I currently have will allow me to shoot to 400yds without having to do any adjustment on my elevation turrets.
I rather change the barrel (and buy the associated reloading supplies) than the scope any day, specially when I almost paid 900.00 for the scope.
We will talk about ethical shots another day, this thread is about choosing a caliber for sc deer.

I see your partial so the 270 win, it looks ok on the calculator, I appreciate that input. I have been looking at a barrel in the classifieds here. I might get it just to play with it.

[Jamie]

Easy choice would be a 280 AI. Same bolt head as the -06 with the performance of the 7mm Rem Mag (don't even consider a RUM for SC deer). A .260 AI, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5x284, 7mm-08, 6.5x55, or .25-06 is more than enough to take a deer at 400 yards as well.

[keeki]

25-06AI 108gr JLK @ 3500-3600fps

[mpm]

I have a model 219-b 30-30 that would be good for deer if you are interested in it

[hcpyro13]

@mpm you need to be a paid member to have access to the member classified section. The membership is well worth it, but the 30-30 at 400yds however is not.

I personally shot a 7 remington for a couple years, it's a great round for when you run into some of the longer stuff and you don't want to have to worry about too much elevation. I enjoy not having to worry about drop estimation in the field, zero at 300 and you'll do fine. Not to mention it makes for a great excuse to take a magnum out chuck hunting for "practice..."

-Jake

[Sundo]

All of the above sound like good suggestions to me. My 2 cents:

I'm a fan of 6.5 mm as a do-all caliber. With good shot placement with the right bullet, any popular 6.5 should have enough velocity and energy to 400 yds for deer. The trajectory of a 6.5 is about as flat as they get out to 400.

Try 6.5 Swede in long action or .260 Rem in short action. Factory loaded ballistics are identical up to 140 gr bullets. The 6.5 Swede has more room for growth if you're handloading.

One step below 6.5 is the 6.0/.243, but I think energy is on the lighter end of acceptable at 400. One step above is the 7 mm, but I think recoil is heavier than necessary. 6.5 is my happy medium.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with .30-06 as a 400 yd whitetail caliber.

[Sundo]

Actually .243 Win has a flatter trajectory, but I'm in favor of the greater energy of 6.5.

[handirifle]

I am going to go against the grain, and save you some money. Keep the '06, and reload it with the Barnes 110gr TSX. Now read this part carefully.....loaded with the Barnes data you can get OVER 3600fps. Now in case you're wondering about that little bullet, keep this in mind. It is a TSX and will not blow up on a 100yd shot, and at 400yds it still retains almost 1200ft lbs of energy and a little over 2200fps velocity.

Now the good part. According to ballistics charts, (mine and remingtons) their 7mm Mag, 140gr express loads, zeroed at 280yds give you a point blank range (6" target) of 330yds, and is 12.5" low at 400 with 1500ft lbs energy (slight advantage there, but not needed on deer), the 300 WM with the 130gr TSX is a twin of the 7mm Mag with the 140.

The 30-06 with the 110gr is only 10.5" low at 400yds. Better than either of the above in trajectory, and you keep the setup you have now.

Sooooo, you just need to go to the Barnes site, get their bullets and load data, and re zero rifle and you are all set. ;D

[Captain Finlander]

Overkill seems to be the M.O. today but nobody needs anything more than a 260 to reach 400 with enought oomph! to take deer. I have shot a 270 for years and dropped a few past that target range but very rarely do you ever need to. The new 260 is a better choice IMHO. It hits your shoulder less but still packs the wallup at range. The monster 7's would be a better choice for shots way past 600 Plus, Plus.

[va243hntr]

Keep the 06 , start reloading get a 150 or lighter bullet that shoots good and call it quits

[Nandy]

I already reload nosler 150 grain ct sbt.

[CharlieNC]

Drop in a 25-06 barrel and be done with it.

[Nandy]

After much advise here, in other forums and on person I have narrowed to a 6.5 or 7 mm. I'm going for the 7mm since I can get the brass mmore readibly and everyone in the lease has one and I can note my poi for the 150 ct sbt 150 gr they all use.
Will post more once I start the project. Im considering this thread done.

[handirifle]

Nandy
Your choice is your choice, and I hope it does exactly what you want, but to me, looking at loading manuals, you will be gaining about 200fps, using a 150gr bullet, over the '06 and using 40-50% more powder to do so.

Now if you just want to try something new, more power to ya. Like I said, hope it does what ya want.