Time for a new deer rifle.

[TravEX]

I got rid of my 300WSM, just too big and heavy. I have a Model 70 280, so a 270 or 7mm are not what I want.

I have a 6-18 Leupold to go on it, so I need a flat shooting gun that will reach out there. Whatever I get I think I will get it in the Weatherby Vanguard Synthetic. I want something light, and I don't wanna worry bout scratching it up. I'm really leaning toward a 257 Weatherby Magnum, but the ammo is HIGH!!! Bout $3 a piece! The other option is 25-06. My dad has an old Model 70 that I have always loved. It shoots flat and has a great variety of ammo.

I'll mainly use it for deer hunting and the occasional fox, bobcat, and coyote. I don't want anything 270/7mm or bigger.

What light/medium gun ya'll recommend?

Travis

[TimSr]

Id suggest taking up handloading so ammo cost is not an issue. If that is not an option, from an ammo cost standpoint, .243 Winchester is probably a good choice. The 25-06 ammo is probably a lot more affordable these days too. The best gun is the one you can afford to shoot often enough to get very good with it, and all the .25's are decent deer guns.

I know its not your choice, but I love the 7mm Rem Mag. As a handloader I can do anything from flat shooting 100gr HP varmint loads to 175gr bear loads, and plenty of good mild recoil deer loads in between.

[edog]

A 30 BR would be great for an all around rifle.

http://www.6mmbr.com/30BR.html

This is my next chambering in a benchrest rifle.

Or this one for long range hunting.http://www.6mmbr.com/SixFive284.html

Both in my eye's would make an excellent deer slayer.:w00t:

[mean350]

i know you dont want a 270 but them are damn good guns. i hunt deer, bear, coyotes, foxes, and groundhogs with my remington 7600 pump 270. its nice with the synthetic stock too. the farthest iv shot w it was about 350 yards for a coyote. the ammos cheap too.

[mark38090]

25-06 is a good choice although ammo in these parts isn't easy to find.

[TravEX]

Yeah, Tim, we will eventually get back into hand loading, and that may be why I get the 25-06 too. Between me and my dad and brother we would have 2 25-06 and 2 30-06's and could save some cash by reloading.

Off topic, you got any 44 mag reloads for sale? Got me a hog shooter that I'm looking for a good load for.

Thanks,

Travis

[Kilborg]

I have used a 7-30 waters (beefed up 30-30) and several 30-30's over the years...good medium round that can put one down with a decent shot.

Im thinking of picking up a 30.06 (springfield perhaps) or a .308 for this coming season....

[TimSr]

Yeah, Tim, we will eventually get back into hand loading, and that may be why I get the 25-06 too. Between me and my dad and brother we would have 2 25-06 and 2 30-06's and could save some cash by reloading.

Off topic, you got any 44 mag reloads for sale? Got me a hog shooter that I'm looking for a good load for.

Thanks,

Travis

Since I switched to the .454 Casull I dont hunt much with the Redhawk these days, but when searching for Casull bullets (Freedom Arms dropped their 240gr JHP bullets for the Casull) I found the new Hornady HP/XTP bullets, specially designed as hunting bullets for big magnums. Im typically not a big fan of hollow points in a big game hunting round, but these have a cast core and dont fall apart like typical hollow points. You might know that standard hollow points cannot be loaded as full power Casull rounds because they can come apart just leaving the barrel. Anyways, Ive loaded a couple batches of these 300gr HP/XTP for the Casull and they are very accurate, sho0ting an 8" group at 100 yds with open sights. Unfortuneately I didnt get to fire a shot last year and see how well they do on deer, but the the only .454 bullet I ever recovered was on a bear some years ago anyways, so I can only evaluate the damage done when I butcher the deer.

Anyways, I also bought a batch of 300gr HP/XTP bullets for the .44 Magnum, and got some loading data, but I have not loaded or tested any of these yet. They look promising. I do have some tried and true 240gr hard cast SWC at almost 1600 fps that were tested at 12" group at 100 yds. These give some serious penetration, and would be my hog choice of my tested loads. This load should probably be limited to Ruger and TC arms though. Ive also got a 240gr JTC-SIL load at 2380 fps with a 6" group at 100 yds, my most accurate load. I think it would be a good deer round, but Id rather have the cast bullets or 300gr XTP bullets for hogs.

[TravEX]

I would have got a Casull, but got a great deal on a new Redhawk 7.5" stainless. If you wanna get rid of some of the 44 mag rounds, shoot me a PM. Thanks.

On your Redhawk, do you have the factory sights? or aftermarket? 8" and 12" groups sounds great!
I can't wait to take a deer with it this year!!! The hog hunting won't be till next early spring.

[Greiver430x]

I know you said no .270 but the .270wsm's are amazing