To be honest I find 7-08 ( with factory loads pretty tame on small deer …
I did consider 45-70 Chris but simply don't need that sort of Firepower, especially with most of my deer management Muntjac and Roe with only the odd Fallow. Honestly, my Sako 90 30-06 is so good generally and for everything else that I'm also mulling over just sticking with that as my single deer rifle and accepting the little more meat damage on Muntjac.
@tjm160 for reference a young cull buck shot yesterday morning with a 7-08 140 gr soft point lost the top of one shoulder
Yeah I use a .308 too I’d say there’s nothing between them
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
My 308's never really made a mess of roe. I used a box of 150gn r nose interlocks for a while expecting the worse but they worked really well with little blood shot mess.
I didn't push them particularly quick either.
I think you are over thinking the problem. You do not need to splash out on a new gun (or wait months for a variation ). Weight of a gun is an issue if you have to carry it far, but you are high seating. You may be seated for several hours (recovery time) and need to feel confident with the gun you have in your hands. A 30-06 is a lot of gun, and a bit much for Roe or Muntjack...........if you load it with full beans. I often take my 30-06 out foxing in rape stubbles using a Nosler 125gr solid base bullet (43980). Just have two types of ammo with you. Load it light for close Roe or Munty, and change to heavier to stretch out further or take Fallow.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
I remember experimenting with heavy bullets in 308. 200gns shot around 2200 were quite pleasant but liked keeping their shape so I tried some 170gn 30/30 bullets at 30/30 velocity plus and they worked perfectly but pleasant to shoot.
I'm sure that would be achievable in the 06.
I'm sure that would be achievable in the 06.
Absolutely gents, appreciate the thoughts, there are many possible approaches to the challenge, I just don't wish to mess with and complicate my main rifle which is setup and working absolutely brilliantly for me, with the complexity, hassle and risk of different loads.
Yep they even stopped me shooting Fallow with my .22 Hornet many moons ago. Shot one not so long ago though. Head wrapped in baler twine with a piece of wood dangling, but still keeping a fair distance away, could hear me I think, had nothing else with me.Same morons who decided .222 wasn’t enough for roe
It only went 20 yds.
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