one deer rifle

[Tim.243]

good point there Tim on the potency of different calibres
i’ve had Muntjac run using 308 and dropped Red stags on the spot with a 243 100 grn

just a few days ago H&L shot on a fallow doe and it run over 90 yds with a 100 grn SP from a 243 through a thick as guts plantation and if I hadn’t had my teckles with me it would have probably been on the lost sheet, that’s the second serious runner i’ve had in just over a month both shots were bang on the button one from a high seat and the other off of sticks
shoot with a 308 and it pushes the exit side leg out
overall it’s the same with any calibre squeeze the best shot off and have a back up plan

To be fair you have to pencil in the odd runner as sod’s law irrespective of calibre used
Some deer haven’t read the must die instantly bit in the manual unfortunately

Phil If it serves only to re-enforce the point when people grizzle because they have been granted a .243 then come look at the plate or better still cut one out and test it themselves
Deer are only skin and bone just people make them out to be some mythical beast requiring a different rifle for each day of the week to shoot them. Merry Xmas
Ps have you done the washing up?

 

[njc110381]

I have a 10mm mild steel fox target and the .243 95gn round punches a neat hole through @250 as we tested it...
Having yet to find any deer with that on the out side, the myth of deer are tough is just a myth as you can break down a red with 1 sharp knife but you can only scratch the paint off the 10mm plate with the knife.
I have shown a few new shooters the plate and holes as a reminder to be sure about back stops.
Paul o' and others SA Shooter as Werner was with me on a few times practicing off stick at 250 punching holes in it.
@paul o' @SA shooter

You can make a 6.5 nearly as fast as a .243, you can't make a .243 nearly as slow as a 6.5.

For deer, the 6.5 in standard off the shelf twist offers bullet weights from 100 to 160gr. What does the .243 offer? 85-105gr? Nobody said that the .243 can't kill deer.

 

[Tim.243]

You can make a 6.5 nearly as fast as a .243, you can't make a .243 nearly as slow as a 6.5.

For deer, the 6.5 in standard off the shelf twist offers bullet weights from 100 to 160gr. What does the .243 offer? 85-105gr? Nobody said that the .243 can't kill deer.

You are quite right..

 

[Overlay]

Phil If it serves only to re-enforce the point when people grizzle because they have been granted a .243 then come look at the plate or better still cut one out and test it themselves
Deer are only skin and bone just people make them out to be some mythical beast requiring a different rifle for each day of the week to shoot them. Merry Xmas
Ps have you done the washing up?

any deer rated caliber will knock a beast over, sometimes you have to put a different calibre in the line to get it right in your own mind, I think everyone’s seen the result of a muntjac shot in ribs with a 308 and all you get is two back legs off it and the fallow buck that soaks up a 243 round to run 400 yds before falling over not the calibre it’s what happens now and then

hahaha
no Tim - phil doesn’t do washing up Mr BOSCH does that just sling it in with a magic thingy and bingo they all come out shiny squeaky clean

hope you’ve had a good day mate
we’ve had a real lovely chilled out xmas day, just me, marg and the 2 dogs, it’ll be different tomorrow - house will be jam packed solid with kids, grandkids, brothers,sister, neighbours, dogs and anyone else who turns up, past years 2 days of being mine host is a tall order mate, we said last year it left us knackered to be honest so this year it’s a one day bash now - looking forward to it

all the best.
phil

 

[Utectok]

Another vote for 6.5x55 people who suggest 270 forget the twist is too slow for copper bullets (well high bc ones which you can hardly get in that calibre) and ballistically the 6.5 beats the 308

 

[Tim.243]

Another vote for 6.5x55 people who suggest 270 forget the twist is too slow for copper bullets (well high bc ones which you can hardly get in that calibre) and ballistically the 6.5 beats the 308

What is copper? Oh copper pipe for the cold mains...

 

[hw101]

I have always fancied a 7mm-08, but I don't shoot enough deer to make my opinion worth anything.

That’s what I shoot and it’s good for everything - maybe too much poke for the smaller deer species but better too much than not enough.
All deer legal calibres work very well - there is not one perfect chambering for every uk situation. We have a tendency to over think things. Unless you are after small deer exclusively or large deer at range exclusively..,
Pick one rifle you like, can shoot accurately and that you can feed. Keep it simple. Or have more than one rifle!

 

[TheEngineer]

Another vote for 6.5x55 people who suggest 270 forget the twist is too slow for copper bullets (well high bc ones which you can hardly get in that calibre) and ballistically the 6.5 beats the 308

Genuine question, what advantage does a high BC give you between 0 and 300 meters? I shoot 120gr copper in my 270 and it's wicked flat and wicked accurate. Point and shoot out to 240 meters and hold at the top of the back past that. If there is a strong wind blowing into the deers face then I aim for the shoulder and if the wind is blowing into the deers back I aim for the heart/ seam between the front leg and the torso. I think the BC on the box is 0.4 which isn't even all that bad?

 

[Foxyboy43]

Genuine question, what advantage does a high BC give you between 0 and 300 meters? I shoot 120gr copper in my 270 and it's wicked flat and wicked accurate. Point and shoot out to 240 meters and hold at the top of the back past that. If there is a strong wind blowing into the deers face then I aim for the shoulder and if the wind is blowing into the deers back I aim for the heart/ seam between the front leg and the torso. I think the BC on the box is 0.4 which isn't even all that bad?

 

[Overlay]

my buddy uses a 270 and to be fair from muntjac to Red deer it does a cracking job.
only reason I haven’t got one is from the days of no moderators and far too many years ago I had a BSA majestic - it kicked like a mule and cut a Roe in half
probably all down to no moderator and a mix of a bad chosen round and me vowing never to have another i’ve shot a macmillan in 270 and it was inherently accurate and a decent bit of kit

 

[Utectok]

Genuine question, what advantage does a high BC give you between 0 and 300 meters? I shoot 120gr copper in my 270 and it's wicked flat and wicked accurate. Point and shoot out to 240 meters and hold at the top of the back past that. If there is a strong wind blowing into the deers face then I aim for the shoulder and if the wind is blowing into the deers back I aim for the heart/ seam between the front leg and the torso. I think the BC on the box is 0.4 which isn't even all that bad?

Any deer legal rifle will work fine up to 300m and nearly all of them drop 10-12” at that range not much in it. Wind drift is less with a high bc bullet that’s all and it’s helpful. As you pointed out it’s not much of a thing till you start to get out there

 

[woodlandvenison1]

Factory ammo a 6.5 will kill any thing with copper

Home loading the 280ai is probably the best calibre out there

 

[HonestJohn]

FFS, there’s only 1 all deer calibre, that’s will also do boar and all evil spirits under the African sun, 7x57. And you will due to being a holy grailer, likely rise to heaven upon your death, lifted by 100000 virgins all carrying .222’s to fight off the underworlds protectors.

 

[antsa]

Guys
what would be the best all round calibre for all species of uk deer i’m running a 222, 243, 6.5 x 55 and 308 at the moment


will keep the 222. but possibly looking to go to one calibre for all and as it’s looming and will shoot well with copper

cheers
phil

I too have both, among others. If I was only allowed two rifles these two would be my choice. The .308 is my goto choice when after deer (fallow in my area). Also, as a beef producer, I find it a dependable "humane" chambering if I need to euthanise a beast.

Cheers

 

[.222roebuck]

7-08

 

[Sendero25/06]

I have a 270 1 in 9 twist it’s all I use now I have 22.250 243 2506 6.5x55 and 300 wm and the don’t come out now

 

[scotch_egg]

I tried one deer rifle, all be it with 4 different barrels

I have to say the 6.5 creedmoor does a good job and factory ammunition is widely available at not an unreasonable price.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

6.5PRC for me. Nice to shoot, little more umph at distance than the creedmoor (cracking cartridge though) and will handle everything the UK has to offer at extended range.

Having said that, I also love the 7 rem mag.

 

[SBN]

6.5x55 for me!

 

[calumb]

.270 for me