YAGT: Which caliber for a varminter/ deer rifle....

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BadNewsBears

Diamond Member
Dec 14, 2000
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Originally posted by: Nebor
I meant 7mm Mag. Sorry, it's late, and I was thinking 300 mag. Mine also has leupold glass on board. Cost nearly as much as the rifle I believe, my dad gave it to me when he found out I had gotten a new rifle.

Ill tell you a story about my 700. Back when I was 7 my dad took my shooting for the first time. Blastin away with the ruger 10/22. A brick later he wipes out this thing with a SCOPE on it. Then he shot it. KRAK-BOOM goes the famous sound of the magnum (magnums double fire, a krak then a boom) . Naturally I begged to shoot it. He caves. I shoot it holding my head to close to the scope, the massive amount of recoil burries the eye piece squarely into my forehead. I had to get facial stiches. It took me till I was 14 till I had the cojones to shoot it again. What a beast she is.
 

Shockwave

Banned
Sep 16, 2000
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Weenies. Get the 7mm Rem Ultra Mag :p

I personally have no desire to own a magnum, nor anything bigger then a 30-06/308. I have absolutely no use for such a gun, and really have no desire to take that kind of punishment. I'm a tender precious little thing, contrary to Slick230's opinion of me :eek:
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
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Originally posted by: Shockwave
Weenies. Get the 7mm Rem Ultra Mag :p

I personally have no desire to own a magnum, nor anything bigger then a 30-06/308. I have absolutely no use for such a gun, and really have no desire to take that kind of punishment. I'm a tender precious little thing, contrary to Slick230's opinion of me :eek:

Me too. I'm a fan of more modern, technological weaponry. Makes me sick that we can't get most of it. I would LOVE to have a semi-auto H&K G36.
 

Shockwave

Banned
Sep 16, 2000
9,059
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Originally posted by: Nebor
Originally posted by: Shockwave
Weenies. Get the 7mm Rem Ultra Mag :p

I personally have no desire to own a magnum, nor anything bigger then a 30-06/308. I have absolutely no use for such a gun, and really have no desire to take that kind of punishment. I'm a tender precious little thing, contrary to Slick230's opinion of me :eek:

Me too. I'm a fan of more modern, technological weaponry. Makes me sick that we can't get most of it. I would LOVE to have a semi-auto H&K G36.

One of my friends picked up a CZ700. Its a very nice gun, but far to "modern" for me. The stock is just a godawful green. Nice gun though. I personally want a Dragunov.
 

BadNewsBears

Diamond Member
Dec 14, 2000
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***Obligitory first gun of my own story.



I have to find the pic of me on my best christmas morning ever, holding my BAR mark II safari. Dad fooled me with an x-box and he knew I didnt want it. Ok comon lets go shovel this snow!..Ok..... Get your gloves in the closet. Go in there and theres that cardboard browning box with the golden deer on it. I wish I could have seen my eyes. Opened that puppy up and there she was. Most beautifull gun I have seen. Nothing so far has matched her beauty. SUCH an AWESOME gun! ONly complaint is a damn nasty trigger. But hey it wa my first gun I didnt know the diff. I need to have that trigger honed still..Hmmmm
 

Shockwave

Banned
Sep 16, 2000
9,059
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Originally posted by: Munchies
***Obligitory first gun of my own story.



I have to find the pic of me on my best christmas morning ever, holding my BAR mark II safari. Dad fooled me with an x-box and he knew I didnt want it. Ok comon lets go shovel this snow!..Ok..... Get your gloves in the closet. Go in there and theres that cardboard browning box with the golden deer on it. I wish I could have seen my eyes. Opened that puppy up and there she was. Most beautifull gun I have seen. Nothing so far has matched her beauty. SUCH an AWESOME gun! ONly complaint is a damn nasty trigger. But hey it wa my first gun I didnt know the diff. I need to have that trigger honed still..Hmmmm

My first was a Winchester level action Model 94 .22 LR. Still have it. Loved that gun, and we've sent alot of critters to the Other Side with it. :)
The day I'm most looking forward to now is when my kids get old enough so I can buy them their first gun.
 

bockchow

Platinum Member
Sep 18, 2001
2,156
1
71
assualt rifles to hunt deer? i've always heard stories about hill billies running around "hunting" with machine guns but i wouldn't think real people would actual do that.

for varmint a .17hmr is fun round. it's insanely flat shooting and no recoil at all. but deer? i've heard of people who are realy good shots doing it all the time but thats not most hunters.
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
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Originally posted by: Shockwave
Originally posted by: Nebor
Originally posted by: Shockwave
Weenies. Get the 7mm Rem Ultra Mag :p

I personally have no desire to own a magnum, nor anything bigger then a 30-06/308. I have absolutely no use for such a gun, and really have no desire to take that kind of punishment. I'm a tender precious little thing, contrary to Slick230's opinion of me :eek:

Me too. I'm a fan of more modern, technological weaponry. Makes me sick that we can't get most of it. I would LOVE to have a semi-auto H&K G36.

One of my friends picked up a CZ700. Its a very nice gun, but far to "modern" for me. The stock is just a godawful green. Nice gun though. I personally want a Dragunov.

A Dragunov should be obtainable, they aren't ultramodern... And the CZ700 is still a bolt action rifle. I wouldn't call that modern. :p Along with an H&K G36, I would love to have a modern Sig AR, like the 551 or 552.
 

BadNewsBears

Diamond Member
Dec 14, 2000
3,426
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Cant even kill a yote with it. Useless. A deer. YOu are one sick mutherfvker. Lately its been the cool thing to say that the 17hmr performs well on anything bigger than a house cat. Wich it does not.








Shockwave. In all seriousness, you need to look into the new WSSM's.
 

Shockwave

Banned
Sep 16, 2000
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Originally posted by: Munchies
Cant even kill a yote with it. Useless. A deer. YOu are one sick mutherfvker. Lately its been the cool thing to say that the 17hmr performs well on anything bigger than a house cat. Wich it does not.








Shockwave. In all seriousness, you need to look into the new WSSM's.

Eh, the WSSM's I'm sure are nice, but I'm just old fashioned I guess. I think a .243 or 6mm Remingotn would be a fine rifle for what i need, its accurate, flat shooting, been around longer then me. Not many WSSM wifles available. Seems anymore manufacturers are just trying to turn out now and exciting stuff just for the sake of having something new and exciting.
And the .17 HMR. Its SOOO cute. I want one just for the cute factor of the ammo. Its all itty bitty and cute looking :eek:
 

BadNewsBears

Diamond Member
Dec 14, 2000
3,426
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Originally posted by: Shockwave
Originally posted by: Munchies
Cant even kill a yote with it. Useless. A deer. YOu are one sick mutherfvker. Lately its been the cool thing to say that the 17hmr performs well on anything bigger than a house cat. Wich it does not.








Shockwave. In all seriousness, you need to look into the new WSSM's.

Eh, the WSSM's I'm sure are nice, but I'm just old fashioned I guess. I think a .243 or 6mm Remingotn would be a fine rifle for what i need, its accurate, flat shooting, been around longer then me. Not many WSSM wifles available. Seems anymore manufacturers are just trying to turn out now and exciting stuff just for the sake of having something new and exciting.
And the .17 HMR. Its SOOO cute. I want one just for the cute factor of the ammo. Its all itty bitty and cute looking :eek:

Buy it, but if I hear you using it on anything bigger than a house cat im going to pummel you. FOr varmint and deer, try the 270. Its famous riflmen author chuck hawks favorite calibre. Mine as well. What my BAR is chambered in.
 

Shockwave

Banned
Sep 16, 2000
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I probably woulnt use the .17 at all except as a wall hanger. I've got a .22LR I can shoot far cheaper, and the point of my next rifle is to have a varmint / deer rifle all-in-one.
 

bockchow

Platinum Member
Sep 18, 2001
2,156
1
71
Originally posted by: Munchies
Cant even kill a yote with it. Useless. A deer. YOu are one sick mutherfvker. Lately its been the cool thing to say that the 17hmr performs well on anything bigger than a house cat. Wich it does not.

never recomended it for dear just varmit hunting. and as long as you can actualy hit what your aiming at it's enough to take down a coyote. most hunters can't look past it's size but most hunters look at there ammo as a direct representation of there wang so... for a dual purpose the 270 would be a very good choice.
 

Prong

Senior member
Jul 11, 2000
539
17
81
I use my .243 exclusively for a long range coyote bomber, but a .243 would work well *if* you can put the shot exactly where it needs to be. I had a .260 and liked it quite well. I ended up dumping my .260 for a .264 Win Mag that produces spectacular results. What kind of varmints are you talking about? The occasional coyote, or scores of prairie dogs? If you plan on shooting alot at one setting, don't get a .243 for that because you'll wash the throat out of the barrel in short order. Another option would be a 25-06.
 

Hossenfeffer

Diamond Member
Jul 16, 2000
7,462
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Am I the only one that read
YAGT: Which caliber for a varminter/ deer rifle.... Really cant decide
as "Yet another girl thread"? Maybe it's the sleep-deprivation, but I just found it funny, in a dark sorta way. Ok, back to dimentia.
 

Biggerhammer

Golden Member
Jan 16, 2003
1,531
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Originally posted by: Munchies
Originally posted by: bradruth
30/30 Winchester?

Ever look at the ballistics of a 30-30. My dad had a marlin lever,man does it drop like a ROCK. Its quite sad.
30/30 is a fine deer gun for brush and close-up work. Not worth a passing thought as a varmint gun, though.

A lot of the suggestions here seems angled towards deer- the OP wanted to do deer and varmints. Take a 7mm Mag out for a day of varminting and you'l come out in worse shape than the woodchucks.

If you reload, you have a lot more control. I would look into a .25-06 with a heavy bullet for deer and a light, frangible bullet for varminting.
 

Shockwave

Banned
Sep 16, 2000
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Originally posted by: Prong
I use my .243 exclusively for a long range coyote bomber, but a .243 would work well *if* you can put the shot exactly where it needs to be. I had a .260 and liked it quite well. I ended up dumping my .260 for a .264 Win Mag that produces spectacular results. What kind of varmints are you talking about? The occasional coyote, or scores of prairie dogs? If you plan on shooting alot at one setting, don't get a .243 for that because you'll wash the throat out of the barrel in short order. Another option would be a 25-06.

What did you think of the .260? Thats another option I was looking into. Some guys have had excellent results on paper with it going with hand loads. Granted, with the proper time and effort nearly every rifle can be made very accurate though.
And my varminting is mostly prairie dogs, with the occasional skunk and coyote. Hence the desire to stay with smaller calibers, since I consider myself a competent enough shooter I dont need a 300 Mag to take deer.
The throat burnout on the .243 is one reason I'm leary of the .243, and as of now its the only downside to that caliber. I dont want to be replacing barrels every 2000 rounds, and since this would be my primary rifle it would probably see some fairly regular use. Does the 6mm Remington suffer burnouts, and what about the new WSSM in .243? I think the case redesign may help witht he throat burnouts, but havent read many articles on the new WSSM's.
 

KK

Lifer
Jan 2, 2001
15,903
4
81
I'd have to say the .243

I have a .270 remington that I used to take groundhog hunting and that would do the job, but was a little overkill for the job. I then bought a .220 swift for groundhogs, very nice and quick rounds that would behead any animal the size of a groudhog.

Also here in georgia you can hunt with 22 caliber or larger also.


KK
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
53,735
48,396
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Originally posted by: Horus
Nothing says "FVCKING VARMINTS!" like a M92A1 Semi-auto .50 cal.

Might be a little too much gun for the job.



:Q

Did I just say "too much gun" ?:confused:
 

Prong

Senior member
Jul 11, 2000
539
17
81
Originally posted by: Shockwave
Originally posted by: Prong
I use my .243 exclusively for a long range coyote bomber, but a .243 would work well *if* you can put the shot exactly where it needs to be. I had a .260 and liked it quite well. I ended up dumping my .260 for a .264 Win Mag that produces spectacular results. What kind of varmints are you talking about? The occasional coyote, or scores of prairie dogs? If you plan on shooting alot at one setting, don't get a .243 for that because you'll wash the throat out of the barrel in short order. Another option would be a 25-06.

What did you think of the .260? Thats another option I was looking into. Some guys have had excellent results on paper with it going with hand loads. Granted, with the proper time and effort nearly every rifle can be made very accurate though.
And my varminting is mostly prairie dogs, with the occasional skunk and coyote. Hence the desire to stay with smaller calibers, since I consider myself a competent enough shooter I dont need a 300 Mag to take deer.
The throat burnout on the .243 is one reason I'm leary of the .243, and as of now its the only downside to that caliber. I dont want to be replacing barrels every 2000 rounds, and since this would be my primary rifle it would probably see some fairly regular use. Does the 6mm Remington suffer burnouts, and what about the new WSSM in .243? I think the case redesign may help witht he throat burnouts, but havent read many articles on the new WSSM's.

I liked the .260 as a round, but not the platform I had it on (A Rem 700 LSS Mountain rifle), mostly because the stock didn't fit me well. The 6mm Rem uses slightly more powder than the .243 down the same size spout. The new WSSM's burn more powder than either the 6 or the .243, so you can expect even less barrel life. Also, feeding that sharp shouldered case is kind of spotty. The key to shooting overbore rounds is to not continue shooting once the barrel gets hot. The .264 WM is a barrel burner by reputation, but my throat hasn't eroded at all--because I don't let the barrel get hot by repeated shooting. If all you're going to shoot is a handfull of prairie dogs at one setting besides your deer, either the .243 or 6 will be fine, as long as you put the bullet right where it needs to be. A 25-06 will give you a little more fudge factor, as would a .260. If you get into high volume PD shooting, I'd seriously consider buying a .223 Rem or 22-250 exclusively for varminting, and another rifle for your big game needs.
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
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You need a .50 BMG. Then you get the deer, the tree, and the bear behind the tree, all with one shot.
 

Shockwave

Banned
Sep 16, 2000
9,059
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Originally posted by: Prong

I liked the .260 as a round, but not the platform I had it on (A Rem 700 LSS Mountain rifle), mostly because the stock didn't fit me well. The 6mm Rem uses slightly more powder than the .243 down the same size spout. The new WSSM's burn more powder than either the 6 or the .243, so you can expect even less barrel life. Also, feeding that sharp shouldered case is kind of spotty. The key to shooting overbore rounds is to not continue shooting once the barrel gets hot. The .264 WM is a barrel burner by reputation, but my throat hasn't eroded at all--because I don't let the barrel get hot by repeated shooting. If all you're going to shoot is a handfull of prairie dogs at one setting besides your deer, either the .243 or 6 will be fine, as long as you put the bullet right where it needs to be. A 25-06 will give you a little more fudge factor, as would a .260. If you get into high volume PD shooting, I'd seriously consider buying a .223 Rem or 22-250 exclusively for varminting, and another rifle for your big game needs.

Yeah, I really think any of the smaller calibers will work perfectly fine, its just nitpicking at this point. .243, 6mm, 25-06, .260, 6.5-06....... Any would work nicely, if maybe overkill for varmints.