Question? What cal is right for me!

[speedgoat]

Originally Posted by pattyho

I've decided that I might want to give mule deer hunting a crack and was wondering if one calliber can do all the jobs.

If you're limited to one rifle for what you want to do then it's hard to go wrong with a .243. If you want to kick it up a bit, then maybe a .25-'06. You could also go 6mm, but ammo might not be as readily available.

Originally Posted by pattyho

ammo price in a consideration

Learn to reload, especially if you plan on spending a lot of time at the range. It will cost more up front, but you will save money in the long run, plus it will give you a lot more flexibility in what you shoot. You also get the added bonus of having accurate, tailor made rounds customized for your rifle. It also gives you a good reason to spend some time in the garage.

Originally Posted by pattyho

Specific wepon reccomendations are welcomed.

I recommend Savage rifles. I'm biased because I own a few, so factor that in. That said, they shoot very accurately out of the box, they are fairly priced, and come with the best factory trigger available, IMHO.

Since their barrels are held on with a barrell nut, it's also not difficult to switch to a different caliber with the same rifle. Just swap out barrels and you have the flexibility of multiple calibers with one rifle. That will definitely save you money, especially on optics. If you buy a short action Savage you could have .223, .243, and a .308 with just one rifle. You would have to buy the barrels to do that, of course, but you could do that incrementally as money allowed. You can also swap out the bolt head so you're not just limited to calibers with the same case diameter as the rifle you purchased; you could switch it into any short action caliber you wanted.

Originally Posted by pattyho

I'm looking to pick up something slightly used in the $400 to $600 range plus optics.

For that you should be able to pick up a new Savage "package" rifle that comes with a scope. You could definitely get a used rig for that price.

[swordswizzle]

Let's clarify the law here, never heard of that one, for long range varmints a quality .223 is the shisnit. Maybe they are referring to deer, when they specify the minimum

[pattyho]

Thanks everyone for the great input. I looked at some ballistics comparisons and some Google searches and I think the .308 is going to do the job for me. There are some factory loads that perform similarly between 60-75 grains as the .223 and .243 respectively so I don’t tear the shit out of any yote pelts that I want. As far as the bigger game goes, well, it's a .308; theoretically I could load a 200 grain bullet on top of enough powder to move it along pretty good. Also, I think I'm going to take the advice of re-loading my own. I have a friend that already loads his own .308 and I'm sure he will teach me/let me use his tools until I learn/get my own.

As far as the rifle it's self, I'm down to the savage 12FVSS. Everything I've read in several places suggests that it is the best "out of the box" for accuracy and price and its only competition would be the Remington 700, however, the savage is considerably less expensive. (Any one know where I can find a used one)

Again, thanks for all the help. I have a limited knowledge of firearms compared to some of you guys and your advice helped me form the right questions to ask when doing my research.

One last thing, something I know absolutely nothing about, what kind of scope do I put on it? I grew up shooting through iron sights, shot through iron sights in the military and I shoot clay pigeons a few times a year. Age and some of the distances I hear about are going to be imposable for me to shoot through iron sights. A recent trip to the range tells me I couldn't hit a stationary bulls eye outside of 100 yds. I know part of this is me needing practice, but things look pretty blurry at the end of the barrel.

[speedgoat]

I think a 3 x 9 scope would probably be best for all-around versatility. It's not too big to lug around when you're deer hunting and should be powerful enough for coyotes and such.

I personally own Leupold, Burris, and Bushnell (Bausch & Lomb) Elite scopes so I can vouch for each one of those. The Burris Fullfield scopes are great deals considering the quality you get for the price. I also hear the Nikon Monarch scopes are good and although I don't own one, I have a pair of Monarch binoculars that I'm very happy with.

[dbar]

Originally Posted by pattyho

As far as the rifle it's self, I'm down to the savage 12FVSS. Everything I've read in several places suggests that it is the best "out of the box" for accuracy and price and its only competition would be the Remington 700, however, the savage is considerably less expensive. (Any one know where I can find a used one)

Again, thanks for all the help. I have a limited knowledge of firearms compared to some of you guys and your advice helped me form the right questions to ask when doing my research.

.

I know that as far as "out of the box accuracy" Nothing beats a Tikka Guaranteed to shoot sub M.O.A. out of the box, and they do even bettter then that. Once I found the right Ammo(Hornady 150grain sst) It'll shoot clover leaves, at 100yards.

[speedgoat]

Here's a 100 yard target from my Savage 12FV in .22-250. Straight up factory rifle. I was shooting a hand load.

[Its A Keeper]

260 would be a great compromise in my opinion or a 284 Win.

I believe a 243 would get the job done on a Mule Deer, but I would be afraid of the lack of knock down power at ranges beyond 250yds. Because the highest grain 6mm bullet I think is 120gr...I think a minumum of 140 grn for Mulies, Which the 6.5 MM would come into play.

For those who dont know a 260 is a necked down 308 to a 6.5mm.

284 which is a 7mm would be a bit big for Coyotes, but would get the job done. Would be good on Mulies.

Both cartridges are very accurate. With similar knock power. 284 would allow for higher grain bullets, but overkill for coyotes. Will loose ground on the 260 at the yardage increases...

260 is a 1000yd capable,,,284 probably only good to about 750, but I would have to check the BC's of the bullets...

[dbar]

Originally Posted by speedgoat

Here's a 100 yard target from my Savage 12FV in .22-250. Straight up factory rifle. I was shooting a hand load.

Nice group!!! I'm not knocking the Savage's, In fact I own one. Its a good shooter and I use it for wackin sqweeks.
Just saying, My next gun will be another Tikka.

I'm a Tikka Fan Just as much as Dave loves his Browning's.

[speedgoat]

Originally Posted by dbar

Nice group!!! I'm not knocking the Savage's, In fact I own one. Its a good shooter and I use it for wackin sqweeks.
Just saying, My next gun will be another Tikka.

I'm a Tikka Fan Just as much as Dave loves his Browning's.

Yeah I know you weren't, just wanted to toot the Savage horn a bit.

I say shoot whatever works and is comfortable for you. It's like arguing which tastes better, chocolate or vanilla. I've heard good things about Tikka rifles as well. Aren't they either a division of or owned by the same company that owns Sako?

[Skip Jackson]

Yeah, I might have the 243 minimum mixed up with Colorado. Regardless, it's a practical minimum. The 223 just doesn't have the poop. That's why the military uses it. It creates great wounds. In a military situation a wound takes more people out of action than actually killing a person. The wounded and 2+ to carry him/her to safety/medical aid. It's a varmint round at best.

[YANK N CRANK #2]

Originally Posted by speedgoat

I say shoot whatever works and is comfortable for you. It's like arguing which tastes better, chocolate or vanilla. I've heard good things about Tikka rifles as well. Aren't they either a division of or owned by the same company that owns Sako?

Beretta is the company that owns both Sako and Tikka... Tikkas are basically a stripped down, no frills sako that shoot quite well out of the box but aren't as pretty... I spend way too much time drooling over the sako Greywolf....

Originally Posted by speedgoat

Yeah I know you weren't, just wanted to toot the Savage horn a bit.

I'm gonna toot that horn some more... Love my savages both are sub moa out of the box with factory ammo...

[dukhuntr]

A little late to the discussion, but take a look a the Remington 700 in .280 Rem cal. You would need to reload, but the range of bullet grains is unbeatable and it is super flat shooting. It is my pronghorn to elk gun.