New Deer Rifle

[revron]

Hi, Everyone,
I want a new Deer Rifle, the land I hunt has some fields and woods. Fields are max 200 yds. I mostly hunt the Fields, but looking for a caliber that would work good for both. Looking for recommendations besides 30-30 and 30-06. I was wondering about the Ruger 350 or 450. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Omega]

Can't go wrong with the venerable .308 unless you just want to stick to the straight wall cartridges you listed. I would add the .270, but ammo is harder to come by unless you reload as I do.

 

[bowhunterfanatic]

So many good options out there. Personally I'm a 7mm-08 guy. Whatever you end up with don't skimp out on the optics. a $2,000 rifle with a $150 scope is a $150 gun in my opinion.

 

[Patrick H]

.308 ammo is usually plentiful and at "reasonable" prices. Recoil is moderate but noticeably more than .30-30, and less than .30-06 and .270.

 

[DaveB]

Many choices.
1. You reload? Makes a difference as some factory ammo can be hard to come by
2. You an accuracy guy? Or, Is MOA or better a criteria?

308 is gonna be popular
7mm08 is good or great, The 284 family is a fine choice (try 120)
243 is my choice but I handload 100 gr partitions and have a long throat in my 700 ADL

I'm too old to screw around with the 350/450 rounds.

 

[Remington700]

I am assuming you will go with a bolt action. Since you have a 200 yard max shot. Almost any high power rifle can shoot that comfortably. Look at ammo and see what you can find available and in the round you want to shoot. There are a lot of good options out there. I have always liked a 270, but like the 30-06 it is an older round. 6.5 creedmoor seems to be the new wave.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Hard to beat a 308 for it's versatility and availability of factory ammo. A lot of good options though.

 

[Jcalder]

Hit the easy button, 6.5 creed or 6creed. It makes the libs cry every time one is purchased.

 

[1 good shot]

6.5 creedmoor ammo seems to be readily available every where.

 

[Remi]

I like my 350 Legend but if I was shooting out to 200yds it wouldn't be high on my list.


If out to 200yds is an option you can pretty much pick any bottle neck cartridge and be fine, they're more a like than they are different.


Put a good bullet in the important parts at sufficient velocity and you're good to go.


I have or have had quite a few, if I was starting over and especially if I didn't reload 6cm or 6.5cm is an easy way to do a lot for a little.

 

[Jcalder]

On second thought, a fast twist 223 would fit right in. Out to way past 200 yards you'd be just fine. You can get good ammo relatively cheap. Recoil is minimal. You can practice all you can stand and not feel beat at the end of the day. A good 223 should be in everyone's arsenal.

 

[Flintlocksforme]

Hi, Everyone,
I want a new Deer Rifle, the land I hunt has some fields and woods. Fields are max 200 yds. I mostly hunt the Fields, but looking for a caliber that would work good for both. Looking for recommendations besides 30-30 and 30-06. I was wondering about the Ruger 350 or 450. Any help would be appreciated.

If you are sticking with straight wall cartridges. 45-70 would be a good bet for ammunition availability and style points. I have owned and used the same 30-06 since 1982 if I am not shooting a patched round ball.

 

[knightrider]

A 350 still has plenty of punch at 200 to kill whitetails, i have a ruger ranch with the leupold cds and its easy peasy out to 300 yards with it

 

[Remi]

A 350 still has plenty of punch at 200 to kill whitetails, i have a ruger ranch with the leupold cds and its easy peasy out to 300 yards with it

Have you killed at 200 and 300yds? I'm curious how it did and what bullet you used? I've not killed with mine past 100yds.


I have sone of the Bear Creek bullets for mine but I've not killed with them yet.


I've shot mine to a shade over 400yds on steel. The velocity at 200, roughly, 1400-1500fps for most 170-180gr factory ammo, is why it's not high on my list.


The penetration in this test is good, because it doesn't expand, but the lack of velocity gives basically zero expansion. The 170 Hornady seems to be a tough bullet though.

 

[wsm]

308 is hard to beat .

 

[knightrider]

Have you killed at 200 and 300yds? I'm curious how it did and what bullet you used? I've not killed with mine past 100yds.


I have sone of the Bear Creek bullets for mine but I've not killed with them yet.


I've shot mine to a shade over 400yds on steel. The velocity at 200, roughly, 1400-1500fps for most 170-180gr factory ammo, is why it's not high on my list.


The penetration in this test is good, because it doesn't expand, but the lack of velocity gives basically zero expansion. The 170 Hornady seems to be a tough bullet though.

I have killed a 110 dressed doe at 220 , using the federal blue box 180 grain, damage was just like the ones ive killed under a 100 yards. Even at 220 in the left shoulder out behind the right full pass thru and d.o.a

 

[Remi]

I have killed a 110 dressed doe at 220 , using the federal blue box 180 grain, damage was just like the ones ive killed under a 100 yards. Even at 220 in the left shoulder out behind the right full pass thru and d.o.a

Good to hear. The Federals may be a bit softer. I bought some 165 FTX but I've not had a chance to draw blood yet.

 

[348Winchester]

43 Spanish. It's the wave of the future.

 

[infoman jr.]

So many good options out there. Personally I'm a 7mm-08 guy. Whatever you end up with don't skimp out on the optics. a $2,000 rifle with a $150 scope is a $150 gun in my opinion.

That's a good way to put it.

As far as cartridges go, within 200 yards a .308 is a good choice as boring as it may be.

 

[revron]

I have killed a 110 dressed doe at 220 , using the federal blue box 180 grain, damage was just like the ones ive killed under a 100 yards. Even at 220 in the left shoulder out behind the right full pass thru and d.o.a

Thanks, for the info, have you killed several deer with the 350? I'm just looking for something new, I have gone from a 30-06 to a 7mm to a 270. I have killed deer with all of them. I used a 243 for a year and couldn't find the right load, everything bounced around in the deer. 350 Ruger just looks awesome, but awesome want kill deer. Just to make sure, you're using blue box federal with a soft point?