what gun to get??

[Guest olofthegr8]

I have a fire arms licence and a 22lr but i was wondering what rifle to get for deer and targets at bisley.

 

ive has a few i ideas but i dont know which

 

243

270

308

30-06

[firepower 68]

I have a fire arms licence and a 22lr but i was wondering what rifle to get for deer and targets at bisley.

 

ive has a few i ideas but i dont know which

 

243

270

308

30-06

Shooting deer and targets are two completely different things. That said I would suggest a Remington 700 Police Sniper model in .308 with a Schmidt and Bender or Nightforce scope. The 700's are a bit on the heavy side for stalking but ok for high seat shooting. They are also pretty good medium range sniper rifles too. The factory trigger pull is rubbish as a rule coming in at 5 lbs plus but it is easy enough to adjust if you research it properly. Well unless you want to spend another 200 pounds on a Jewel trigger

[Deker 3,478]

I have a fire arms licence and a 22lr but i was wondering what rifle to get for deer and targets at bisley.

 

ive has a few i ideas but i dont know which

 

243

270

308

30-06

 

 

I suggest you dig around a lot as you are doing here!

 

What distance at Bisley..are you a member of a club..ask the other members!!!???

 

From your list the .308 is the one I would suggest on the information supplied, lots of choice of ammo and some of it sensible prices!

 

270 is painful, and as with 30-06 they are not really target rounds, to be honest neither is .243 really, that said you can shoot any of them at targets if you want

[SportingShooter 0]

A .270 for targets,Ouch!

The .308 seems to be the rational choice, a friend has one for target work. Have you thought about two rifles, a .308 for larger Deer and target and a .243 for smaller Deer and occasional targets.

[Mr_Logic 5]

308, only way to go for both of those roles. Remington SPS Tactical would do nicely..

[Muntjac Man 0]

I would agree with the notion of considering a .243 and a .308 if you want to shoot both smaller deer species and larger species.

 

I have a .243, which is superb for Roe and Muntjac - drops them on the spot with minimal damage to the meat. But for Red deer, it's just not powerful enough - shot one a couple of years ago and it walked off for probably 150yds before dropping and dying slowly.

 

Conversely, a friend of mine has a .308, which whilst great for Reds etc, on Roe and Muntjac, to use his words 'just completely blows away the front half of the animal every time'.

 

Rgds

 

MM

[FJager 0]

Lads I am not having a dig, but what is the fascination with heavy barrelled tactical weapons, does everyone fancy being a sniper, I just don't get it.

I have no idea why so many think the .270 is painful to shoot, just not correct.

 

olo8 if you want to shoot competition the .308 will need to be your choice, I prefer .270 as it has a flatter trajectory, basically if I am out after large game and decide to shoot a rabbit with it at distance it is a lot easier with the flat shooter, that is the only reason though that I shoot .270 rather than .308 which is also a fine calibre, there is really no need to go to the 30/06.

 

The .243 is a lovely cartridge and is plenty enough rifle for anything in your country, you can go to huge calibres but if you don't shoot a deer right it will not necesarily drop quickly.

 

If you opt for the larger calibres and are worried about meat damage on the smaller deer, go the head shot.

[firepower 68]

Lads I am not having a dig, but what is the fascination with heavy barrelled tactical weapons, does everyone fancy being a sniper, I just don't get it.

I have no idea why so many think the .270 is painful to shoot, just not correct.

 

olo8 if you want to shoot competition the .308 will need to be your choice, I prefer .270 as it has a flatter trajectory, basically if I am out after large game and decide to shoot a rabbit with it at distance it is a lot easier with the flat shooter, that is the only reason though that I shoot .270 rather than .308 which is also a fine calibre, there is really no need to go to the 30/06.

 

The .243 is a lovely cartridge and is plenty enough rifle for anything in your country, you can go to huge calibres but if you don't shoot a deer right it will not necesarily drop quickly.

 

If you opt for the larger calibres and are worried about meat damage on the smaller deer, go the head shot.

I like my Remmy PSS because it is pretty much unbreakable came at the right money and I use it on the range at the moment. It is due a visit to the "smiff" to have the barrel shortened and screwcut. Then I have no doubt it will make a perfect bambi bowler

[Mr_Logic 5]

The heavy barrel rifles in this world are much better at the range, they heat up more slowly so you get in more practice and thus it's more fun!

 

For stalking/field work, light is lovely.

[Yokel Matt 918]

The 270 is pretty savage to shoot, especially round after round on a range. I've heard the barrel's can burn pretty quick. The 308 is the most appropriate on the list for deer and range work if you're looking at 300+ target.. Have you thought about any other calibres? The 6.4X55 is a very good distance range rifle with a greater ballistic coefficient that the .270 for the same bullet weight...and is good on your ticket for Deer and fox.

[FJager 0]

The heavy barrel rifles in this world are much better at the range, they heat up more slowly so you get in more practice and thus it's more fun!

 

For stalking/field work, light is lovely.

 

Mr Logic if you are just practising on the range and not shooting competition, you are not going to notice buggar all difference, light or heavy barrel, by the time the detail shoots and then scores the heat of the barrel is not going to make any difference to your practising shots. If it was rapid automatic shots you would notice the heat.

 

If someone wants a good hunting outfit first and foremost buy a sporter weight weapon, if most of your shooting is done at the range and the rifle is going to occassionally be used in the field, maybe a bull barrelled rifle. Lugging around a heavy weapon can soon take the enjoyment out of the outing and when a shot is taken the bull barrel will not make the hunter a better shot, quiet the opposite as they will be fatigued from carrying around something that just isn't needed.

 

The .270 is not a savage kicker, if a calibre like this bothers someone, I think they are doing something wrong and the barrels don't burn out quickly.

[Deker 3,478]

I would agree with the notion of considering a .243 and a .308 if you want to shoot both smaller deer species and larger species.

 

I have a .243, which is superb for Roe and Muntjac - drops them on the spot with minimal damage to the meat. But for Red deer, it's just not powerful enough - shot one a couple of years ago and it walked off for probably 150yds before dropping and dying slowly.

 

Conversely, a friend of mine has a .308, which whilst great for Reds etc, on Roe and Muntjac, to use his words 'just completely blows away the front half of the animal every time'.

 

Rgds

 

MM

 

 

Sorry but I don't go with this, you are making a judgement on one shot and hearsay!

 

There is lots of different .243 ammo as their is with .308, and with respect, just because you had one deer that walked off 150 yards before its demise I hardly think it appropriate to immediately write off .243 for deer.

 

Years back when I was shooting in Scotland with professional stalkers, we took the dogs out to track the wounded deer, I was told they had tracked one for over a mile before it dropped ...and they only EVER used .308!!!

 

A .243 will only drop them on the spot with "minimal meat damage" if you use the appropriate ammo, and if you used that same equivalent .308 ammo it would not blow away the front half of the animal every time!

 

I have seen plenty of substantial meat damage caused by .243! The latest only last Friday when the legs were the only thing left worth eating, the 58g .243 made a substantial mess of the carcase with a shot from 256yards!

[SNAP SHOT 194]

I would agree with the notion of considering a .243 and a .308 if you want to shoot both smaller deer species and larger species.

 

I have a .243, which is superb for Roe and Muntjac - drops them on the spot with minimal damage to the meat. But for Red deer, it's just not powerful enough - shot one a couple of years ago and it walked off for probably 150yds before dropping and dying slowly.

 

Conversely, a friend of mine has a .308, which whilst great for Reds etc, on Roe and Muntjac, to use his words 'just completely blows away the front half of the animal every time'.

 

Rgds

 

MM

 

 

Sorry but I don't go with this, you are making a judgement on one shot and hearsay!

 

There is lots of different .243 ammo as their is with .308, and with respect, just because you had one deer that walked off 150 yards before its demise I hardly think it appropriate to immediately write off .243 for deer.

 

Years back when I was shooting in Scotland with professional stalkers, we took the dogs out to track the wounded deer, I was told they had tracked one for over a mile before it dropped ...and they only EVER used .308!!!

 

A .243 will only drop them on the spot with "minimal meat damage" if you use the appropriate ammo, and if you used that same equivalent .308 ammo it would not blow away the front half of the animal every time!

 

I have seen plenty of substantial meat damage caused by .243! The latest only last Friday when the legs were the only thing left worth eating, the 58g .243 made a substantial mess of the carcase with a shot from 256yards!

 

totally agree with these comments deker, it's not the calibre of the rifle but the person behind the weapon,

Shot placement is the only critcial factor involved here, plain and simple.

If the shot placement is poor then the animal will run, and die slowly.........

i've been shooting for about 12 years now and only had one deer run and it was due to poor bullet selection. And i only shoot a .243

i mainly shoot reds were i live so this notion that it is not enough gun is crap.............

 

The only thing i do not agree with here deker, is that you are shooting deer with varmint rounds 58grain by which you mean the v-max (yes).

These bullets were not designed to shoot deer and explode on impact hence the large volume of meat damage.

i would suggest the 87 grain boat tail hollow point or the 95 grain sst by hornady for correct effect and go for the neck shot on smaller deer or the heart lung shot if not capable of the correct shot placement. This is not a critcial comment just an observation.....

[Mr_Logic 5]

I would agree with the notion of considering a .243 and a .308 if you want to shoot both smaller deer species and larger species.

 

I have a .243, which is superb for Roe and Muntjac - drops them on the spot with minimal damage to the meat. But for Red deer, it's just not powerful enough - shot one a couple of years ago and it walked off for probably 150yds before dropping and dying slowly.

 

Conversely, a friend of mine has a .308, which whilst great for Reds etc, on Roe and Muntjac, to use his words 'just completely blows away the front half of the animal every time'.

 

Rgds

 

MM

 

 

Sorry but I don't go with this, you are making a judgement on one shot and hearsay!

 

There is lots of different .243 ammo as their is with .308, and with respect, just because you had one deer that walked off 150 yards before its demise I hardly think it appropriate to immediately write off .243 for deer.

 

Years back when I was shooting in Scotland with professional stalkers, we took the dogs out to track the wounded deer, I was told they had tracked one for over a mile before it dropped ...and they only EVER used .308!!!

 

A .243 will only drop them on the spot with "minimal meat damage" if you use the appropriate ammo, and if you used that same equivalent .308 ammo it would not blow away the front half of the animal every time!

 

I have seen plenty of substantial meat damage caused by .243! The latest only last Friday when the legs were the only thing left worth eating, the 58g .243 made a substantial mess of the carcase with a shot from 256yards!

 

totally agree with these comments deker, it's not the calibre of the rifle but the person behind the weapon,

Shot placement is the only critcial factor involved here, plain and simple.

If the shot placement is poor then the animal will run, and die slowly.........

i've been shooting for about 12 years now and only had one deer run and it was due to poor bullet selection. And i only shoot a .243

i mainly shoot reds were i live so this notion that it is not enough gun is crap.............

 

The only thing i do not agree with here deker, is that you are shooting deer with varmint rounds 58grain by which you mean the v-max (yes).

These bullets were not designed to shoot deer and explode on impact hence the large volume of meat damage.

i would suggest the 87 grain boat tail hollow point or the 95 grain sst by hornady for correct effect and go for the neck shot on smaller deer or the heart lung shot if not capable of the correct shot placement. This is not a critcial comment just an observation.....

Snap, you're absolutely right on the deer bullet (it was me that shot the deer to which Deker refers). However, I decided that since I hadn't tested the 85gr ammo to see where it went (changed the 58gr zero from 100 to 200 yards) it would be more humane to put the wrong bullet in the right place than the right bullet in the wrong place.

 

I estimated that the V-max would do the job so long as it didn't have to go through major bones, and the deer presented side-on, giving me a shot into the heart/lung area without worry about the front leg. V-max did the job incredibly effectively. All the energy was expended into the animal's vital organs and he dropped absolutely stone dead. But... it didn't do the meat any favours!

 

Tomorrow is Bisley though, so I will be taking the 85gr ammo with me to see where they go.

 

FJager - I have demonstrated the heat issue with my own weapons. If I zero the 243, I have to let it cool after 10 or so rounds because the zero begins to shift and the groups open up. I have a heavy barrel Howa 223 with vented laminate stock, which will shoot all day. Unlike Deker's 223 T3 light with the same ammo...

Edited May 3, 2008 by Mr_Logic

[SNAP SHOT 194]

I decided that since I hadn't tested the 85gr ammo to see where it went (changed the 58gr zero from 100 to 200 yards) it would be more humane to put the wrong bullet in the right place than the right bullet in the wrong place.

 

 

the 58grain bullet will always fragment on impact thus not giving the penetration needed, on large animals like deer.

The moral of the story should be the right bullet for the right job with the right zero before shooting on live quarry,

We all make mistakes, it's what we learn from them that makes us better at our chosen task.........go get em.......