Deer camp - which rifle?

[MGMorden]

I'd probably carry the 7x57. Any of the three will work but both .250 Savage and .32 Special are sliding dangerously close to what I'd consider minimum power for whitetail. Still within the acceptable range, but very close to the edge of it.

7x57 on the other hand is in the "optimal" range of the scale rather than merely being "acceptable".

FWIW my go-to cartridge for whitetail is 7mm-08 which is ballistically nearly the same as 7x57. I've hunted with as low of power as .225 Winchester and as high as .30-06 but to me 7mm-08 is "just right".

 

[FITASC]

Of those choices, I would opt for 7x57. I have a 7-08 which is very similar

 

[hooligan1]

Picher, I cant download pics on here correctly.
The load is 47 grains of 7828 and a 175 grn SBT from Sierra, coal 3.089..

 

[44 AMP]

The load is 47 grains of 7828 and a 175 grn SBT from Sierra, coal 3.089..

IF you're talking about 7x57mm Mauser, industry standard max coal is 3.065".

 

[Paul B.]

"Picher, I cant download pics on here correctly.
The load is 47 grains of 7828 and a 175 grn SBT from Sierra, coal 3.089.."

Thank you.
Paul B.

 

[Picher]

I'd take the Ruger 7mm. It has the best deer caliber/scope range of the bunch.

 

[Jack O'Conner]

I'd be happy with the 32 Marlin. Same lethal performance as the famous 30-30 cartridge.
- Jack

 

[ammo.crafter]

PA deer

7mm Mauser is a grand cartridge for deer. (7x57)

I have been using a 7X30 Waters for excellent results and low recoil.

Good luck!

 

[Pumpkin]

The 7 x 57 will do anything the others can do, can't say the reverse of that.
Great scope and rifle too.

 

[Picher]

I like the Ruger 77 with the 2-7x Leupold. The 7x57 would handle things pretty well.

 

[NHSHOOTER]

I really like my 7-08's but I inherited a 25-06 from my brother a couple years ago and I worked up a load for it with 117 gr hornady's , 1" groups at 100 consistently, took it on a hunt down in NC last week, day 1 I killed a buck and doe with my 7-08 so on the second day I carried the 25-06, just before the guide showed up to pick me up a spike buck (i was hunting just for meat) stepped out at 100yds 1 shot and he did a back flip and layed there DRT...I was impressed..

 

[reynolds357]

Can't go wrong with any of these, but which would you carry? Northcentral PA, flattop mountains with a mix of old timber, clearcuts, and new second growth. Shots could be 10 to 150 yards, nothing past 200 is remotely possible.

Choices:
Marlin 336 RC 20" 1948 Weaver K2.5 (post reticle) 32 Spl 170 Speer 2,254
Remington 700 22" 1987(?) Leupold 6X 250 Sav 100 Speer 2,905
Ruger 77 1977 22" 1977 Leupold 2-7X 7x57 140 Sierra 2,829

I have my emotional favorite, but I'm interested in what you folks think.

A 50BMG. I have heard them deer are armor plated nowdays.

 

[stagpanther]

I have heard them deer are armor plated nowdays.

I use 22lr for the armored ones.

 

[CCCLVII]

Id go with the marlin but that is just because I love Marlins.

 

[paknheat]

I’d go with the Remington in .250 Savage. Just because I like that particular cartridge.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[NHSHOOTER]

update on previous post, I usually carry my 7-08 here in the NH woods due to the fact my 2 rifles chambered in that caliber are tack drivers, (model 7, x bolt) and they are easy carrys to my stand locations. I hadnt been seeing any deer yet this season, (6 sits and no deer) so yesterday morning I decided to carry my inherited 25-06 for a change, longer barrel and a bit heavier but also a tack driver, it did change my luck, dropped this spike with 1 shot at 165 yds down a logging rd. That little 117gr pill is deadly

 

[Picher]

Ruger 77 1977 22" 1977 Leupold 2-7X 7x57 140 Sierra 2,829

I go with the best scope for deer hunting. This combo would do what I want it to, provided it's properly sighted-in. Carry it at 2X, stand at 4X, turn up or down to shoot best in a situation, but that's just me.

I've been hunting with scoped guns for 40+ years and used to work as an engineer with a high-powered transit, so if I can find a small survey rod or plum bob string in the woods with a 30X scope, a deer is a snap!

JP

 

[ligonierbill]

By far the most votes for the 7x57, which I had already decided to carry. Surprised there is little love for the 250-3000, but it is what it is. After my last range session, I did decide to carry a different load. A 150 SGK goes 2,716 avg/8.9 Std out of this rifle, and it groups just a tad better.