Caliber and best factory rifle for Whitetail deer - NC

[JAYgs8163]

Yeah, I think it will end up being rifle manufacturer that hangs me up the most. I will probably end up going with the Seekins in 6.5 CM. I don't know how that would ever be wrong for deer hunting in NC.

Good choice and if you're considering the Seekins you should also be looking at the Springfield Waypoint. It's a great rifle. 2 friends have bought them and they're very well made with great triggers and very accurate. Available in 6.5CM, 6CM, 308 etc…

 

[30378wbymag]

Maybe something like this!!!! Kewl caliber and an AWESOME rifle!!! Factory ammo is available, they also chamber it in 6.5 Creed, .257 Roy, and the .240 Roy, pick your poison...

WBY 6.5 RPM

 

[Lonbow63]

7mm08 have two Tikka,christensen arms both great shooters,

 

[Thomas Culver]

I have a Proof Elevation MTR in 6.5PRC and it shoots lights out and has become by go to deer rifle. I took the muley in my avatar with it and 143ELDX at 150 yards. I've also taken several other deer with it and will be using it this year in Mexico for whitetails. My son shoots a 6.5 Creed built by Alamo Precision Rifles in the Dallas area and it shoots incredibly well also. My son hasn't taken anything with it yet, but I've shot a couple of deer and an impala in South Africa with it running the 143ELDX as well. Hard to complain about the performance of either, when ringing steel consistently at 1000 on factory ammo. They almost make me not want to reload anymore, but then my reloads are even tighter. Both guns shoot 1" groups at 300.

 

[pburton]

Seekins makes great rifles. I have one in 6.5 PRC that shoots lights out. For what you are looking for, I would go with the Seekins Havok PH2 in 6.5 Creedmoor, .308, or something similar.

 

[baldhunter]

A 30-06 with a 165-180gr bullet will kill a whitetail with magnum authority.

 

[Clark54]

270 Win with 130 grain bullets is perfect, and I have used it for elk and bear as well (you can move up to 150 grain bullets if desired). This caliber has some staying power, unlike some of the "fad" calibers for which ammo may not be available in a few years. Lighter recoil than many, but shoots flat with a point blank range over 300 yards. Tikka offers a MOA guarantee, along with a couple other rifle mfgrs. My Sako shoots better than I can see...

 

[Accuracyman]

You have received very good advice. I have most of the calibers mentioned and shoot them all. Here would be my picks:
Short Action: 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 260, 7mm-08, 308
Long Actions: 6.5-284, 25-06, 270, 280

Since you have a long action 7 Mag I would pick from the short action calibers to round out your collection. I shoot and love the 7mm-08. It is highly accurate with a great variety of factory offerings. It has sufficient power to easily take deer at your indicated max of 500 yards. Hard to beat a 7mm-08 for an all around deer rifle.

Good luck with your selection. Hard to go wrong with anything suggested so far.

 

[bubbaonpc]

Live in NC and have hunted here since 1980. 95% of my shots are 175 yards or less...most of those closer to 100 yards.. I have found the 7-08 hard to beat. 120, 139 and 140 grains all work well for NC Deer. The 7mm Bullet is one of my favorites, with plenty of weight choices.
I'm now 55 and I like the softer shooters...my go to Rifle is now the 6.5 Grendel with a 120gr Nosler. If I lived in the Flat Lands, where 300+ yard shots mite be found, I'd pull the 7-08 out....and maybe the 7 Mag.
Find a Rifle you like, in about any Caliber, and you can knock out NC Deer. I've seen people use 7 Ultra Mags down to 22-250.....they get the same results. Most of all, ENJOY IT !

 

[Will Gray]

My 375 RUM does a fine job on whitetails and pigs. It is a little heavy for walking around but great from a stand. 300g SGK going 2922fps works on all living things.

 

[Adrenalinejunkee]

That's what I needed to hear. The Seekins just feels more stout when you hold it and also when cycling the action. I've never shot either one. I just need to find a Seekins PH2, hunter green stock, in 6.5 creedmoor. Things are hard to find these days.

Order it from the factory. Seekins builds all their rifles to order, so their website shows no inventory. My .308 PH1 Havak is the best rifle I've owned and it shoots lights out. Attached is a photo of 5 shots at 200 yards using 178gr Hornady AMAX and 45gr of CFE 223.

 

[GrayCreed]

The Sako's are nice and they have an awesome rebate going on right now.

Bergara,
Christensen,
Savage makes some really nice high end 110s that come in Chassis
The Springfield waypoint is nice too.

 

[Pacecount]

Do you reload?…. 6.5 PRC is not a common round.

7mm-08 or a 308 should fit you well…. and you have plenty of energy at 500 yds to take a deer or an elk. I do think a larger wound channel makes a difference.

I am a Tikka/Sako fan and those rifles like the factory ELDX ammo. The Tikka must put 3 rounds and the Sako 5 rounds under a minute before leaving the factory.

My 7mm is a McWhorter but you do not need a rifle like that for what you are doing.

 

[Will Gray]

May drag out my 416/300RUM wildcat today in case a good size critter steps out!