Long range mule deer rifle

[Grohs775]

Honestly look at the 300 wsm... easy 1000 yard round. I have the Browning XBolt hell's canyon long range, superb rifle!!!

 

[zb338]

How about a 30/06 with a 150 grain bullet. It will kill a mule deer
and shoot pretty far. Save your money for the carfare and the café.

Zeke

 

[dannyh]

I have a custom 7mm long range built by Red Rock Precision. It will smack 1k yds all day long. My first hunt w this rifle 4x4 buck@435yds, 5x6 bull@635yds. Give Curt a call. RRP Morgan, Ut.

 

[jpope02]

A suitable caliber for 800-1000yards on mule deer? I question any rifle or rifleman out there that would or could take mule deer consistently at those ranges ethically. But that's Your call. The 6.5/284, 7 mag or a 280 AI would all serve the bill @ 600yards or less. 800-1000yards?

 

[JTB]

Thinking a little outside the box you could consider is the 25-06 AI using the 131 blackjacks. That combination will carry over 1000 lbs or energy at 1000 yards and shoot flatter at 3200+ FPS than most non-magnum options. Just barrel it with the appropriate twist (7.5 or so). I know the blackjack is not officially for hunting but it appears to be very effective.

 

[WSM]

I have a 7mm rem mag built by Krieger. Best shooting rifle I ever owned. Only 68 rounds shot. need to sell to pay some surgery bills. PM me if interested.

 

[fmuguira]

My 280 AI or 6.5 -06 AI suggestion were based on rebuilding your existing rifle and thus 06 bolt face. If you re going to buy something then the skies the limit on caliber choice.

Good Luck.

 

[mdbiggerstaff]

Check ALCO bullets. I know there are other high BC bullets also.
In 30-06 with their 210 bullet with BC .848 at 2657 fps IMR 4350/53.5 gr. & load deviation of 15.5 the tables state at 1000 yds 290" drop, MOA 27.7 & MILS 8.0 with ft/lbs 1418.
Their 168 bullet with BC .678 at 2987 fps IMR 4350/59.3 gr. & load deviation 4.5 the tables at 1000 yds 243" drop, MOA 23.2 MILS 6.8 & ft/lbs 1198.
Weatherby 24".

I will use these for the first time this season for deer but have never shot this far. Do not know how they are for hunting or distance but looks very interesting.
Lots of caliber choices & all great but I just really like the traditional mainstay of 30 calibers.

 

[6.506ai]

How about 6.5x55 Swedish?

Or a custom throat on a 30-06 barrel? I'm betting you could get respectable velocity out of 200gr Berger's with the correct throat length and some RL26?[/Q

 

[6.506ai]

I use 180 eld m in my 280ai and i love it. .13 groups doing 2900

 

[z71rad88]

While there are several cartridges that will get the job done well, I became addicted to the 6.5x284 for medium game hunting about 10 years ago. I have taken several big bodied Alberta mule deer(and the same number of big white tails) out to 1000 yards with my 6.5x284 loaded to 2975-3000FPS with 140 class VLD's. It's very accurate, has manageable recoil, great ballistics, and most importantly, with the high sectional density 140gr+ VLD's, it demonstrates excellent killing power over a wide latitude of range. I have never experienced feeding issues with any of my 6.5x284 rifles, including a custom build using a standard LA BDL/floorplate taken from a 30-06. No mods necessary. Maybe the feeding issue drama comes from the same crowd that suffers from the short barrel life neurosis.
Some of the big mule deer taken with my 6.5x284 between 400 and 1000 yards. All DRT with chest shots.
View attachment 141560 View attachment 141561 View attachment 141563 View attachment 141564 View attachment 141565

Holy Batman. Those are some dandy bucks there.

 

[BLC3128]

I'd say 30-06 A.I. In Pennsylvania a lot of the original long range deer hunters in my area were blowing the shoulder out on the 06. This was before the days of the 300 mags. Yes the H&H was available, but was rather expensive for the time.

With an Accubond LR you could get respectable velocity and that bullet will do some damage

 

[Wy Will]

My vote is towards the 6.5-284. My 6.5-284 is shooting 2800 FPS with Matrix 160s. Dropped an elk last year at 408 yards and would feel comfortable out to 600 yards on elk sized game.

Of course, since I can no longer get Matrix bullets, I might have to switch to the Berger 156s and hope that I can get the same accuracy.

 

[nicholasjohn]

I built a 6.5-06 AI out of a 30-06 Sako Deluxe Finnbear that I brought home from Europe. I've been using it for years shooting long range. It will reach out to 1000 for sure. I did opt to neck down Lapua 30-06 brass but it wasn't very hard. It did require some neck turning. Another option is to use 25-06 brass and neck up which is quick and easy. The only issue is that Lapua doesn't make it. Cheers!

I think Lapua makes 270 Winchester brass, don't they ? I know they don't make 280 Remington, so I've been using Norma brass for that. I have a buddy who makes 270 cases out of 30-06 brass, and he hasn't had any of the problems some guys have mentioned from the slightly shorter neck length.