Suggestions on LEFTY Antelope & Mule Deer Rig

[Big_Red]

Looks like I'll finally get to go on my first Wyoming mule deer and antelope hunt next year (if we get drawn for licenses) and what better excuse to buy a new rifle??? I have a .30-06 Browning A-Bolt which is certainly capable (along with .308, other .30-06's, etc), but I'm hankering for a magnum, likely a 7mm Rem Mag.

With a budget of 'factory' or 'modified factory', I was looking for opinions. Being a lefty my choices are a bit limited, but my initial thoughts were to buy a Remington 700 SPS in 7mm Mag ($500) and slap a McMillan HTG ($500) on it. My long range .308 bolt gun is based on the same action and A-5 McM stock and I am quite pleased with that rig.

This choice would leave me lots of options for down the road customization since it is a 700 action. Any other manufacturers I should look at? I know Browning, Tikka, Savage, and probably others make a lefty 7mm.

This Georgia boy can't wait to go out West for the first time!

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

That will certainly do the job on deer and antelope and so will several other choices without so much bang an recoil. If you don't mind a muzzle brake the 300 ultramag in that rifle is about the best flattest shooting, hardest hitting rifle for long range you can get over the counter. Far superior over the 7mm rem mag, well not even in the same league. Many choices easily beat the 7mm rem mag but it will do the job just fine if that is what you want. If they make it in a 7mm STW that is where I would go in 7mm for the best long range. The 7mm ultramag eats barrels to bad but is great with heavy vld bullets. If Savage still sells the 300 ultramag in a left hand it is a good choice. It comes with a brake and everyone I have ever seen shot very well. No sense buying something then having to buy another soon after to beat it. Just get the 300 ultramag and you are on top already and no need for a custom down the road if it shoots well. If it doesn't you already have the ultramag action to do something with if you want a custom long range rifle.

 

[Derek M.]

Big Red,

The 7mm Remington Magnum will serve you well on any deer or pronghorn. You can shoot Swift Sciroccos, Nosler Btips or Accubonds, Bergers, Hornady Amax...lots of choices. I have 2 7mm mags. Your thoughts on it are spot on. You won't go wrong with it and you will be pleased. I also have other calibers, including a 300 RUM as mentioned above and it is a good choice as well. The funny thing is, when I was toting my 300, my pronghorn was only 65 yards away. That was in 2004. Seems like the luck at the time, but I've never taken a shot over 354 with the 300. At these distances, I would rather have had one of my 270s in hand.

 

[Big_Red]

Thanks guys. I forgot to mention I don't reload and prefer the old school cartridges that have been around for a while. Just personal preference, but that's why I'm leaning towards the 7mm Rem Mag.

 

[benson821]

I just got back from an antelope hunt just a week or so ago and i am also left handed and you don't need a magnum round to take one of those suckes down. I bought a Left handedTikka T3 Lite in 270 win. and i dropped my antelope at 200 yards with it. So what i'm trying to say is you don't need a magnum round to drop one of those animals. Check out tikka it is a very nice rifle, smoothe action and amazing trigger pull.

benson821gun)

 

[Derek M.]

my "designated" pronghorn rifle is a 270 with 110 TTSX.

 

[Big_Red]

I've thought about the .270 and I know it's a great cartridge, but not sure it is much different than my .30-06 overall.

I'll get out there and probably end up with 100yd shots but who knows. What worries me is Dad tells me they typically stalk all day taking free-hand shots. Free-hand shots no good when the buck fever is high!

 

[Bman940]

I have a Weatherby .257 WbyMag that I have used on all sorts of deer sized game. Really reaches out there and with my Nikon Monarch 4-15x50 with BDC reticle and the Spot On Ballistic Match Technology Program it'll do everything you want it to without beating you up to bad. Now if you like to take a pounding I have a Browning Left hand Stainless Stalker in 7 mm Mag for sale and a Ruger 77 in 30.06 also left handed for sale.
I'm sure we'd all love to see pics of whatever rig you come up with as well as the results.
Remember no substitute for range time.
Bart
Nikon Pro Staff

 

[Big_Red]

I hear ya on the 'take a beating'. My Browning A-bolt stainless stalker lefty in .30-06 downright nails my shoulder during range sessions. Starting to give the 7mm Mag second thoughts for that reason alone.

Maybe I need a .270!

 

[winmag]

There have been some great suggestions already, but Ill throw in a vote for the WSM's in most any left hand configuration. + its Fun to have "magnum" performance out of a short action. If your gonna go with an "overbore" cartrige, my own personal preferance would be anything based on the 404jefery's parent case, simply due to NO rediculous belt. The 404 parent case IS what the -06 parent case used to be. Nothin wrong with the good ol -06, but if your gonna jump to the next level in performance, why not have something easy to work with in the future in the off chance you choose to hand load someday.
ie;
any of the WSM's 270-thru the 325 would serve well as L/R deer whackers, plus the 300RUM, 300DAKOTA, etc. All have kick *** performance, and are all based on the 404 as the parent case.
All but the Dakota are available over the counter in multiple bullet designs and weight's too. The 300dakota just duplicates the 300wby without the belt, but not available O.T.C., but the 300Rum edges them both out, and is available O.T.C. so I would deffinately consider it as a viable L/R option on most any size game. Most of the above mantioned are kinda considered "Hotrods" by some folks, but would suit you well, and are available O.T.C cartriges.
Just something to think about. Good luck on your upcomming hunt, hope you enjoy it out this way.

 

[Bman940]

Maybe it's as we get older we finally start getting smarter, who knows?
Why take the beating if you don't have too?
I have scaled down all my big cals in favor of .308's and .243's and .223's.
Granted if the potential for a monster deer is there I can't leave my Hill Country left handed 300 win. mag at home. I would much rather shoot the .243's and AR's, way more fun. I recently tried to talk a buddy into getting a .257 wbymag for Utah deer/Antelope but he wanted the .243. Well he got a spectacular Muley one shot 300+ yards using a Nikon BDC reticle scope. Now if only his wife will let him put the mount in the house he'll have a good story to tell.
Bart
Nikon Pro Staff

 

[benson821]

I've thought about the .270 and I know it's a great cartridge, but not sure it is much different than my .30-06 overall.

I'll get out there and probably end up with 100yd shots but who knows. What worries me is Dad tells me they typically stalk all day taking free-hand shots. Free-hand shots no good when the buck fever is high!

I used my Tikka 270 win. at roughly 200 yards for my antelope, and i dropped him in his tracks leaning up against a tree for stability. My uncle also made some shooting sticks by taking two dowel rods and tying them together about an inch or 2 from the top and when you go to use them you make an X out of them and they worked pretty well especially for his Sharps 45-70 gov.

check out either buying or making some shooting sticks that what we used if we had nothing to stabilize our shot on.

bensongun)

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

Like I said, you don't need a magnum out here to shoot deer and antelope. So it is not mandatory if you don't care for the recoil. My son shoots a 257 wby and it is an amazing flat shooter at 3760 fps with a 100 grain barnes ttsx. He has dropped everything one shot and down out to 512 yards with it. Recoil is not bad with the 257 wby and remington makes a 700 in it. The wby vanguard is $399 in 257 wby and is a good rifle. I have one of those and it shoots very well. My son just got his antelope last week with the 257 wby and deer hunting with it this weekend. It is the lightest kicking, flattest shooting rifle I know for cheap over the counter. Just lots of choices.

 

[Big_Red]

Yes sir... I bought some Stoney Point compact sticks for seated shooting this deer season. They work great in my blind.