What rifle should I use for mule deer hunt this season??

F

frapichino

New member
Im thinking about using a tikka 300wsm with a nikon 3x9
or a tikka .308 with same scope
or a Winchester 30-30 open sights.

and whats a good Cal for antelope?

What do you guys think?
 
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there all good guns, i use a 30.06 if im hunting open country and my 30.30 iron sight if i think my shots are going to be under 100yrds
 
Any will work.

300wsm for up to 600 yards or 700
308 for up to 350 or 400 yards
30-30 up to 150 unless you're using hornady leverevolution, in that case 250 yards.

But to each his own. Im sure alot of people will disagree with what i suggested for the ranges but its in the hands of the shooter.

For antelope, i would suggest a .243. Some people use a 243 for mule deer as well.
 
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The .308 will work fine for Antelope for as far as you can comfortably shoot. It does sound like a good excuse to pick up a 25-06 or dare I say...257 Roberts!
 
I agree with bigsky u should use the gun u are most comfortable with. Confidence in your gun is more important than caliber IMO.
 
Better off using your .308 for both species. 30-30 would work at 150 yds or less yards, but, there is no gurantee of short ranges on either animal. My wife and I use 7MM REM MAG zeroed for 200 yds; POA is up to 247 yards - perfect for mulies. CANNOT get drawn for antelope; even after 8 years, so, can't speak to that!
 
The type of habitat your hunting should drive your choice. Big open sage flats, juniper draws mixed with sage with long views the 300wsm with 308 as backup. thick timber short range views the 308, 30-30 as backup. Or sell the 308 and 30-30 buy some great binoculars and kill everything with the 300wsm it will do it all.
 
Originally Posted By: buckthumperI would use the .308. the 300wsm might be overkill on a lope.

The .308 is overkill on an Antelope or Mule Deer.
30-06, .270 are all overkill but they work.'

A .243, 6mm or .257 Roberts is just about perfect for Antelope and Deer.
 
Originally Posted By: bigsky_songdogsI would use the one that you shoot the best and are more comfortable with. Of the 3 I would use the 308 if it fit those 2 requirements

I agree, the .308 would be my choice out of the three calibers you have to choose from. But, like bigsky said, its what you feel the most confident with.
 
I have killed more Antelope than I care to count living in Central Wyoming and if it was me, I would pick the .300 WSM. The 7MM Mag was a good suggestion as well. The .300 WSM will kill anything in North America and is available in a wide range of bullet weights. To be quite honest I dont consider the .300 WSM over kill for Antelope. With a fairly heavy bullet, that does not strike the shoulder directly, you would be surprised at the lack of damage. Big heavy bullets tend to punch through thin skinned animals with marginal expansion. I have made bigger holes in speed goats with a .243 100 grainer than I have with a 168 or a 180 grain .300. The lighter, faster bullets tend to be quite explosive on impact. My observations for what they are worth.
 
Depends on exactly where you are hunting, but I have only shot one mule deer and no antelope within a range I would have been comfortable with with a 30-30. I personally hunt with a 300 WM because it works for everything big game-wise that I hunt. Either the 308 or the 300 WSM would work, and as many others have noted - of those two, the one you are most comfortable with will likely be the better choice. Now, all things being equal (which they rarely are in the real world) in the comfort department, just as a caliber selection, I would select the 300 WSM, hands down.
 
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