What rifle should you use to hunt deer at 250 to 350 yards?

Answer 1

Answer

You could use a 30.06 or 7mm to hunt deer at 500yds.

Answer

No serious hunter would shoot at an animal that far away.

338 lapua

If you can "Reliably" hit the vitals on a game animal at 500yds ensure that shot placement and caliber are sufficent to execute a clean kill. If not then pass on the shot. A magnum will do it but ammo cost are rising and with that enharent flinch that many get from massive recoil it may not serve you well. Bullet weight and style play an important role in trajectory out to 500 yds epecially when wind is a factor so try to find a balance between sectional density and ballistic co-efficients. Check the wind drift charts from ammo manufacturers for info on this to get a visuallization . If you can hit a target at 500 can you do the same when the rifle is set for point blank range ( lets say 250 yds ), from a semi kneeling position ( where you stopped at when you saw him ), with ammo that you've tested in both hot and cold climates ( at least 200 rounds worth ), with a slight 5 degree declination in the land ( on a hill- changes range ), a 15 mph crosswind at 125 yds and a 20 mph gust at 300 yds etc.. etc.. with the sun slightly in your eyes and your heart pounding ? If you can then yes a 30-06 will do nicely. I can hit the target at 982 yds ( my longest recorded shot on paper targets ) but I like to sneak into about 50 yds with my 44 mag pistol and a SxS 20 guage because my great grandpa told me it was called " HUNTING " and not " SHOOTING ". Hope this helped some

There is a web site; www.bestofthewest.com They regularly shoot at game between 500 and 1,000 yards. However, they are using a custom built rifle and scope that together will cost you about $7,000. Too rich for my blood. Make your hunt a 'hunt'. Get in there closer and make it a challenge.

Answer 2

Any rifle from .22 upward could kill a deer, depending on where you live, e.g. I live in the UK so you would need a firearms certificate to own such a rifle, and would probably not get one for a higher calibre. Outside the UK e.g. in the US you could use a higher calibre like .308 Winchester (this is the most commonly used calibre for medim/ large game in the u.s.).
As to what rifle you could use I am unsure but one gun I know of that fires .308 is the AK47, however as this is a fully automatic gun it would be illegal in some states, but it can be modified to fire semi auto only for legal reasons.


hope this helps.

Answer 3

At that range, it's a bit of a push to use something like the .30-30 or 7.62x39. You'd be best to go with something like a .243, .270, .308, .30-06, 7mm, etc. Maybe even up it to a .300 Winchester Magnum if you're taking something like a mule deer at those ranges, or have the prospect of possibly taking even longer shots.

Answer 4

There IS no best caliber for deer hunting over 500 yards. While I have been a long range shooter for a number of years, that is not long range HUNTING. Attempting to shoot game animals at that range is almost certain to result in wounded animals, and not a clean kill. Without regard to caliber.

Actually, it is very doable to effective kill an animal with decent accuracy at ranges of well over 500 yards. They show it all the time on TV now thinking it is honorable or something. Of course they do not show us the misses or injured animals, but that is besides the point because that happens regardless of range or weapon used. The real issue is whether or not it is ethical to shoot an animal at long range as you are relying on weapon performance as opposed to hunting skill.

It is not hard to get 500 plus yards away from an animal regardless of species or size. At that distance an animal has no defenses. Why should a deer or elk have to worry about a predator at that distance when the species have not had except for the last 100 years.

Long range hunting is not hunting, it is long range shooting at animals. Make sure you want to be part of the worst thing for hunting since poachers and anti hunters. Long Range will likely be the end of hunting as we know it.

Answer 5

.243 or 30-06