I have been given the green light from my wife to get a new rifle this year. Kinda thinking of an HS Precision rifle, but not set on it. I'm hoping to set it up as a beanfield gun, specifically for shooting whitetails from 500 to 700 yards, from a bench. I can't decide on a caliber, trying to find the perfect combo of speed and performance, without breaking my bank. I had originally thought of a .30-378, but there may be something better suited to this task. I'd like enough down-range energy to kill with authority out to 700 yards. Any recommendations on caliber and loads?
.300 Ultra. Cheaper to load for than the Weatherby, and nearly identical in performance with barrels up to about 26 inches. As for loads, pick a bullet, then start developing. I use heavier bullets in mine as it is my elk rifle. mtmuley
It doesn't take a 30-378 weatherby to kill deer from 500-700 yards, hell I've killed a few between 500-600 with my "lowly" 25-06 remington...
I think you would be well served with a good 6.5 cal, say a 6.5-06, or any good 7mm. Make sure you use heavy for caliber bullets with good BC's and most any deer cartridge will get you to 600 yards.
The standard 270 remington w/140g AB or 150g NBT would work well on deer out to 800 yards. Similar calibers give similar results. My 7 RM is perfectly adequate with 140g NBT or 162g AMAX to 800 yards for deer..
Theres a pile of cartridge/bullet combos that could fit the bill to taking deer to 700 yards, but it doesn't take a magnum, or even a super magnum at that...
300 RUM is a little much gun for deer at those ranges, IMO. Been there, done that...
I can spend around $1600 without any additional whining. Currently I have a accumark 7mm STW. 100% factory, no tuning, no handloads, no nothing. It's wearing a zeiss diavari 3-12x56, and I have a Vari-X III 4.5-14x50 that I can switch to. It has much finer crosshairs. If I can tune up this rifle and save some $ that would be great. Don't have a clue where to start.
That 7MM Ultra will do all you want to do and then some. All you need is a quality range finder and a drop chart. Stock up on some 160 grain Accubonds and start practicing. A skim bedding job and adjust the trigger on that Accumark and you will be really surprized what one can do.
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