Totally Over My Head

Slafav · #1 07-08-2009, 01:02 PM

I live right outside San Antonio, Texas and am interested in long range shooting. I sometime hunt Whitetail Deer in Johnson city, so I am looking for something that can kill a deer at a decent distance, say 300 - 400 yards, but mainly just want to shoot for fun. I'm so lost in all of the rifle, caliber, optic jargon that I don't really know what I am looking at. Any help and suggestions on gear is really appreciated.

Stephen

AJ Peacock · #2 07-08-2009, 01:10 PM

Welcome to the site.

Your question is so open ended, almost any reasonable big-game chambering will accomplish your task. you could spend as little as $500 on a packaged Savage to several thousand dollars and be able to take deer at 500yds or so.

PM me if you want someone to discuss this with over the phone, I have verizon cell phone and have free minutes after 9pm eastern time.

AJ

Slafav · #3 07-08-2009, 01:18 PM

I guess it is pretty open ended. I am looking to stay under $1000 - $1500 if possible and want something that will perform reliably for a while. I have heard good things about .300, .308, and 7mm mag, but don't really know the difference in ballistics, cost, availability, etc. I don't want to get in to reloading or anything of that nature, so I'd like to avoid calibers that require something like that. If there is more info that you guys need please ask and I will try and help you out as much as I can.

Nape.270 · #4 07-08-2009, 01:23 PM

My first ? to you would be what have you shot or been shooting?

Slafav · #5 07-08-2009, 01:33 PM

I used to own a small .22 rifle and now own a 12ga shotgun. Have used a 30-30 and a 30-06 as well. I have been doing a lot of shooting recently with my 12ga, and the recoil of all of these guns doesn't bother me. Don't know how some of the longer distance calibers stack up.

AJ Peacock · #6 07-08-2009, 01:47 PM

If 400yds is your maximum distance and deer are the largest game you intend to hunt; a heavy barrelled .308win and a good 3x9 scope would easily do what you intend. Ammo for the 308Win is as available as about any cartridge. It is a proven performer and a modestly heavy barrel will reduce recoil to a very comfortable level for extended target practice. The barrel life on the 308 is about as good as it gets for rifles that would meet your requirements.

AJ

Slafav · #7 07-08-2009, 01:55 PM

What if I wanted to push the max distance out a bit? Say, 800 -900 yards, but not need it to be necessarily lethal? Would that be possible?