caliber for new rifle

[Wi whitetail]

rb-yea i realize that this gun isn't gonna be a lightweight, but now that i think of it, last year i lugged my mossberg 835 around the woods a couple of days with no real discomfort, and that thing is no featherweight. i appreciate your insight, but i'm still in young enough to carry something of this weight with not much of a problem

 

[Guest]

"VS" is varmint synthetic right?I believe that rifle weighs 9lb+.By time you dress it up with rings,scope& bipod.I bet you are up around 11-12lbs.Are you planning on hiking far from the truck?IMHO that is alot of weight to pack any length of time.
It will shoot,I have a buddy with one and his shoots MOA at 1000yds.He just shoots at the bench or from the truck though and does'nt pack it.
Just a thought RB

 

[trader388]

After I lost 15 lbs...carrying around my 15lb rifle was a cinch!

 

[deergrunt]

I have a 308 in a VLS. The gun is more capable than I am. The gun and caliber, in my opinion, is capable of 700 yard deer kills providing the shooter can responsibly place the round in the kill zone. I use a 168 grain A-max behind 44.5 grains of Varget and CCI Bench rest primers. On my off season I practice on chucks, practice being the key!
Good luck with your choice and I hope you have a full freezer this next season.

 

[varminthunter-243win]

i think that the 7mm is superior in this case. the bullet has as much to do with obliterating a deer as the velocity though. with a partition, you can reach out to 600yds easy (with a good scope of course) and knock them down but on a close shot, expansion is well controlled and won't blow too big of a hole. as long as you do your job and put the bullet in the right place, either rifle will work.