Flattest shooting deer rifle

[ButterBean]

Like @QuietTexan, @jessej, and @ButterBean, I think the 300 RUM with 124 gr Hammer Hunters is a pretty good "maximum point blank range rifle." Mine is a Remington 700 KS shooting the 124s at just a hair over 3800 fps. I had them up to about 4000 fps with Retumbo but the the slower H4831sc load is much more accurate. I am still no more than 2" high or low out to just over 300 yards.

H4350 will get you into the 4200's

 

[VTbluegrass]

If you handload
30-06 with 124gr Hammer Hunter. I had them going 3420fps out of a 24" barrel using a healthy charge of Varget. Zeroed at 250 and let her eat. Fun while I had it.

 

[mrultramag]

What chambering would you guys recommend for a deer rifle to just point and shoot. My dad does not want to range and dial. He'd rather just zero his rifle and not touch it again. 350-400 yard max range. What would you guys recommend?

My current fave is 270 wby 124hh @3620. Very full case of rl23.

257 wby 100ttsx 110ab,
25-06 80ttsx, 243 95bt,
7 rum 140ab

 

[jessej]

That's purty dang flat

 

[txaggie1]

My current fave is 270 wby 124hh @3620. Very full case of rl23.

257 wby 100ttsx 110ab,
25-06 80ttsx, 243 95bt,
7 rum 140ab

I run some 130 sciroccos at just under 3500 - hard to argue with 270's versatility.

 

[7Rum Slayer]

7MM RUM
145 Cutting Edge Lazer @ 3587 fps with a G7 BC of .280
Maybe not practical for a new purchase but fast, flat, and hits like a lightning bolt! Cheers, Jason

 

[nhenry]

I shoot a 120gr TTSX out of a 280 AI at 3400 fps. Even if sighted in at 100, it's only 19" low at 400. Zeroed further and it's pretty point and click.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

H4350 will get you into the 4200's

Not a chance. I burnt out a half dozen or better 300RUM barrels shooting 110's and I was pushing it hard to get 4200 with those, even with a 30" 15 twist. 4200 with 124gr coppers isn't going to happen unless you go way over max pressure and even then I doubt it.

4000 from a good 26-28" barrel is probably doable with safe pressure. Just don't expect more than 600-800 rounds out of a barrel even if you're trying to keep it cool.

300RUM with light bullets is probably your best bet as long as there's no wind. The light bullets at 300-400 yards will still be blown around by wind enough to mean a miss or wounding an animal so you can't just pretend wind doesn't exist because you want to be too lazy to dial the easiest equation.

Personally I'd get a better choice for a deer rifle, a LRF or BLRF with built in ballistics and an optic with a simple tree reticle like the Swarovski BRH and teach the dude how to shoot. He'll be more successful that way than thinking he can't just hold the crosshairs straight up inside 400 yards and get a clean kill.

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

Not a chance. I burnt out a half dozen or better 300RUM barrels shooting 110's and I was pushing it hard to get 4200 with those, even with a 30" 15 twist. 4200 with 124gr coppers isn't going to happen unless you go way over max pressure and even then I doubt it.

I've done 4100 in 26 inch barrel, and with garbage nosler brass. 124 hammers and h4350

 

[jessej]

I've done 4100 in 26 inch barrel, and with garbage nosler brass. 124 hammers and h4350

Yep.

We don't know, what we don't know, till we know.

 

[jessej]

And just to touch on the wind a bit. Absolutely. High bc bullets move less in the wind. But don't forget time of flight.
With a 10 mph 90 deg wind. The difference between MY 215 hybrid targets at 3000fps and MY 124 hammer hunters at 4200, is but a mere 2" of drift.

 

[264WM]

264 WM 100gr BT at 3700fps or 85gr hp at 3827 fps does just fine.

 

[ButterBean]

Not a chance. I burnt out a half dozen or better 300RUM barrels shooting 110's and I was pushing it hard to get 4200 with those, even with a 30" 15 twist. 4200 with 124gr coppers isn't going to happen unless you go way over max pressure and even then I doubt it.

4000 from a good 26-28" barrel is probably doable with safe pressure. Just don't expect more than 600-800 rounds out of a barrel even if you're trying to keep it cool.

300RUM with light bullets is probably your best bet as long as there's no wind. The light bullets at 300-400 yards will still be blown around by wind enough to mean a miss or wounding an animal so you can't just pretend wind doesn't exist because you want to be too lazy to dial the easiest equation.

Personally I'd get a better choice for a deer rifle, a LRF or BLRF with built in ballistics and an optic with a simple tree reticle like the Swarovski BRH and teach the dude how to shoot. He'll be more successful that way than thinking he can't just hold the crosshairs straight up inside 400 yards and get a clean kill.

26" sporter 10 twist@ 4250, barrels are cheap

 

[Two Six Oh-Letergo]

I would put in a vote for the 270 win. Loaded with the lighter bullets it is capable of very flat trajectory. I am loading 117 HH at 3400 in mine. Though there are flatter cartridges out there, there are very few that have as plentiful a selection of factory rifles and ammo. For example, 26 Nosler is as close as we have gotten to an actual laser beam, but ammo and rifles are pricey and limited. 257 wby is limited to Weatherby rifles and ammo. Nothing wrong with that but it is a limitation. 270 meets the need without the cost and recoil of a magnum with ammo you can consistently buy anywhere.