high caliber rifle for hunting medium to large game at long distances?

Question

i am looking for a large caliber rifle for hunting deer and larger game. i like shooting long distances for the greater challenge of taking a animal. i am looking for a rifle with a accuracy range of 200- fivehundred yard with very good ballistics and trajectory if any one has some good opinions let me know

Answer 1

Bound's hubby here:

Unless you are quite proficient with a rifle, I would not suggest that you attempt to take any game beyond 250, and definitely not out to 500 yards. You owe the game you hunt a humane dispatch!

Presuming you are a proficient shot with a rifle, I would suggest you look at nothing smaller than a .30-06 Springfield. A good rifle for this would be a Remington 700. For shots out to 500 or more yards, you need the most accuracy you can get, and that comes with a bolt action rifle. The next step up in caliber (power) would be a .300 Winchester Magnum, but this would be my last choice!

In order to balance the weight of a larger diameter bullet and the distance you would like to shoot, anything larger that would reach out to 500 yards would have to be a Magnum, which you may not wish to shoot frequently enough to become proficient at long range.

The .30-06 should meet your needs on most North American game out to about 450 to 500 yards.

If you plan to shoot at distance, you must not only practice your shooting, but also your range estimation!

Good Luck!

Answer 2

I just researched this for myself and a friend. There's no huge difference in ballistics between any of the more upbeat and energetic cartridges. Even a 300 Remington Ultra Mag doesn't shoot a heck of a lot flatter than a 30-06. Bullet choice and caliber will greatly affect retained energy though and the older 338 and 350 magnums are actually slower than modern equivalents. The 300 and 325 WSM or the 300 RUM are about as flat shooting as any, but even they are diving away rapidly beyond 300 yards. With a 200 yard zero you can get a point blank aim on a 6" target out to about 300 with these. After that you are going to need a good memory for bullet drop and a good eye for range. I use a laser range finder and keep inside 250-300 myself.

Answer 3

Learn to hunt better. Nobody in his right mind shoots an animal at 500 yards on purpose. There are too many variables in the field, and no man or rifle can consistently make clean kills at that range. For elk in the vicinity of 300 yards and the occasional stretch past, a 30-06 will do, and any of the 300 magnums or the 8x68 (for which it's become very difficult to get brass in the US) will of course be more than enough. But if you can't do it with a 30-06, you probably shouldn't be doing it.

Answer 4

I have 30.06 and I love it !!! It's my favorite rifle ....... but I wouldn't use it over 200 yards. Like Bound's Hubby said, you need a magnum. Personally I use a 7mm mag when I'm hunting at long range and have taken elk over 500 yards with it. Get a good range finder to calculate the distance and practice is essential. Check out the following website to compare the ballistics of this and the other rifles mentioned.

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/

Answer 5

Any number of rifles chambered for .300 Win Mag, or the .338 Win Mag would be good choices for you. These can be used to take down anything in North America, and have excellent long range ballistics. I would recommend Ruger rifles, either the No. 1 or any of their bolt actions, they are fine rifles and will not break the bank either.

Answer 6

Get a .308 Ruger model 77 with a stainless steel barrel and synthetic stock. I have one and so far have shot 10 deer with it. The .308 is great because you can get cheap bullets for it if you want to target practice and more expensive bullets for hunting. Just remember to make sure your rifle is sighted in with the bullets you will hunt with before you go hunting. I reload my own bullets. This saves money and my reloads are more accurate and more powerful than store bought cartridges.

Answer 7

I have to agree with Rusty. Hard to beat the 30.06. You can get larger rounds for elk and moose and also get the smaller rounds for deer and antelope. It will reach out there also. I can consistantly ding the metal plate at 400yrds at the range.

The only problem I have with the belted Mags. and the 50cal is that they are great for bigger game, and they have better range, but they may just rip your deer in half.

Good luck and shoot straight.

Answer 8

Up to Mule deer, a .25-06 Remington; up to Moose n Black bear: .308; .30-06, .7mm (any of the Magnums).

Strictly deer up to Moose, .270 Winchester.

Or any of the new family of short magnums such as the .300 WSM.

Good luck.

H

Answer 9

30 yards is a common distance to sight in. All mine are sighted in between 30-35 yards. Sometimes you need that long shot!

Answer 10

25-06 pretty much flat shooting out to about 280, past that I'd say perfect your stalking rather than pot shots at animals.