Help me pick the rifles for my mule deer hunt

[Greg Nolan]

This is a choice I've been making and changing every since I drew and scouted my deer hunting area. I need some help so I can sleep at night.
Scenerio: Rocky mountain mule deer with resident and possibly migrant deer. Open sage flats at 5000 ft. and thick timber mountains up to 8500 ft.
Shots could be from 50 to 500+ yards. I'll be mostly hiking and still hunting but I will take the 4 wheeler for some access roads.

Rifles of choice.
1. 280 Rem 6.5 lbs. 160 gr. AccuBond at 2950 fps.
2. 270 Wby ultra light 8.75 lbs. 140 AccuBond at 3300 fps.
3. 7mm RUM 8.75 lbs 160 AccuBond 3330 fps.
4. 300 RUM 8.5 lbs. 180 AccuBond 3320 fps.
I'll take two rifles so I have a backup.
My concerns are. I want to be able to reach out and zap a 250 lb. mule deer at 400+ yards and anchor him but I don't want to shoot a 120 lb. mule deer at 50 yards and have to scrape the exploded meat off the trees and bushes and light is nice to carry on mountains at 8000 ft. and if I never get a shot I still have to carry the rifle for 5 days.

I've got the rifles ready but "which should I take"? :roll:

 

[JD338]

Greg,

Congratulations on the tag.
I would pick....
1. 280 Rem 6.5 lbs. 160 gr. AccuBond at 2950 fps.
2. 270 Wby ultra light 8.75 lbs. 140 AccuBond at 3300 fps.

Let us know what you decide on.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Great note on drawing the tag. I'm with Jim. Take the .280 for your hunt and keep the 270 WBY handy as a backup.

 

[baltz526]

The 6.5lb 280 for the days you go over 5000' on foot and the 270 for open sage country.

 

[6mm Remington]

280 Rem
270 Weatherby

 

[gerry]

I'm with everone else choosing the 280 or 270 Wby either one will work very well, good luck on your hunt

 

[hubcap]

No brainer. The 6.5 lb. 280 would be worth its weght in gold in Northern Cal,s high country. I remember hunting that country as a young man. A heavy rifle would be brutal for me in that country. The Bee would be excellent for late and early on a stand watching open sage.

 

[Greg Nolan]

That area around Dismal Swamp is right at the Oregon border. The two bucks I watched crossed the road into Oregon and it is high open country there.
So far I feel pretty good because those were my choices at first before I got worried about being under gunned in the open sage country.
I'll wait for a few more responses because this is a learning experience for me. Have I gone too Magnum in my thinking?
Thanks
Greg

 

[Guy Miner]

.280

 

[Scott Spencer]

Another vote for the .280

 

[hubcap]

Greg, I recall my Dad shooting a nice buck at Dismal swamp just as the deer crossed into the Cal. side. Ha,Ha. We used to camp there. We used to use .270,s and a 30-06. I still think your .280 with 160,s is perfect. The wind blows pretty good at times up there. Thats why I,d pick the 160 for wind bucking ability.

 

[SJB358]

I am with the others on the 280, but I would pick your 7RUM as a back up to the 280. Weighs the same as the 270 and offers a little more if you happen to have one of them longer shots. Still, I can't see much that 280 isn't ready for, deer short or far! Heck, the rifle weight would have picked itself for me.

 

[DrMike]

There is a theme in these answers. The .280 Remington is just made for deer. Actually, it is an excellent all around cartridge, but it does shine with deer.

 

[FOTIS]

1 & 2 will do

 

[Oldtrader3]

I personally do not see a lot of controversy here. I would carry the .280 Rem with the .270 Weatherby as backup. Either setup will easily kill deer out to 400 yards.

 

[Guest]

Greg,
1 & 2 fit the need. Just make the decision and start shooting the long ranges you will encounter between now and then.

Don

 

[PJGunner]

Numbers 1 and 2 would be my choice.
Paul B.

 

[Rem Jim]

This is a choice I've been making and changing every since I drew and scouted my deer hunting area. I need some help so I can sleep at night.
Scenerio: Rocky mountain mule deer with resident and possibly migrant deer. Open sage flats at 5000 ft. and thick timber mountains up to 8500 ft.
Shots could be from 50 to 500+ yards. I'll be mostly hiking and still hunting but I will take the 4 wheeler for some access roads.

Rifles of choice.
1. 280 Rem 6.5 lbs. 160 gr. AccuBond at 2950 fps. * :grin: #1 Choice BUT load it with the 140 Accubonds for flater shooting- better packing rifle - lightweight ! :grin:
2. 270 Wby ultra light 8.75 lbs. 140 AccuBond at 3300 fps. * # 2 Backup or open range Rifle !
3. 7mm RUM 8.75 lbs 160 AccuBond 3330 fps.
4. 300 RUM 8.5 lbs. 180 AccuBond 3320 fps.
I'll take two rifles so I have a backup.
My concerns are. I want to be able to reach out and zap a 250 lb. mule deer at 400+ yards and anchor him but I don't want to shoot a 120 lb. mule deer at 50 yards and have to scrape the exploded meat off the trees and bushes and light is nice to carry on mountains at 8000 ft. and if I never get a shot I still have to carry the rifle for 5 days.

I've got the rifles ready but "which should I take"? :roll:

So theres my HO ! Go get him ! Good LUCK !
Cheers RJ

 

[Polaris]

Makes me nervous when people talk about 500 yard shooting on big game. Take the .280, eat some sage brush and stalk closer.

I do a lot of high power shooting, and even with 5.56mm 77 grain wind eaters, the guys on the 600 yard line need their sighters to get in the 10 ring (which approximates the kill zone on a deer) at the 600 yard line. Even at 300 it's not uncommon to sling a couple into the 8 ring from my sniper rifle shooting a .311 174gr SMK at 2800 with a little puff of wind, and that's shooting from rock solid prone with a sandbag front rest.

Even if your rifle shoots MOA from an improvised rest or bipod with your scope, loads, and heavy pulse and breathing from climbing those mountains which would be impressive to begin with, you're giving up 5" at 500 yards without any wind, spin drift or mirage in the equation. Long range shooting is great at targets and varmints, but my humble advice for any and all hunters is to keep the shots on game under 400 even with top equipment and abilities. For the second rifle, any of the 3 will be fine. Take the one you shoot best.

 

[Greg Nolan]

Well, There's no question, the 280 is the lead gun. That's what I'd hoped for. I won't be shooting over 400 yds but I like the ability to. Either the 270 or the 7mmRUM will be backup. I might take all three and switch off.
Greg