What are you using this year for big game?

[FOTIS]

What rifle/scope/load have you decided on for this big game hunting season?

Anyone have that locked in yet?

 

[DrMike]

I used the 338 Federal topped with a Zeiss Diavari 3-9X32 for moose this year. I intend to use my 9.3X64 topped with a Swarovski Z6 1.7-10X42 for elk and black bear. I hope to have my .280 Ross topped with a 1.5-8X32 Minox for whitetail and mule deer.

 

[PJGunner]

I'll use my custom mauser chambered to the 35 Whelen for elk again using the 225 gr. barnes TSX. Worked just fine on my elk hunt in 2010. No use arguing with success. :lol:
I haven't made up my mind what I'll use for my Mule Deer hunt. My wife will be using my M70 Featherweight in .257 Robt. and I'm sorely tempted to use my M70 Feathereight in 7x57 or my custom Mauser, also a 7x57. Her rifle will be using a 100 gr, Barnes TSX and frankly, I'm not all that happy with that. The area we're hunting has asked hunters to "voluntarily" use monometal bullet because the area is part of the condor flyway. If I use the 7x57 I'll probably use either the 120 or 140 gr. TSX, whichever one the guns like best. If I'm not happy with the results I'll take my Ruger M77 RSI in .308 with the 165 gr. Speer Hot Core. They did not say I couldn't use cup and core bullets but if I do I have to have a garbage bag to haul the gut pile out.
I'm not too worried about the 7x57 but this will be the first time my wife has hunted with me and will be shooting her deer. We've always cheated a bit and I did the shooting but this time it's all on her and that .257 worries me. I've heard too many times where they didn't quite work like they should. Oh well, I'll just be there to back her up. Maybe I'll pull a switch and give her the 7x57 and I'll use my .280. Plenty of options. 8) I just have to make up my mind hich way we should go. :roll:
Paul B.

 

[DrMike]

Paul,

The 257 Bob will work just fine for your wife. I do agree, however, that in the smaller calibres, I prefer a lead core bullet. The monolithic bullets will work, but I just prefer the expansion of the lead core. I've been slinging 225 grain Barnes TSX in my 35 Whelen. Funnily enough, I get the best accuracy with that bullet. Man, I envy you having a couple of 7X57s; I do miss having that cartridge available at the moment. However, one can never tell what may show up. :grin:

 

[JD338]

For WT deer crop damage a few weeks back, I used my M700 LSS 338 RUM with the new 300 gr AB at 2680 fps. Awesome results too! :grin:

Early WT doe season will be the 6.5mm Rem Mag with a 130 gr AB at 3050 fps and my daughter will use her M700 Classic 257 Roberts loaded with 110 gr AB's at 2974 fps.

WY Antelope with custom M700 280 AI with a 140 gr AB at 3150 fps.

WT Rifle season will be with the M1895 Guide gun 45-70 loaded with 300 gr BST at 2200 fps.

WT Late doe season with a S&W 629 Classic 44 Rem mag loaded with a Nosler 300 gr JHP at 1200 fps.

Coyotes will be hammered with my M700 VLS 22-250 loaded with the 64 gr BSB at 3372 fps.

JD338

 

[Richracer1]

Here's what I'm taking this fall:

Mule Deer:
Savage 308 Win
165gn BT Nosler Trophy Grade ammo
VX3 2.5-8x32

Antlerless Elk:
Vanguard Sporter 30-06
My load using 180ABs
VX2 3-9x40

 

[FOTIS]

Here's what I'm taking this fall:

Mule Deer:
Savage 308 Win
165gn BT Nosler Trophy Grade ammo
VX3 2.5-8x32

Antlerless Elk:
Vanguard Sporter 30-06
My load using 180ABs
VX2 3-9x40

No RUM action Rich? You got the whole darn family no?

 

[FOTIS]

For WT deer crop damage a few weeks back, I used my M700 LSS 338 RUM with the new 300 gr AB at 2680 fps. Awesome results too! :grin:

Early WT doe season will be the 6.5mm Rem Mag with a 130 gr AB at 3050 fps and my daughter will use her M700 Classic 257 Roberts loaded with 110 gr AB's at 2974 fps.

WY Antelope with custom M700 280 AI with a 140 gr AB at 3150 fps.

WT Rifle season will be with the M1895 Guide gun 45-70 loaded with 300 gr BST at 2200 fps.

WT Late doe season with a S&W 629 Classic 44 Rem mag loaded with a Nosler 300 gr JHP at 1200 fps.

Coyotes will be hammered with my M700 VLS 22-250 loaded with the 64 gr BSB at 3372 fps.

JD338

A lot of deer there Jim! :wink:

 

[mcseal2]

Wyoming antelope and whitetail around home will probably all be handled with my custom 264WM and 140gr AccuBond handloads unless I get a chance to get out with the blackpowder. Yotes will fall to the 204 Ruger with 45gr Hornady's, and the 6mm with 70gr BT's. If I get it done in time I may do some hunting with the custom 270 win I'm building off Dad's old rifle. My barrel from Pac-Nor finally arrived yesterday so it's time to get it to the gunsmith. Still need to get something killed with the Ruger American to.

 

[Richracer1]

Here's what I'm taking this fall:

Mule Deer:
Savage 308 Win
165gn BT Nosler Trophy Grade ammo
VX3 2.5-8x32

Antlerless Elk:
Vanguard Sporter 30-06
My load using 180ABs
VX2 3-9x40

No RUM action Rich? You got the whole darn family no?

The 30-06 has only taken a couple of CA hogs and the 308 still has it's cherry, where as the four RUMs have taken game in Idaho - 7mm cow elk 2011, 300 RUM spike elk 2008, 338RUM 39" moose, 375RUM my first muley and a 4x4 elk 2010.

 

[Elkman]

In my backyard for deer, my Clearwater bow, with 125 gr. muzzies. For all else, my old worn out 300 win mag, with the 180 PT.

 

[IdahoCTD]

For bears I'll be using my .458 Lott again. It will also be going to WY for antelope.

For antelope in WY I'll also take my .338 Edge and the one of the 3 rifles I have to build between now and then that is the most accurate. (6.5-300wm, 7-300wm, 6.5-284). I have a Krieger 5R #5 7mm, a Schneider #5 7mm, a Rock Creek 6.5mm Palma contour, a Bartlein Fluted RV 6.5mm, and a Rock M40 contour 6.5mm. Hopefully PTG get's me reamers soon it's not a last minute build thing. 91grs of H-1000 looks to be my go to load with the Edge and it sports a 6.5x20 Leupie. The Lott has a 3x9 Sightron and I run 88grs of R-7 with a 250gr Barnes X. The other rifle with probably have the Zeiss 4.5x14x44 I just picked up on it or a 4.5x14x40 Leupold.

For deer I'll either use the 7-300wm, 6.5-300wm, or 6.5-284.

For antelope here in ID I'll most likely use my 338 Edge.

For my late elk hunt it will be my 338 Edge or 30-8mm unless I get lucky and get my Stiller TAC338 actions earlier than they said I would then it might be a .375-.338 Lapua Imp.

 

[Guy Miner]

We've had a couple of threads sort of like this, but heck, they're fun!

For bear - have already had two rifles out, but no bears. Phooey:

.30-30 Marlin-Glenfield, 2.5x Leupold, 170 gr Rem SP handloaded to 2180 fps, zero at 100 yards.

.375 H&H Ruger Number One, 1.5-5x, 260 gr Nosler AccuBond, zero at 200 yards.

IF I get out for elk, I've GOT to carry the Number One... absolutely.

Whitetail, Mule Deer & Pronghorn (Yee Haw, I like thinking about that and typing it!)

.25-06 Rem 700 CDL, 6x Leupold, 115 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip @ 3120 fps, zero at 300 yards.

.308 Win, Rem 700 V (Krieger) 4.5-14x Leupold, 165 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip @ 2750 fps, zero @ 100 yds. (turrets, with elevation data to 600 yds)

G.

 

[375hh1973]

For early doe season I will be using my TC Omega in .45. Nikon 3-9x40 scope. It shoots 200gr Hornady SST very well with 110gr of 777 3f.

For regular rifle season Im gonna use my .308 BLR Mossyoak/Stainless with Leupold 2.5-8x36 shooting 150gr hornady SST. Also going to bring my new Win M70 extreme weather in 7wsm along too. That one has a Minox ZA5 3-15x42 on top. It shoots 160gr Accubonds nicely.

 

[Greg Nolan]

For California deer the Tikka T3 Lite in 300 wsm with 150 A/Bs and the same rifle in 270WSM with 130 A/Bs for backup. For elk and mule deer in Idaho the 416 Rem with 300gr TSXs at 2880 fps and the 338 Fed with 185 TSXs. I couldn't get A/Bs to shoot and 325 WSM for back up and mule deer. My first elk trip ever without a Ultra-Mag.

 

[IdahoCTD]

For California deer the Tikka T3 Lite in 300 wsm with 150 A/Bs and the same rifle in 270WSM with 130 A/Bs for backup. For elk and mule deer in Idaho the 416 Rem with 300gr TSXs at 2880 fps and the 338 Fed with 185 TSXs. I couldn't get A/Bs to shoot and 325 WSM for back up and mule deer. My first elk trip ever without a Ultra-Mag.

The .416 will get it done Greg. I've shot deer over 450yds with mine and elk out to about 400. They have a bit more rainbow in the trajectory department but they hammer animals.

 

[YoteSmoker]

M70 7mm Rem Mag, Boyds laminated grey stock, BOSS, 160 Partition, 4-16x50 4200 Elite
M70 Featherweight 7mm08, 140 TTSX, 2.5x10x50 4200 Elite

My wife will be using her 7mm08 TC Encore w/ 3-9x40 4200 Elite shooting 140 Accubonds

All rifles will be used for deer, elk, and bear. My new 7mm08 will get loaded down to 120 ballistic tips for coyote/december doe season afte the elk season ends in November. I've had the gun for 12 hours in which tme I adjusted the trigger, mounted the scope, and sighted it in. It will be hunting bear with me in the AM. How's that for preparation?

 

[DrMike]

Superb choices, YS.

 

[Tobey284]

Rem 700 243 Win with 85 grain sierra hpbt leupold 2.5-8 with cds for female ibex
TC encore .50 with 250 grain shockwaves and leupold 2-7 for coues and elk
Rem 700 280 Rem with 160 partitions leupold 3-9 for aoudad
ruger no.1 30-06 load tbd for lion
an extremely sharp stick for javelina

 

[JDMAG]

For Elk and Mule deer in Idaho it will be my 300 Rum and for back up the 458 Lott. For anything else in the country what ever I reach in the safe and pull out!