Posted on 08/12/2011 10:58:36 PM PDT by wac3rd
I need to choose a weapon for deer or bear hunting, typcial range is 200-400 yards.
Also, what is a good scope set-up to get? A few of the Remingtons (308 and 30-06) come with peep sights as a package.
Thank you in advance.
(Excerpt) Read more at remington.com ...
Don't get a pop gun.
200 to 400 yards? Bear? 30-06 at a minimum. Deer at the high end of that range, a 308 would be fine. Low end of the range a 30-30 would do what you need for deer (I’d still do the 30-06 for bear, however).
Also consider the 300 WinMag - plenty of power, good all-around cartridge.
Also expect to pay pretty heavily for a good set of optics - misses and wounded animals at that range are a real concern.
.308 or 30-06 would be acceptable. I personally use a 300 Winchester Magnum for those kind of targets at the range you describe. Regarding scopes, the larger the objective lens diameter the more useful it will be in low light. Hope that helps- not sure how much detail you need-!
.50 BMG for bear. Think about it, it gives you a great excuse to go ahead and buy one if you have a wife. I like .270 for deer.
Whatever you get...remember to practise practise practise. And know the limitations. 7mm or 30.06 will generally fit the bill. But, the .300WM could be overkill in some situations.
I don't have a preference for a scope.
Hunted the close-in brushy mountains of PA and also wide open spaces of Wyoming and Idaho. 30-06 is a great all-around weapon. Depending on the terrain and the game, you can go with a heavier or lighter slug to hunt in brush or for flat shooting over long distances. I used a Remington 30-06 pump with a 3X9 scope.
Dropped a slow-galloping antelope at 400 yards. When the bullet hit him he flipped a complete somersault like a running rabbit when hit with a shotgun. When I checked him out I found that I had led him a little too much. I hit him in the head instead of the chest. The bullet went in behind his right ear and exited through his left eye.
.223 ?????
What, you trying to make the bear mad?
Been a while for me but an .06 is great. If you can deal with the added size/weight and like getting your shoulder kicked by a mule regularly, that’s the way to go ;) Properly sighted in, 2-400 yards yards is not at all close to a problem.
A 308 is a beautiful little piece of hardware as well, but others here are far better versed in recommendations than I.
P.S. That was a 3X9 Redfield scope. There are lottsa’ good scopes available.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/riflescopes.html
Since you linked to Remington. If you go that way consider the Model 700 BDL chambered in 300 Remington Ultra Mag.
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-700/model-700-bdl.aspx
This may be a somewhat unusual answer, but I hunted for years in Wyoming with a WW1 era 7mm Mauser (7x57mm) carbine I bought for $75, and they threw in 500rds of WW1 FMJ ammo with it. I took off the excess wood and shaped the stock down quite a bit...I did a lot of walking and wanted it light as I could get, also the reason I chose the shorter barrel. No scope, and I had a gunsmith change the block and toggle sights to a gradient peep sight, which I prefer. I think he charged me $30 to do it.
That was the ugliest gun I’d ever owned in my life. I was embarrased to be seen with it. But it was the lightest gun I’d ever carried going to desert waterholes or climbing hills after mule deer. Easy to shoot, ballistics are almost identical to a .308 but Mauser freaks insist it exceeds it in knockdown power. That gun was accurate and indestructible, but so ugly when I moved to the boat I had trouble giving it away.
All that would be left from the bullet's impact would be 2 very large chunks of flesh of what used to be the bear!!!I can almost guarantee it would split the poor animal in two or more pieces.
It is very difficult to go wrong with a .30-06. With a .30-06, correct choice of bullet and good shot placement, you can take anything in the lower 48.
You can find ammo nearly anywhere, and with a bolt gun in .30-06, you can push the heavier bullets for things like bear (> 190 grains).
.223 is right out. Many states clearly outlaw such a round for large game hunting.
.308 is OK, but if you’re going to use it first and foremost as a hunting rifle, I’d stick with the -06.
7mm - do you mean 7mm Remington Magnum or 7mm-08? Both are great hunting rounds, and the 7mm RemMag has taken a lot of game at extended range. But the ammo is more expensive, and if you’re going to become a good game shot, you’ll need to practice.
That said, I’m not a huge fan of Remington for my hunting rifles, but that’s a whole ‘nuther story.
Don’t forget to consider the new tactical style optics that have the red or green dot.
For big game at 200 to 400 yards, a quality 3-9X40 scope will be fine. Remember, you can spend $5,000 on a gun, but if you mount a $50 scope on it, you've got a $50 gun. I'd check out Redfield Revolution scopes on gunbroker. They're now made by Leupold and are quality scopes. Or you could buy the Leupold Rifleman for right around $200.
It's important for you to practice and know the rifle's quirks.
Springfield M1A or Remington 770.
M1A can be used with iron sights to about 800 yrds.
770 should have a Leupold Mark II
As far as optics go, I have tried many and don't have a particular scope to recommend however in my experience its the one product that price usually is a good judge of quality. Spend the money and get the best you can right away. Experimenting and trying to save money has cost me a ton in the long run, I hope to save you the $$ I've wasted by offering that advice :~).
You could shoot deer with a .223 (check regulations before you hunt) but I wouldn't advise it. In my opinion its way to small of a round to reliably take down big-game in one shot, which should be the objective.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.