Best black tail rifle?

My buddy keeps telling me I have to have a.300 blackout. I have yet to see a box of shells around here for it though. The 6.5 is as plentiful as 9mm. I appreciate all the insights and help.
 
For black tail deer you want to be using 45-70 with a 405 grain bullet.

If you wound one, and they turn on you, well…. better safe than sorry.
 
I use a Tikka T3 in 7-08, near perfect for deer, I shot Whitetails, but Blacktails are close in size. I like a flat shooting cartridge, so you don't have to worry about range estimation within 200 yards. They are very effective as well. I agree .243 to 308, 30-06, 7 MM mag. or any legal high velocity modern expanding cartridge. You don't need the bigger cartridges but there is no such thing as too dead.
 
silicosys4 said:
Not hardly. A decent buck here will run 150-175lbs and a big one will top 200.
The .223 isn't even legal for deer hunting in Washington state. Too small.
Click to expand...

A state record is not an average sized animal. I stand by my statement. White tails are larger than black tail. Mule deer are much larger than Whitetail. I understand that black tail are a big deal if that’s all you have to hunt.
 
Casefull said:
A state record is not an average sized animal. I stand by my statement. White tails are larger than black tail. Mule deer are much larger than Whitetail. I understand that black tail are a big deal if that’s all you have to hunt.
Click to expand...
There is just potential for bigger animals is all. Texas whitetails are smaller on average than Washington blacktails. Sitka blacktails are smaller yet. Blacktail deer range from mid size dog size to 300lbs. And anything around 243 power level will take them cleanly.
 
Casefull said:
Blacktail are about 1/3 the size of a mule deer. It’s about the same as comparing a mule deer to an elk.
Click to expand...

That's ridiculous. I have personally seen Blacktails in the 200 - 250 lb weight class, taken in the California Sierra Nevada mountains.
 
There are several good intermediate range calibers for this purpose. I would probably avoid 30-06 length actions, as that is a lot more power than you need for this task. Bolt action 30-30, 7.62x39, .243 win, 6.0 & 6.5 mm creedmore, 70-08, .308 win would all work well. Also, a scoped lever gun in 30-30 or .35 rem.

I have a Ruger American Ranch model in 7.62x39, that I think would be ideal for this application. Small, lightweight, handy.
 
Actually everybody is sort of right when it comes to Columbian Black Tail size. Most of the sources I could find put bucks at around 200lbs average:

https://www.coniferousforest.com/black-tailed-deer.htm

Weight: Adult males, called bucks, weigh around 200 lbs (91 kg), while does, adult females, weigh around 130 lbs (59 kg)
Click to expand...

https://www.slamquest.org/animal-details.php?a=6

Mature Columbia blacktail deer bucks vary in body weight depending on habitat (and, to a lesser extent, genetics). Generally the weights are from about 150 to 200 pounds, but sometimes even larger. Females (does) are much smaller.
Click to expand...

http://www.westernhunter.com/Pages/Vol02Issue24/blacktail.html

Black-tailed bucks; total length, 58 inches; 36 inches high at the shoulder; 6 1/2-inch tail; 8-inch ears; and 2-inch metatarsal gland. Doe: total length; 54 inches; 36 inches high at the shoulder; 6 1/2-inch tail; 7 3/4-inch ear; and 2-inch metatarsal gland. The color of the coat changes with the season, from a generally reddish-brown in summer to grayish in winter. Their weight usually varies, although the larger bucks may be over 140 pounds. The natural life span is 9 to 10 years (17 to 20 yrs. in captivity,) although many live far less since they are either hunted or killed by predators. It is believed that where heavily hunted, bucks live for only about 3 to 5 years.
Click to expand...

So I dunno, for those guys that appear to be wrapped around the axle about this maybe larger than a TX whitetail and smaller than a KS whitetail in average size. I suspect a lot depends on whether they're habitually hitting agricultural fields VS strictly forested areas.

IAW the AKC, a smallish black tail buck, could in fact be smaller than at least a English Mastiff as they can max out at 230 Lbs:D
 
Fun to see people who don't live anywhere near blacktails try to explain to me all about blacktails.
I see them literally 20-30 times a day and i'm looking at three of them in my yard right now. I have hunted them for about 30 years now.

They are about the same size as whitetails and on average slightly smaller than mule dear. They are not "pint size" or "midgets" or "big dog" size.
 
Mini30SS said:
There are several good intermediate range calibers for this purpose. I would probably avoid 30-06 length actions, as that is a lot more power than you need for this task. Bolt action 30-30, 7.62x39, .243 win, 6.0 & 6.5 mm creedmore, 70-08, .308 win would all work well. Also, a scoped lever gun in 30-30 or .35 rem.

I have a Ruger American Ranch model in 7.62x39, that I think would be ideal for this application. Small, lightweight, handy.
Click to expand...
I’m not to familiar with a 6mm, what would it compare to? The friend/neighbor that my brother sold his win 94 to died and I’ve been helping his wife and son out a little bit. We’ve known them for a very long time. She has made mention that she wants to sell his vast amount of firearms so I might be able to pick up that 30-30. Not sure though I will not push her into anything. I told her she can do whatever in her timing. Is the ranch model similar to a mini 14 atleast in looks?
 
Assuming you are setting up to shoot deer on a depredation permit , and will be doing a fair amount of shooting , maybe a faster twist 22-250 with a good bullet intended for deer . also look in to a 6MM creedmoor .Something that doesn't have to much recoil . As you get more experienced you realize shot placement is key and picking your shots becomes easier as you find out what works . Unfortunately .250-3000 savage went away , its about perfect for this kind of job .
 
We have a small herd northwest of me along the caprock. It was closed for hunting for years but there finally got to be enough of them that the state issues some permits for that area now. Mulies also occupy the area and it's very difficult to tell the difference unless you can see their rear end. Any old deer caliber would handle both species here.
 
Csinn said:
I’m not to familiar with a 6mm, what would it compare to? The friend/neighbor that my brother sold his win 94 to died and I’ve been helping his wife and son out a little bit. We’ve known them for a very long time. She has made mention that she wants to sell his vast amount of firearms so I might be able to pick up that 30-30. Not sure though I will not push her into anything. I told her she can do whatever in her timing. Is the ranch model similar to a mini 14 atleast in looks?
Click to expand...

6mm Creedmore is similar to .243 Winchester. I think eventually it's going into surpass the 243 in popularity.
 
I really like my Winchester 94 30-30 for stalking through thick woods and brush, and it is plenty powerful enough for deer. You may want to look at a ballistic chart to see how much the bullet drops at 200 yards or more. Same with the 7.62x39. I recommend a bullet with a velocity 2600 FPS or more so range estimation isn't a problem. I have shot dozens of deer with all kinds of cartridges. Some are great under 100 yards but marginal beyond that both in accuracy and power due to lack of precise shot placement. Especially in cover.
 
d2wing said:
I really like my Winchester 94 30-30 for stalking through thick woods and brush, and it is plenty powerful enough for deer. You may want to look at a ballistic chart to see how much the bullet drops at 200 yards or more. Same with the 7.62x39. I recommend a bullet with a velocity 2600 FPS or more so range estimation isn't a problem. I have shot dozens of deer with all kinds of cartridges. Some are great under 100 yards but marginal beyond that both in accuracy and power due to lack of precise shot placement. Especially in cover.
Click to expand...
I always enjoyed shooting his 94 when he had it. No problems out to 200 yrds with it. Relatively low recoil and not any more noise than 12 guage #8 1oz or so it seemed. I don’t do any elk hunting or anything larger than deer but might not be bad to have a gun that could I suppose with 6.5. This has been a very helpful discussion for me. I appreciate all the input
 
Last edited:
I work on Subase Bangor and I see blacktail deer almost everyday.

I have two 16" AR uppers for hunting Columbian blacktail deer, one in 6.8 SPC and another in .25-45 Sharps.
 
I have a buddy that considers the .375Ruger a primo BlackTail rifle.
It’s not the black tail that requires the .375 however.
He hunts them on Kodiak Island! Because of the world’s highest density population of brown bears, it’s necessary to use “enough” gun.
After shooting my .375Ruger Alaskan during a visit, he got a Ruger M77 Alaskan...

He says it works well on the deer too! He shoots deer with a Speer 235gr Spt loaded with RL15, keeps some Nosler 300gr Partition in the magazine for unwanted visitors...
 
Last edited:
I hunted Blacktail deer on California coastal ranges for 50 years. Last 30 busting one or two out of my small orchard each year . Wanted a quiet gun and Calif does not allow suppressors. I fooled with lots of cartridges and developed special loads. It is hard to beat a 30-30 overall with 150 grain bullets if sights are set up well or better scoped and shot held to 200 yards . I have retired to Oregon and no longer hunt CA. The last 5 years. The deer in Oregon are usually bigger than CA.Blacktails but near CA.Costal area where my Southern Oregon property is I see Blacktails in my side yard and they eat my plants. I use a .300 Black out with a suppressor and it kills well like a 30-30 with it's 125 grain bullets at 2300 fps from a 16 " barrel up to 200 yards ( my shots are 75-135 yards) . When I stalk hunt deer in Oregon I use a .25-06 or a 6.5 Creedmore as shots can be several hundred yards.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
Help me pick a new rifle.
Replies
4
Views
307
ldp4570
L
C
  • Locked
need a scope for my Marlin 336ss!!??
Replies
18
Views
2K
larryw
larryw
A
  • Locked
Do Nikon BDC actually work
2
Replies
39
Views
3K
Varminterror
Varminterror
H
  • Locked
.270 or .308?
2 3 4
Replies
75
Views
5K
AABEN
A
T
  • Locked
"Realistic" deer ranges?
Replies
23
Views
1K
Peetmoss
P
Back
Top