I am getting into white tail hunting this year, I live in central VA, where the terrain varries greatly depending on where you go. The 3 rounds I am looking at are the .270, 270wsm, and the 7mm-08. I might be able to get a remmington model 7, in the 270 wsm for an outright trade on another gun I have, it has a 22inch fluted barrel. I wanst even considering this round before I came across this possible trade, so I just want to get some input on it before I move forward. All opinions are welcome. Thanks.
Best deer round
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woof
Member
Glad you brought this up because the best deer round is something that has never been discussed here before. If I were you I'd go with the 7mm-08
DevilDog0402
Member
Of those 3, I would pick the .270 Winchester. Most common (think ammo availability/price) flatter shooting than the 7mm-08 and more than enough gun for any deer.
I've never priced .270 WSM ammo, but I'm guessing its significantly more expensive than .270 Win or 7mm-08.
I've never priced .270 WSM ammo, but I'm guessing its significantly more expensive than .270 Win or 7mm-08.
Shawnee
member
Of the three calibers you mentioned I would select the 7mm/08.
2nd choice would be the .270.
Both of them are way more power than anyone needs for deer.
I would not even consider the .270wssm. It doesn't offer even one thing of value that the more "tried and true" calibers don't already provide and because of that, it may well disappear in a couple years leaving you with a rifle that is hard to find ammo for and impossible to sell or trade.
Good luck !
2nd choice would be the .270.
Both of them are way more power than anyone needs for deer.
I would not even consider the .270wssm. It doesn't offer even one thing of value that the more "tried and true" calibers don't already provide and because of that, it may well disappear in a couple years leaving you with a rifle that is hard to find ammo for and impossible to sell or trade.
Good luck !
30.30 or .308. All you will ever need.
I know. Flat shooting, retained energy downrange, etc, etc *yawn*, but the .308 will kill deer at any range you can hit them at.
Oh, and the 7MM Mauser and the 6.5 X 55
(Read "sectional density")
I know. Flat shooting, retained energy downrange, etc, etc *yawn*, but the .308 will kill deer at any range you can hit them at.
Oh, and the 7MM Mauser and the 6.5 X 55
(Read "sectional density")
Timradcliffe345
member
I highly recommend the 6.5x55 Swedish.
skinewmexico
Member
They all work. It's shot placement. Get something with low recoil.
MachIVshooter
Member
Of your 3 choices, the .270 is probably the best. 7mm-08 would be next. The .270 WSM is a good performer, but ammunition is expensive and botique.
Other cartridges you might consider: .25-06 Rem, .280 Rem, .308 Win. There are also plenty of less popular rounds like the 6mm Rem and 6.5x55 Swede that are excellent deer slayers, but just as difficult to locate ammo for as the .270 WSM.
Of course, the venerable .30-06 deserves mention in any hunting thread, though it is more than you need if small white tail deer are to be your only game.
My personal choice for a deer round is the .25-06. It has lower recoil and a flatter trajectory than the .270, and plenty of oomph to kill a white tail at any reasonable range.
Other cartridges you might consider: .25-06 Rem, .280 Rem, .308 Win. There are also plenty of less popular rounds like the 6mm Rem and 6.5x55 Swede that are excellent deer slayers, but just as difficult to locate ammo for as the .270 WSM.
Of course, the venerable .30-06 deserves mention in any hunting thread, though it is more than you need if small white tail deer are to be your only game.
My personal choice for a deer round is the .25-06. It has lower recoil and a flatter trajectory than the .270, and plenty of oomph to kill a white tail at any reasonable range.
mgregg85
Member
I choose the .30x06, is there anything it can't kill on this continent?
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Of the three choices, I'd go with the 7mm08. For all practical purposes, it's only 10 grains of bullet weight less than the usual .308/.30-'06 round, and right at the same muzzle velocity. Anything inside of 300 yards, you own it.
.50 is all you'll ever need.
Every deer I've seen shot with a .50 dropped immediatly.
With incendiary rounds the meat is already roasted by the time you get to it.
Any of those cartridges would work fine. The 270 will probably be easier to find bullets for if you're out in the boonies.
Every deer I've seen shot with a .50 dropped immediatly.
With incendiary rounds the meat is already roasted by the time you get to it.
Any of those cartridges would work fine. The 270 will probably be easier to find bullets for if you're out in the boonies.
scythefwd
Member
Any will do for you. I hunt in Orange county (about 20 miles of Fredericksburg) and have no problem with a .30-30. I would double check to make sure rifles are allowed in your county. Caroline County only allows shotguns. I would take the .270 personally, but any of those choices will do as you are unlikely to see a deer more than 150 yards here (unless you are hunting a farm).
I have been hunting deer for a long time and it all depends on the area you are going to hunt. Ask yourself some questions.
1. Is it going to be a long, open shot? Or a Short, brushed filled shot.
2. Does it matter if I need more or less ammo?
My two favorite calibers are the .308 or the 30-06
The ot-six is a laser to about 300 yards or so.
The .308 can punch through tree limbs, rough stuff and still pack a punch.
I believe the 7mm is more for Elk or something far, far, far, far, away!
1. Is it going to be a long, open shot? Or a Short, brushed filled shot.
2. Does it matter if I need more or less ammo?
My two favorite calibers are the .308 or the 30-06
The ot-six is a laser to about 300 yards or so.
The .308 can punch through tree limbs, rough stuff and still pack a punch.
I believe the 7mm is more for Elk or something far, far, far, far, away!
SwampWolf
Member
If your rifle of choice ends up being the Remington Model 7 because your priorities include having a light-weight and compact rifle, anything based on the .308 case (though not in the choice of cartridges you're considering, I really like the .358 Winchester!) will keep the action length short without imposing a significant ballistic penalty.
scythefwd
Member
thejetman,
The .308 and the -06 should perform about the same when it comes to trees. They have a very similar velocity and the same projectile. Much of VA hunting land is WMA's or national forests (both are woodlike), private land (probably more woods like than open fields, mainly because farmers are very selective on who the let hunt), or the very rare open gully type shot. I have seen places in a WMA I hunt that could have had a 150y shot, but that was about the longest I have personally seen on publicly accessable land.
As to my earlier post, I have seen fields that were about 4-500y wide, and very long. Of the hunters I hang around with, none of them keep a 2 inch group very well, so I never even consider thinking about 300 y shots (six inches at 300y can very easily range into the guts if you aren't very particular about where you are aiming). I don't use a gun that will shoot well enough at 300y in my opinion and I don't own one, unless you are one of the people that can take a milsurp garand and do 1.5 moa with irons (I'm not that good with it). If you can get the .270 with a scope and get it sited in, it will do even for the long shots. It should have the least percieved recoil (but the 7mm might actually be less) and is cheap to shoot. That will let you get up to speed quickly with the rifle before you go tromping through the woods.
The .308 and the -06 should perform about the same when it comes to trees. They have a very similar velocity and the same projectile. Much of VA hunting land is WMA's or national forests (both are woodlike), private land (probably more woods like than open fields, mainly because farmers are very selective on who the let hunt), or the very rare open gully type shot. I have seen places in a WMA I hunt that could have had a 150y shot, but that was about the longest I have personally seen on publicly accessable land.
As to my earlier post, I have seen fields that were about 4-500y wide, and very long. Of the hunters I hang around with, none of them keep a 2 inch group very well, so I never even consider thinking about 300 y shots (six inches at 300y can very easily range into the guts if you aren't very particular about where you are aiming). I don't use a gun that will shoot well enough at 300y in my opinion and I don't own one, unless you are one of the people that can take a milsurp garand and do 1.5 moa with irons (I'm not that good with it). If you can get the .270 with a scope and get it sited in, it will do even for the long shots. It should have the least percieved recoil (but the 7mm might actually be less) and is cheap to shoot. That will let you get up to speed quickly with the rifle before you go tromping through the woods.
Zipperhead
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+1 Art Eatman.
For the novice or the experienced, the 7mm-08 will be perfect medicine for whitetail in the part of the country you inhabit. JMHO.
Zip
For the novice or the experienced, the 7mm-08 will be perfect medicine for whitetail in the part of the country you inhabit. JMHO.
Zip
THe Dove
BOOMER SOONER!!!
Less than 100 yards..... 30-30. More than 100 yards 30-30.... If you're in the woods of course. Flat land and over 150 yards, then it's 30-06.
The Dove
The Dove
Seafarer12
Member
I have an Encore in 7mm-08. It will handle anything I need it for. Ammo can be a little high but if you reload it is the same price as any other.
woof
Member
I always hear less recoil in the 7mm-08. Less than what? The 140 gr 7mm won't have appreciable less recoil than the 150 gr .308, or the 130 gr .270. Less than a 200 gr .30-06 maybe. But the OP didn't ask about recoil and only included 3 rounds. Leave out the wsm and you have 7mm-08 and .270. Very similar one being .30-06 based the other .308 based. Terrain I hunt in western PA is similar, maybe more woodsy. I use a .35 Rem in the woods and a .260 Rem if I really think I might take a longer shot.
Speaking of which, the OP said he is getting into whitetail hunting this year. For a novice I think he should think under 100yds where most deer are killed anyway, limit himself to those shots, and the rifle won't matter so much as whether he can place his shots. Go with whatever best enables him to do that.
Speaking of which, the OP said he is getting into whitetail hunting this year. For a novice I think he should think under 100yds where most deer are killed anyway, limit himself to those shots, and the rifle won't matter so much as whether he can place his shots. Go with whatever best enables him to do that.
interlock
Member
i use a 7mm08 remmy model 7. with hot loaded 145gr rounds it does recoil quite markedly, i don't find that a problem because i only normally take 1 killing shot onto a deer. with 130 gr and under it is a nice rifle to shoot with very soft recoil. with 130 gr bullets a 7mm08 is not very far at all behind the .270 win. i also shoot .30-06 which i load with 165 gr sgk and that is a great rifle. more accurate than my 7mm. both are a great choice and will take all you can find in north america except for big bears. (apparently.... i am 3000 miles away.... but i have read it is so.)
if i was buying a rifle now for hunting i would buy a remmy 700sps in 7mm08. i would shoot 145gr speers or 139 gr hornadies and know i had a tool good enough for the job
interlock
if i was buying a rifle now for hunting i would buy a remmy 700sps in 7mm08. i would shoot 145gr speers or 139 gr hornadies and know i had a tool good enough for the job
interlock
bang_bang
Member
If your terrain in central VA is similar to that down in southwest VA, the 7-08 or .270 will be fine. .270 short mag ammo is too expensive and hard to find for regular target practice or taking 6-8 deer a year. You're looking at around $2 a shell for that. The .270 and 7-08 ammo is regularly found at Gander Mountain and Wally World, usually pretty cheap for decent, strictly deer ammo. I shoot Federal Power Shok out of my 300 Magnum for $16 a box from Wally World, I can group a little under an inch at 100yds with it too.
If you plan on being in fields more than woods, I would favor the .270 for a little more pop. The 7-08 is a proven deer cartridge, but the short action might make it quicker in the woodwork, with less recoil and such.
If you are hunting strictly in the woods, think about a 30-30 or a round nose 308/30-06 bullet (Not sure if you can buy round nose ammo for the .30 cal power houses anymore, just remember seeing my grandpa use old Winchester 308 ammo). These are even more common calibers than a .270 to find ammo for. Each cartridge, especially the 30-30, has taken more deer than the .270 ever will.
If you plan on being in fields more than woods, I would favor the .270 for a little more pop. The 7-08 is a proven deer cartridge, but the short action might make it quicker in the woodwork, with less recoil and such.
If you are hunting strictly in the woods, think about a 30-30 or a round nose 308/30-06 bullet (Not sure if you can buy round nose ammo for the .30 cal power houses anymore, just remember seeing my grandpa use old Winchester 308 ammo). These are even more common calibers than a .270 to find ammo for. Each cartridge, especially the 30-30, has taken more deer than the .270 ever will.
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