Soft shooting deer gun

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blasted_saber

I agree with this.

I had a Ruger 77/44 and the recoil was approaching my bolt action 308. It was stouter then my 3030s for sure.

I think the easy answer to the OP is a 243. I have a Savage Model 10 in 243 and the recoil is quite light, but the gun itself is fairly heavy. That model would not be ideal for the OP

---

That would seem a bit strange. .44 mag in a rifle is not a heavy recoiling round. Definitely less than a .30-30 in the same rifle.
Unless you're using handloads or buffalo bore ammo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by werner.reiche

That would seem a bit strange. .44 mag in a rifle is not a heavy recoiling round. Definitely less than a .30-30 in the same rifle.
Unless you're using handloads or buffalo bore ammo.

---

Ya, unless it was a 150gr 30-30 load, an overly heavy 44 mag and a light 308 the recoil of that 44 should be light compared to the 308 and less than the 3030.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by werner.reiche

That would seem a bit strange. .44 mag in a rifle is not a heavy recoiling round. Definitely less than a .30-30 in the same rifle.
Unless you're using handloads or buffalo bore ammo.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fox

Ya, unless it was a 150gr 30-30 load, an overly heavy 44 mag and a light 308 the recoil of that 44 should be light compared to the 308 and less than the 3030.

---

Not in that gun, shooting factory loaded 240gr soft points. The gun itself is light (5.25lbs if I remember correctly). Its a bolt action in 44 magnum. It is definitely heavier felt recoil then my Marlin or WInchester 3030 shooting standard 170gr soft points

Regardless, I think 243 is a better choice. The range limitations of 44magnum are significant. Id hate to have a young new hunter with a deer hung up at 150m. Easy shot for the 243, no go for the 44.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blasted_saber

Not in that gun, shooting factory loaded 240gr soft points. The gun itself is light (5.25lbs if I remember correctly). Its a bolt action in 44 magnum. It is definitely heavier felt recoil then my Marlin or WInchester 3030 shooting standard 170gr soft points

Regardless, I think 243 is a better choice. The range limitations of 44magnum are significant. Id hate to have a young new hunter with a deer hung up at 150m. Easy shot for the 243, no go for the 44.

---

I agree that the 243 is more versatile for sure, a smallish hole for deer so with a fatty one you may have less of a blood trail but a dead deer with proper bullet placement and proper bullet.

Not denying you on the recoil of the 44 and 3030 but that is crazy to me, I want to get a light 44 now and compare myself. The weight of the gun has a big impact though too, and the fit to your body.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by blasted_saber

Not in that gun, shooting factory loaded 240gr soft points. The gun itself is light (5.25lbs if I remember correctly). Its a bolt action in 44 magnum. It is definitely heavier felt recoil then my Marlin or WInchester 3030 shooting standard 170gr soft points

Regardless, I think 243 is a better choice. The range limitations of 44magnum are significant. Id hate to have a young new hunter with a deer hung up at 150m. Easy shot for the 243, no go for the 44.

---

That's why I asked if he planned to 'scope it. If you want a scope on it, go with the .243 - or similar.
Sight the .44 at 100 and you only need 6 inches of holdover at 150 - but the energy is below what I'd like.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by werner.reiche

That's why I asked if he planned to 'scope it. If you want a scope on it, go with the .243 - or similar.
Sight the .44 at 100 and you only need 6 inches of holdover at 150 - but the energy is below what I'd like.

---

Mine wouldnt hold a group I was comfortable with past 100m (2.5"), with the best ammo I could find. Some stuff couldnt hold an effective group passed 75m. That's why I moved on from it eventually. That and it was filling the same niche as my 3030s.And the 3030s offer a bit more range, or even quite a bit more range if LeverEvolution bullets are used.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fox

I agree that the 243 is more versatile for sure, a smallish hole for deer so with a fatty one you may have less of a blood trail but a dead deer with proper bullet placement and proper bullet.

---

There's nothing smallish about the holes they make in deer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by canadaman30

There's nothing smallish about the holes they make in deer.

---

In my unscientific experience 243 makes a big ol' hole on exit. I guess the key is if it exits.

I guess the upside of 44mag is it makes a nice neat hole that you can eat right up to clean through a deer in a lot of cases.

I guess my first question would be: Where are you planning on hunting? if it bushy terrain the .44 mag might be a better choice, If its open country I'd say the .243 Win. I killed my first deer with the .243 Win with 100 grain soft point, at 75 yards it was an open country shot I tried it again in a bushy area, I was about 100 yards from a 10 pointer, the .243 just couldn't make through all the twigs that got in the way. So that is when I switch to a bigger diameter bullet that had some bushy bucking ability.

You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut

wife has 308 micro browning and loves it