what is your caliber of choice for deer at a max yardage of 300 yards ? unfortunately 300 yards is about all that my hunting area allows me to shoot , I've read a great deal about how great the 7-30 waters is but i have encore (22-250) i have even thought of maybe a custom barrel from tc in 7-30 ... i also like the 7mm-08 as it appears very close to the waters .. what do you guys like

the 08 will better the waters across the board. I have a 7mm-08 and shot 2 this year. one at 100 and one at 296!! I shoot 120gr Nosler BT's at 2600 FPS handloads and it works for me!!. good luck. and if your going to buy a barrel I would go for a aftermarket like MGM. Ive seen alot of "sloppy" tc chambers lately

Tyler

Please define "a lot". I have had numerous new and old factory contender barrels of many calibers and nary a one would not shoot well. Maybe not MOA, but they all shot well. When one guy gets a dud it gets broadcast far and wide so it may appear to be "a lot" when only a few. Lemons exist, even in custom offerings, but I wouldn't be shy of a new factory barrel from T/C.

Not for the OP question. My long range go-to is an XP in .284 Win, but I do have a 14" 7-30 Waters 'Tender. I think 300 is at the extreme outer limits of the Waters for deer sized game, if you are going to push that envelope you would be better served with a 7-08 or 284.

Ive had three different ones in my possession and because I reload a bulged web is no good and causes miss alignment of a newly loaded round with the bore. Ive sent barrels to TC and they ship them back saying they are fine. along with a diagram showing they cut the chamber from .xxx" to .xxx" and the brass manufacturers make the brass from .xxx" to .xxx" and said its perfectly normal. one I found brass that will work in another is being considered for re-chamber by Mike Bellum. And its not only myself that has come across these barrels, a number of the guys I shoot with will not own a TC factory for this same reason. Do I have any that the chambers are good in? yes and that 7mm-08 is one of them but for the price difference its a no brainier for me. just my experiences. good luck

the 15" 7mm-08 encore. should out run a 7-30 by, up to, 400fps. recoil isn't bad at all with a 120gr either. noticeable increase with 154gr.

Will soon be getting a 6.5x55 for the Encore. I think I'll be happy with that

The 460 smith gets my vote as a wheel gun guy

7 mm-08 or .308.

Night...

I am in the midst of a similar cartridge quest so , no offense to anyone and maybe this will trigger a bit more info too, I will lay out where I am on my own decision.

300 yards is also what I would consider a half way "normal" max range in 90 percent of the areas here in N. IN. In addition to range, I am also concerned about shots taken a 150-200 at deer NOT completely in the "open". This is offered as food for thought only for YOUR area and style of hunting.

Yes, yes, gentleman. I know the majority here is going to say "DONT SHOOT". HERE, if you are going to pass up any shot at a deer standing in some kind of cover......you might as well go sit in the middle of a corn field and pray a lot for a shot.

I've ended up with only one conclusion for ME, if and only if I have to be covered for the majority of the shots I may encounter.

TWO different rounds.

IF my first choice of 284 Winchster is capable of being a brush buster...I've not seen much about it in print online. Logically the lighter weight, thinner jacketed bullets for 7mm LR guns just don't jump up into my idea of a good brush cutter....and I KNOW I'm going to get shots like that.

It's not like I shoot at deer I cant see well. It's more the fact that regardless of how good your optics are, in low light situations where a LOT of deer here are taken you are just not going to see every twig between you and the deer.

As I have, you will see the "do it your way" threads, the "favorite cartridge" threads, and the never ending, (on this site AND others, no offense is being directed AT anyone or any one site) examples of "long range" deer or elk taken with everything from a 7mm BR or 243 Win up to and including cartridges normally made or used for African big game animals. I'd bet a high percentage of those hunters felt they were using the best choice for their shots and their hunting areas.

You, like myself, will get some GREAT advice here. The norm will run in the higher velocity capable 6.5, 7mm and 308 diameter rounds and I really feel the average hunter would see very little differences in the group to 300 yards while hunting. All have proven over and over their aptitude of taking game at these ranges with good bullets that are placed correctly.

My own FIRST choice (when considering TWO pistols) is the 284 Winchester. Case capacity wise, its a VERY close match to the 30-06 family rounds but in a shorter, fatter, sharper shoulder round and shoots one of the diameters best known for it's higher BC. It is, arguably, one of the fastest 7mm rounds available to us of average means. In 30 plus inch barreled, super tuned bench guns this father to the 6.5x284 has set MANY records on the 1000 yard match ranges. While fish from another pond, it speaks clearly of it's capabilities.

There is also a LOT of bullet choices for the 284 diameter lovers. I doubt many of the highly experienced LONGER range, crowd here doesn't own AT LEAST one of the 7mm rounds.

As you can see, I PERSONALLY, feel this is a super duper handgun cartridge. Still in all, in thinking back to shots and possible shots I'VE HAD in 40 years of hunting, I can recall SEVERAL that I shot that there was simply NO WAY to know the vitals were ENTIRELY clear of slight obstructions.

Yes, I LOOK for clear shots but year after year I see deer filtering back and forth from various covers where common sense clearly tells me that there COULD BE something there I can't see, yet the deer is in easy range. Reasons can be weather, I.E fog, rain, snow, etc or low light situations due to cloud cover and time of shooting hours coming to a close or just beginning, where I see the MAJORITY of the deer I take.

For those NOT living in a state where it's been "slug gun only" for decades until recent years please realize the REASON most STILL choose slug guns is due to the facts above. A 12 gauge slug takes a LOT of brush to deflect it normally and the covers hunted here (where MOST the deer are) is of that very type.

I say the above in my own defense, LOL! A lot here probably think I'm losing it but these are consistant situations here.

With THAT in mind ( and maybe your area does too?)I have to lean towards a larger diameter, heavier bullet for my second option.

The choices include, by description some of the larger "wheel guns" fully capable of such performance but I am removing them from MY choices simply because of personal preference so please, no offense towards those whom prefer them. Ive no doubt they would fill the bill in spades yet I prefer a single shot SP.

First cartridge to mind was the "newer" 338 Federal yet with my first choice the 284 Win, the 338/284 Win not only holds more powder, I'll already have the brass to size accordingly.

With the TWO rounds, I'll feel I've all bases covered and can either pick and choose between the two depending on the ranges and cover of the areas I hunt OR, buy an additional frame and take both. Overkill? Probably, but thinking this all out, making the choices by studying the pros and cons of each cartridge is PART OF THE HUNT to me...and I obviously love doing so.

IF I HAD TO pick one??? For up to 300 yards AND for shots in some type of cover? It would be in the 30 cals. The 30-06, 30/284 Win for example. The 30-06 is STILL one of the highest used cartridges for deer in the rifle communities and has been for over 100 years because of its versatility. The 30/284 Win, for all practical purposes, is ballistically the same and choices of bullet weight for situations is 110-220 grain with an "in between" bullet diameter (for those of us believing the KO values). EVEN THEN, I would have TWO loads worked up and I'm not sure I'd be ABLE to get one barrel/scope combo to shoot em both without major scope changes for the best accuracy...which is and will always be quest #1 for us all.

Honestly, the 30/284 Win WOULD probably give me "all I need" yet I feel, if financially feasable that the combo of the above mentioned two rounds covers an extra percentage of longer range shots with the 284 Win and the 338/284 Win covers an extra percentage of shots in some kind of "unknown" cover situations with the RIGHT BULLETS.

Besides, I get to "double my fun" building MY "perfect" load for EACH!!!

These gentlemen will give you their best advice, whole heartedly BUT it is so much more than "caliber for a certain range" in my own humble opinion AND situations afield.

As always, the above is offered as an OPINION of a self admitted "over thinker" so I, in turn, take no offense to constructive criticism.

So Night.... your final choice will be of interest of us all , even if we don't agree. It is YOU that will be using it and what you feel is best for you and your situations afield, each and every one here will stand behind you in that choice.

Count on it!!

All of us pick the "best" for our own use. I FOR ONE always keep in mind "things CAN go WRONG" and do my utmost to reduce that from happening. My choice of TWO choices is an attempt to do so.

Very informative post!
I'll keep mine simple.
I love my Waters but I also have an Encore and a 308 barrel, it hasn't been bloodied yet.
If I had to make a simple choice I would take my Encore with a 7-08 or 308 barrel and would be happy to make 300yd shots all day!
Plus you still have the option of factory ammo that could be bought just about anywhere.
So it's up to you, do you want simple rounds that WILL perform or would you prefer to have something on a little wilder side and be unique.
The 7-08 will outperform the Waters and to be honest I will get a heavy barrel from MGM soon...but I think I'm changing my choice to the 7x57...just to be a little different.

.260 Rem

7mm08...

Some of my fav's for this would be the 243 Win, 243 Win AI, 6-284 (Fast twist shooting the heavier bullets),250 Sav AI, 257 Rob AI, 260 Rem, 6.5x55Swede, 6.5-284, 7mm-08, and the 284 Win.
All of these will work good on deer. There are certainly others not mentioned, but I don't see the need to go above 7mm on deer myself.

I will respect your personal experience. I just get tired of the rehashed bashings that would make a person think that no "manufacturer" can do anything right, and custom is the "only" way. I have had only factory barrels and have loaded for most, and have had zero problems with any. Most folks will never get all that can be had from the best of steel, and often "new" handgunners decide shortly after that they just don't have it, honestly. If money is no object, get the best (whatever that may be) and don't look back, but I've never been in that class so I get the best bang for my buck and so far so good. I meant no disrespect.

I'm in agreement with about everyone on the cartridges. I have a 14" 7-30 waters and 7mm-08 15" in T/C. The waters has a muzzlebrake on it and it is like shooting a 223 hardly any recoil, and love to shoot it but I know I would hesitate to shoot a deer at 300yds, 225-250 yes wouldn't be a problem. On the other hand the 7mm-08 or 308 would difinitely have enough killing power out to 300yds. If using the correct constructed bullet and the shot placement is where it needs to be, but that is on any animal or caliber. The 284 would also be a very good choice. Hope this helps.Strong Bowman

I've had the same experience as s4s4u. I've never owned a custom barrel for my T/C's (well 1, a T/C customs shop 20ga). Granted, I don't own as many as some here, but what I do have, shoot very well!!! Never a malfunction with any! That being said, my local gun dealer ordered about 30 something (I think)T/C rifle barrels in 35 whelen. Don't know exact count, but a high percentage was having "misfiring" problems.

On OP, right now it's the 308win, but I've got a project underway that might change that, I'll have to wait and see.

Same here s4s4u. Like you said personal experience. night let us know what your going to end up with!

Curious George is interested to know...

OUT OF CURIOSITY how would the 6.8 Fit into this ?
I know there doesnt seam to be alot of interest in this round
BUT It Intriques me .

Ernie, I've been piece millin' an Encore from various components aquired from members on this sight. I've got it "complete" so far, just haven't had time to roll any projectiles for it yet (been scrappin' around for brass and such). I'm out of town currently on a shoot'n match, so I can post any photos...so, I won't let the cat out of the bag just yet....;)

I've had a 7-30 & my buddy has a 7-08. I loved the waters but these guys are right. 7-08, 260, 284, even 300 Savage are good (better in the longer range sense) factory rounds. Plus the endless list of wild cat rounds. If it's a common round I'd go 260 but thats splitting hairs.

I was also wondering about that 6.8. seems that performance would not be much less than the AR platform it was designed for because the barrel lengths would be very close. might not be a 300 yarder but 250 maybee

thank-you all for all the great advice, I'm going with my first thought , I'm going to be getting the 7mm-08 , now have to pick a barrel manufacturer ....

MGM would get my money.
18" heavy barrel.
Just in case you ever wanted to put a rifle stock on it with quick detach scope mounts from a pistol to a rifle scope to make a VERY handy carbine!

for my money it would be Bullberry or MGM.

Going old school...the .300 Sav would work but if buying new I'd stay a little more mainline. The 7-08 is HARD to beat.

I almost bought a r!fle today in 7-08.

7-08

In a tender or G2 I would get a 30-30 AI, in the encore would go with a 260 Rem. or 308 Win. JMHO.

longhunter

nighttrain,I'm not trying to be mean to the gentlemen talking about brush guns,but just so you know ,there is no such critter unless the game is standing behind a small bush at 2feet.Whether its a 12 gauge slug gun or rifle ,deflection is deflection,choose the cartridge you can handle and thats flat shooting and you'll be a happy camper.