Thanks Bartsche ; Some of us are slower than others but eventually we do catch on .

One never wants to admit they're not able or up to the tasks that they once were .

It's a sign of something , I only wish I could remember what that sign said .

Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...

This is a fun read thread and I'd like to add that the ultimate Mulie rifle came out a long time ago.......it's called the M-70 featherweight and was chambered in .270 Winchester.

To this day (almost 80 years later) nothing has clearly proven much better!

It would be hard to beat a Weatherby Ultra Lightweight in your choice of caliber. I'll take one in .25-06.

I've got a few that qualify, but my "go to" favorite is a NULA 270 WSM with 140 gr. Accubonds. VERY accurate and VERY light; nice combo for an old fella!!!

I'll second the vote for the Weatherby Mk. V Ultra Lightweight. I'll take mine in either .257, .270, or 7mm Weatherby Magnum, or their slightly less rambunctious counterparts, .25-06 Rem, .270 Win, or .280 Rem.

This thread is interesting. I started it after hearing a debate in the local gun shop about the best mule deer rifle. The local "experts" who all have limited experience hunting mule deer, were leaning for the big mags, (7mm - 300 ultra mag) It looks like 25 cal through 7mm is the most favored by a lot of hunters. Next time I go mule deer hunting, I am taking my 257 Wby

Another vote for the 30-06. Using 150 grain Speer Hotcor's at 2900 fps you can do no wrong.

I have killed my Mule Deer with either a .340 Wby or a 7mm STW, and both performed fine. I am now shooting the perfect Mule Deer rifle, a .270 WSM. With a 4.5 X 14 Ziess Conquest, and 130 grain bullets at 3400 fps plus and 150 grain bullets at 3227 fps this combo is the huckleberry for those long shots sometimes necessary. Good shooting.

I killed a nice muley buck in 1986 with a 6.5X68 using factory RWS ammo.

Now I would use 257 Weatherby or one of my 264's or a 7mmSTW or a for the ultimate a 7mm RUM shooting 160's

Hard to beat the .25/06, but like the bullet selection for the 6.5s.

Coming home from Reno last Sunday I just happened to sit next to another Hunter Fisherman about 35 years younger than myself.

To the point; during our chit chat he informed me that he had two rifles that he used most of the time;a 30-06 for deer and a .300 Win. Mag. for Elk.He had the Win Mag because he realized the the 30-06 was a little light for Elk.

This thread in part seems to bare out the same Magnumitice thinking that my young traveling companion was suffering from.

For the average hunter VD and the .270 come pretty darn close to answering the question.

For the true hunter stalker who knows how to place a shot, Ray's 25-35 is not too under powered.

If the person is a little deminutive or recoil sensitive a 250-3000, .257 Roberts or at most, 6.5 x 55 would fit the bill.

If we are dealing with a long range, bean field officianado the 25-06, .270, or 30-06 will get the job done.

For the dark timber , pinion, cedar guys a short barreled fast handling scout in 6.5x55,7x57 or 8x57 will reach out and touch them.

IMHO the Ultimate mule deer rifle is predicated on a number of factors related to an individual; his phisical make up, how he hunts and where he hunts just to mention a few. roger

These days I favour my Savage Sierra in 7mm-08, topped with a compact 2X7 Burris. Very accurate, tough as nails and fairly light. Loaded with 140 gr A-Frames, it gets the job done.

Personally I have never shot a mule deer, but my favorite white tail rifle is a dakota in 7X57 topped with a S&B 1.5X6 scope. I guess I'd just use that.
On the other hand I have that 300 H&H that I've never used, or the 300 win mag, or I could borrow Joe's 25-06, or......

TerryR

I think my choice is still my 30-338. It's a darn good all around rifle. I used it on countless Antelope and mule deer. I've been shooting the Nosler 150 BT at 3573 fps. Sighted 3 inches high at 100 yds and hold dead on to darn near 400 yds. I've used the 7 STW and the 7 Rum. For a combo hunt I think I would use my 300 Rum. 180 for Muleys and 220 for Elk. But that's just my way of thinking. I'm still in the Magnum stage of my life. Although some 30-06 MTN rifles have snuck into my gun safe recently. Easy to carry, just have to learn to shoot a civilized cartridge.

30-06 for me, with 165 Barnes bullet.

The rifle that is in your hands when you see the deer.. For me my pre 64 300H&H. 150 to 180's. Really most any standard rifle would do. Second choice would be my 6.5X57 Steyr.

In all practicality, a 30-06 with good 180s is about as good as any...no glamor, but it kills them dead without blowing up a lot of meat.

My current favorite is my 7X57 Akl in a nice trim Husky with a 3X9 VariX III and driving 150gr Partitions.

I have used 4 different rifles to kill mule deer,
6mm rem
270 wby
30-06 spfd
300 win mag
so it really just amounts to which one is in my hand that day. I have to get my 257 R back from my son one of these years to try it.

Rad

270 winchester would be my choice. Now I need one since I let the ruger go.

.270 Win. Dont need an elk rifle, just a full time mule deer rifle (part time speed goats). Now picking a decent off-the-shelf cartridge. Winchester 130 gr. power point, but if I am feeling rich, I may try the new Barnes 110gr. TTSX.

quote:

Originally posted by Jon Beutler:
.270 Win. Dont need an elk rifle, just a full time mule deer rifle (part time speed goats).

I guess I'll have to leave my elk rifle at home next time I go hunting. The .270 Win has killed 4 out of 5 elk for me the other was the .30-06. It is going to break the old girls heart for me to tell her she can't kill elk anymore and has to stay in the safe when I head to the mountains. Will you do it?

My .280 or .30-06

I would guess the ultimate Mule Deer caliber would want to shoot as flat as possible for those possible loooong shots in the open, be accurate enough to make the shots practical, hit as hard as possible, while having low enough recoil to help accurate bullet placement, with a big enough bullet to do enough damage when it does arrive. One that would fit this bill for me, which I could shoot accurately all day long would be spelled: 300WM!

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
7STW...it's what it was designed for, plains game at extended ranges.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by taylorce1:

quote:

Originally posted by Jon Beutler:
.270 Win. Dont need an elk rifle, just a full time mule deer rifle (part time speed goats).

I guess I'll have to leave my elk rifle at home next time I go hunting. The .270 Win has killed 4 out of 5 elk for me the other was the .30-06. It is going to break the old girls heart for me to tell her she can't kill elk anymore and has to stay in the safe when I head to the mountains. Will you do it?

Ouch, yet another gal that I have pissed off. Luckily there are a lot of fish in the ocean.

What I really meant is that I am getting close (max points) to drawing a limited entry bull in Utah. I spent a bit of time researching caliber, rifle, ballistics, weight... and all the other nonsense that to justify a new rifle. All things being equal, my 300WSM will be in my hands opening morning on the elk hunt. I do have to admit that long and sexy beats short and fat most of the time