Alright, this one is only for fun. I am not looking for recommendations or advice here. I am interested in what this ideal combination would be in your eyes. It doesn't have to be logical or justifiable to anyone but yourself. My ideal is the 7x57 shooting 140 grain Nosler Partitions from a 22" barrel on a Mauser 98 pattern action. The scope would be a 2-7x Leupold or 3-9x from Swarovski/Kahles or Zeiss. I would go against the grain though and stock it in walnut in the "Bavarian" hogsback style.

9.3, you're not far off my mark. Jack O'Connor used to sing the praises of the 139-grain open-point bullet out of the 7X57 for Kaibab mulies. I'd probably go with the 6.5X55 shooting a Nosler 120 BT or 125 partition out of a nice 98 sporter and Leupold glass myself.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
9.3, you're not far off my mark. Jack O'Connor used to sing the praises of the 139-grain open-point bullet out of the 7X57 for Kaibab mulies. I'd probably go with the 6.5X55 shooting a Nosler 120 BT or 125 partition out of a nice 98 sporter and Leupold glass myself.

allow me to edit this a bit

I'd probably go with the 6.5-06 shooting a Northfork 120 or 140 out of a nice 98 sporter and Leupold glass myself.

In fact....not much difference at all.

The one you have in your hand when you have to shoot a mule deer. There are so many good combos out there it is foolish to try to claim one is the best. Most any thing from 243 to the 338's well work just fine.

I guess if I was going on mule deer hunt tomorrow I would grab my rem 700 in 300wm it shoots 180gr serrias into .750 it would be no trouble killing a mule deer well out past 300.

But then I wouldn't feel a bit under gun with anyother of the rifles I have. I would feel just fine hunting with any of them. it is just a matter of what I want to shoot something with that day.

My ideal Mule Deer rifle is my 7mm STW shooting 160 grain North Fork bullets at 3100 fps. My rifle is a Winchester Model 70 Laredo with boss. It will put them in one hole when I do my part. Good shooting.

M70 Classic in 264 Win Mag; 125gr Partitions at a little over 3300 fps...

I use a Mod 70 7mmRemMag with 26 inch barrrel and Federal
160gr Nosler Partitions. Save similar 270 for Antelope and use simarlar 338 for Elk.

What has always worked for me and never let me down is a 257 Ackley and a Sierra 100 gr. spitzer. It's on a Ruger 77 (tang safety) and a 26 in. McGowen barrel. It has sported various glass over the years but wears a Nikon 6.5X20 at present. Jim

quote:

I am interested in what this ideal combination would be in your eyes. It doesn't have to be logical or justifiable to anyone but yourself.

For me (actually my father), this year, it's going to be my old M700 in 264 Win Mag.

He drew a Utah tag, and I'm just going along as his pack mule.

He bought me the 264WM when I was 14 to use when going on my first out-of-state hunt (Colorado) with him. That was a few years back...

He is now getting to the point that he may not have too many more mountain hunts left in him, so for nostalgia reasons, we're taking my rifle. It was on my first mule deer hunt, and will be on what may very well be his last mule deer hunt....

Pretty hard to beat a .270/130 or .25-06/120 combo. All the range and power you would ever need, and available in some pretty portable configurations.

Any rifle using bullets that will deliver over 1000 foot pounds at a given range are adequate for mule deer at that range if you can provide the shot placement they should drop in their tracks.

7mm X 57mm , 19 inch barrel with muzzle break, light weight scout mounted pistol scope, 154gr RN bullet pushed with 50 gr. accurate data 86 around 2550fps. roger

Simple: 30-06, 165 grain Nosler, Speer, Hornady, you name it.

My Ruger77 tang w/ Shilen 25" barrel. Loaded with 140gr Accubonds at 3300 FPS.

7mm Rem Mag

I can't argue with a single choice listed !
This year when I go out after eastern oregon mule deer ,I expect I will pack little robbie. Thats my ruger 77 MK2 RL, in .257 Roberts.
It has a 20 inch featherweight barrel , and puts a 100 grain Barnes tripple shock into about MOA and squirts those little chuncks of copper out of that tube a 3140FPS, and simply kills muleys dead quick. It's got a VX3 leupold 2.5X8 on top in a set of low ruger rings, great for quick shots but plenty of energy out to 350.yds. ...tj3006
I do have a delemma though. I am about to book a canadian mule deer hunt from horse back.
I here the deer run 300,lbs and up.
Has me thinking of one of my featherweight model 70s. A 30,06 and a 308, with a 165 grain bullet, or mabye my FN -270, or posibly mabye my CZ550 Full stock in 7X57 mauser, or somthing I don't own yet.
...tj3006

I've hammered a couple of deer with my 30-06 using 165 ballistic tips and none of them went more than a couple of steps. I also like sst's for the same purpose.

Kimber Montana 270 WSM shooting 140 gr Accubonds @ 3200 fps with a Kahles Multi-Zero 3x9x42 scope (that's on my wish list)

In my safe, a pre-64 Model 70 in 264 win mag (the Westerner) that loves the 125 gr Nosler Partition @ 3300 fps

If the elk is already down, then it's my M70 in .280 w/ 160grNP or AB, I am working on a 140grNAB load though. At a bit over 7.2# scoped, it's pure pleasure toting up & down the mountains.

I will be taking my Remington Model 7 in 7mmRSAUM to Wyoming this fall after mulies. I am shooting 160 gr Accubonds, with a Leupold 3.5 X 10 Vari X III.

Wow, not this is opening a can of worms. I like bigger and faster bullets for the Eastern Montana mule deer I like hunt. My guide has always likes to see hunters show up with at least a 7mmRemMag and bigger is better.

Last years hunt was short, and I took a nice 180" score 5x5 with 4" brow tines. He weighed almost 300 pounds after we had him field dressed.

I used my 338WinMag Blaser R93 and would again. But I would not feel undergunned with my 6.5x55 Blaser K-95 Stutzen. However; I would suggest a high sectional density bullet for the lighter calibers.

I would feel most comfortable with my Weatherby Vangard in 300 wby and shooting 168gr Barnes TSX.

I choose this combo for long range Coues deer hunting and would be my choice for Mulies too!

.257 Wthby Vanguard Sub-MOA with 100 gr TSX over 22 gr of RL-22...

I could start with my 6mm rem 100gr sierra sbt up to a 300 win mag with a 180 gr sierra sbt. Some run a ways and some don't. Last fall I got 2 does with my custom 270 wby with 130 gr sierra sbt. Acouple of years ago I got a small 4 x4 with a rem 760 in 30-06 with a 150 gr sierra spitzer. Would like to try my 257 roberts but can't seem to get it back from my son.

Rad

Good old fashioned 270 Winchester. 130gr Hornady Interlocks and H4831.

ZM

quote:

Originally posted by 9.3 rifleman:
Alright, this one is only for fun. It doesn't have to be logical or justifiable to anyone but yourself.

Not so much different, I like the same Noslers with 7mm magnum. I have had the same Model 70 since about 1984, and it's still the one to reach for. I got a wonderful 6mm-284 in the intervening years, and a nice mild 6x45mm, but when time is short and there's only one shot, it's the one I trust.

the 6,5x55 with 140 grain Nosler Parttion sounds like a good choice for mule deer to me. Or a good 7mm , or a 300, or a 250 ,or 257,

My .257 Bob, 100 tsx over 46 of H414. 7/8" groups, 3160 fps. Hardly any recoil and muzzle blast. It goes pop and deer go flop.

Maybe next year I'l take the custom 8x57 if it's done

My 30-06 loaded with IMR 4350 and 150 grain Speer Hotcors. Utterly reliable.

Rem 710 .270 - 130grn. Barns xlc - 3 x 9 x 40 Redfield. Not pretty, not expensive but works like a charm.

Hill Country Rifle's Sheep Hunter in .280 Remington built on the Titanium 700 action and topped with a Leupold 3.5x10. She shoots 150 grain Nosler Partitions in a teeny, tiny hole!

257 AI, 115 gn BT @ 3100 fs. Kicks like a 7X57, flies like a 25/06. Pure pleasure and very effective. I can certianly think of a few other combos that I like just as well though. This year I plan on trying a 260 Rem if I ever get around to finishing it.

6.5-06 and a 129 grn hornady

Ruger MKII in 6.5x55 because it's a nice rifle and never gotten to travel with me. PMC factory 139 grain SP is my only load so far.

From scratch?? Probably a 7-08 Vanguard Compact with good glass. Carry it like a feather.

From my safe?? 70 Classic S/S in 7STW with a Weaver Grand Slam 6-20 and hope I don't have to carry it all that far.

Both with 140 gr Accubonds.

30-06 with 130 or 150 grain triple shocks and choose you favorite rifle and scope in that caliber.

Ken....

THe "best" is what you shoot the best.
For me, a .300 win mag or .375 H&H as I can hit what I aim at...

Anything from a .243 to a .416 Rigby will work just fine....

9.3 Rifleman: After trying literally dozens of Rifles, scopes, cartridges and bullets over the last 47 years of my Mule Deer Hunting carrer, I think I have finally found the ultimate set up!
This will be my fifth season coming up with this "ultiamte" set up!
First off go buy a Remington 700 Sendero in caliber 270 Winchester then go buy a Leupold 6.5x20 or 8.5x25 variable scope then load the Rifle up with the most accurate loading you can come up with using the fantastic and fantastically flat flying Nosler 130 gr. Ballistic Tip bullets!
It's the best set up I have used to date!
Long live Mule Deer Hunting!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Holy boat anchors Varmintguy, hope you've got wheels on that rig. Just kidding, I use an 8 lb. 338 with 250 Noslers so what do I know.

Lets see:
I've knocked mulies down with(in no perticular order)
243Win 100gr. Nosler Solid base
25'06 100gr. Partition, and TSX
6.5'06 129gr. Hornady
284Win 139gr. Hornady BT
30'06 165gr. Sierra BTSP
300WSM 165gr. Interbond
300Win Mag 190gr. Hornady BTSP
And I've seen mulies taken with:
6mm Rem 100gr. Partition
270Win 130gr. Partition
270Win 100gr. Barnes XFB(no longer made)
270Win 140gr. BTSP Hornady
280Rem 129gr. Hornady SP
7mm Rem Mag 150gr. Nosler BT
7mm Rem Mag 150gr. Partition

Guess what that's a long list, and if it tells you anything it's that just about any reasonable caliber will take mulies, as long as your up to the challenge,because just about all the popular calibers are more than capable.