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Post by wilmsmeyer on Nov 13, 2014 20:50:26 GMT -5
So after much testing and messing around with the 7mm Mag and the 30-30 all year this is what is taking the field opening day in less than 36 hrs:
7mm Mag, Leupold 3x9: 120 gr Barnes TTSX, 72 gr Re22, Win primer. This load has been more than acceptable every time out this year. Last group fired at 200 yds went under an inch right in the center of the bull. Probably couldn't do it again. The gun was hitting 1" high at 100 last 3 groups and shooting at about 1MOA maybe a little better.
30-30 Marlin, Leupold 2x7: 170 gr Sierra FP, 34 gr Win 748, Win primer. Always 2" or under at 100 and sometimes much better. Not a gun that has seen lots of fine tuning. Heck, it's a sloppy lever gun but I love the ballistics in terms of being very adequate and not destroying deer that bad. Would serve my purposes anywhere I hunt I think with a few exceptions. Carries and slings like a dream. Short and compact.
Two wildly different cartridges, same game animal. Nothing like being able to dot an "I" at any sane range with the 7mm and not worry about drop out to about 250 yds with a center hold. Nothing like a monolithic Barnes busting a hole at any angle with a bunch of hydrostatic shock. With the 30-30, anything under 200 yds will be fully perforated with minimal meat damage and probably short death runs.
Looking forward to giving both a shot this year. On drive in late season? 30-30 all the way. In stands early season? Probably the 7mm even in tight quarter stands. BECAUSE....when walking in and walking out, there are opportunities that could be an advantage for having a long poker.
Choices...choices...choices...all good. Good luck to all
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Post by wilmsmeyer on Nov 14, 2014 17:42:25 GMT -5
13 hrs
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Post by dannoboone on Nov 14, 2014 18:04:15 GMT -5
Good luck tomorrow!
Brother uses his 7mm RM for elk, so it should do a number on deer!
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Post by jims on Nov 14, 2014 22:38:46 GMT -5
Different cartridges by far but the way you have them sighted in both will do the job.
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Post by hornet22savage on Nov 14, 2014 23:01:45 GMT -5
Good Luck tomorrow, I'm taking out the 7mm shooting factory loaded Barnes Vortex 140 gr. TTSX, but the .243 is also sighted in with the Barnes Vortex 80 gr. TTSX.
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Post by wilmsmeyer on Jan 25, 2015 7:02:59 GMT -5
Thought I would post the results from 2014:
7mm Mag: One shot-one kill on a mature doe at a lazored 160 yds from one of the most comfortable, customized hang on stands we have. Shooting rails all around and, with most angles, the ability to support gun in the front and rear. Broadside with a rock solid rest but taken when very cold outside and trying very hard to stay warm and hang in there for the morning. At the shot, the sight picture looked perfect but the deer did not react hit. She took a step and then leapt into a thick tangle of swamp grass. Being that there were several deer in the group, which all began emerging in different spots, I initially had some doubts. Did the gun get bumped? did I get a weird "spring" off the shooting rail? It took a 1/2 hour to trudge though super tall weeds, hidden water that could get you in trouble before I reached the spot. I actually left my gun at the tree since I knew I would need to be nimble going in there. I did have my .357 mag on my belt though. Found blood right away and 15 feet from where I saw here, there she lay. 10 hole perfect shot placement. The extraction is a story in itself.
30-30. two does with two shots. Both on drives. One as a watcher and one as a driver. 1st shot was a standing doe at about 80 yds with me leaning against a large tree. At the shot she whirled and ran and I could see the entrance right where I wanted it. Went 75 yds or so on a death run and piled up against a tree.Pass through and centered lungs. 2nd deer was cool. The drive was progressing up a long gradual hill. Deer could be seen gathering ahead of us and trying to decide if they should bolt out the side, cut back, or proceed up to the watchers. We were also after a target buck in the mix but I could not see him anywhere ahead of me. I decided to take a shot at a very alert doe about 120 yds uphill from me that was focusing on another driver positioned to my left. Using a tree, I settled the cross hairs on the point of her shoulder and touched it off. The woods exploded with deer, most of which I never even saw. The target buck had been right there with this doe and cut back towards the driver to my left. He was cleanly dispatched with a 7mm-08 at about 120 yds as he broke out of the woods into a golden rod field and pause one second too long. I didn't know the status of my deer and we finished the drive and accounted for several more does up top and an old buck we had nicknamed "Limpy" the last two years that always escaped us. His rack had dwindled from a nice 140 class to just under 120. His right front foot had no hoof at all. Just a rounded over stump. Anyhow, went back to where I shot at the doe and found blood right away and she had run down hill, pretty much with the target buck and expired on the run, sliding 30 feet through snow and leaves. Broke the front shoulder, crossed both lungs and exited about midway on the off side.
Loads used were the ones mentioned in the 1st post. Very happy with the shots I took, the end results of all 3 deer, and the meat in the freezer. The 30-30 does a very nice, efficient job of plowing through a deer and doing minimal meat damage. I don't mind a death run at all and actually like it. It always leaves you wondering just a little bit. Then, you find the blood trail and know that it will end well.
So, 2 years in a row not getting a buck with the gun and 4 years not getting one with the bow. Tough being picky!
If someone feels that this should be in one of the "success" forums I will gladly move it. I posted here because it related to the reloads that I brewed up for deer season.
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Post by deadeer on Jan 25, 2015 8:13:14 GMT -5
Good report. We are on the verge of going to high power rifle in Indiana as you recently did. Getting a feel for what to expect by watching others experiences. Congrats on your season.
Jay
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Post by jims on Jan 25, 2015 13:21:05 GMT -5
Nice write-up. If IN goes centerfire the OH is not too far behind.
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Post by hornet22savage on Feb 1, 2015 15:46:08 GMT -5
Wilms, I too took a deer with my new 7mm Mag. same reaction yours had. My shot was 75 yds. factroy Barnes TTSX 140 gr. He just turned and fell over. Everythhing in the boiler room was destroyed. Wicked caliber.
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Post by wilmsmeyer on Feb 1, 2015 16:54:16 GMT -5
I still have never killed a deer where I couldn't have done it with a 30-30 and holding on hair! Not sure why I have always tried to be ready for the time I may have to shoot 300+ yds. I don't know how many deer I've killed but it must be close to 150+.
The 7mm just "came my way" out of the blue. I do love it very much for its versatility. I can surely download it with 4759 and get about 30-30 ballistics. But there's something about the beauty of holding a laser beam in your hand that intrigues me!
Glad you had success Hornet
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