Mule Deer gun

Did not want to step on toes on the other muley thread. Been watching the other post on mule deer hunting with a 30-06 and shooting at a long range and was wondering about another caliber to use. I have a 25-06 and a 270 and was wondering with the right ammo if they would be better or good enough for the long shots for a mule deer? I know chevy-ford type question but I still am curious for feedback.

It is going to be personal preference for sure, I’ll throw the first vote out there and say I’d take the 25-06

A Rocky Mountain mule deer can push or exceed 300 lbs live weight.

A .270 would be my choice.

A smaller bodied desert mule deer I would still pick the .270 but a .25-06 is certainly adequate.

270 with accubonds 150grn

270 because of a heavier bullet, and the Chevy.

This is the type thread that could go on forever, at least they have before.

killed one with a 30-06 at a decent range 150yds +

We have 300lb live weight mule deer out here in the sandhills. I've seen the landowner's son whack some very big bucks with a 243 and 95gr ballistic tips. If you can shoot it's all that's necessary, as bullets are the most important compnonent. I've shot a bunch of them myself with a 7mm08/140 accubond/partition combo.

Most of the hunters we had in mule deer camp over a 15 year period were over gunned and over scoped, if that makes sense.

Biggest deer I’ve ever seen in person scored 213” and weighed 311 lbs on the hoof. Thing was gigantic.

Came out of the sand hill country northwest of ft, Stockton

Personally I won’t shoot anything I pay big money to hunt with a 243, but like you said, it will do the job if used right. I say that without any desire to start a debate.
I really like the bullet comments though and really like the 708 with the accubond/partition. Your over gunned and over scoped comment I like as well. You may be my new best friend….

280AI

I have killed Trans Pecos mule deer with a .270 and a .280 since those are the largest calibers I had. I also used a .270 with 130 grain Core-lokts on 2 Alberta mule deer. One live weighted in the 375 lbs range and the other was smaller bodied. Both were dropped with one shot in the high shoulder/point of the shoulder area. When I went to Alberta it was a last minute deal and the .270 was the largest caliber I owned at the time. I would shoot what you are comfortable shooting and worry about accuracy/bullet placement.

I’ve shot mine with a .257 wby.

This year I might shoot my .300 win, but only because I like that particular rifle/scope combo.

Which ever you feel more comfortable shooting, if equal go with lighter(assuming a mtn hunt). I hunt exclusively with 257wby exclusively out west. My 257wby load is basically a 2506 load

Makes a ton of sense.

The biggest mule deer I ever killed was an old buck with a 243 in the Sandhills. I always shot a 270 but I was driving dad around in the truck when I was14, dad shot a 243 and a doe was acting strange and his rifle was in the front seat. I got out of the truck with his rifle and walked over to where the doe was jumping around. A giant jumped up running and I shot him in the back of the neck at 75 yards. His nose plowed the ground at least a foot when he hit the sand. 243 is enough but I always preferred a 270. This was a heavy, gnarled 9 point with bases bigger than my dad wrist. He weighed 308lbs.

We guided a lot of men that shot magnum calibers and most couldn’t shoot them very well. The rancher that I varmint hunted with a lot shot a 6mm Remington and so did his son. I remember their rifles because they were the first ones I’d seen with a glass stock. They had no problems killing anything with the 6mm either.

Either rifle you want to shoot will do the job just fine.

Either caliber is just fine. I would be totally comfortable with either one and would choose the one I liked shooting the most.

All 3 will do the job. Take the one you shoot the best at the longer ranges. Maybe use a bullet that is a bit heavier than you would use for white tail.

There will be a clear and concise winner on this

.308 dead A center of shoulder is my choice

.270 with Core-lokts, the deadliest mushroom in the woods.

This.

I use my 30-06, but if I did not have it I would be comfortable using my 270. My first mule deer was taken with a 284 in 1965.

I suggest using whatever gun feels the best to you. A accurate placed bullet beats a miss every time. If you like both guns, the .270 is bigger, but certainly not excessive. If you make a vital hit, with a quality bullet, I don't think it will matter enough to worry about.

Did you mean over gunned and under scoped? That would make more sense.

No. A 30-378 Weatherby topped with a 3lb Nightforce comes to mind.

I’ve had those hunters.

The caliber isn’t as much importance to in terms of being overkill but heavy tactical guns with heavy scopes are ridiculous

I've seen this question asked on about 5 different forums over the years. As a group, THF had the most logical consensus answer to this question. We have mulies here in Nebraska and we have whitetails. In some areas you never know who's coming to dinner. We use the same rifles for either species and never look back. Back when I was getting started and still a little recoil sensitive, I dropped to a 2506 and killed a whitetail at 225 yards. It dropped like being struck by Thor's hammer, Wondered then why i had put up with recoil all those years. Guy told me years ago that a 338 Win was as good on deer as anything as long as you shoot them in the boiler room. Shot a whitetail with my 338 in the boilerroom. It probably went 150 yards after the shot but it died and was recovered. No more meat damage than any other caliber. I think bullet placement and type of bullet make much more of the difference. I'm with the group that voted for "shoot what you can shoot accurately".

Take the one that when you pull the trigger you know where that bullet will hit.

Taken a good number of MD with 270 using 130g silver tips, like the 150g ST when I could find them, but the 130's almost always DRT or very close.,


I know many locals up there that use 25-06 for MD as well. As folks said, it matters more on which you're most comfortable and accurate with.

With Western, have taken a lot of MD with 270 and 130 gr Hornady interlocks

This is my favorite. Classic. Flat shooting. Incredibly accurate. Deadly. Drop them at the spot with a high shoulder shot. Just simply works.

I have a Sako 85 Finnlight .270 Win with Sako 156 grain Hammerhead bonded soft points. It shoots flat and has a 100% success rate for me and my boys. I don't even use my 30-06 anymore.

Over the decades, I’ve killed some 250 -270# white tails with a 270 and 130 Nosler BTs.

Took a spike elk in Idaho with .270 130 corelok with lower neck shot at 60 yards. Dropped dead in its tracks.

I’ve shot west Texas muleys with 243 - 300 WM. Last was with 257 Ackley running 100gr Partion a little hotter than a 25-06. Shoot what’s comfortable and put the bullet where it belongs.

Between Gringo and 603, I must be doing something right. Sako 85 Finnlite in a 270 Win. 130 grn Nosler BT’s. Hit them in the boiler room and mostly DRT or shortly thereafter.

Whatever gun you choose, practice as if your life depends on it. Don't just shoot from a bench, but shoot from sticks and other positions so your comfort with the gun equates to success in the field.

Little wrong with a .270.

Either will do, go with the lighter rifle.

Rifles will put on weight over the years, I’ve noticed. They must since they feel heavier as I age. My Dad used to say the same thing. I’d go with the lighter rifle if it’s a useful caliber. I use a light Tikka in 260 these days.

Can’t wait for hunting season.

I know what you mean, I hunt Whitetails these days with 7 1/4 lb Scoped and loaded rifles and would use one of those if I were to hunt Mule Deer again.

I have shot 3 out in the Tran Pecos. 2 with rifle and one with a bow. I thought I needed the ole Weatherby 7 Mag shoulder bruiser with 160 grain. It killed him but not any quicker then my trusty Ruger in 270 with 130 grain.

I would go 270 at a minimum, but that's just me. Mulies even in the Trans Pecos are a bit heavier then WT. Lots of good options now with factory or reloads that will get the job done.

Have the 270&243 iin Savage...
Not inta the technical mombojumbo of cal.
Went with 270 deer rifle, if not mis-staken, 270 tis neckdowned 30-06.
For white tail deer, () over kill, 243 plenty... MN white tail & muleys 270
Was looking @ elk hunts, short distance shooting (ruffly 100yrds) 270 on light side,
From what i hear, reason keep short distance...
Have heard good things about the 25-06 just not familiar...
Just my
cool thread...

I grew up hunting mulies in CO and have taken about 40 of them. Either of the calibers mentioned by the OP that he owns will cleanly take any mule deer that has ever lived. I'd take whichever one fit me best and groups the best and sight it in an 200 yards and go deer hunting.

270 flat shooting accu bond

I took my .270 Win a couple years ago to Colorado and it did the job well. But, that being said, I'm taking my new .264 Win Mag next time.

I hunt mule deer with a 30.06. I've taken three bucks.... all dressed out between 190 - 240. All were taken between 60 - 100 yards. Two dropped and one ran about 25 yards. 165 grain Nosler. One bull elk too. Works for me.

Shot all mine with a 30-30 no issues, all dead.

You can't do that
It says so in the hunting magazines