So from my back porch to the North is a fence line thats 250 yards. To the East is another fence line also at 250 yards. So my question is what round would you shoot at 250-300 yards if you needed something dead. Say from a groundhog or a crow to a white tail deer. Coyotes of course. Were not worried about fur damage. Something just needs to die and Id rather be able to eat the deer so minimal meat damage or contamination. What round? 22-250? 30-06? Neither of which would be legal deer cartridges in Ohio but were talking a survival situation not game laws. The boiler plate area on a deer is about the size of a ground hog if you think about it. So the first question is the round, which youd want to be an over the counter ammo situation. Nothing weird or hand loaded.

Ok now that you have the round picked out what platform do you like shooting it out of? What setup do you have for it? I will post my Ohio legal deer rifle. JM Marlin 45-70 Cowboy Octagon Barrel. Yes I put a scope on a lever gun.

What say you?

243 bolt action, moderate power scope

Be me, a 264win.

Mild recoil and hard hitting nice flat trajectory.

Just want stuff dead out to 300? And want readily available ammo you can get at any sporting goods store?
Simple. .308 or 30-06 bolt gun. 06 has been doing this for over 100years and the .308 is just an updated version of the 06.

I’m with Hippie 264 win mag. The 25-06 is also great

I have a 25-06 too Lefty! In fact I've been using it the last few years

I'm partial to the 264 tho

Its not exactly a lazer. So. Much. Arch.

Hard to beat 243 in my book for what you described. Best part is ammo is readily available in every podunk shop you walk in. If you are a reloader, thats not an issue, but for most of us, thats a big issue....

270 never look back

My vote would be a 280.





You two must be tougher than me. I have three 264 win mags and they are probably the rudest rifle to shoot of any that I own. They kick FAR harder than my 300 or 375 H&H's.

I always thought a 7mm-08 sounded interesting and under valued. Seems like a straight shooting light kicking round but Ive never shot one or any of them mentioned for that matter.

so far IMO any of those mentioned would work wonderfully

Am currently stewarding a Howa 1500 in 308 Win. It would make that shot easy. Heavy bull barrel and heavy laminated wood stock, so recoil is pretty mild. Ammo available for it everywhere.

Rifle is heavy, but if shooting off the back porch and not toting it over hill and dale, that doesn't matter.

X3. Less recoil and enough punch for what you want to do by my standards. Anything lighter would be getting questionable out to 300 for deer by my standards. Anything heavier is just extra recoil and not any flatter shooting. Shoots varmint size bullets well and bullets adequate for deer well.

I have one I bought for my daughter when she was about 9. It's about my favorite rifle round. it's killed a lot of deer between my daughter, sons, and I. mild recoil only 39 gr more bullet than a 243 and 50 fps slower 1mm larger diameter. does not sound like much but it leaves 1x larger holes and I tend to like it better than our 243. Nothing wrong with the 243 it's great as well and I'm happy to hunt with it any time but I do like the 7mm08 better.

that said Absolutely any 243 and up round will be dead on at 100, about 2" low at 200 and about 8" low at 300. Anything will work just have to pick what you like.

Something 6mm

.243 for a casual shooter

One of the plethora of “wildcat” 6s for someone more adventurous.

Or a 6.5 something or nother.

The 6.5 Manbun is becoming popular with the 6.5 Transgender gaining momentum. I will stick with my 6.5 Swede.

For dead nuts over the counter easy to find ammo for the purpose... 6.5 creed... Just too much ammo being made right now for extended range stuff vs regular hunting .... 243 7mm-08 5.56 a lesser extent. As far as set up.


Nice stock that fits , bipod , dialable scope that tracks or at least has a good reticle. Get the dope you need range and dail...