Long Range mule deer

[257 Shooter]

It's nice to have choices. The 200 grain 30's are excellent for sure.

[257WBY]

I'm planning on using my 257 WBY for mule deer next fall.  It's lighter than my 300!

[WildTigerTrout]

If purchasing a firearm for myself for the OP's situation I would give a serious look to the Weatherby Mark V Accumark in 6.5-300 Weatherby with the factory muzzle brake.

[HuskyMusky]

257wby,
6.5wby

300wby
340wby

I see no reason to shoot the 30-378 or 338-378 over the 300/340wby and the 340wby can do it all with only 24in of barrel!

[Big Muddy rancher]

Nothing against long range shooting but if you have to shoot a Mule Deer at 700 yards you better give up hunting in my opinion.

Shoot all the targets you want at long range but do a stalk to get into  sure shot range. Don't use a mule deer for practice.

[HighDesertHunter]

+1 .. I had a big lecture all written but then decided that Big Muddy said it best.

[.257]

Nothing against long range shooting but if you have to shoot a Mule Deer at 700 yards you better give up hunting in my opinion.

Shoot all the targets you want at long range but do a stalk to get into  sure shot range. Don't use a mule deer for practice.

+2

[GrandeJuan]

+3. GJ

[Blackbear3]

Hopefully, since the original post was in 2014 they have become much wiser and shoot a lot closer than 700 yards!!! 

[danno50]

Since this is a resurrected post, I'll just resurrect Dubyam's post ("Quote") from earlier this year, as it addresses a thoughtful method of long range practice for all levels of shooters. The idea of practice is to "Keep it Real" and stay within your limitations. Don't allow your Ego to get the upper hand.

I'll agree with the above advice regarding shooting distances.  The -06 is a fine rifle, with the right bullets for elk, and will kill at the ranges you mention.  The real question (as above, and regardless of whether you use your -06 or buy a 300Wby or whatever) is whether or not you have access to practice at 400 and 500yds, regularly.  If you do, you need to be sending rounds downrange with boring regularity, and you need to be able to make 1-1.5MOA groups at those distances from field positions (not from a lead sled or a bench rest or even a big pile of sandbags).  If you can maintain 1.5MOA at 500yds from prone over a daypack, off of shooting sticks (kneeling or standing), and using a post to steady yourself (like you might use a tree trunk in the field), you're set.  If you cannot practice at those ranges, you have absolutely zero business attempting a shot at those ranges on game.  You won't even know if your drop charts are realistic (and there's a good chance they're not, if you haven't shot out your range card prior to the hunt).  Maybe you know all this already, and if so, no offense intended.

[BB340]

I sure don't get impressed by shooters that can shoot deer way out there at 700-1000+ yards....
I do get impressed by the HUNTER that can stalk in to 100 yards and under then make sure they get a good clean kill.

[Jlorsun]

So... I have put a lot of rounds down range. More than most people will in a lifetime. I agree with the last few posters. I have a .300 wm that I can consistently shoot  gatorade bottles at 850 yds. The longest shot I have taken on a mule deer was about 380. If you have the time to dial in shot at that range you have time to stalk closer. A lot more than bullet drop goes into a shot like that on the mountain. (You can't cheat the mountain)

[Jlorsun]

I am hunting with my .257 wby 115 grain nosler bt's. I can punch a pie plate all day at 700 with 1020 lbs of force but I would never take that shot on a hunt. I have hunted the cascades and Oregon coast my entire life and have taken deer/elk from 8-400 yds. in the terrain here sometimes closing the gap just is not possible. I tend to agree with the others get closer or let them walk.

[Fotis]

Just about all the bees will do LR well!
My longest shots have been 778 yds (Elk with a 378 Bee) 452 yds (antelope with a 416 Bee) and 450 yds (elk with my 30-378).

Velocity is nice!