i shoot a .243 winchester with a leupold scope. its a great gun and i love it, but i want to upgrade. My new hunting camp has long shooting lanes (most end at around 350 yards) and its normal to take shots at 250 yards. i am buying a new gun and need advice on what to pick. my uncle has a 270 weatherby magnum and he said that has plenty of punch, but he also blew the shoulder off a deer at 35 yards, and i dont think i need that much power. he also suggested a Tikka for its accuracy. there are so many choices. my price limit it $2000. also i need a new scope. my leupold zooms 9 times. are there are better that zoom farther? my price limit on that is $1400
The Tikka in 270,7mm-08,7mm Mag,308 or 30-06 would be plenty for deer at 350 yards,even a 25-06 putting a 118 grain bullet out there is hitting with a lot more authority than the 243 with a 100 grain bullet can. Most "Bean Field" rifles use mid bore cartridge like the 270,280,and the various magnum loads,but moving up to a 300 Mag probably isn't necessary. As far as picking a cartridge,I think you get most "band for the buck" with a 270 using 140-150 grain bullets;you get out there with plenty of energy and you don't need to pound your shoulder too hard with a Mag load.
I like the Tikka,it has a 70 degree bolt that is very smooth to operate,is made by Sako Finland,has integral scope mounts and comes with rings-much like Ruger does on their M77. At $500 or less for a Blue/Synthetic model and $600 for stainless,they are a good choice.
Even at extended ranges you don't need Mil-Dot scopes or Bullet Drop Compensation reticles. Find a nice crisp fine duplex scope,and 3x9-40mm is fine for deer hunting anyway,it matches up well with a 400 yard ethical and realistic max range (even for magnum cartridges). You could go up to a 4x12 40mm or even 50mm for better light gathering (I have a 50mm on my 30-06),but you won't gain that much. Sight in to be close to your Max Point Blank Range (which is over 200 yards) by choosing your bullet weight and style, and checking on a ballistic chart. Normally I just sight in to be 2 inches high at 100 and call it good. Can't argue with using Leupold scopes,VX-II 4x12 at 40 or 50 mm is going to be around $500 or less.
If you handload,there are more cartridge options than the standards,so using a 7mm Mag,270WSM or 7mm WSM could make sense-along with Weatherby proprietary cartridges-only way to afford shooting them is with reloading.
Obviously, if you really wanted me to spend your money I would suggest the Sako 85 Grey Wolf, topped with a VX-3 4.5 x 14 50mm 30mm tube scope
https://www.berettausa.com/e2wProductGroupDetailDropDown.aspx?parentid=4100001536&parentLink=2100000084:3100001363:3100001372:4100001536
NEW UNUSED 50MM ZOOM WORLD CLASS BY TASCO RIFLESCOPE RIFLE SCOPE ~ GUN ACCESSORY, NIB 3-9x40 ZOOM RIFLE SCOPE TACTICAL RIFLE W/MOUNTS W/CAPS 5.56 22 223 308, NIB RUGER 10-22 SIGHT 3-9x40 ZOOM RIFLE SCOPE RIFLE +MOUNTS +CAPS FREE PRI SHIP, NIB 3-9x40 ZOOM RIFLE SCOPE TACTICAL RIFLE W/MOUNTS W/CAPS 5.56 22 223 308, NIB RUGER 10-22 SIGHT 3-9x40 ZOOM RIFLE SCOPE RIFLE +MOUNTS +CAPS FREE PRI SHIP, NIB RUGER 10-22 SIGHT 3-9x40 ZOOM RIFLE SCOPE RIFLE +MOUNTS +CAPS FREE PRI SHIP, NIB 3-9x40 ZOOM RIFLE SCOPE TACTICAL RIFLE W/MOUNTS W/CAPS 5.56 22 223 308, Bushnell 6-24x50 powerful zoom rifle scope. Waterproof, Power Zoom flashlight Torch 25mm Scope Mount Rifle Shotgun for hunting airsoft, NIB 3-9x40 ZOOM RIFLE SCOPE TACTICAL RIFLE W/MOUNTS W/CAPS 5.56 22 223 308, NIB RUGER 10-22 SIGHT 3-9x40 ZOOM RIFLE SCOPE RIFLE +MOUNTS +CAPS FREE PRI SHIP, Konus Konuspro 3-12x50 Zoom Rifle Scope with Sunshade 7256 Riflescopes, Konus Konuspro 3-12x50 Zoom Rifle Scope with Sunshade 7256 Riflescopes, MARK 3 III 4-16x50 MIL-DOT RIFLE SCOPE ILLUMINATED ZOOM, Great Value 3-7X20mm zoom focus rifle adjust focus scope site lights 11mm mount, ATN 6-18 x 65 Rifle Scope ~ ATN6 ~ LARGE ZOOM Rifle Scope !! WAS $650.00, 70'S /80'S JANA ZOOM RIFLE SCOPE 3X-9X 40 WITH WEAVER MOUNTS, RICHTER OPTIK RIFLE ZOOM SCOPE 3-9x40 ILL. RETICLE, Power Zoom flashlight Torch 25mm Scope Mount Rifle Shotgun for hunting airsoft, Diamond Rifle Scope 3x-9x adjustable Optical Magnification/Zoom - Mount Included, Power Zoom flashlight Torch 25mm Scope Mount Rifle for hunting airsoft, Sniper Rifle ZOOM Scope POSP 6x24 V SAIGA VEPR SLR WASR Romak 1 / 2 sight, Sniper Rifle ZOOM Scope POSP 4-8x42WD WEAVER mount , 510 FPS WELL VSR-10 AIRSOFT SNIPER RIFLE 3-9X40 ZOOM SCOPE,FOLDING BIPOD , RICHTER OPTIK CAMO RIFLE ZOOM SCOPE 3-9x50 ILL RETICLE, RICHTER OPTIK HUNTING RIFLE ZOOM SCOPE 3-12x50, RICHTER OPTIK RIFLE ZOOM SCOPE 3-9x50 ILL. RETICLE, Bushnell Zoom Dot Trophy Riflescope (1X26, Matte), Konus M30 7281 Riflescope 6.5x-25x44mm Illuminated Zoom, 565 FPS Airsoft Barrett M99 Sniper Rifle w/FREE Illuminated Zoom Scope 3-9x50, Sniper Rifle ZOOM Scope POSP 4-8x42 VD SAIGA VEPR SLR , 1963 SAVAGE Model 63 .22 RIFLE w/Zoom Scope PRINT AD, 4-16X50 LIT SCOPE RIFLE AO RANGEFINDER ILLUMINATED ZOOM, OpSwiss SCOPE HUNTING Riflescope 8x32 POWER Zoom XLR OPTICS Rifle gun sight NEW, NEW 3-9X40 ILLUMINATED ZOOM RIFLE SCOPE P4 RUBY SILVER, 6-24x50 ILLUMINATED RED DOT RIFLE SCOPE ZOOM W/ RINGS, Sniper Rifle ZOOM Scope POSP 4-12x42W WEAVER mount , Precision Grade Adjustable 3-9x40E Optical Zoom Airsoft Rifle Scope, NEW NCSTAR 8-32X50 ZOOM ILLUMINATED MIL DOT RETICLE RIFLE SCOPE W/ WEAVER RINGS, 3-12X56 ILLUMINATED ZOOM RIFLE SCOPE P4 GREEN LENS GIFT, NEW 2-6X28 COMPACT ZOOM RIFLE SCOPE HANDLE MOUNT 223 P4, SMK AIR RIFLE ZOOM SCOPE 3-9x40E ILLUMINATED RETICULE, Sniper Rifle ZOOM Scope POSP 4-12x42 Saiga Vepr SLR SAR, SEFB3940R 3-9X40 E ILLUMINATED RIFLE SCOPE VARIABLE ZOOM P4 SNIPER SHOOTER DEER, AIM Sports 3-9x40 Adjustable Zoom Dual Illuminated Airsoft Sniper Rifle Scope, New Power Zoom flashlight Torch 25mm Scope Mount Rifle Shotgun for hunting, Power Zoom flashlight Torch 25mm Scope Mount Rifle Shotgun for hunting airsoft, 100% 8-32x50 aoe zoom R&G illuminated optical sniper airsoft hunting rifle scope, Sniper Rifle Scope POSP 4-8x42 SKS PSL SVD DRAGUNOV ROMAK 3 TIGR Zoom Sight , Bushnell Zoom Dot Trophy Riflescope (1X26, Matte),
