Which rifle is best for me?

Question
Dear GCH,

I know your area of expertise is handguns, but a previous answer of yours led me to ask you a rifle question. I am in the market for a new deer rifle. My father-in-law has let me use his reminton model 700 .270 for the last few years and I have never missed or needed a second shot within 300 yards but I hesitate to take longer shots. My father taught me how to shoot before he died but nothing about guns in general. I want to buy a rifle that will give me consistant accuracy at longer ranges. I have heard that a 270 is a nice flat shooting choice but I know nothing about other calibers. All information is appreciated.

-Justin

Answer
Justin,

The 700 is a great gun. 300 yards is, in my estimate, a long shot for .270 simple because the projectile is light and it runs out of steam.

There are very flat shooting newer cartridges such as .300 Win Mag, but I'm a fan of more traditional cartridges (once you get something that shoots "flat" beyond 1000 meters it seems like overkill to me, and harder on the shooter than it needs to be).  I don't think you could go wrong with a .30-06 for longer range for deer.

A long range rifle shooter may have a different take, and probably with good reason if he does, but this one's mine. Hope it helps.