Rad,
good point on you using a 20 in barrel.
Both my 22in barreled Ruger M-77 and #1 accounted for lots of deer especially when I lived in NY. I shot all my biggest mule deer in WY and MT with it and the average shot was over 200 yd but under 300 and that goes for 15 WY antelope also. I used the 120gr Sierra bullet a few years back on a doe WT and antelope hunt in WY. All one shot kills and all died within 20 yd or less. I do load on the warm side in my guns but as far as bullets go, I can't see any real differences between the 120/117 gr bullets from speer, hornady or sierra. I shot a few deer with the 100gr hornady and that worked well. I really like the 100gr Barns TS if I'm hunting big mule deer and I have to take a less than perfect shot. I even took the #1 to Africa and killed 4 or 5 head of game wit hit. My PH wanted to buy it from me but no sell'UM to him. I will keep it until I can't hunt and give it to one of my friends sons.
An underrated cartridge that needs to be hand loaded to get to its true potential. Inside of 300-350yd it gives nothing up to a 25/06, after that the 25/06 really shines.
