Ideal Rifle, Scope & Ammo - Deer Hunting

[CAPTAIN MIKE]

All my life (so far) when I've gone hunting I've used someone else's rifle, scope and even ammo. Now it's time to have my own - something I can use and pass on to my son.

What would be your top two recommendations for rifle, scope and ammo for deer hunting?

 

[22-rimfire]

My favorite is the Remington Model 700BDL in 270 win. I would probably choose a Nikon or Weaver scope in 3-9x these days, but it has a Redfield scope on it. My standard recommendation applies...270-308 or 30-06 for caliber choice and a good solid Remiington Model 700.

Great old classic. It has never let me down. Any of the Model 700's are nice.

Why have you always used loaners?

 

[Grumulkin]

When you talk about "top two recommendations" you are really asking about personal preferences. While fully admitting that Winchester, Remington, Savage and bunches of other manufacturers make excellent deer hunting guns, I'll have to recommend what I've always used and have been happy with:

1. Thompson/Center Encore
2. Thompson/Center Contender

For the chambering I would choose:

1. 308 Winchester or
2. 30/06 Springfield

For the scope I would choose a 3-9X power by:

1. Leupold
2. Nightforce

For ammo it hardly matters. Deer aren't that tough an animal. Just about any bullet made of metal and placed properly will work fine so my criteria would be mainly what shot the most accurately in my rifle. For my 308 Winchester, all deer I've taken with it fell to some military surplus 150 gr. soft nosed ammo from Argentina I got through Cheaper-Than-Dirt about 15 years ago. For my 30/06 Springfield I've worked up a very accurate load with Barnes 165 gr. TSX bullets.

 

[TCB in TN]

Kinda depends on your hunting situation.

Heavy cover, short shots at deer/hogs/black bear or smaller then the old Marlin 336 in 30-30 with a decent low power scope 1.5 x 4 etc. (I have had good success with Leupold, Weaver, and redfields) is a good combination.

If you hunt a mix of heavy brush and open areas then a Browning BLR in .308 with either the same low power scope or a similar 3 x 9. will fit the bill.

Now open country for real long shots then a good bolt (I happen to like (Ruger 77's, and Remmington 700's myself) in .243, .270, .308, or 30-06 are hard to beat, especially when topped by a good 4 x 12.

 

[Shawnee]

Of the "borrowed guns" you've used, which one(s) did you like the best ?

 

[charby]

Mule deer or Whitetail deer? Do you think you may hunt larger species such as Elk?

 

[.38 Special]

From a nostalgia perspective I would choose a pre-'64 Winchester model 70 in .270 Winchester with aperture sights.

From a practical perspective I would choose a Remington model 700 in .308 with a Leupold 3-9 scope.

And from a realistic perspective, you can walk into any gun store in America and buy a bolt action from any major manufacturer in any caliber between .25 and .30 and have an outstanding deer rifle.

HTH!

 

[koja48]

+1 Shawnee!

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Well, I really, *really* like, for an all-purpose deer rifle, my sporterized 94 Swedish Mauser turnbolt, with a Federal 20" barrel in 6.5x55mm, Herter's stock, Timney trigger, and and a Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10x40mm scope in Warne Maxima rings. I'll be using Federal Vital-Shok 140 gr pointed soft point factory ammo to start with this fall, since it's already sighted for that. It's lightweight, reliable, pleasant to shoot, usable at all ranges, and is very very deadly. I consider it pretty much the perfect whitetail rifle. But for a really lightweight dude for humping deep into the woods, I like my poor-man's mountain rifle, which is a Rossi Single Shot in .243 Win, sporting a Simmons Master Series Aetec 2.8-10x44mm in Burris rings. Ammo - haven't decided what it likes yet. Pretty much anything from 75 grains up to 105 grains will kill a whitetail if you hit them correctly.

However, I'm not going to rifle hunt even during gun season unless and until I've gotten a deer with my bow this year first (I will however, participate in the brief muzzleloader season, since chances are high then - that's pre-rut time).

But you can kill a deer with darn near anything, if you hit it in the right spot, so it's mostly a matter of personal preference as to rifle and caliber. But a turnbolt is popular because it works well under extreme conditions of cold, dirt, etc, is easy to clean, typically quite accurate, and can handle all types of ammo. Just buy one, and then they will start to multiply. I've got turnbolts, leverguns, and single shots for hunting, not to mention bows and muzzleloaders. Just do yourself a favor and buy high quality scope and RINGS too!

Of the "borrowed guns" you've used, which one(s) did you like the best ?

Yes, this is an excellent question.

 

[Smoke]

Model 99 in .300 Savage decent low power scope of your choice

 

[rantingredneck]

I own 2 Remington 700 ADL's. They both wear Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40's. One is a .243 win, the other is .30-06. Rem Corelokt ammo shoots well in both, though I'm reloading for the 06 now.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Get a rifle that fit's you, comes up quick and feels good in your hands. It may be a marlin 336, a 94 winchester or a bolt gun. Just about every whitetail I killed was under 100 yds. and was scope mounted (mostly 1.5x5 or fixed 3 power). Lower power scopes are quicker and bring in more light. If you're hunting longer ranges you will need a caliber sufficient for those longer shots. I have lots of rifles, but the one I hunt with the most in an older marlin .30-30 which has served me well for almost 40 years. I think the longest shot that connected was about 150 yds. Good luck.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

A few questions: Do you plan on reloading? If not, then I would rule out some good calibers, just due to difficulty of obtaining ammo, such as the 6mm, 6.5x55, 7mm Mauser, ect. Yes, you can get these rounds via the net & mail order, but your local store most likely won't have them in stock when you need them (at least thats been my experience).
Having said that, I would stick with the more 'popular' cartridges, i.e. .308, .270 winchester, 7mm Rem. mag, 30-06, ect.
Do you plan on hunting 'other game' some day, such as black bear, elk, moose, ect.? If so, you may want to go to something heavier than the 270, maybe even a .300 Win. mag....you don't need that power for deer, but you might for a moose.
As for a rlfle action, any bolt action that you prefer should do....take your pick: Savage, Remington, Ruger, Winchester, ect.

AS for glass, I prefer Leupold, and my second choice would be Nikon.

 

[unlearned69]

I was in my local Wal-Mart yesterday and they had Wearherby Vanguards on sale/clearance for $390. I had to really restrain myself from whipping out my wallet. These are pretty good rifles with the Howa action, and the price is a steal. I've had really good luck with Leupold rifleman scopes. I've shot rifles with VX-III's on them and they are awesome, but can't justify the cost for the ranges I shoot at. You could set up one of those weatherby rifles with a rifleman scope, rings, bases, a sling, and a box or two of ammo for $700 or less. Hell of a deal. For whitetail deer/antelope anything .243 and up will be fine. If you are going to have the chance to hunt mule deer and elk I wouldn't go smaller than 25-06. Just a suggestion though and totally my opinion. I'd also skip the magnums. Deer aren't all that tough.

 

[critter]

My 'ideal' deer gun is a Model 70 Win in .300 mag. Why? Has NOTHING to do with the brand or caliber!

It is very accurate, reliable, has a slick trigger, a good scope, etc. but it FITS! When I put it to my shoulder, the crosshairs are on target and the gun is ready to go AND I KNOW that if I do my job in pulling the trigger, the bullet will go where it is supposed to go and do the job it is supposed to do.

Find yourself a good brand gun in a respectable caliber that SUITES YOU TO A "T". Then PRACTICE with it till it becomes a part of you.

Go hunting! Good luck will follow!

 

[H&Hhunter]

As long as it works well and you like it. then that is the gun for you.

I'd strongly suggest a new M-70 in .30-06 topped with either a Leupold VXIII in 1.75X6 or 2.5X8. You'll never look back and you'll never be wanting for a better choice of rifle.

 

[cliffy]

If'n I had my druthers for deer . . .

Would be a 100 grain .243 Winchester Speer Grand Slam bullet, backed-up by 45.5 grains of Alliant Reloder 22, further backed-up by a MAGTECH 9 1/2 primer housed within a Lapua case, dwelling within a Remington 700 CDL with a 4.5-14x40mm premium Nikon Buckmaster scope sitting on top. Wow, long sentence! Bias, yes, but never call me inaccurate. If one does not practice regularly, may as well buy a .375 H&H Magnum and hope for a hit! Invincibility in the field, is only created by self-confidence and total confidence in one's firearm. This confidence of accuracy is only attainable at a rifle range, while expending "several" rounds. cliffy

 

[Gordon]

I got a good buck this year on a local 9000 acre ranch. I went to Africa in Sept with the owner so we compared notes. Contrary to the low front of chest just behind shoulder shots we were told to make in Africa,this ranch owner insists that I shoot 'his' deer in the neck. I willingly comply as he spends days driving me around in his jeep to the known bucks on his ranch. I am expected to shoot up to 300 yards, with the average shot 100-200 yards or a little farther. My favorite deer gun (and I have dozens of canidates)used to be a 1955 Savage 99F in .308 with a 3x Lyman all American Perma Centered tapered post and 150 grain Corelocks.That will get me 3-4" groups at 200 yards.Good for Eastern woods or timbered areas out west, but not quite precise for an open ranch!
Today my Ideal deer gun has become a Winchester Conn. Roll marked Model 70 stainless classic with a 3-9 Leupold Varix2 silver in Deadnutz mounts with a Harris bipod. The .270 Win short mag shoots 130 grain Federal Barnes Triple Shok (we have to use unleaded ammo in Monterey County!) bullets into 3-4" at 300 yards 2" low and never rises more than 2" on the way out there! I'm sold! The gun also feeds and cycles flawlessly and I adjusted the trigger to a 2.5 pound icicle+ Ideal deer gun for up to 300 yard neck shots and it weighs 8 pounds loaded and slung!BTW I took this .270WSM to Africa along with the .375 Rem 700 on bottom . I had one shot kills on all the smaller plains game I shot with it (5 species), the kudu , wildebeast,and Orix were shot with the .375

 

[ReadyontheRight]

My Top 2:

1. Savage Scout rifle in .308 with a forward-mounted Leupold M8 EER scope.

2. Remington 7600 in 30-06 with Leupold 3-9X scope.

Both with backup iron sights and quick-release scope mounts.

 

[bfhcards]

I have only been hunting a few years and I only have one non-muzzle loading deer rifle.

I love it and it shoots well even with me behind the trigger

700 sps 30-06 with Leupold 3x9 VxII

I love it and I got it on sale. I think the scope ended up costing as much as the gun.

 

[jeepmor]

Go to a gunstore and feel em up, particularly the bolt action if you choose that route. Tika has the smoothest stock production bolt I've felt. But I don't own one, brother does. I have a Ruger in stainless and laminated stock with a leupold scope. Not high budget scope, just a VXI with Butler Creek flip up scope covers. I chose 300WSM because I hunt deer and elk. I like the 300WinMag power in a short action rifle. If I were to buy today, I'd probably go with a Ruger RCM (rugers WSM cartridge) in the same 30 caliber version.

I chose stainless and laminated because I live in the PNW rain doesn't bother it any. Some like the synthetics, but I'm a big fan of laminates for the beauty and stability the laminate construction provides in PNW weather.

 

[ishredinmysleep]

the best deer rifle out there is a browning stainless stalker in a 7mm rem mag with a leopold vxIII 3.5-10x50 scope

 

[Bear70]

"the best deer rifle out there is a browning stainless stalker in a 7mm rem mag with a leopold vxIII 3.5-10x50 scope"

The 'best' is very subjective, but that is indeed a very nice setup! My main hunting rifle is a .270 with Nikon Buckmaster 3-9x40 and it serves me very well! My .30-06 and .30-30 get lonely so you have to also give them some love.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Depends on many factors:

How far will you likely be toting it? 50 yards to the stand, or 5 miles into the woods, or somewhere in between?

What's your age and general level of shape?

What's the terrain & flora like where you are? Flat, hills, or mountains? 100% woods, 90% woods / 10% open fields, 80/20, 70/30, what? How large/small are the fields/pastures?

Where are you hunting? Sasketchewan 300 pounders or Texas hill country 70 pounders?


Edit: This part deleted because I already replied above....danged CRS...

I'll give a close 2nd place to my Remington model Seven in .243 Win, and honorable mention to my DPMS LR-260L. I do like very much the ability to stalk through the woods using a 1-point or 3-point sling (African style carry) to hold the rifle at the low ready without creating fatigue on the arms - you can do this easily with an EBR since such slings are designed for them, out of the box.

 

[bearmgc]

Oh geez, when you consider that years ago a guys first rifle was a handmedown from dad or uncle. And he brought home the game, cause that's what he had to use and he learned how to shoot it.
Today so many selections both new and used at so many prices. Funny, a guy posts this question every week. I've got Tikkka, Browning, Marlin, Remington, Swedes, H&R, because I can, and they all shoot just great, and make meat. In 10 years or so, they'll all be sold and I'll have just one or two, cause my hunting days will be coming to an end. Choose a decent rifle and learn how to shoot it Second part is most important. No brand name, caliber or bullet will compensate for a bad shot.