With Deer Season Approaching: Rifle/Chambering/Load/Optic

Primary woods rig is a Remington 760 in .35 Rem wearing a 2-7X Leupold.
Haven't blooded my still new Steyr Prohunter .30-06 w Leupold 3.5-10X.
And talked myself out of buying a Ruger #1 50th anniv .308 this weekend.

May bowhunt through gun, Blackwidow recurve stands a chance at P&Y then (when the pressure better moves stuff to our spot).
 
Most likely I’ll be taking my Tikka T3x compact in .308 Win.
the load will either be 150 Accubonds or 130 Barnes ttsx, ain’t decided yet.
Vortex 1.75 - 5 x 32 diamondback
I also have a REM 700 in 30-06 and if I take that it’ll be 150 Accubonds.
For where I hunt the Tikka is so much more a handy rifle and easy to carry over the Rem 700.
I don’t know how so of you guys are able to make the decision what to carry when you have so many options. A good dilemma to have I bet!

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LoonWulf said:
Think ill take the Savage 99 in .243 i got from @NIGHTLORD40K when i go home next week. I shot it yesterday and it does fine with my generic 100gr sbts and 4831
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A 99 is a "grail gun" for me, hopefully in .250-3000. Unfortunately, (?) I realized this past year that I already have many more guns than I "need", including more modern "just right" whitetail cartridges like the .224 Valkyrie and 6.5 Grendel. I think I'm going to give away the .25-06 Model 70 I got some years ago. I haven't fired it, and I have a buddy who loves the caliber.
 
JShirley said:
A 99 is a "grail gun" for me, hopefully in .250-3000. Unfortunately, (?) I realized this past year that I already have many more guns than I "need", including more modern "just right" whitetail cartridges like the .224 Valkyrie and 6.5 Grendel. I think I'm going to give away the .25-06 Model 70 I got some years ago. I haven't fired it, and I have a buddy who loves the caliber.
Click to expand...
Yeah a 99 in 250, or 300 savage like @JDeere has, would be up there on my grab list!
Ive always thought they were a cool design, and i liked they way they shot, but with the cost i havent gotten one till now, so those are probably pipe dreams for me.
 
I realized I totally forgot about the “long range” inline muzzleloader I’m also getting ready to run this season. That’s a 50 cal CVA Accura LR-X. Running about 100 gr of blackHorn 209,( or else whitehots) and the new Hornady BoreDriver eldx. I’m running a “sitting around” vortex crossfire on it for a scope. Might fiddle with my dads 45 cal Hawken too…
 
JmacD said:
I realized I totally forgot about the “long range” inline muzzleloader I’m also getting ready to run this season. That’s a 50 cal CVA Accura LR-X. Running about 100 gr of blackHorn 209,( or else whitehots) and the new Hornady BoreDriver eldx. I’m running a “sitting around” vortex crossfire on it for a scope. Might fiddle with my dads 45 cal Hawken too…
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I missed the season for the area where i usual use my muzzleloader, but that does remind me that there should be another opportunity in a few month. Only shot one goat with my 10ml-2 so far.....it deserves to do more than break rocks.
 
Before season opens i'll check the zero on my Navy Arms .54 caliber and TC .50 Caliber rifles. Patched round balls forever:


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JShirley said:
A 99 is a "grail gun" for me, hopefully in .250-3000. Unfortunately, (?) I realized this past year that I already have many more guns than I "need", including more modern "just right" whitetail cartridges like the .224 Valkyrie and 6.5 Grendel. I think I'm going to give away the .25-06 Model 70 I got some years ago. I haven't fired it, and I have a buddy who loves the caliber.
Click to expand...
If I found a good wood #1B in .25-06 I'd proly have to snag it.
Or a 700 Stainless synth.

Had a 99 in .300 Savage. EG model 1935.
Used Lightfoot scope mount, worked fine, but scoped, the rifle changed in balance and feel.
Rather have a .250-3000 featherweight.

If I get the #1 .308 was thinking of putting an Aipoint T2 at front ring location to help it remain a non boat anchor LOL
 
Thinking the aperture sighted Ruger 6.5x55mm for still hunting, as I came across some Norma SE loaded 140 gr. Partition ammo on clearance.
(Carried the M1 rifle last Season, and it worked out really well when the hogs show up.)

Then probably the Model 70 .270Win with the scope for evenings, because of the light.
 
I'm looking forward to trying a new rifle this year. With so many good budget rifles out there I picked up a Savage Axis lefthanded 308. I traded off a Savage Axis 30-06 that I picked up on clearance from Wal-Mart towards it.
I topped the rifle with a Hawke Vantage 3-9 scope. From my understanding the Hawke scope is comparable to a Vortex in quality. The rifle/scope/mounts would all MSRP for around $600.

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(Savage Axis is the first rifle from the top)

I have three different options for ammo. I still need to shoot the rifle and hopefully one of the three shoots MOA or less. I would like to hunt with the Cooper Impact. I have not shot any animals (other than game birds) with a non-lead bullet. 20231005_093703.jpg

My Weatherby MarkV ultra lightweight 7rm with a Leopold Vari-X III 3.5×10 with 154 grain SST will serve as my backup rifle.
 
Browning BLR, .308 Winchester, factory iron sights, or, Benelli M2, 12 Gauge, nicely bold factory iron sights on “Tactical” barrel. If I get around to adding an optic, that needed sighting-in, it would probably be an Aimpoint T-1, or the Aimpoint shotgun optic that mounts on a vent-rib barrel. (I have both optics, plus the 21” vent-rib barrel for the Benelli, but neither optic is yet mounted.)

A deer, this season, would be a short-range target of opportunity, on private wooded creek-bottom land owned by my wife’s family. We visit the land, while armed for potential human adversaries, due to a past history of poaching, general trespassing, burglary of the pump house, and attempted theft of a entire portable building. A feral hog would be a more-likely four-legged target, and they do grow big in SE Texas.
 
If I'm hinting in northern Michigan, I use 2 rifles. In the morning and evening when I am in a blind, I use a Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 topped with a 1.5 -6x Leupold pistol scope mounted in a custom mount, kind of like a scout rifle. When walking around midday, it's a Rossi 92 in 45Colt, open sights.
 
Pick up that .308 Ruger #1 next week.
My willpower is pretty weak.
Will try the American Whitetail 150gr
Might have some left from when I had the M77 boatpaddle.
Have to go dig.
 
For gun season (first week of December here) I'm shooting my Marlin 1895 GBL with a Burris RT6 1-6x, and my hand loaded 300gr SP's at 1850fps. and I just put a Viper PST 1-6x that my wife asked for on her Ruger 99/44 44 Mag, she'll be shooting hand loaded 225gr Barnes XPB's at about 1650fps. Gotta zero her new scope, and make sure mine is still zeroed! I can only seem to find a picture of hers!

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*Christen Arms Mesa 28 Nosler, Burris Fullfield IV.
150gr Barnes TTSX over US869

*Browning X-bolt 7mm Rem Mag, Burris Fullfield IV.
140gr Barnes TTSX over RL22

*Winchester Model 70 264 Win Mag, Burris Fullfield E1. 120gr Barnes TTSX over RL22

*Tikka T3x 270 WSM, Burris Fullfield E1.
130gr Barnes TTSX over RL22

If I can get my 300 Wby back shooting good that will be on the table too.
 
Main deer rifle is a Ruger Hawkeye Standard in 7mm-08 with a Leupold VX II 3x9 using federal fusion. The backup is a Kimber Hunter in .243 with a Meopta Optica 5 3x15 and again Federal fusion. Late season muzzleloader is a CVA Optima 50 cal with a cheap scope and a big piece of lead and some white hot pellets.
 
Illinois here. Henry single shot 357 (until I get it hogged out to Legend or Buckhammer) and a Burris compact4X
 
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