Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Your go to deer rifle?

I have shot more deer with a 30-06 than any other but the last few years I have tried to use a different caliber each season. I really love my savage 99 featherweight in 300 savage but if pinned down to one gun it would be my Remington Model 7 in 7-08 with a 2-7 leupold.

Ok guys only one! make your choice. Captdavid

Well, that's pretty much it, and no. I don't have to decide, because it's just a game. I'm not going to say it's a goofy game, because I think it's a valid question. However, God's blessed me with the means to keep a whole rack of deer rifles, and the hunting venues that allow me to use them.

My opinion is that having more deer rifles than just one is good thing for two reasons:

1) It is probably best to have one deer rifle for each type of hunting you do. A good rifle for stalking is not going to be the best for treestands which is not going to be the best for posting on the ground.

2) I've had to give up hunting due to a mishap with my rifle, because I've always had a backup. I always take at least two rifles with me, and I've had to go to my backup on at least three occasions over the past 35+ seasons.

a) In one case, I had a "CLICK" instead as a "BANG." Rather than try to diagnose the trouble, I put the rifle in the case and went to the backup. The next day I filled my tag.
b) In another case, I had a miss on a buck at close distance. It was obvious the scope was off. Into the case the rifle went (the Savage99) and out came the Remington 7600 in 35 Whelen and I didn't worry about the scope until after season.
c) In 2004, my Remington 742 was the victim of a freak wind that blew it off the wall rack and it hit the concrete. The scope was smashed. Out came the backup (the Savage99) and off I went.

I agree!

338 RUM............

After looking at all the beautiful rifles, I'm almost ashamed to mention mine. Almost...but not quite. Because I have 2 or 3 beautiful rifles but for the last 6 or 7 yrs, I take my little Marlin xl7 in 25/06. For 15 yrs or so prior to getting the Marlin, I shot my 77 UL in 270 and thought I would retire using it. But I like the Marlin and bought it because it is light and I had previous had a 25/06 and loved it but didn't like the heaviness of it after I had back problems. I put a Vortex Viper 2-7 Var. on it. I shoot 120 gr. Core-Lokts and have never had to change the scope since I got the rifle. In those 6 or 7 yrs I think I have killed around 15 deer, have never missed, and have seen what every deer has done when I pulled the trigger. Most have fallen where they were standing when they were shot. For me, it doesn't get any better than that! For now anyway...lol

Ruger 77 7x57

!

Many times difficult to tell the difference between the 25-06 and the .270.

Doc

I opened my safes yesterday, there was a bunch of pissed off rifles in there. They had heard I picked one of my Kleinguenther's as my go to rifle. I told them it was fake news the Dumbocrats had put out.😊😊😊

You deserve it for being an elitist! Ha ha
Just a joke.

I better look in my safe to see if you stole my rifle...

My deer gun is very similar... shoot barnes vortex 150 grain and nikon 1.5 - 5 x scope.
The rifle was a gift from my father.

Something ugly & SS & Sythetic comes out in the rain though

280 rem pre 64 fwt 120 ttsx

For the past twelve years or so, my .25-06 Rem 700 CDL with the 6x Leupold & handloaded 115 grain Nosler Blue Cyclones!

Oh, that's my "lucky stump" here in Washington... Mule deer, bear... It's been a good place to hang out with a rifle, and watch quietly.







Regards, Guy

Marlin .30-30 RC with Simmons 3x10x44 scope. Yea, I know, the scope is too darn big. It's been on the gun for about 25 years and the combo shoots great with about everything, especially Hornady Leverevolutions. Confidence level is super high when I carry it.

I will never have just one rifle, but the 'old standby' would definitely be my model 700 ADL in 270 shooting 130 NBTs.

M70 .270, or if the mood strikes, a 336 SC .30/30. Only two I have now, I sold off some excess rifles a couple of months ago.

No matter, I'm not exactly excited about deer hunting any more, anyway.

For some reason, inexplicable to me, rimfires have caught my attention more and more here lately.

My fast twist 243. I take advantage of the slippery 105s for the LONG shots....

Too many fine rifles to limit myself to one. I do enjoy shooting this M70 .270 that sports a reasonably rare factory stainless steel barrel.

Woodson, aren't you stretching the capabilities of that round a little??