Your go to deer rifle? You can only choose one gun and one load. Only one! It might not be perfect for some applications, but it'll do for any deer hunting to be done with a rifle. Also why you would pick it. Mine is a commercial FN Mauser, 7x57,3-9 scope, 150 Partitions, @2700fps. Why, because it's about perfect, for all my shooting up to my, self imposed maximum range of 300yds. Plus, Bell, Corbett and O'Connor. Captdavid
Last edited by captdavid; 02/27/17.
"It's not how hard you hit 'em, it's where you hit 'em." The 30-06 will, with the right bullet, successfully take any game animal in North America up to 300yds.
If you are a hunter, and farther than that, get closer!
Remington Titanium .270 with KS profile 23" Hart barrel. 110gr. TTSX @3475-3500fps. No hesitations as far as trajectory is concerned this side of 400yds.
NRA Benefactor Member
"When democracy turns to tyranny, the armed citizenry still gets to vote!"
I tend to travel a different route than the bolt crowd. Same one I've been using since 1979, Remington 760 Pump Carbine in 30-06, with Leupold Vari X III 1.5X5 scope and 150 grain bullets of one persuasion or another.
Last edited by wink_man; 02/27/17.
Garry Trump won !!! Trying to live like a free man in the Communist Republic of New Jersey. Love your country, distrust your government. Democrats and the people who vote for them, enemies of America and a free American people
Ruger MK II 7-08 with 120 NBT. Top with Leupold 6x42 with M1 elevation turret.
Deans
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” ISAIAH 41:10
"Go To" too me means "all weather, anywhere, horse, truck, ATV, walk in" that being the case, mine is a Ruger Hawkeye stainless synthetic in 358 Winchester, 200 gr TTSX's at 2700 fps guided by a matte 2-7 Leupold in matte cerakoted Ruger rings, a Butler Creek cap for the front lens and a little camo duct tape around the scope tube for the muzzle in case of rain gets it all done with ease.
Having Darren75 here at the 'Fire put an excellent paint job on the stock is all I've done to it, no bedding or floating, no trigger job either, the damn thing will shoot half inch groups when it's not too windy and I'm doing my job.
I tend to travel a different route than the bolt crowd. Same one I've been using since 1979, Remington 760 Pump Carbine in 30-06, with Leupold Vari X III 1.5X5 scope and 150 grain bullets of one persuasion or another.
Nice rifle. For me I'd go with my early 700 Mt Rifle in 30-06 . Leupold 3-9 and 165 gr nosler bt. I've shot deer with it from 10 ft to right at 500 yds .
I have quite a few rifles, but this 2008 production Winchester 308 EW is the only one I've hunted with in 5-6 years. I bought it used in 2009 and hunted with it as is for a year before buying the Edge stock 2nd hand here.
I've experimented with lots of different bullets and loads; if forced to pick one it's be 165 gr Accubonds at about 2750 fps.
Last edited by JMR40; 02/27/17.
Most people don't really want the truth.
They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.
My 13 year old, ugly, blued, blood etched, M-70 Classic in an unpainted grey synthetic stock with a Khales 3x9 4a reticle shooting Hornady 165 grain factory loads which I can't find these days but still have 6 boxes which should last a few more years since the gun has only needed a sight adjustment once in the past 10 years. This rifle has killed many local and Kansas whitetails, a couple of little Mexican Coues deer, a handful of desert mule deer, feral hogs, coyotes, bobcats and few antelope at ranges out to 350 yards with boring regularity. The rifle has been used by my brother, uncle, daughter and adopted daughter's boyfriend to kill deer.
I have a lot of rifles, but when I go deer hunting, the one that always goes along is an old Rem 700 FS LH in 270 Win with a 3.5-10x50 Leupold. Have shot a lot of different bullets but generally stick with a Hornady of some kind. Total confidence at any reasonable range. This one has been there and done that a lot.
Remington Model 7 in 308 Winchester, the 20" barrel version with a Leupold 2.5-8x36 shooting Fusion 165s. Soon to be in a McMillian Mountain Rifle stock; replaced trigger with Timney set at 2.75. Doesn't shoot amazing groups at 100 (hovers around 1") but kills everything I aim at with it dead up to around 300 yards so far. A pure joy to use...
Lots of rifles, but this has been working well lately. Marlin 336 in .30-30 with a 2.5X Weaver. It shoots 140 grain Hornady Monoflex factory into nice little groups. Bob
Today it would be my mod 70 ft wgt in 6.5x55 with the 2-7x Redfield scope and 129gr Hornady's. In the past for a lot of years it was a mod 660 Rem in 308, 165gr Hornady with a 2 3/4x redfield. My son has it now. I'm not sure I know how or when that happened, or why! I did get back my scope, he needed a 3-9x on it!
In the past my go to rifle was a Ruger M77 RL Ultra Light chambered for the 257 Roberts Ackley Improved. However I just bought a new rifle. I'm certain this will be my new go to rifle. It's a Kimber 84M chambered for the 257 Roberts. I still have to have the scope mounted as well as some other minor stuff. But I'll be using this one in the future.
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If you reload, there's no such thing as an obsolete cartridge.
Once you render an opinion, you open yourself up to criticism.
My current go-to combo is a Kimber Montana, Leupold Vari-X II 2X7, and Federal Fusion .308 165gr factory loads.
Easy to carry, good weather resistance, accurate, flexible enough for shots from arms length out to several hundred yds, and enough bullet weight for big deer.
But its not my only deer rifle! Last count I have 7 lever or bolt actions in the 25 to 35 caliber bracket that I'd consider suitable for deer.
I've got two favourites. The first is my Savage 99 in 308 WIN. I shoot 165 grain Hornady Interlocks over H4895 out of it. It is my Opening Day gun. It only shots large bucks and then goes back on the rack.
The new favourite is my Ruger Hawkeye in 30-06. It too shoots 165 grainers over H4895.
Between them, they've scored 3 of the top five bucks at our camp.
"It's not how hard you hit 'em, it's where you hit 'em." The 30-06 will, with the right bullet, successfully take any game animal in North America up to 300yds.
If you are a hunter, and farther than that, get closer!
I've got two favourites. The first is my Savage 99 in 308 WIN. I shoot 165 grain Hornady Interlocks over H4895 out of it. It is my Opening Day gun. It only shots large bucks and then goes back on the rack.
The new favourite is my Ruger Hawkeye in 30-06. It too shoots 165 grainers over H4895.
Between them, they've scored 3 of the top five bucks at our camp.
If I ever decide to hunt whitetails again, the go to rifle will probably be the little .40 calibre flintlock Jäger style rifle I am currently attempting to assemble.
Founder Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
I have five big game rifles. Three are full custom bolt actions. But my "go to" rifle is a Springfield Armory M1A Squad Scout with a 1.5-4X VX2 Scout Scope. That's because of the special conditions I face in my choice of deer hunts. All of the bucks I've wanted to kill lately were all running shots. They duck and dodge in cover making precise placement of the first one very difficult. So a quick, follow up aimed shot is a huge asset. I also need a rifle that will function after days of accumulating the fine dust that gets into everything after days of hunting fresh tracks from my jeep. This is the best I've been able to come up with. She's a little heavier than I like, but, so far, it is working out well. E
If I ever decide to hunt whitetails again, the go to rifle will probably be the little .40 calibre flintlock Jäger style rifle I am currently attempting to assemble.
Well, I gave one .270 to my son-in-law who wanted to start deer hunting, and I gave the other one to my only nephew (who only hunts deer) because I wanted him to have a nice rifle. So, it's going to be the .257 AI, just as soon as we deal with the damage that it suffered as we were somersaulting down a steep scree slope on the December Coues whitetail hunt. Unfortunately the rifle and scope didn't fare quiet as well as I did.
A "before" picture:
Ben
Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...
For anywhere/anytime, this .308 with 150 BT's over Varget (actually any load I've tried in it has been good). Ain't real pretty, looks like a plain Jane off the rack at Walmart rifle. Stainless M7 action, stainless #2 barrel at 22", cerakoted black, black Edge fill McMill, DNZ mounts, 6x42 scope. It's a plain Jane killer.
I have settled into a CLR/NULA in 7x57 for my deer hunting.
It is lightweight and easy handling, not to mention extremely accurate with 120 gr Barnes TTSX. I've also shot 140 gr TTSX and 160 gr Nosler Accubonds out of this rifle with good results.
It wears a 3-9x40 Zeiss Diavari with a simple duplex retical. I have no excuse, nor desire, to shoot further than 300 yards, and more often than not, it is closer to 100 yards.
It's definitely a keeper.
donsm70
Life Member...Safari Club International Life Member...Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Life Member...Keystone Country Elk Alliance Life Member...National Rifle Association
I have a safe full of good candidates but for most of my open land hunts I find my Rem 700 in 257 WBY gets the call most often as I just have utter faith it it's abilities. For hunting timber where the chance of stretching out a shot isn't as common more often then not it's my Kimber Montana 300 WSM due to weight and maneuverability. My grandpas old 742 '06 still goes for a few hunts each year as my way of remembering him.
Like I said 10-12 other options in what I consider good "deer" rounds from .243-7 RM that I use occasionally as well. Have bigger and smaller calibers as well but those 2 do most do the work.
I just got a new wildcat short action magnum that if I am currently working up loads as a "do-all" that will likely see a lot of hunts this year to see wtf it does.
"It's not how hard you hit 'em, it's where you hit 'em." The 30-06 will, with the right bullet, successfully take any game animal in North America up to 300yds.
If you are a hunter, and farther than that, get closer!
I have 30 or so deer rifles, if I absolutely had to pick one, it would be a Kleinguenther 7 Rem mag. I usually take the one that hollers the loudest when I open the safes.
A 45 caliber Sharps with barrel buck horn and blade front sights.I shoot a 510 grain cast paper patched bullet. You never recover a bullet, and you never lose a deer--or any other animal, for that matter.
I've had a 30-06 for a lot of years. I'm down to 4 of them right now, but a Ruger M77 MkII stainless with a Zytel stock and a Leupold VX 3 2.5-8 on it. What more can a guy need? I also use Federal Premium 180 grain NPT's in it, regardless of not needing them. If it isn't broke, don't fix it.
NRA LIFE MEMBER GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS ESPECIALLY THE SNIPERS! "Suppose you were an idiot And suppose you were a member of Congress... But I repeat myself." -Mark Twain
Husqvarna Model 46 - $125 Bubbaswede from SARCO. Rebarreled to 257 Roberts with a $78, 21" Green Mountain closeout barrel. Nikon 2-7 on it. Hogue recoil pad let me cut off the chips at the stock toe. Stripped the polyurethane stuff on the stock and oiled it. The original barrel had a badly pitted chamber and the Weaver mounts were on it. I think I improved Bubbaswedes's work and didn't destroy anything.
100 grain Nosler Partition, H4895, CCI Primer, Nosler Brass. Handy and light.
Well, here's the thing. There are a whole lot of reasons the Savage 99 is my favorite:
1) In my opinion, it comes close to the optimal rifle for whitetail deer hunting. 2) I've bagged most of my big bucks with it. 3) I cannot think of a better system for taking deer out of a treestand.
On the other hand, the Hawkeye is a better all-around rifle.
1) I've loaded the Savage 99 to .300 Savage levels, so it does not have quite the whallop at 200 yards as I would prefer. However, it is perfect for the deep woods.
2) I prefer to keep the Savage 99 home when it rains. The Hawkeye is stainless. 3) The optics on the Hawkeye, a Bushnell Elite 3-9X40, are phenomenal. I have successfully taken deer at 150 yards in the last minute of legal hunting.
As a result, when the deer are still in the oaks in the early part of season, I'm up a tree with the Savage. Once they move out into the pastures, I put the Savage down and pick up the Hawkeye. Somewhere during the two weeks of season, I try rotate through the rest of the arsenal.
hehe, hehe, hehe, you still gotta, decide!!. Just one....
It's obvious to me. Your heart says 99, your brain says Hawkeye! Captdavid
"It's not how hard you hit 'em, it's where you hit 'em." The 30-06 will, with the right bullet, successfully take any game animal in North America up to 300yds.
If you are a hunter, and farther than that, get closer!
Although I have several options on the rack, I nearly always grab a Remington Model Seven, re-barreled and reamed out to 7mm08 Improved. It has a Rem. Tupperware stock with a plate of melted wheel weights in the stock to balance it out from the heavier barrel. I tend to use 120 gr. ballistic tips pushed by Varget powder. Muzzle velocity at around 3180. I have killed lots of deer with this gun, and some other stuff like pigs and Javeleno's , but nothing big. miles
Open field hunting on the farm means taking the 300WM. Woods hunting means taking the 16" 6.8SPC AR. Swamps and thick stuff means taking the 12.5" 6.8SPC AR.
Girlfriend took over the 300WM so i just used the 16" 6.8SPC as i was just backup at that point.
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.
"It's not how hard you hit 'em, it's where you hit 'em." The 30-06 will, with the right bullet, successfully take any game animal in North America up to 300yds.
If you are a hunter, and farther than that, get closer!
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.
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
"Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."
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
Many times difficult to tell the difference between the 25-06 and the .270.
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.😊😊😊
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've got two favourites. The first is my Savage 99 in 308 WIN. I shoot 165 grain Hornady Interlocks over H4895 out of it. It is my Opening Day gun. It only shots large bucks and then goes back on the rack.
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
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.
Nut
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
White super safari 91 in .451 caliber. Soft lead cast 460 grain flat nose 'news' bullets.
Why? boringly consistent out to 130 or so yards, which is plenty far for the deer I shoot at.
Hits super hard and always expands. Inexpensive ammo.
Sure the trajectory is a rainbow, but imo that just means hunt closer or better.
That, and NJ imposed a ML/Bow/shotgun restriction. I cant hit [bleep] with a bow, and good shotgun ammo is too pricey to practice with imo. Plus no shotgun I have fits as nice as the White.
If i had to forgo a ML and stick with shotgun, I'd get a savage 220. Honest to goodness tack driving, though homely.
Originally Posted by Archerhunter
Quit giving in inch by inch then looking back to lament the mile behind ya and wonder how to preserve those few feet left in front of ya. They'll never stop until they're stopped. That's a fact.
My fast twist 243. I take advantage of the slippery 105s for the LONG shots....
Originally Posted by Archerhunter
Quit giving in inch by inch then looking back to lament the mile behind ya and wonder how to preserve those few feet left in front of ya. They'll never stop until they're stopped. That's a fact.
I own just one rifle. Rem 798 in 30-06. Bullet is Lapua's 170gr Naturalis which I reload myself. After this season I updated my old Leupold M8 scope to Zeiss' DL 3-12x50 with daylight usable light dot. Now I should be pretty well equipped for both driven hunts for deer and moose and night time hunts for deer. Can't wait for the fall
Kimber Classic Select in .243. A joy to carry, and, it just flat out shoots. When you pull the trigger with 95 Grain Hornady SSTs, it's like the deer are hit with a lightning bolt.
Is it just me, or does this deer look like it has a surprise look on his face...lol? I guess it is the way the rifle laying across it's face. Just looks like to me it is about to get up and bolt! Love the old 99's and have my LGS owner looking for me one. But I do have a 284 (Win M100) and love the cartridge.
A Savage 99F in 308 Winchester or another 99, an R model in 300 Sav.
"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed-unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." James Madison
i have a lot of deer guns but if i had to pick one all around it would be my rem 7600 factory carbine in 35 whelen. i had a match trigger job put on it and it has a bushnell elite 3200 2-7x32. it is a moa gun out to 200 yards and a one holer at 50 yards.
Mine would be a pre-64 Model 70 in 308 with a 4x Leupold that Jim Cloward bedded into a Pacific Research stock. Had to sell it during a divorce, but I'd buy it back in a heartbeat.
Current choice is a classic pawnshop 30-06:
It cost me $600 OTD with a Leupold 3-9 (not the one on it in the pic).
Build Sheet Barreled action: Ruger M-77 Mk II in 30-06 Stock: Bell & Carlson, not sure which model, with a hillbilly Krylon paint job that's starting to wear off along the forend Scope: Leupold 3-9 with CDS, standard reticle Work: Glass bedded, free floated, maybe a trigger job Metal Finish: Whatever comes from Ruger, but I'll paint it dark gray before I hunt with it Sling: Cheap Latigo copy Weight: 8.5 pounds, which is OK because I don't like a rifle that's too light. I might switch to fixed 4x for hunting, which will drop the weight by about six ounces.
Every time I uncase it, I feel like I should grow a mullet and start jacklighting whitetail does out of a Camaro. But it shoots MOA to 200 yards with cheap Federal factory ammo so I'm growing irrationally fond of it.
It's near-twin in 338 WM showed up here a couple of weeks ago and is shaping up to be just as good.
I might just be set for hunting rifles now, but don't tell anyone I said that.
Okie John
Last edited by okie john; 03/06/17.
Originally Posted by Brad
If Montana had a standing army, a 270 Win with Federal Blue Box 130's would be the standard issue.
Ohio has been a shotgun state for a long time, and only went rifle in the last few years. Since I only have one deer caliber rifle, it would have to be my AR-15 .450Bushmaster. And it has yet to even be fired at a deer.
An unemployed Jester, is nobody's Fool.
the only real difference between a good tracker and a bad tracker, is observation. all the same data is present for both. The rest, is understanding what you're seeing.
A "go to" deer rifle depends on where I "go to". Thicker woods call for a Marlin 30AS with a 1-4x Leupold using Speer 170 gr. F.P.'s backed up by a suitable dose of IMR-3031. In more open locales there's a nice little Kimber sporterized Mod. 96 Swedish Mauser in 6.5x55 with a 3.5-10x Leupold that has a "go to" load with a 129 gr. Hornady Spire Point driven by IMR- 4831. If I go to a shotgun zone it's a 12 ga. "rifle". An 870 "Special Purpose Deer" slug gun with Remington fully rifled replacement barrel and a 2.5x Leupold. That one can take 3" stuff but works best with Winchester 2 & 3/4" BRI Sabot slugs. If I ever "go to" Wyoming again my two "go to" rifles are a Ruger 77 Mk. II in .25-06 with a 6-18x Leupold and 117 gr. Sierra Pro-Hunters fueled by RL-22 and a Savage Mod. 10 in 300 WSM with a 3.5-10x Leupold shooting 150 gr. Accubonds with Nosler's accuracy load of IMR-4064.
Nice buck WN, I've had the crazy thought as of late to find a 760/7600 in 35 Remington for some strange reason, thinking it would be a fun gun to work up a good hunting load with and smack some deer and pigs this year.
Nice buck WN, I've had the crazy thought as of late to find a 760/7600 in 35 Remington for some strange reason, thinking it would be a fun gun to work up a good hunting load with and smack some deer and pigs this year.
Gunner...like this one?
'Tis far better to walk alone than to follow a crowd going the wrong way.
Nice buck WN, I've had the crazy thought as of late to find a 760/7600 in 35 Remington for some strange reason, thinking it would be a fun gun to work up a good hunting load with and smack some deer and pigs this year.
About 2 yrs. ago, the LGS had 2 760's in the 35 Rem. One wore the stock like the one on my 760 I inherited from daddy that was bought in about the mid-60's with the smooth pistol grip and the metal buttplate. Not sure how old the other one was as it had the after market black, plastic on stock and forearm. Wished a 1000 times I had bought the one with the old wooden pieces on it. Maybe I will find another one at some point.
Nice buck WN, I've had the crazy thought as of late to find a 760/7600 in 35 Remington for some strange reason, thinking it would be a fun gun to work up a good hunting load with and smack some deer and pigs this year.
Gunner...like this one?
Be danged WN, was thinking blue steel and walnut, didn't know they made them in that configuration, or did you have that done?
Talk about a hardwood creek bottom Thumper, that is one!
Nice buck WN, I've had the crazy thought as of late to find a 760/7600 in 35 Remington for some strange reason, thinking it would be a fun gun to work up a good hunting load with and smack some deer and pigs this year.
About 2 yrs. ago, the LGS had 2 760's in the 35 Rem. One wore the stock like the one on my 760 I inherited from daddy that was bought in about the mid-60's with the smooth pistol grip and the metal buttplate. Not sure how old the other one was as it had the after market black, plastic on stock and forearm. Wished a 1000 times I had bought the one with the old wooden pieces on it. Maybe I will find another one at some point.
Hate it when that happens, and I've done it too, betting one like that is gonna be hard to find again.
Oh well, we'll always have yard sales, now to only learn to stomach going to them.
I'm over 80. Been hunting Deer since I was around 35. Had a bunch of different rifles and calibre's. I now have it narrowed down to two. Both Tikka's T-3 Lite's. One is a .270 and the other is a 30-06. I put a Vortex Diamondback 6-12X40 on both and I use any name brand ammo. The 30-06 likes Federal Fusion 185's and the .270 like's 150 grain Hornady Interbond's. I hunt mainly in the North Woods of Wisconsin. Hardly ever more than a 200 yard shot. Some of you guys have fine Rifles. I envy you, but i"m resolved to keep it simple.
These swamp thumpers amuse me. I went that way one time too... ended up 50 beowulf which is about like a mild 45-70... due to hunting in the brush in east texas on public land at the tiem, where I had a223 deflect off unseen brush.
Shot a few deer with it, as far as I can tell over the years, the 223 kills as well as the big round.
But if you like short guns, they sure are handy, I ended up going back to a shorty 223 AR for East Texas and have never had an issue. Have had a few bang flops with non CNS hits with it. NEVER had that with the big round.
Strange in a way I think.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
Winchester 54 .30-30 bolt gun. 190 grain cast lead flat nose at 1900fps, Lyman receiver sight. Tickles me sh*tless for the eastern woodlands I loaf in.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
Winchester 54 .30-30 bolt gun. 190 grain cast lead flat nose at 1900fps, Lyman receiver sight. Tickles me sh*tless for the eastern woodlands I loaf in.
gnoahhh. Sweet. What hardness of lead do you use?
'Tis far better to walk alone than to follow a crowd going the wrong way.
Winchester 54 .30-30 bolt gun. 190 grain cast lead flat nose at 1900fps, Lyman receiver sight. Tickles me sh*tless for the eastern woodlands I loaf in.
gnoahhh. Sweet. What hardness of lead do you use?
bhn 11-13. Basically clip-on wheelweights with a pinch of tin added as a sweetener.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
i have a lot of deer guns but if i had to pick one all around it would be my rem 7600 factory carbine in 35 whelen. i had a match trigger job put on it and it has a bushnell elite 3200 2-7x32. it is a moa gun out to 200 yards and a one holer at 50 yards.
Depends on the area hunted, and what type of deer. In the Northern Minnesota woods an old 98K Mauser BCD code from '44. Still has its original 8mm barrel and I installed Redfield peeps. It was the freezer rifle for many years. Now a toss up between a Sauer 101 in 7X64 or a CZ550FS in 6.5X55.
My favorite is a little different. the CZ 527 24" barrel chambered in 6.5 Grendel with a 100 grain TTSX has only been my favorite for the last 2 years now. Have been a few others over the previous 35 years or some Bigger and a few smaller bore yet none lighter or less on recoil.
I won a Rem. 700 BDL in a .243 a few years back. I shot a deer with it at 111 yards and with a fairly decent shot placement. It ran about 50-60 yards and I had to dispatch it. I had always used a 30-06 with better luck, so I traded it for a Tikka .270. That was the end of my Deer Hunting that wasn't DRT. Of course we all know that shot placement is the most important factor, but as for me, I'm going to stick with a bullet that is around 150-185 grains for good sized deer.
I won a Rem. 700 BDL in a .243 a few years back. I shot a deer with it at 111 yards and with a fairly decent shot placement. It ran about 50-60 yards and I had to dispatch it. I had always used a 30-06 with better luck, so I traded it for a Tikka .270. That was the end of my Deer Hunting that wasn't DRT. Of course we all know that shot placement is the most important factor, but as for me, I'm going to stick with a bullet that is around 150-185 grains for good sized deer.
That had nothing to do with the 243. At least IMHO.
maybe shot placement or bullet choice, but not due to round itself.
I used 243 since a kid. Moved up to a 300 mag. My ratio of non bone DRTs dropped seriously.
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
The non bone DRT champ at my camp is probably my friend's 257 Weatherby with 100 grain Interlocks, either factory or my handloads.
Added: Now that I think of it, the same friend has used a 243 with 95 grain SST handloads on a few and I don't recall any taking more than a step or two.
I am here in the Northeast, where most shots are under 200 yards. My go-to rifle is my Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08. It's an old one with 18-1/2" barrel. I replaced the oribinal walnut stock with a Remington laminate stock I bought on a closeout. It weighs 7 lbs. with a Leupold 4x Compact scope on top. Handy, light, and accurate.
I am here in the Northeast, where most shots are under 200 yards. My go-to rifle is my Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08. It's an old one with 18-1/2" barrel. I replaced the oribinal walnut stock with a Remington laminate stock I bought on a closeout. It weighs 7 lbs. with a Leupold 4x Compact scope on top. Handy, light, and accurate.
I have the same rifle except old walnut stock and an 2=7 nikon best rifle I've ever owned.
If I can only have one this was my only rifle for 20 plus years before accumulating many. .270 Win with 130 grain Hornady. 2.5-8 Leupold. It was well used when I got it over 30 years ago and has accounted for ALLOT of animals.
Good question...My latest go-to deer rifle is My T3X Superlite .300 Win.....I also own a Remington XCRII .300 Win that I have killed several nice bucks with.........Hb
Although I have a good collection of rifles in many different styles and configurations, this model 70 Win featherweight in 280 Rem has never let me down.
My load of choice is a 140 grain Sierra Game King atop 51 grains of IMR 4350, and ignited with a CCI large rifle primer, all nestled in a Remington case. THis isn't a hot load, but gets the job done.
Getting a little long in the tooth with no heirs that are into guns I've sold off quite a few firearms in the past couple of years.....handguns, shotguns and rifles.
I'm now down to only one deer rifle that I purchased here on the forum from 'DiamondJim' back in Oct. 2009.....it's a very accurate wood and blue Savage Classic 14 chambered in 7mm-08.
I topped it with a fixed power Leupold 6X and have it pet loaded with Sierra 120 gr. Pro Hunters over a good charge of Varget.
I tend to travel a different route than the bolt crowd. Same one I've been using since 1979, Remington 760 Pump Carbine in 30-06, with Leupold Vari X III 1.5X5 scope and 150 grain bullets of one persuasion or another.
Nice rifle. Mine is also a Remington pump but a Model Six in 30-06 that my dad traded a German shorthaired puppy for and then gave me the rifle. I killed my 1st elk at 407 yards and my deer at 466 yards. All with 180 Nosler ballistic tips, 3100 ( discontinued ) moving at 2800fps. This combo is laser accurate. I dread the day I have to come up with a new recipe for powder.
If you don't have anything nice to say, you must be talking about Hilary Clinton.
When it's time to bury your guns it's time to dig em up.
oh well, we'll always have yard sales, now to only learn to stomach going to them.
Gunner, when you discover how well they shoot, you will be able to stomach them.
No doubt, this one might be more to your liking. Wood/blue, carbine, rechambered to .358Win w/1.5-5 Leupold. My other go-to swamp deer thumper.
You know you need one!
LOL on the want vs need deal, I do know I'd like to shoot a big whitetail deer though, dang, you post some pics of mighty fine bucks.
Don't let him talk you into those dang rifles. They're lighter than you think. Shoulder fantastic, and will probably shoot better than most of the guns you have. Other than that, they're great rifles.
Savage Weather Warrior 116 (Stainless and syn stock) with a Burris fulfield scope in 308. Can't think of a better rifle that is as accurate, and durable while i am crawling around the woods in snow or rain.
My go to deer rifle is a Remington 700 classic in 8x57 with an FX-3 6x42 with a German #1 reticule. I've used different loads, but currently it is the 170 gr. Hornady RN and W748 at 2720 fps.
Brushbuster: "Is this thread about the dear heard or there Jeans?" Plugger: "If you cant be safe at strip club in Detroit at 2am is anywhere safe?" Deer are somewhere all the time To report a post you disagree with, please push Alt + F4. Thank You.
Maybe one of these days I'll have a favorite go-to rifle but I've haven't found it yet. I've only gotten big into rifles, collecting and reloading, over the last 5 years or so. I'm still in the collecting and trying new loads phase. Once a rifle gets bloodied, it goes back in the safe so I can bloody another one. I've still got several to go.
I'm really liking lighter rifles. I don't have any ultralights, but I do have a few in the 7 1/2 to 7 3/4 pound range ready to hunt. Among those, I'm really favoring my two Marlin XS7s in 22-250 and 7mm-08 and my Ruger M77 UL in 223Rem.
Those who must raise their voice to get their point across are generally not intelligent enough to do so in any other way.
I don't have any pictures of deer I've taken over the years, or of my rifles on fence posts. I've taken more deer with my old 25-06 Rem 700 BDL and a few with my Browning 300 Win Mag. But, If I could only have one deer rifle, it would be my Ruger M77 All Weather 358 Winchester. This rifle works as a bush gun, and I feel confident with this rifle at well past 200 yards. Virtually all deer I've taken over the years in OK, South Dakota and TX have been under 200 yards.
I enjoy using various arms. This year I think I am going to try to get my deer and antelope with either my Marlin 336 rifle (long barrel) or my little Mannlicher 6.5X54. I hunted with them last year, but never got to shoot and when I did get the opportunity, I was carrying my 8X57 Mauser. So I made my year's meat with that. Same one I used to get my elk. Or I may go after my deer and antelope with my 50 cal flintlock.
I may even use the 6.5X54 on elk, but I am going to be taking out 2 good friends of mine for elk, and I'll carry a rifle too, but I'll let them have the shots first because they can only hunt for 1 week. I have 2 months. So I will carry my iron sighted rifle (maybe my M95 Winchester in 270) So they can shoot to longer ranges, but I'll limit myself to about 200 yards, at least when I am with them.
its wonderful so many different hunting rifles and cartridges in what we hunt with and we all kill deer! I have killed them with a 223 to 300WSM and seen no difference in performance at ranges under 100 yards. These last few years I have become quite fond of hunting with my Kimber montana in 308win with an old Kahles on it. It's lighter and more than accurate enough.
The first year that Remington manufactured a 700 Classic in 35 Whelen I had to have it. I have never regretted it. It never needed bedding, but I did adjust the trigger pull with a screwdriver to 4.5 lbs. It prefers 250 grain bullets and IMR 4320 or Varget. 55 grs.
It works on caribou and black bear and someday a moose or elk might be in the crosshairs. If I was hunting something that might be ornery I would use the Nosler 225 grain Partition at 2681 fps. Whelennut
I like to do my hunting BEFORE I pull the trigger! There is only one kind of dead, but there are many different kinds of wounded.
BLR stainless 7-08 with a pistol grip is my latest. My favorite is a 181/2 inch model 7 in 7=08. Killed a 7 pt last year with the first and a 8 pt with the second. Both shoot IMR 4320 over a 140 NBT better then I can shoot
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[/URL]
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Only one Shaman! You gotta pick one! 
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make your choice. Captdavid
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