Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Need help picking an urban deer rifle

I am back and forth in what to get and use. last year I used the 308 but I am wanting to have a dedicated rifle for the deer I take at home.
Shots will never be further than 70 yards.
All shots will need to be head or neck shots as i cant have them running.
Shooting position will always be from a stable elevated rest.
I prefer something thats short BBL but weights not an issue.
I want a caliber that can be easily suppressed for down the road, couple of years, when i decide to geat a can.
So far I have bought and gotten rid of an SPS 223 and a Encore 5.7x28mm. I didnt care for the problematic relaoding issues the 5.7 had.
I may decide to use subsonics prior to getting the can to reduce some signature.
My main concern is cold bore accuracy. The rifle HAS GOT TO HIT on the first shot. I expect SUB MOA accuracy.
Rimfire is legal and I have considered 22 but the inability to reload makes me hesitant because of ammunition variations from factory loaded ammo.
I have been reloading about 10 years, so even a nonstandard caliber if fine.
Rifle may double as a truck gun, so I dont want to break the bank.

.22 hornet with a long barrel?

Ruger 77/44 would be perfect. I would love to be able to own and hunt with a suppressor here in NY.

+1

Or the Ruger 10/44 if you want a semiautomatic.

I think he said he expects sub-MOA. Not saying the 77/44 can't do it, but there are a lot other choices that I'd prefer for a dedicated head shooting rifle. A chunk .223 would be my choice loaded with fragile bullets...

My problem is that I glance over longer post, I did not catch sub-MOA.

.22 Hornet in a CZ527 (with a set trigger) would be my first choice.

I've killed at least 100 whitetails at ranges out to 75 yards with the 22 MRF while doing culling operations. Head shots with the 45 grain Winchester/Olin JSPs were reliable, DRT, killers.

That said, the 22 Hornet or 218 Bee would likely be better choices.

Jeff

22 HORNET.

A .223 and one of Seafire's Bluedot loads would seem perfect for this application. You could adjust for the noise/punch combination of your choice. And I've found accuracy to be very good....

Ella

300 Blackout?

My 1st thought would be the .300 Whisper ... 2nd thought would be the 6.8 Rem SPC ... But what do I know?

i have thought of that as well. unfortunatly theres not a platform that offers it that i care for. IF CZ were to put it in the 527 kevlar with a 18"...probably.

221 Fireball. ADam

30-30 Levergun, Marlin or Winchester. You could run a scope if needed but head shots with iron sights to 70 yards is a total non-issue.

Edit: For your suppression needs a leverngun in 44mag would do nicely.

I went ahead and ordered a Savage hog hunter in .223. that way I have reserve iron sights for truck use after deer season, prethreaded for the day when I get a can, and if i decide to reBBL to 300BLK savage will be an easy swap.
I would expect a savage 1-7" twist to shoot pretty accurate.

Sounds that that should work.

I was thinking the CZ 527 carbine in 7.62x39. Subsonic would not be an issue if reloaded heavy weights or cast bullets, components everywhere, headshots inside 70 yards no problem these CZ's are very accurate,it is only 6 lbs. and 37 inches long with an 18.5 inch barrel, so about the size and weight of a win 94, comes with iron sights. It is about a perfect truck gun and practice ammo is cheap.
putting a can on it would be easy.

The old .45 Colt Blackhawk I have really has hammered some animals over the years. The bullet is a hard cast Saeco with a very wide flat meplat.

The load is enough Unique to make 1000 fps from the 7"+ barrel.

That load in a rifle could be made subsonic with load work.

Of course say a .44 magnum would do about the same loaded down.

The 6 or 7 1-9" ROT Stevens 200 223 barrels that I've rechambered to 22-250 have been good shooters, so your barrel is likely to be a good shooter too.

Jeff

I think you had the cartridge right (.223) but the wrong platform maybe?

If you have to headshoot them, reload the 60 Vmax and insert that bullet from a .223 at 2950+ at the head/neck junction and watch them fold....

Easy to reload for and find an accurate load. I'd get a Tikka T3 in .223 and run the bullet mentioned above...