Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting how many deer rifles

..does one need? seems most my friends own like 5-15 rifles. as of now i own 2. i found a rifle i want but sometthing is tellin me u dont need it. while another voice says u can never hav too many rifles buy it.

Punch this voice in the mouth, it's wrong





Reward this voice by purchasing a rifle or 3, it is correct

I like to have at least one spare for myself, since stuff happens, and one loaner for my sons. I usually rotate the primary role so I get to use all of them.

So for me, three, plus MLs and a couple of .357s for lazy days.

Buy it, figger out if you want it later.

Right now? Uh.........

That action plan has cost me dearly, more times than I care to count!

Sitting here at work trying to count my deer rifles. hmmm, 40+ and I need every one. I've got to quit using that curse word, need..

Let's see now;

240 PSP
250 Savage
257 Roberts
6.5x284
264 Win Mag
7-08
7x57
280 AI
30-06
300 H&H
300 WSM

Just sayin'

donsm70

I'm hearing a 6.5x284 calling my name. What have you got and how's it shoot..

the one im lookin at getting is a 6.5x55

Its a "must have"�..

The 6.5x55 will do the exact same thing your current 270 will do.

Save the money and use it towards a hunt somewhere new.

This is not the time or place to talk logic or rationale�.

Ha! You're right.

Maybe I should add "Those who say you could get by with your current number of guns" to the Campfire Outcasts thread.

This is what I have;





And this is how it shoots;


donsm70

I guess that might do in the deer killing dept. Is your barrel bent, it's hitting off to one side.
BTW, a 6.5x55 makes a great wifes gun.

Everybody needs another deer rifle....

Usually... just one more than you have!

The Swede is the ballistic twin to the .260 Rem. that has become my favorite. I think you'll be very happy with it if you decide to get it.

Seriously though, many of us would do far better taking the money for a new deer rifle and instead putting it into ammo or components to improve our skills on the rifles we already own.

Bah! that's what 22's...er, pellet guns are for

But there is also great enjoyment in owning a number of rifles.. My safe has quite a few, and I enjoy each one .. I have also found once you have the loads worked up and tested, it is fairly easy to shift from one rifle to another.. That in its self is an enjoyable thing.. I could just shoot p. dogs with my .223, but I get great pleasure in using a .22 mag. 222, 223, .22-250, 22-250IMP. etc.. Same with big game rifles.. I usually don't take more than one head of game with a rifle in a given season.. Not everyone would enjoy this, but as I mentioned before, if I just had used my old .30-06 I suppose I could have taken 75 percent of the game I have killed with it.. But I know I would have quit shooting and hunting long ago, if I had used only one rifle.. Plus, I would have missed out on a great deal education on shooting, handloading etc..

i guess a main reason im wanting another is neither of my rifles r stainless and im wanting a good all purpose weather resistant rifle. 6.5x55 has intrigued me for a while. i could get also get into handloading,etc with it

If you have a couple of safe's full of rifles and have always wanted to hunt elk/moose/bear/Africa and haven't... then you have too many rifles.

Who ever said that the little bird saying "need" was right???

The little bird that says want is the one to listen too!!!

Yep.

Every man needs a good 6.5x55...

Logic is overrated.

Need has nothing to do with it.

I found out a long time ago that I am happier inside, more pleasant to be around, and the people at work will comment on how good of a mood I am in when I don't debate "need".

Well, at least for a week........

Then it starts again.

OK, I'll start looking for one.

Vic, you are right,, Need has little to do with it.. Rifles are enjoyment in themselves for most of us.. I used to agonize over the purchase of a rifle, do I need it, what will I use it for, etc.. Fortunately, I got over that about 40 years ago.. I can always sell and get some $ back, and if not, the folks who get my stuff can either enjoy or sell..

To a Loony, NEED is an objectionable four letter word, best left unmentioned, lest some of us become offended...

DF

...well, unless you "need" reloading supplies, or a new scope for that new rifle.

How many deer rifles do you need? Only ONE!!!!
But there are little deer, big deer, medium sized deer, oh and don't forget elk are deer and so are moose and Sitka deer and roe deer and red deer and fallow deer..... Get the picture?

Let's see...
2 slug guns, one rifled, one smoothbore
1 percussion Hawkins
1 .300 Savage
1 30-06
1 .243
1 .44 Mag
and one butt-ugly Mosin Nagant that will hopefully never have to see the light of day in the deer woods.

Good point Billy. I believe it all goes back to whether you are primarily a rifle looney who likes to hunt, or a hunter who likes rifles. Also, at what point are you in the journey.

I contracted a case of the loonies several years ago, but have since realized I enjoy the hunt, experiencing different landscapes, meeting new people, and creating memories more than filling up my safe. Since I don't have an unlimited budget, my direction is to maintain my collection to a set of rifles I truly use, shoot them as often as possible, and hunt every where I can.

Now, if I ever win the lottery I am buying a new safe.

I have a few, most are 30-30 Toppers mated to modern receivers. A couple of Handis in 30-06, a couple of NEF muzzleloaders, but sold off the Tracker II shotguns since we went all rifle in Wisconsin. Since added 30-30's and also have a Marlin SC made in 1950. I have hunted with all but one so far.

A serious deer hunter "needs" one rifle, plus a spare similar to it, because shidt happens.

OTOH a serious rifle nut can never have enough rifles.

Sound advice right there.

Come on Don. You know your 375 H&H will work for deer too...

I like your Super Pooper. When I was a kid I remember seeing that one in an old Cartridges of the World my grandfather had and couldn't stop laughing.

Not enough, but to get the job done I am using either an A-bolt .308; BPR 30.06; or my first, a Marlin .30.30. It is getting harder now to use this one in low light due to aging eyes.

BTW - new guy here. I have been lurking for awhile but decided to chime in since this has become the fist site I check when at the computer.

Welcome to the fire!

1-25-06
3-270
1-308
2-30-06
That's just for deer. Elk are another subject. So I'm going to say the answer is seven.

Welcome and yup the 30/30 will still getter done.

I guess Warren Page had a pretty good sense of humor.

donsm70

You are right, Lawrence. I suppose the 338 W.M., 358 Norma Mag, 416 Taylor and 458 Lott would work, too.

donsm70

Welcome to the fire! My old .30-30 is my primary gun for deer. IMHO it is the perfect design for the N.C. mountains. My foul weather gun is an old Ruger boat paddle in .30-06. My latest edition is an S.C. made Model 70 in .270 WSM. That gun has been amazing right out of the box

On telling my wife I was going Elk hunting with my friend . She says to me I better buy a Elk rifle cause the deer rifle won't work. She was right. Have wild boar rifles, antelope rifles, coyote rifles and bear rifles. The list and "need" goes on and on.

Asking this forum if another rifle is needed is akin to scheduling an AA meeting at a distillery.

Welcome to the fire!!

See, I knew you were giving us your short list....

Need????

I quite often say that I'm just one rifle away from being satisfied!

Best,

GWB

270 WBY
30-06
405 WCF
300 WSM

Seven, I like to collect Savage 99's. I also have 3 bolt action rifles that are scoped. My calibers start with the 22 Hi-power, go to the 250-3000, then to the 303 Savage, 300 Savage and 308 Winchester. I have killed over 20+ deer in the last 17 years and have never felt undergunned. My favorite is a Savage 99F Featherweight with a 2.5X Weaver Scope in 300 Savage. It is my go to weapon of choice and has never failed me. Squeeze the trigger and I got venison for the table. Longest shot 180 yards, closest 60 feet.

I used to buy rifles and gear

No more!!!!

I'm putting my money into tags and trips

Money for more memories......not a full gun room

i heard that. im definitely wantin to plan a trip west somewhere. ive never been. maybe thats where i should dump my money.

Spoken like someone who has BTDT. You'll never regret that decision�.

I have pared it down quite a bit over the years. Used to have about 17. Now that I'm in the "over 60" crowd, I don't need the big boomers anymore....(except for my .375 H&H, which I will take to the dirt nap with me)...
1. .243 Win Savage
2. .243 Win Ruger 77
3. .270 Win Ruger 77
4. .270 Win M70 pre-64
5. 7x57mm Win M70
6. .35 Whelen Ruger #1
7. .300 H&H Ruger #1
8. .375 H&H Weatherby Mark V

Need? Just one!

God has blessed me richly. I certainly have more than I need!

I have acquired a bunch of rifles over the years, but every time I walk into the woods I've got my Tikke T3 Stainless Lite in .308 with me. My Copper, Kimber, Win M70 CRF, M700 BDL Deluxe .300 Sav all safe at home in the safe.

Something different goes with me everytime. 257 x2 30-06 x3 270 x1 300 H&H x3 9.3x62 x2 308 x1 ,405 win x2 308 Norma mag x2 , 7mm RM x2 on and on.

Not me

one rifle that I know inside and out.....I know the load and its drop out to 400 by heart

The correct answer is always "Just one more!!! "ScottyO.

Killindeer: I, conservatively, have killed Deer with at least 25 Rifles most of which I still own.
I am an eccentric though (gun nut!) and my policy is probably not the norm.
I do though believe a serious Deer Hunter needs AT LEAST two Deer Rifles!
One for close range (woodsy type) Hunting and one for long range (high plains or open country type) Hunting.
If (Heaven forbid!) I was held to my theoretical contention then I would choose to keep my Winchester pre-64 Model 88 in 308 Winchester with Leupold 3x9 compact scope for woodsy Hunting and my Remington 700 Sendero in 270 Winchester with Leupold 6.5x20 for the longer range Hunting.
Again Heaven forbid I be limited to just two Deer Rifles.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
P.S.: Indeed, you need to have a talk with that "voice" you are hearing from time to time!

This.

I decided this at the first of the year. I have sold a few guns this year but have not bought one all year. I really thought I would miss buying, selling and trading. So far I haven't.

Dink

.....

I used to buy rifles and gear. No more.

I decided this at the first of the year. I have sold a few guns this year but have not bought one all year. I really thought I would miss buying, selling and trading. So far I haven't.

Dink [/quote]

Is this "drug" available over the counter, or does it only come in prescription form?

donsm70

Its willpower......choice

buy more toys or hunt more

I chose hunt more

I see guys with 20 guns who don't want to buy quality packs, quality bags, or boots. So they take one gun along and get by with cheap everything else. Always struck me as odd, but to each their own I reckon.

I sold off a few rifles about 5 years ago and bought a zeiss spotter. Never missed the rifles and use the spotter a ton.

Seven:

(1) Light weight. Kimber 84M montana in 7mm-08 or .308.
(2) Iron sights: single shot or lever action.
(3) Muzzleloader: hard to hunt ML-only seasons without one.
(4) Long range: something like a Sendero.
(5) Backup rifle: something like a Rem 700 in 7mm mag.

Plus two hunting handguns. A scoped single shot like a Contender (.30-30?) and a single action .44 with iron sights.

I could probably drop down to just two which would probably be a Kimber in .270 and a single action .44 but ... ouch.

Order your life so you can do both!

best,

GWB

I'm with you on that.

Mule deer
Black tail
White tail
Coues
Sitka and if in Texas
Fallow
and
Axis

So 7 would be about right.

The Shamanic Deer Battery

How many deer rifles do you need? Everyone is going to look at this differently. When I'm trying to be rational, here's how I look at it:

1) I need a rifle for every season I hunt. I have a muzzleloader. I have centerfire rifles. I have shotguns. Somewhere in all that is a firearm I can take and hunt every season in every state I plan on going. I have them. My sons have them.
2) I need a rifle for each different type of venue I hunt. I have rifles for treestand hunting at close range. I have rifles for 200 yard + shot across pastures. I have a few that work best for still-hunting.
3) I have firearms for different types of weather. I have rifles that I never deliberately take out in rain. I have rifles that have short stocks for very cold weather. I have a couple rain guns that I use mostly in inclement weather.
4) I have overlap. On any given trip to deer camp, I will take 3 rifles-- one for close-in work, one for longer shots, and one wild card. If something happens, a scope gets knocked loose or some such, I try and have a back-up with me. If I'm hunting away from deer camp, I'll only take 2, but they will overlap somewhat.

A typical trip may be:

The Savage 99 in 308 WIN for the treestands
The Ruger Hawkeye in 30-06 for reaching out from the ground blind
The Remington 7600 in 35 Whelen for rain, or for pounding the ground.


Usually I put away a rifle for the year after I take a deer with it, and bring out something else.

I'm beginning to feel my limits on deer rifles. It is not just the rifle, but there is also a lot that goes along with it. Between accessorizing the rifle, load development, etc. There is a lot of cost and (most importantly) time. Too many rifles? Never, but each deer rifle I acquire increases my wariness of acquiring another.

Its nice to see you can contain your crazy. 2 to 3 is a good number.

I'm trying to whittle down from 10 to 3 and 2 of the 3 are staying for sentimental reasons.

Having one in SS isn't a bad strategy. Our MN deer seasons are getting more rainy each year and I would rather take my SS xbolt or SS rem 700 out in the rain instead of my sentimental old savage 99 in 300 or the one in 308 my dad gave me for Christmas.

Its hard to whittle the collection down so don't let it grow. Buy trips, good gear, optics, and good clothes keep you out hunting.

I've got 6 or so dedicated deer guns and a couple others that could be if needed

IMO, two deer rifles are required. If anything goes wrong with your main rifle, you can't put the season on pause while it gets fixed, you re-zeroed, etc.

Having said that, I prefer to rifles setup in different calibers and configurations to tailor to the area I am hunting. Light weight, brush guns, long range magnum, etc. I have about six rifles dedicated to hunting deer/bear/elk/moose.

Having written all that I did yesterday, I realize I may not have answered your original question. About 20 years ago I was faced with a similar situation.

Ask yourself what the new rifle does for you that isn't done by the other two. Does it work better in a given set of conditions? Does it allow you to hunt in a particular season?

20 years ago I had 2 rifles and a shotgun. I really could not complain about any of them. I'd taken deer with all 3.

Then a 30-30 followed me home one day. I justified it by telling myself that a 30-30 lever was better suited for treestands. The 30-30 disappointed me, so I got a 308 lever. That was a good match, and it's still my favorite rifle. About that time my sons were getting of an age to hunt, so I started them both on the 30-30. It has been the designated Yute Rifle since.

The next year my first deer rifle acquired problems that could not be fixed, so I retired it and got a pump in 35 Whelen. I really liked that rifle but it had a dinged up stock, so I never minded taking it out in the rain.

Since then I have acquired a bunch of different rifles. Some were purchased for my sons to use. Some were just because I was curious. What I can tell you is though I do not regret any of them, I could probably be happy with 3-5 deer rifles if I had to start over again. It just took acquiring 20 to find out what I really wanted.

7 - all bolt actions.

Hi, my name is SCgman, and I have a deer rifle problem.

Wow, I never thought about need when it comes to deer rifles. I love rifles and love to shoot them. Currently in the safe:

257 Roberts
280 AI
308 Win
30.06
300 Win Mag
7x57 mm Mauser
6.8 SPC

I hunt with all but the 280 AI has always been my favorite for deer.

I have 3 but one I use 90% of the time.

There are bucks and does for each of those, which makes it 14.

Enough to get the job done, but not enough to quit buying yet. I have in the past several years started to move to lighter rifles as my hunting style has changed from mostly stand hunting to spot and stalk.

Well, there are my current primary deer rifles in 30-30 and .308. Then my old .308, a .250 and a .280 that are available. And I did shoot a deer with my .350 rem mag, so I guess that counts. So.....at least SIX! No, maybe seven - I could really use a 300 savage.

A fella needs several rifles and one bow�

Bows are for indians, you silly white boy...

Get a light bolt action in 30/06,270,280,308 or 7/08.

Use it everywhere.

Done.

1

that's the truth!