Not really. I have rifles I have not shot deer with yet. Others that have shot whitetails, but not mule deer. Getting mule deer is tougher than it used to be. Several years ago a general and two doe tags was common. Not so now. Whitetails are more numerous. I haven't shot whitetails with my .45-70, .300 Savage, my FILS model 70 06.. So although not a new rifle to me, they have not taken deer in my hands. Kind of doubtful if I buy any more new rifles, not much interests me that I don't have or have not tried already.. The .300 Blackout or 6.5 CM have no appeal. So I guess I will cycle through my present rifles and 6 guns and see what deserves a run.
Tight shooter rifles I've got......been going a bit scope crazy lately......couple of 56mm objective scopes since April.....trijicon credo hx 2.5x10, and a meostar R1 7x56.
After the nut job last fall, I was trying my hardest to come up with a firearm purchase that would mark the occasion. I even started a thread on it here. Sadly, it all became inconclusive. However, in mid-January, I found a new/old stock Pedersoli Brown Bess at a nearby Cabelas.
Shooting a 'Bess is a real mad scientist experiment. It's got a .75 cal bore. The standard load that your standard Lobsterback fired is a .69 cal ball in a paper cartridge. That there alone should get me on paper at 50 yards or so. However, I also have .715 and .735 balls to play with. Smoothbores of this period generally did not get fired with a cloth patch. If you weren't using a paper cartridge, the most common way of loading one of these is with a wad of tow. I had to look up what tow is. It's raw linen fiber. I still have to find some 3F Black Powder.
Chemo set me back a bit, I only got off a few shots before I started treatment. However, I'm hoping to have 'Bess out for Early ML Season in mid October.
Nope…….same ole hunting rifle since 1990! If it ain’t broke…..don’t fix it! 😉 memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
A 5-round AEC clip, and a GarandGear.com Ported Gas Plug, will allow one to legally and safely shoot modern high velocity hunting loads in the M1 rifle in the field.
Like the Remington 168 gr. TSX load at @ ~ 2800 fps. as a do-it-all.
I'm cutting back (sort of.) just put two rifles and two handguns on consignment at the LGS with the idea of using the proceeds to fund a sporting clays gun.
Deer season starts tomorrow here, but I probably won't get out for at least a few days, depends on the weather. My plan is to start with a revolver, I've got a couple of .41 magnums and a .44 magnum that I haven't killed anything with in a while. As the season progresses, I'll go to the rifles. Ready to go in the line up is a .223, a 6.5X55 and .308. .45-70 is a possibility if I get to shoot it before long. Also, .25-06 AI if I get around to working with it in time.
Hell no ! I've already got more deer rifles than I can use. Got a couple old faithfuls that have worked well for years and I've killed a pile of deer with them. Used enough different rifles and cartridges over the years to know they all kill deer about the same degree of dead so no need to keep wasting money trying something different.
I'm sure one I like will pop up at some point before the deer season. But I probably won't use it until the next season. That's been my M/O for the last few seasons anyway. We'll see.
I wouldn't mind finding another .243 to mess around with.
Not a new rifle, but first time deer rifle. They finally made certain centerfire cartridges (mostly straight walls) legal for deer here back in May, so my Henry 327 Fed carbine will be getting the nod. I'd been using 32 S&W Long cast loads through it for rabbit and squirrel the past few years. Got a really nice shooting 327 load with 86gr Shock Hammers that should fit the bill well at short range.
Just made a magazine plug for it last week, since the rifle has to be a single shot, or be modified to only hold one round. Bought an extra mag tube and put a little pin through the end to make it solid.
Fugg those expensive azz shoulder busting sabot slugs. I'm still hanging onto the slug gun and my sabot stash though, just in case I need them elsewhere someday.
I've been culling the herd, down to seven rifles and I'm holding at this number, if I add one, will sell one. Trying to complete my Defiance Tenacity / Proof suppressed build in 308 for this season but had to send the receiver back to Defiance as the bolt handle hit the scope, new bolt being made, and still waiting on suppressor from February, it's gonna be tight but hoping to have it assembled and dialed in by a late November hunt in Kansas.
I bought a savage 99 "T" in 300 savage, 2 weeks ago! It has a side mount scope, replaced the weaver with a 2x Leopold, already sighted in, it's a keeper! Happy Hunting.
Hell no ! I've already got more deer rifles than I can use. Got a couple old faithfuls that have worked well for years and I've killed a pile of deer with them. Used enough different rifles and cartridges over the years to know they all kill deer about the same degree of dead so no need to keep wasting money trying something different.
Agree completely, but still like new ones, or even better, new old ones.
I’ve done so much shuffling around and giving away that not one “deer rifle” in my possession has killed a deer in my hands. I did loan my Fieldcraft to my son and he killed a doe with it. Hoping to break in a few soon.
Hell no ! I've already got more deer rifles than I can use. Got a couple old faithfuls that have worked well for years and I've killed a pile of deer with them. Used enough different rifles and cartridges over the years to know they all kill deer about the same degree of dead so no need to keep wasting money trying something different.
Agree completely, but still like new ones, or even better, new old ones.
I’ve done so much shuffling around and giving away that not one “deer rifle” in my possession has killed a deer in my hands. I did loan my Fieldcraft to my son and he killed a doe with it. Hoping to break in a few soon.
I've killed deer with every centerfire rifle I own except my .22-250. I bought that one for varmints and since this is my second .22-250 and I killed deer with the first one years ago I feel no need to kill more with this one. These last few seasons I've mainly just stuck with my faithful old Marlin .30-30 and Ruger 77 Hawkeye all weather .30-06 but have used my Howa/HS precision 6.5 Creed a few times. I should probably sell the rest. It struck me just recently that I haven't even taken my .243 afield since 2013. The thought of trying new rifles/cartridges just bores me anymore. I've had enough and just want to hunt with the ones that are proven and full of good memories. I am officially no longer a "rifle loony". I was at one time but those days are behind me.
Picked up an early Rem 700 in 30-06 just like my Dad’s. It went to my brother when my Dad passed. I figure one that looks just like it will be close enough.
I just picked up my new to me Winchester Model 88 Carbine in .308. I ordered a Leupold VX3HD 1.5-5x20 from Cameraland a couple days ago. This is going to be one sweet rig for the Adirondacks this year!! I wanted something retro, and this fit the bill.
I bought one this year. It loves 150gr Partitions over 48gr of Varget.
Listen to us with our first world problems. I also have some rifles that haven't killed anything yet. I hope to use my 35 Rem bolt action, Henry 45 Colt, and maybe I can squeeze in a deer with my custom Pre 64 Model 70 in 30-06.
No new ones this year, but I’m about to ship a couple out for threaded muzzles (suppressors). I will need to bloody a 257Wby I bought a while back, as the poor thing has never been fired at anything but paper and steel.
Probably won’t deer hunt this year. Especially if I’m lucky enough to get a cow elk. But We have several cull bucks for either the kids of grandkids. Now I will be elk hunting with the last rifle I acquired this past year.
.30 US Army ctg.
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."
Even though I've been using lightweight bolt guns for the last 20 years or so, love Marlins and picked up a new Ruger made 1895 SBL this year after waiting 4 months for it to come in. Not giving up my 7mm-08 but sure the Marlin will be in the woods this year
My youngest son, now 20 has always used what I had in the safe, he now has the hunting bug pretty hard and if anything new is bought it will be for him, "his rifle". He's 20 now so the Sig Cross looks "cool", trying to show him a variety of "hunting" rifles and see what he wants and settles on.
I just bought another Tikka T3x light S.S. 270 yesterday on the classifieds here. I already have one just like it. It shoots really good. I bought another one for the kids to shoot. And now I have a back up if needed.
All my rifles are vintage, newest deer rifle I own was built in 1978. Been wanting a plastic stock, light recoiling rifle so I bought a Ruger American in 243 WIN last month (already had dies, brass, bullets, and some factory ammo). Put a 2-7 Redfield Revolution scope on it (took it off a rifle I recently sold) and zeroed the rig last week. Shooting MOA with factory Federal blue box ammo and haven’t begun to reload yet. Fun playing with this cheap rifle, has a nice trigger too (very much a good surprise).
One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others. Archibald Rutledge
I’ll be using a Browning X-Bolt in 6.5 PRC this season. I picked it up last year around Christmas time. Threw a Leupold 3.5-10x40 VX3i I had laying around. I cleaned up the trigger a little bit, and worked the bolt. Now it’s nice and slick. I developed a load for it and it seems to shoot well.
"Full time night woman? I never could find no tracks on a woman's heart. I packed me a squaw for ten year, Pilgrim. Cheyenne, she were, and the meanest bitch that ever balled for beads."
So I may have been premature in my last post... just ordered a CVA Scout in 300 Blackout yesterday to replace the RAR I sold last year. The bug happens 😏 Should have it next week.
I’ll be using a Browning X-Bolt in 6.5 PRC this season. I picked it up last year around Christmas time. Threw a Leupold 3.5-10x40 VX3i I had laying around. I cleaned up the trigger a little bit, and worked the bolt. Now it’s nice and slick. I developed a load for it and it seems to shoot well.
Nothing more frustrating than a flyer screwing up a group.....
I’ll be using a Browning X-Bolt in 6.5 PRC this season. I picked it up last year around Christmas time. Threw a Leupold 3.5-10x40 VX3i I had laying around. I cleaned up the trigger a little bit, and worked the bolt. Now it’s nice and slick. I developed a load for it and it seems to shoot well.
Nothing more frustrating than a flyer screwing up a group.....
Yup, its a terrible thing!
"Full time night woman? I never could find no tracks on a woman's heart. I packed me a squaw for ten year, Pilgrim. Cheyenne, she were, and the meanest bitch that ever balled for beads."
I have more optics than guns, so I'm on the prowl for a couple of additions. I don't reload (maybe one day), so I try to stay with the more commercially available calibers. I want a wood stock 243 with some character marks that I can love on (IE tinker with) and a longer range hunting rifle that can I can start to learn to shoot 400 yards with - probably a 270 to keep it simple. We set up a 400 yard range on our hunting lease this summer. I've never shot at anything past 177yds - paper or critters, the 177yd was a good sized feral hog - headshot with 30-06 165gr was pretty devastating.
Remington model 7 308. Shoots good( 1.5 moa ) on the first load I put together. I think it can do better with some tweaking. Got it bloody on a crop damage doe hunt Tuesday, 308 performed as expected and did not bounce off.
Last edited by mitchellmountain; 08/26/22.
Tell me the odds of putting grease on the same pancake? I Know they are there, well ice and house slippers. -Kawi
Having a 338 Federal built on a Kimber 84M Montana with a Lilja Mod84M barrel. Looking forward to it. Having my Marlin 1895 GS restocked with a set of MPI Kevlar stocks, been wanting to do this project forever. Still waiting on a barrel blank from Benchmark for a 280 Ackley build on a SS Classic M70, maybe next year.
-Matt
"The proof of the whisky is in the drinking, the proof of the rifle is in the shooting."
Got the boy a CVA Hunter youth in 7-08 and put a Diamondback HP 4-16 on it. If I can find a couple boxes of 120-140 grain ammo in stock, we are going to try it out.
We moved and I haven’t unpacked the reloading equipment yet….
1)Varmint AR… I topped it with Burris Signature Zee rings and a Vortex Diamondback 3.5-10x50 that I had sitting around.
2)Christensen Arms Mesa in 6.5CM. I topped it with a Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x50 in Burris Sig Zee rings, although I have a set of Talley lightweight rings coming Tuesday for it.
No rifle huntin' this year, stickin' to the revolver - tentatively the big 10.5" SuperBlackhawk .357 Maximum gets the nod.
Is that pretty nasty on the ears? I bought one with the shorter barrel and it was absolutely terrible. Made my ears ring even with plugs in... took it out shooting once, and promptly traded it back off at the shop I bought it from.
No rifle huntin' this year, stickin' to the revolver - tentatively the big 10.5" SuperBlackhawk .357 Maximum gets the nod.
Is that pretty nasty on the ears? I bought one with the shorter barrel and it was absolutely terrible. Made my ears ring even with plugs in... took it out shooting once, and promptly traded it back off at the shop I bought it from.
Brotha' I have the 7.5" barreled .357 Maximum too.
Honestly, I cannot tell any difference between the Maximums, a regular .357, nor a .44 Mag.
To be fair, I gave my best years to Uncle Sam in the Field Artillery, so, there's that.
My youngest son and I went out today to visit gun shops and game shops and this followed me home:
Winchester Model 70 Featherweight SS 270 Leupold Vari-Xllc 3-9x40
Last edited by kandpand; 09/05/22.
“Go afield with a good attitude, with respect for the forest and fields in which you walk. Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person” -Fred Bear
A model 14 in 25 Rem is one of my grail rifles, but I haven't come across one in good working condition of yet.
That would be a very cool rifle. Brass would be a challenge but not impossible. Here's a place in Canada that offers it. I'm sure you can get it there.
Graf and Buffalo Arms both have it once in a while. I actually bought a bag of 50 from Graf a few years ago, just in case. I just still haven't come across a rifle. Seen quite a few in 30 and 35, and a couple in 32, but not 25.
Just bought a Defiance Tenacity SA yesterday, thinking I'm going to get a pre-fit from Precision Barrels chambered to 6mm CM, I have one now that I really like but will sell it to fund this DIY project. McMillan Game Hunter stock, Hawkins M5 DBM, Area 419 muzzle brake, Trigger Tech trigger, Leupold 5HD 3-15x44 in Tally light weights should do the trick.
I bought 1/2 a new gun for the Deer hunt this year.........
I drew a late season Muzzleloader tag this year, I have 2 gun safe's full of rifles but have never shot a Muzzleloader in my life. I only put in for the tag for the season dates, I was talking with one of my friends that is a gunsmith and told him my dilemma..... He said let's make you a switch barrel Muzzleloader, so I took him my Win 70 220 Swift Heavy Varmint. With this rifle he would not have to inlet the stock because of the heavy barrel. I just got it back a couple weeks ago, a 45Cal Muzzleloader fit perfectly into my stock. Just shot it yesterday and it put 4 300gr bullets into less than an inch at 100yds..........when the hunt is over I can change it back to a 220 Swift in about 5 minutes
I think my answer was "no" earlier in this thread. But I have aquired three recently! Lol. I "needed" a boat paddle in 7 Mag, Kimber Montana 270 win, and a Kimber hunter in 6.5 CM. I just can't help myself!!
I think my answer was "no" earlier in this thread. But I have aquired three recently! Lol. I "needed" a boat paddle in 7 Mag, Kimber Montana 270 win, and a Kimber hunter in 6.5 CM. I just can't help myself!!
The struggle is real! Couldn't pass up a M70 Classic SM Boss in .270win, sub $500. Thinking of a JES transformation into a .35 Whelen, minus the Boss. But, I just had my left Achilles sewed back together Thursday, after I tore it in two, so hopefully I'm able to hunt.
Didn't get one... got three! Decisions, decisions...lol! I guess, technically, only one is a "deer" rifle. That's the Winchester M70 EW in 308 Win. Though the other two would sure get it done too. A Sako 85 Black Bear in 9.3x62 and a custom Mauser in 375/350.
It isn't what happens to you that defines you, it's what you DO about what happens to you that defines you!
A few years ago picked up a 270win because it was left handed and wanted something other than my 308win that had ammo and components that were available in my area. Here the 270 was the most economical followed by 308. It's an lefty Ruger Hawkeye so it's pretty ordinary. Been practicing offhand unsupported and with an real rifle sling using an Minox optic.
Typically I'm not specifically going after deer and to me their incidental but the canyon behind the house has a few so I come across them time to time.
I picked up a Kimber Hunter in 308 yesterday. The Talley rings should be tomorrow and I'll mount a Ziess Conquest 3-9 on it. Should be a nice lightweight rig for humping our ridges this season.
Wag more, bark less.
The freedoms we surrender today will be the freedoms our grandchildren will never know existed.
The men who wrote the Second Amendment didn't just finish a hunting trip, they just finished liberating a nation.
I’m getting sick of being a rifle looney! The problem I have is I want to hunt every rifle I own, and it’s just too many! In the past month I have picked up a Winchester Model 88 .308 carbine, a BAR MK 3 nickel/walnut in .308, a Remington 7400 carbine in .308, and I’m picking up a Remington Mountain Rifle in .280 that I bought here tomorrow. I had too many rifles before this spree!
I’m getting sick of being a rifle looney! The problem I have is I want to hunt every rifle I own, and it’s just too many! In the past month I have picked up a Winchester Model 88 .308 carbine, a BAR MK 3 nickel/walnut in .308, a Remington 7400 carbine in .308, and I’m picking up a Remington Mountain Rifle in .280 that I bought here tomorrow. I had too many rifles before this spree!
I found this 1885 and bought it with the intention of shooting both deer and antelope this fall. It is a 25-35 takedown with double set triggers. It shoots great and something is going to die this fall…
I found this 1885 and bought it with the intention of shooting both deer and antelope this fall. It is a 25-35 takedown with double set triggers. It shoots great and something is going to die this fall…
Kirk that is a gorg rifle. Let me know if you ever see another one like it.
Last edited by Sasha_and_Abby; 09/13/22.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went" Will Rogers
I found this 1885 and bought it with the intention of shooting both deer and antelope this fall. It is a 25-35 takedown with double set triggers. It shoots great and something is going to die this fall…
Kirk that is a gorg rifle. Let me know if you ever see another one like it.
I doubt there is another like it. It is a special order with rare features. I wasn’t looking for it, I just bought it when I saw it…
I’m getting sick of being a rifle looney! The problem I have is I want to hunt every rifle I own, and it’s just too many! In the past month I have picked up a Winchester Model 88 .308 carbine, a BAR MK 3 nickel/walnut in .308, a Remington 7400 carbine in .308, and I’m picking up a Remington Mountain Rifle in .280 that I bought here tomorrow. I had too many rifles before this spree!
I’m getting sick of being a rifle looney! The problem I have is I want to hunt every rifle I own, and it’s just too many! In the past month I have picked up a Winchester Model 88 .308 carbine, a BAR MK 3 nickel/walnut in .308, a Remington 7400 carbine in .308, and I’m picking up a Remington Mountain Rifle in .280 that I bought here tomorrow. I had too many rifles before this spree!
Always wanted an 88 carbine. 700 MTN in .280 too.
That 88 Carbine is really nice! It’s on my short list of candidates for this year’s Adirondack Wall Tent hunt.
I bought a Remington 742 in 308 last year before the season but nothing this year. Almost bought a Savage lever action in 300 Savage but it wasn’t the model I wanted. It didn’t have the round counter and that is a cool feature they put on the older ones. I would like a Remington 760 in 35, Bar, and couple of other unique rifles.
I’ve been on a 2 year hunt for a model 70 308 stumbled across a model 70 stealth heavy barrel 308 vortex glass $850 it’s still there I’m doubting myself for leaving it I was looking for a 243 for my daughter already have a model 7 308 braked with a 16.5 barrel she might have to settle for that or talk her brother into borrowing his 243 or of course my 30-30
I bought a Montana Rifle Company X3 new old stock with 24” barrel that weighs right at 7 3/4 pounds with Tally rings and a Zeiss Conquest MC 3-9x40. Just about right for an all around general use deer rifle IMO. And one of my favorite deer rifle budget friendly scopes when I can find a reasonably priced one on eBay. I didn’t buy it specifically for this season but I’ll probably have it with me on opening day.
Not buying, but selling. Then working on improving what's left. With experience, the focus is narrowing, and quality over quantity have become more important.
Carry what you’re willing to fight with - Mackay Sagebrush
2 new ones, the 2 in middle. Left to right are my howa in 6.5cm, mark v in 257 weatherby, mauser 98 in 243, and my grandfathers 7 mauser. Need to zero the mark before season, just got done with howa last week, swapped to a bigger scope, just dropped that ones old nikko sterling on the mark
I should probably sell few dozen. Starting with the savage 300 wsm ss and an old blued savage 7 wsm. I should have listed them in the thrifty nickle a few weeks back. I just can bring my self to use the savages even though I love the 7 wsm round and the 300 wsm.
I should probably sell few dozen. Starting with the savage 300 wsm ss and an old blued savage 7 wsm. I should have listed them in the thrifty nickle a few weeks back. I just can bring my self to use the savages even though I love the 7 wsm round and the 300 wsm.
Bb
That's my case. I buy stuff through the year and then when season comes up, I still take my 7-08 Montana.