Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles first deer rifle survey

Also used shotgun/slugs until I was about 30, then bought a used Savage 99EG in .300SAV from the great old sports shop in Hancock (western) Maryland - Hendershots. Loved that place.

Sadly it’s closed now but when I bought mine, about 30 years ago, they had nearly a wall full of used 99s, attesting to the popularity of that model in the WV, MD and PA mountains. Should’ve bought six of ‘em for the investment alone. (I did return for a 99C in 308 Win a few months later.) When I get this #!% damned time machine finished, Hendershots around 1990 is my first stop...

I have never gone deer hunting but my first hunting rifle was a Winchester XTR 300 Win that I borrowed from my father. My first permanent gun was a Weatherby Vanguard Pre-Deluxe from 1981 in 300 Win Mag.

Marlin 1893 in 30-30 that Grandad traded some "Russian trappers" out of.
Dad got it, and I hunted it a few years - starting when about 10 - 11 years old.
I'm not sure which of my brothers got that rifle - need to ask around.

British lee enfeild in 303 and then a Remington pump in 35 Remington.

94 Winchester 30-30

My first hunt for deer I was 11, used a Stevens SS 20ga with buck. Same when 12. At 13 my folks got me a H&R Topper 30-30 from Fingerhuts (via mail, it was 1965.) It was a very hard kicker, bad trigger pull, bad sights. Went to an old 2nd hand Remington 11-49 12ga when I was 14. At 15 I had traded a saddle for a Universal 30 Cal Carbine. Finally bought myself a Mod 94 Classic Carbine 30-30 when I was 16. Killed alot of stuff with that rifle.

My first Deer rifle was a 336 Marlin in 35 Remington, I was about 16 when I got it, sadly it was stolen about 30 years ago.

Steve............

12 years old, 1955, 32-20 in a pump rifle. A few time with a .410 and slugs

At 18 years old I bought a Sears and Robuck, Ted Williams, Winchester model 94 leaver action in 30-30 win.
I ordered it thru the Sears catalogue for $99.99.
Killed my first deer with it 5 years later after moving to TN.
I still have the 4-point antlers but not the rifle.

Rem 700 ADL 25/06
Bought it new in 1974 for $104 and still have it
Age 23
I very rarely shoot it the past 30 years but it’s killed a dozen or so deer and five pronghorns and some coyotes

I only hunted small game until I graduated college. So at 22 bought a Sako Finnbear '06. 40+ years later still have it still shoots good.

Winchester model 1894 rifle from my grandfather in 30-30. Shot a couple of does with it before buying a Ruger 77 in 7mm RM. Still have them 45+ years later the 7mm is still filling the freezer.

Winchester Model 55 in 30-30. Killed a 4 point while in college in VT. Foolishly sold years ago.

Sav 99 250-3000 when I was 20 borrowed from a friend. Shot it again when I was 57 after my friend passed and left it to me….

Mine was a Savage 99e in 308. I killed a 9 point the first morning of my first hunt! I traded it for a old 700adl in 280. Best trade I ever made. Introduced me to the 280.

Mine was a Stevens bolt action. 30-06. Don’t remember the model number but was basically a Savage 110. Late 80s-ish. Had a cheap birch factory stock. Quickly swapped for an injection molded stock. To get it, I traded away an Enfield .308 that would not hold the mag under recoil. Wasn’t long until I realized I could save a few hundred $$ and trade into a different rifle. I had bought and traded 3 rifles before I was 16. And now I’m a looney like the rest of you all!

When I was 10 years old I won a marlin 1894cl 32-20 win. at a ducks unlimited banquet. It was never a very good deer rifle but I shot alot of varmints with that gun. I took some deer with it.

My Dad's Ithaca model 37 12ga. Some 58 odd years ago, I was 13 or 14.

An old bolt action 12 gauge from Western Auto. Loaded it with 00 Buck, slug, 00 Buck.

Now I wanted a .280 Rem for as long as I could remember. When my wife and I started dating I found out her father had an FFL. I asked if he could order me a Remington 700 BDL in .280 and he said sure. Went to their house one day and he let me look though all of his distributor books until I found one I liked. He game me a price and a couple weeks later I had my first deer rifle a Rem 700 BDL DM in hand. I’ve only killed two deer with it, but it’s still my favorite rifle.

Marlin 336SC in 32 Special, that I wish I never parted with, in WI counties that allowed rifles. Rem 870, 16ga, with smooth-bore, rifle sighted barrel (Yes, such a thing exists!) in shotgun only counties.