Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles New to Deer Hunting and Need Rifle Suggestions

I went the other day for the first time - now I'm hooked!!
I borrowed a Marlin 336 30.30 and really liked it. But, now I need to buy my own. Is the 30.30 what I'm looking for? Or a 270?
I need some suggestions - price range $600 and below (if possible) I would mainly be hunting in Oklahoma - but once and awhile have opportunities in Texas (if that helps with suggestions)

Thanks,
Kevin

For Oklahoma a 280,30-06 or 300 Win Mag would do because the deer are so much bigger.Here in Texas,243,25-06,270 Win or 30-06 is more than big enough.OR JUST GET A 300 Win Mag and that's good enough for both.Shot placement is more critical than caliber of rifle.

Both are good deer guns. The .30-30 is limited in range over the 270 but is a good woods gun for shots 200 yds. or less. The 270 will do either job and shines in more open country where longer shots are the general rule. It also has more energy when it gets there.

If you hunt up close the 336 is a great hunting rifle with plenty of power for deer sized animals.

270

Well.. you're just starting so you have a LOT to learn. The first thing to learn is what kind of rifle you like. Lever actions are a far second to bolt actions as far as popularity, so you might want to look around at a few of those. The Savage bolt actions are a darned good value for a good price, recently picked up one in 270 for under $400 that shot 3/4" groups right off the bat. Don't get a package rifle with a scope, the scopes are never very good.

Second thing to learn is that a good scope costs money and is worth two or three times what it costs. Budget about $230 minimum for that. Maybe a Leupold VX-I type, or a Burris Fullfield II.

Third thing is that the cartridge doesn't matter a whole lot. Deer die from 243's and 30-30's or 300 Win Mags. What matters more is your confidence and your skill with YOUR gun. Since you're new to this, I'd recommend something that doesn't kick overly much. Maybe a 308, 7mm08, or 270. You'll feel it a bit when shooting at the range, but won't feel anything when hunting. If you prefer lever actions, a 30-30 will kill deer just fine. And you can shoot it all day cheap, and it don't hurt the shoulder at all.

Good luck!

There are a lot of good choices for deer hunting out there. I would go out and handle a bunch of different guns and see what feels comfortable to you. For deer, cartidges like the 25-06, 260 Rem, 6.5x55, 270 win, 7mm-08 or 308 win would be great choices. For guns in your price range take a good look at the Savage rifles (one with a detachable magazine would be good), the Remington 700 SPS (stay away from the 770's) in new guns or look at used rifles. If you go for a used gun you can get advise on this forum on if it is a good gun or not.

If deer is all you are hunting, get a Remington Model 700 in .270. A Bushnell 3200 Elite 3-9X40 would be an excellent scope.

.270 and buy lots of factory ammo like Rem core-lokts, Win Powerpoints and shoot, shoot, shoot.

Mike

My personal opinion is that a .300 Win Mag is TOO much gun for the beginner.

Mr. bulbboy;
Please let me extend a welcome to the hunting family to you.

I have nowhere near the experience of some here, but I have been in the vicinity during the shooting of, or able to do a post mortem (help cut and wrap)for maybe 10 or 12 dozen deer sized animals. We�ve handled animals shot with rifles whose hole in the barrel went from .22 up to .37 if memory serves. The largest deer was shot with a .25 caliber 117gr bullet, so again, the size of hole isn�t the top thing I look for anymore, despite my .30 caliber handle.

Any of the gear I might suggest could be purchased used, sometimes at very reduced rates. If it is a brand I trust, I have no hesitation to buy scopes, rifles and even binoculars used.

The first thing I would buy is a decent binocular. Really, everything else for us is secondary, so if you don�t already own some, that is my advice for item number one.

For a rifle, I believe the best you could do would be to find a good gun shop you can trust and handle as many rifles as you are able to. Depending on a number of physical attributes, some will no doubt feel better to you. Find one that fits you well and the action type �makes sense� to you.

For instance I can�t get my head/body to work a pump action rifle with any consistency, but single shots are OK. Go figure, eh? You will doubtless be different with your likes, so go with what fits and makes sense to you.

Next I�d select a sighting device that fit me and my budget. I�m a dinosaur in that I can get along with a fixed 4X scope on many rifles and have even shot a couple things with 2.5X or 3X. We do have some fixed 6X and some variables too, so get what you like.

If you choose open sights, I shoot an aperture better than open sights, but again you might not. If you can handle or even better shoot a number of different rifles, it will be easier to see what feels best.

After you get your gear, find some hearing protection and a safe place to practice and shoot as often as you possibly can. By next season you will be ready.

Good luck in whichever way you decide.

Regards,
Dwayne

Welcome to the sport of long cold waits,bad camp food,snore filled cabins,comradarie,good times and funny anecdotes.
there are alot different rifles and calibers you can get to serve your needs and alot of people here will argue about them and you will get reams of good advice from knowledgeable hunters that are all fact and experience based.

If you were to purchase a bolt action rifle in 30-06 and put a good scope on it you will have a great deer rifle that wiil also allow you to hunt almost any big game animal in North America.

this is a statement of fact not an opinion

if you want my opinion get a Remington Model 7 in 308
small handy and good out to 200+ yds.

If your ranges will always be short a 30-30 will work fine. If you ever want to shoot longer a 270 is tough to beat. A 270 would be a capable rifle for groundhogs to moose if other game comes up. For just starting out I would pick a 30-30, 270, or a 30-06 due to cheaper ammo and cheaper practice. The 270 and 06 have plenty of factory loads available for other game as well.

Alot of good advice so far. The first thing is you need to find a good size gunshop and start by picking up and feeling all types of rifles. I have 2 passions for guns, Weatherby Bolt Actions and Marlin leveractions. The Marlin will serve you well if your shots are short to moderate and you like that type of rifle. The boltgun is usually more accurate, chambered for faster and flatter shooting rounds. Another good piece of advice is optics, buy the best you can. I am a fan of Leupold but others such as Burris, Nikon, Bushnell make nice scopes for the money.

If you are not a handloader, pick a round which is easy to come by as it will save you money and allow you to shoot more often. I would say the 30-30, 270, 30-06 and 308 Winchester are good to start with. You may also want to question the guys you hunt with and see what avg shot distances are and what they recommend.

Good values out there are the Marlin 336, Ruger 77(comes w/integral rings), Savage and some of the Remingtons. Buy what feels good in your hands, shoot as much as possible and enjoy.

Good luck

i suggest you visit a gun shop that carried many different brands of rifles. shoulder as many as you can and decide which "fits you" as in feels the best on your shoulder. savage, ruger, weatherby vanguard, remington 700 sps/cdl, to name a few. then i'd get a rifle in either 270 winchester or 30-06. you can find quality factory ammo anywhere. look through several different scopes and make a selection. optics are important so get the best scope you can afford. 3x9x40 is the top selling scope magnification in america. you are never wrong with a 30-06 topped with a 3x9x40. good luck on your quest.

I was shooting my 336 .30-30 with Williams peep sight yesterday. I would feel confident with shots too 100 yrds which is 30-35 yrds farther then I've ever killed a deer

Mike

Tikka T3 Stainless Lite, Pick a caliber.

308
25-06
30-06
270
280

One page so far?? Thats all??

I told you so

Mines bigger

As a suggestion.. since you're new to rifles, I'd stay away from used equipment for the first one. There's certain things to look for and you're not there yet, and many models to stay away from - especially in optics.

As suggested, get a feel for different guns. If your friend that took you has other guns, ask him to take you shooting (you buy the ammo) so you can get a REAL feel for them.

Go buy a nice .308. I like Kimber, Sako and Winchester, YMMV. Get a good scope. Leupold VX-III or better, or a Zeiss, Swarovski or similar. Then buy two cases of M80 ball ammunition, a couple targets and some earpro. Make sure you get good rings, and have everything installed properly, to include lapping rings if necessary.

When you've shot the 1,000 rounds of ball, you'll probably be about ready to buy some hunting ammo.

YMMV.

If the choice is 30-30 or .270 I would recommend the .270.

Maybe a Savage 111F with a 2x7 Leupold VX1 or better yet VX2.

The earlier suggestion about how important a set of binos can be is a good one.

Do yourself a favor and total enjoy killing with a 30-30 for as long as possible!!! If you hang hang out here and become a loonie your doomed!!

I miss my marlin and to be completely honest every animal I've killed in the last 27yrs eaisly could have died to the 30-30!! And several that didn't would have I'm sure of that!