Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles How do you guys decide?

I have 4 deer rifles all scoped the same, all shoot very tight little groups of my handloads and all are fun to shoot.
Come opening morning (11/15) I have to grab only one as I head out the door.
From my ladder stand a 100 yd shot would be loooong. So either one of my 358's would work, as would my 338-08 or 270
May have to just take a different one out each morning.
When I started out deer hunting I only had 1 rifle that worked pretty darn good, but over the past 47 years I just kept collecting and now there are 4 that work pretty darn good. I guess I could have bigger problems.

One reason I only have one is because I don't have enough to need more. Of course I would like a 257 Roberts, maybe a 30-06. Then I'd be in your situation of which to take lol

I have a buck deer rifle and a bull elk rifle.

I use the other rifles for does and other stuff-coyotes etc.

Since I live in Texas I have to hunt from a stand so... I've been known to take 3 rifles and a .357 pistol in the stand with me. A .22 Hornet (in case I see a bobcat or coyote),a Marlin 30-30 or .35 Rem (for 100yd or less shots) and a .270 Win or 7mm mag or .25-06 or .300 Win mag (for long shots).

I love deer season.

Neil

Each summer while practicing, I end up favoring one rifle over the rest and that's the one that goes hunting in the fall. Invariably it's a different rifle each year.

One reason I live in Montana is the opportunity to shoot lots of game. In a single year, you can shoot 3 antelope, 7 deer, 2 elk, 1 bear, 2 turkeys, 1 cougar, and a moose, sheep or goat if you get lucky.

I start in August, lining up families that need meat, then I buy tags and go hunting. With a safe full of guns it isn't easy to decide which goes. This week we leave for turkeys and deer. I will be taking a 300 WBY mag, Winchester 1876 in 45-75, Winchester 1894 in 25-35, Winchester model 70 in 270, Colt SAA in 45 Colt, Wilson Combat AR in 223, and a Benelli SBE II. I am packing light, it isn't as if I were headed east for rabbits...

Have a good number of rifles, but each is task specific with minimal over lap so this makes it easy. My one deer rifle is a 257WBY. If I am hunting deer, it goes. Elk? 340 Tyrannosaur and on we go up from there.

grab which ever one i feel like hunting with, if i cant decide i toss 2 or 3 in the truck and decide when i get out to walk.....

Having several rifle so chose from as well I let several deciding factors come into play when the times comes.

First where am I hunting? If my shots go over 100 yards the 30-30 is out.

Second what kind of rest will I have? If its a good solid rest I will usually take the lighter 270 but if I am in a blind with only my monopod I will take the heavier 300 because I can hold it better.

Thirdly and this one matters most, which is due for a killin'. If I have a new rifle that hasn't drawn blood it goes regaurdless till in paid its dues. Same goes if I haven't used it in a few seasons.

I have a few that are too purdy to take out in inclement weather or rough terrain. Other than that, I'm kind of like RugerM77. If I have one that hasn't killed yet, I'll take it. That is why I'm taking my 416 Rem Mag this weekend for the deer opener. I anticipate a .416" hole with little bloodshot meat and an exit wound from any angle.

Anytime I know shots are not going to go past 250yds or so... the 358 IS the coolest kid on the block! You need not look further style points, the 358 has it all. Nostalgia, big thump in small package, etc... Plus, there will be plenty of people deer hunting with a 270. Boring. I have a decent collection of wide variety of calibers (338 Federal in there too), but the 358 is the coolest of the lot.

This is true too, a new gun must be 'proven' before the other tried-and-true rifles get back into the mix.

"Beware the man with but one gun because he probably knows how to use it."

My Dad's favorite quote, and he had little choice but to be that man. I, on the other hand, have evolved in that direction. I have far fewer guns than I did, and have have basically limited it to a 12ga, 25-06, .40 S&W and a .22. I am lucky enough to have a couple of keepsakes and toys.

I usually take an ammo inventory before the season and go with the gun for which I have the most ammo on hand for range sessions plus hunting. I then use that gun the entire season for everything.

this year I'll have three that need to be proven...all new to me...one 1885 low wall in 44 mag, a cz550 in 6.5x55, and a m77 in 7x57...i hope they all pass the test...

My granddaddy always said that. His one of choice seemed to always be an old ragged Chinese SKS with a synthetic stock. I saw him kill a flying quail with it and kill an armadillo off hand at 200 yards.

He stayed on me growing up about all my guns, he would say "pick one and learn how to shoot IT" I was always buying, selling or trading and had a different one everytime I went hunting.

I pick one rifle, a backup rifle, and load for worst case scenario for the biggest critter I'm gonna have to shoot.

One year with my 06AI and 200gr Pt's I killed a moose, a caribou, a pronghorn, an elk, and two deer..........



Casey

Beware the man with only one gun, when it breaks he will want to borrow one of yours and he is one BORING SOB in deer camp!

Fixed it for ya.