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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,676
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,676 |
Looking back on the last decade, or three of deer/big game hunting I have used (on game) a 270, 280, 7mm rem mag, 300 Win Mag, 308 winchester, 25-06 and a 30-06. (may have forgotten one, or two!) Rifle "platforms" have all been bolt action, pre 64 model 70s, model 70 classics, one pushfeed model 70, one Sako A series, Remington 700s and one FN actioned Husqvarna. Scopes have all been variables, all leupolds with one bushnell scopechief (2.5x8) many years ago, vari-x ll through vxlll, 2x7, 3x9, 3.5x10s. Only one scope issue, the bushnell! All duplex reticles except for one #4 reticle, which I was pretty indifferent about. All but two rifles have had quality synthetic stocks (bansners, mcmillans, one brown, a few B&C Ti). The other two were factory issue wood stocks. All variations on the same theme and no real reason to change. Favourite, if I was building or buying another one, would be another 270 (model 70 crf, preferably a pre 64 fwt) in a quality synthetic stock with another leupold variable! Current rifle is a model 700 SS mtn rifle, in 270! Picture below is a pre 64 fwt in 280(off a classic fwt), Mcmillan Edge compact. That was a "pretty nice" rig, no longer here though as I didn't really care for the stock fit and was chasing perfection. Not really the smartest thing I ever did and I'd be happy to have it back! [IMG]
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,653
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,653 |
JoeMartin what type of ammo are you using in that R, factory or handloads?
You're Welcome At My Fire Anytime
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,008
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,008 |
Winchester Model 70 in 270 Win.
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 549
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 549 |
What's your ideal whitetail rifle?
I've never found one "ideal whitetail rifle"
I used several depending to the terrain and the hunt.
1) I, too, generally use a scoped 270 Winchester switching between a wood stocked M70 and a synthetic stocked M700 in wet weather.
2) I also use a scout-scoped K31 if situation is stalking with possibility of having to make a quick jump shot.
3) Some years ago running deer with dogs (was legal) I used an iron sighted SKS for close shots these "super-sonic" deer.
Ray
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,454
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,454 |
Savage 99 EG in 308, has a VX-II on it now.
Long Live The Judge
Thinking of moving to Florida? Don't........
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,354 Likes: 4
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,354 Likes: 4 |
This is probably my all-time favorite: Savage 99 in 308 WIN. I download it so it shoots more like a 300 Savage. Running a close second is my newest addition: Ruger Hawkeye in 30-06
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,225 |
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,697 Likes: 1
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,697 Likes: 1 |
____________________________________________________________ Dying gets closer every day
Lloyd McCarter and the Honky Tonk Revival
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 803
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 803 |
Ditto on the Savage 99F in 300 Savage. Mine wears a Weaver 2.5X Scope. It is deadly on Michigan Whitetails. Accurate, lightweight, fast handling and packs plenty of punch for a quick kill.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 284
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 284 |
I'm hunting CRP and the trees are too tall to see into. Mostly, we shoot down the roads and shots can be long. This season, I've used my LH WBY Accumark 300 wby mag. I killed a mature buck at 360 yds the other day. But my favorite rifle is a LH WBY ultralight in 257 wby mag.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,601
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,601 |
I've killed a pile of deer with a pile of different rifles. Most fell to my first centerfire. An old ADL with a Redfield Widefield. The rifle is my son's now, and he's killed a few with it as well:
Nut
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 178
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 178 |
This BSA featherweight- I like that rifle. Yes, it's a real sleeper, I have never seen another one like it. It's got this muzzle break which works like it should, it doesn't blast back at you. It's very light and trim, 7.25 scoped and loaded, handles much like a BTNO 21. CRF- Cool british proofs, square bridges, nice polish, over all a high quality 30-06-
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,629 Likes: 3
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,629 Likes: 3 |
Ruger 44 carbine.
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,214
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,214 |
I like that little Ruger!
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 178
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 178 |
Ruger 44 carbine. That looks mighty handy!! I am not familiar with 44 down range ballistics- what kind of loads are you using, what's the trajectory like and how far are you comfortable shooting at a deer with that rifle?
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900 |
This BSA featherweight- I like that rifle. Yes, it's a real sleeper, I have never seen another one like it. It's got this muzzle break which works like it should, it doesn't blast back at you. It's very light and trim, 7.25 scoped and loaded, handles much like a BTNO 21. CRF- Cool british proofs, square bridges, nice polish, over all a high quality 30-06- Have seen a couple of these....very cool old rifle!
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,827
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,827 |
This Remington Custom shop M7 .257 Roberts has taken about 30 deer for me the past 16 years. My daughter outgrew her Marlin 1894 .357. Magnum so has used mine for the last couple of years. This is definitely the ideal whitetail rifle for me!
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,629 Likes: 3
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,629 Likes: 3 |
That looks mighty handy!!
I am not familiar with 44 down range ballistics- what kind of loads are you using, what's the trajectory like and how far are you comfortable shooting at a deer with that rifle?
240JHP, but JSP seems to be just as effective. Trajectory is nowhere near as good as a 30-378WM, but a helluva lot better than a mortar. Seriously though, I think if a majority of your shots are going to be over 50 yards at stationary or slow moving deer, there's a lot of better options. By the time rifle season opens where I hunt the deer have been subject to a month of bow and 2 weeks of muzzle and are pretty skittish. Most of the guys in my club still stick to the same old plan & go up in the trees, but I go down in the thickest, nastiest places on the property. I don't see nearly as many deer as the tree dwellers, but when I do it usually a nice one, usually very close, and usually moving.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 8,625
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savage 99 in 300 sav or marlin 444 they share the work load this year was marlin 1 the sav got the rest of season
DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR
I LOVE MY COUNTRY IT'S THE GOV'T I FEAR
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 178
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Campfire Member
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Posts: 178 |
savage 99 in 300 sav or marlin 444 they share the work load this year was marlin 1 the sav got the rest of season Off topic- tbear99- that looks like a black and tan english shepherd in your avatar, that's a great old breed. Here's one of mine-
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