The Accurate Reloading Forums
what is everyone using for a deer rifle?
29 December 2002, 01:20
shooter65what is everyone using for a deer rifle?
I am undecided on what caliber and brand to get!!
25-06, 270, 280, 30-06, 7mm-08.
suggestions please??
29 December 2002, 02:41
RSYWith the list you provided, it comes down to a choice based solely on subjective criteria. In other words, they'll all do the job.
Now the questions become:
1. Which one do you like the looks/feel of?
2. Any nostalgic leanings?
3. Do you like short or long actions?
4. Do you have a gut-level affinity or dislike for certain calibers/cartridges?
Oh, and finally, my recommendation based on these highly technical criteria:
.270 WCF...what else?
Good luck,
RSY
29 December 2002, 02:49
<Zeke>I am partial to 270. Very easy to load for. Components are everywhere and reasonably priced. Great accuracy and low recoil.
Any of the rounds you mentioned would be great for a deer rifle. I might add 7x57 Mauser, 257 Roberts and 308 Winchester to the list.
I bought a M700 ADL in 1997. However I wouldn't buy another Remngton product. If I were shopping for a new rifle I would look at Savage or CZ.
ZM
29 December 2002, 02:56
Major CaliberMy primary deer rifle is a .270 win, if the range is long, I use my 7mm Rem Mag, if it's close range, I use my 8x57 sometimes.
29 December 2002, 03:43
TBEAR99Well in the thick brush i use the 30-30 or the 444 marlin for longer stuff i use the 300 savage or the 308win
29 December 2002, 03:51
<Doc in Texas>I use a 243 in the hill counrty and a 300winny on the plains and South Texas brush counrty.Texas Hill counrty is mostly ceder breaks with small open pockets, South Texas is long sendero's that are 500+yards long. I west Texas it is flat or have headers and valleys that make for long shots.
Both of my girls hunt with a 243 or a 257Rbts.AI of a 308 for most of there hunting.
Hope this helps
Doc
29 December 2002, 04:21
<rws2>270Win.
7mm Rem.Mag
29 December 2002, 04:40
shooter65my, quite a few 270 lovers out there!!
i think one would not need anything larger than the 30-06 for deer. too many damn choices to choose from!!
29 December 2002, 05:54
stubblejumperI will agree that there is no reason to use anything larger than .308" for deer.I prefer the 7mm's such as the 7mm-08,280,7mm mag or 7mmstw and they are only .284"
29 December 2002, 06:09
Savage99The first choice would be the .308 Winchester as it is the US military cartridge, an outstanding design, very popular, accurate, powerful and easy to get at low prices everywhere.
For a rifle get the type that you like and what fit's you and practice with it as much as you can. I like rifles with recoil pads so look for this. My choice in rifles would be a Winchester M70 Featherweight Classic. For a scope my choice is the new Leupold VX-1 2X7. They are available on the net for $179.
Good luck. Don't get all worked up over the cartridge. Many will work on deer. Pick what you like and make good shots.
29 December 2002, 06:09
<allen day>Almost all of my deer have been taken with a .30-06, .270 Win., 7mm Rem. Mag., .300 Winchester, or .338 Winchester. Of these, my sentimental favorite is the .270 Win.
My favorite hard-use deer rifle for all deer hunting everywhere - from our local blacktails and mule deer to Coues deer -is the .300 Winchester with 165 gr. bullets loaded to 3200 fps. or better. I haven't found a better cartridge/load combination for deer hunting than that one, and it's superb in wide-open, windy country such as the desert country of eastern Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico where I do most of my pronghorn and deer these days.
AD
29 December 2002, 09:11
Lou270You would be happy with any of the rounds you mentioned, but my personal favorite is the .270 Win. As for rifles, I would start with either the Rem 700 Mt. Rifle or Win M70 Featherweight.
Regards,
Lou
29 December 2002, 11:33
shooter65Did some wheelin' and dealin' today with a local gun dealer, traded a bunch of brass and $350 for a Weatherby Vanguard in a 30-06 just like this one.
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=669089829 December 2002, 19:36
Orion 1quote:
Originally posted by shooter65:
Did some wheelin' and dealin' today with a local gun dealer, traded a bunch of brass and $350 for a Weatherby Vanguard in a 30-06 just like this one.
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=6690898
Nice job. You wouldn't believe me if I told you how accurate my .30-06 Howa 1500 is. BTW, you did know that the Weatherby Vanguard, Smith & Wesson 1500, Mossberg 1500, are all the same excellent rifle as the Howa 1500.
30 December 2002, 03:56
Iron BuckI enjoy rifles to much to hunt deer with just ONE gun! Here is the list of my deer calibers:
1. 30-06 (165 grain) Winchester Model 70 CRF
2. 300 savage (150 grain) Savage 99 pre war
3. 35 Whelen (250 grain) Remington 7600
4. 7mm Rem Mag (150 Grain) Remington 700
5. 300 Win Mag (180 Grain)Ruger M77 Mark II
I have also killed deer with my 338 win mag (Rem 700) and my 375 HH mag (Browning A-bolt II). I love the variety!
[ 12-29-2002, 18:59: Message edited by: Iron Buck ]30 December 2002, 04:02
D Humbarger30-06 Ackley Improved Remington 760 pump for the woods or a 30-338 in a FN supreme action for the fields.
30 December 2002, 04:16
TwoSixtyModel Seven LSS in 260 Rem. It is always up for anything I ask of it. Easy to load for,Lightwieght,Light Recoil, and I can go from Deer to Varmints in the same day with one rifle....
30 December 2002, 04:37
Frank NowakowskiThe Vanguards are very nice rifles.I've posted here several times on how accurate the three I have shot were. You made a good choice.
Next step is to get some decent rings/bases and a good scope. Don't go cheap on optics its not worth it. A Leupold 3-9 would be about perfect IMHO.
Good Luck
FN in MT
30 December 2002, 04:50
Cold BoreOf your choices, I'd rank them in this order....
7mm-08
270 Win
30-06
280
25-06
Why? Just my personal preferences I guess. I've always liked short actions, and actually used a 7mm-08 myself this year. After that, if I had to pick a long action, it would be easy to go with the 270. Always thought it was a great round. The 30-06 & 280 are a toss-up, either is fine. I'd choose the 25-06 last (of this group) due to it being a rather large case for a 25 caliber bullet. If I was shooting a 25, I'd take a 250 Savage, or maybe a 257 Roberts.
30 December 2002, 05:03
Robert D. Lyons.308 win., .30-'06
30 December 2002, 05:11
Orion 1BTW, here's what I use:
Howa 1500 stainless .30-06, B&C stock, Sightron SI 3-9X40.
Sako 75 wood/stainless .300 Win Mag, Burris Fullfield II 3-9X40.
30 December 2002, 05:19
Major Caliberquote:
Originally posted by ksduckhunter:
BTW, here's what I use:
Howa 1500 stainless .30-06, B&C stock, Sightron SI 3-9X40.
Sako 75 wood/stainless .300 Win Mag, Burris Fullfield II 3-9X40.
How do you like the Sightron I?
I just bought the Sightron II 2.5x8x42mm
30 December 2002, 13:23
Caine7mm rem mag, and 9.3x62 for the woods
30 December 2002, 15:57
<kevin>270 win--7rem mag
30 December 2002, 17:47
Glock45I have a full stable of many different rifle and caliber combinations. My favorite for all around white tail hunting is my Savage 11 F Hunter in 7mm-08. It has light recoil, mild muzzle report, and has plenty of long range performance on the deer. I load Nosler 140 Grain BT with 42.3 grains of Varget. This combo nets me 3/8 inch groupings at the 100 yard mark all day long. The gun is a no thrills or frills rifle. As with the Savages of long ago, it is a working mans gun. But when I pull that all flatt black rifle out the case, all my hunting buddies say, "The old man has brought the Grim Reaper with him". The little black Savage has filled a many a freezer for the winter. Here is web site that some of you might enjoy about the 7mm-08:
http://members.tripod.com/sed88/rem7/31 December 2002, 09:32
<Matt77>for brush work, a 50 bmg barret, semi auto.
for long range work, a 20mm gun.
although, they don't seem to open up right on a small deer, might go bigger.
31 December 2002, 09:45
<BigBob>shooter65,
From my experience, I'd suggest the .30-06. Now that age has slowed me down, I've given my rifles to my kids or sold them. I did keep one rifle, just in case. It's a Rem. M-700 BDL in .30-06. When I first started hunting seriously, over 50 years ago, my first pick of cartridges was the .30-06. Now I've gone back to it. I've take a lot of game in my life, most of it with one '06 or another. I was always careful of bullet placement and I've never been let down by any of the rifles I shot. The '06 killed game just as dead as any other rifle cartridge. Part of this success was due to proper bullet selection. This is just MHO. What ever you select, if used correctly, will make you happy. Good luck.
![[Smile]](images/icons/smile.gif)
31 December 2002, 04:20
mark65x55300 H&H
Thanks Bearclaw
![[Wink]](images/icons/wink.gif)
31 December 2002, 04:47
BBTURTLEMy two cents.
I use an M77 280 in the fields BUT when I go to the swamps I use a 30-30 or 375 BigBore Model 94.
Turtle
![[Cool]](images/icons/cool.gif)
31 December 2002, 14:08
Orion 1quote:
Originally posted by GSF1200:
quote:
Originally posted by ksduckhunter:
BTW, here's what I use:
Howa 1500 stainless .30-06, B&C stock, Sightron SI 3-9X40.
Sako 75 wood/stainless .300 Win Mag, Burris Fullfield II 3-9X40.
How do you like the Sightron I?
I just bought the Sightron II 2.5x8x42mm
Excellent scope. Clear, bright, and VERY repeatable. I'm impressed, considering what I paid (< $130).
31 December 2002, 14:35
gspMy calibers and rifles go something like this
![[Big Grin]](images/icons/grin.gif)
25-06 Colt Suaer leupoldx3 6.5x20
7mm-08 Rem. m7 leupold 3x9 compact
30-06 rem. 700 leupold x2 4x12
450 marlin willams peep
31 December 2002, 15:41
Curtis_LemayI personally like the 7.65x53 Argentine Mauser case. It recoils very little is very accurate and the gun I use (sporterized 1881 Argy) is pretty light (although I prefer a heavier rifle for most field use).
However I have also hunted with (but with out any luck of as much as seeing a deer) the 7mm Rem Mag and the 9.3x62, which is fastly becoming my favorite caliber of all.
[ 12-31-2002, 06:42: Message edited by: Curtis_Lemay ]31 December 2002, 16:06
SeanDcustom 03A3 30.06
31 December 2002, 17:42
WstrnhuntrMy designated deer caliber as of 2003 is going to be the improved Bob on a Mauser 98 with a '99E 300 Savage as a backup/brush stick.
S65,
Your gonna like that Weatherby! Good find..
31 December 2002, 18:06
OldFartI would use one of the 30 caliber's followed by one of the 7mm's. My only reason for choosing these is that there are more bullets types and combinations to choose from. Any of the calibers you mentioned should be great.
01 January 2003, 15:30
bearstalkerMy 300 WSM, .338 Win. Mag. and my .375 H&H.
02 January 2003, 05:27
TonyWhat am I using for a deer rifle?
Browning Gold Deer Hunter in 12-gauge (rifled barrel of course)
Nikon Monarch UCC 1.5-4.5X with TurkeyPro reticle
Winchester Partition Gold
This combo has proven to be very effective and maybe a little too destructive if I don't choose my shots carefully. It shoots 1 1/2" groups @ 100.
02 January 2003, 09:57
<PWN>This year I have killed them with a 45-70, 22 Hornet, 270, 308 and 375H&H.
Perry
02 January 2003, 12:34
<Reloader 1>I have many of the guns mentioned but when I look at the performance on deer sized game the 308 win is about perfect.
02 January 2003, 15:24
N E 450 No2While I have used many calibers for deer over the years I [used to
] think that a 18" to 20" 308 WCF was about the best "deer" rifle around. Light, handy, accurate, and plenty of power for deer. But now I like my 9.3X74R Chapuis double. It may be the best "allround" rifle and round for all game under Cape Buffalo, at ranges under 200 yards.