The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles what is everyone using for a deer rifle?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I've taken deer with a 30-30, 44 Mag, 444 Marlin, 270, 7mm-08, 7-08AI, 7mmRemMag, 30-06, and a 300WinMag. That's what I can remember. If you hunt in the timber, a 30-30 is more than enough gun. If you hunt mule deer at long range, it's hard to beat a 7mmRemMag, and there are a lot of good deer cartridges between those two. My current flavor is the 7-08AI. Bottom line, find a firearm that you like and can shoot well, and put the bullet in the right place, and it really doesn't matter what you use, as long as it's enough gun. All the deer I've taken with various firearms were equally dead. | |||
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My favorite deer rifle for the past 30+ years is my .257 AI built on a Mauser Mark X action, topped with a 6x Leupold, and shooting 117 gr Sierra GameKing or 120 gr Hornady HP bullets. This has also been my favorite combination for antelope and mountain sheep. Other rifles that I've shot deer with include the .22 LR, .22-250, .30-06, .308 Win, .32 Spl, .45 muzzle loader, and a 12 gage shotgun. With proper bullet placement, deer are not that hard to kill. NRA Endowment Life Member | |||
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Up until just a couple of years ago we were required to use shotguns in our Deer Management Zones. For that I used an Ithaca Deerslayer III. It is not a deer rifle per se but it shoots like one. Now depending on what stand I hunt I use the Deerslayer or a Win Mod. 70 in 7mmSTW **************************The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first. | |||
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The 7-08 is close to the perfect all around deer cartridge, and i dont even shoot one  But it really depends on WHERE you are hunting. If its real thick brush, then a short, easy to manuvere, rifle is your best bet(rem model seven) all the cartridges you listed will get it done on whitetail, they are pretty easy to kill... | |||
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.270 Win. Win Model 70 @9 lb.s all up under 300 yrds, 95% of my hunting. 7mm Mag. Win Model 70 @12 lb.s all up if over 300 yrds seems likely, i.e. soybean fields. 7mm 08. Rem. 700 Titanium @6.5 lb.s if I'm going to hunt where it's steep. The light gun shoot great off the bench but I find it much harder to shoot it accurately in the field but shots over 50 yrds are rare in the woods. 30'06 Browning A-Bolt @7.5 lb.s if it's steep and also bear season. All my hunting rifles are stainless with composite stocks. All my triggers are lightened to @3 lb.s except for the 7mm 08 which is lighted to @2 lbs. All have Zeiss or Leupold scopes except the 7mm Mag which has a Bushnell 4x16x50. Sei wach! | |||
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For me either the 7x57 or .280.Either is great for anything in N America and most anywhere else.I'd go with something bigger for stopping dangerous game but other than that they're all I'll ever need. | |||
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300 Weatherby. Ken | |||
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6.8 SPC in an AR-15 topped with a 3.5x10x40 Leupold. When catapults are outlawed, only outlaws will have catapults! | |||
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300 wsm 308 win 30-06 spr 270 win 257 STW 223 WSSM 223 Rem 45-70 gov They all work I've killed the most whitetail with the 308 Win and 30-06, but the 5lb 300wsm is the most fun to carry, and the most accurate. I would probly still be using my 270 win the most but I got the custom rifle bug a while back and had Kevin Weaver build the 300 for me It is the most amazingly accurate light weight rifle that I have ever shot. Weaver Rifles 16850 Sage Creek Rd. Peyton CO 80831 (719)683-3024 or (719) 337-0501 kevin@weaverrifles.com | |||
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I've been using a Heym SR30 270 Winchester for some years and see no reason to change. Well,...maybe! Recently got a 9.3x74R Chapuis DR and if I ever learn to shoot it well then I might try it once, but it's a bit of overkill. Oxon | |||
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.300 WSM, Model 70, Winchester or .270 Win, Model 70, Winchester  | |||
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My present favorite is a 7x57. Good hunting, Andy ----------------------------- Thomas Jefferson: “To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” | |||
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Many of the deer cartridges mentioned in this thread are almost as good as the .257 Roberts. | |||
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308 winchester - lots of factory ammo options and hand loading. Remington has 125 grain reduced recoil loads good for 200 yards. I'm partial to a Hornady 150 SST for an all around round. Hornady has their Superformance ammo that will bring the 308 up to 30-06 performance. Get a Tikka T3; wood/blued; or synthetic/stainless; add a limbsaver pre-fit pad and a2-7 or 3-9 scope; don't go over $200 on the scope. Here's a target from my Tikka 308:  "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan "Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians." Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness. | |||
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My current deer gun is a pre 64 Win 70 Fwt in 30-06. I have used a 30-30 Marlin 336, a 257 Roberts and Improved, 8mm Mausers, a 375 H&H (once just to shoot something with it), and a 20 and 12 gauge shotgun at various times. I have only gotten a deer with 30-06 numerous times and a 12 gauge a couple of times in shotgun areas in Georgia. I never had an opputunity when carrying the others. My deer load for 30-06 used to be 165 gn Nosler Ballistic Tips but anymore I use my 180 gn Nosler Partitions load for everything. PA Bear Hunter, NRA Benefactor | |||
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I was agreeing with everything you said up until the @don't spend more than $200 on a scope" bit! Perhaps you tend not hunt at first and light light as much as we do here but I would say if one has a budget of $1000 dollars I would say spend 200 bucks on the rifle and the rest on the scope rather than visa-versa. You can't hit what you can't see, I mean. | |||
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Dr B, You should do a thread on your little Weaver built 300wsm.. I am sure others beside myself would be interested in hearing more about it along with photos of course if you please.. But then again my rifle budget is blown for this year and it is just half over...  Edit: Sorry Doc B, I did a search and found that you not only did a thread on your 300wsm but I posted on that thread..  | |||
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I have scopes of all price ranges and I've found that the little bit of extra light I get with my Zeiss is normally before or after legal shooting hours. I also compared my Burris Signature Select 10x50 to my friends Swarovksi SLC 10x42. The Swarovski were better....... at 1 mile. And he got his half-price thru a relative that worked at Swarovski, so that would be okay; regular street price, no way. "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan "Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians." Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness. | |||
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Kinda depends on terrain I am hunting up here. Custom Rem 700 280 Rem. w/140 TSX & 3.5-10X40 VXIII Custom Rem 700 7mmSTW w/140 TSX & 4.5-14X40 LR VXIII I havent used it yet, but I recently acquired a super cool little Custom Rem 700 in 7mm-08, I have a 2.5-8 VXIII and actually just worked up some loads for it tonight, See how 120 TSX's do in it. I have been also wanting to use my Marlin GG in 450 Marlin on stand. Rod -------------------------------- "A hunter should not choose the cal, cartridge, and bullet that will kill an animal when everything is right; rather, he should choose ones that will kill the most efficiently when everything goes wrong" Bob Hagel | |||
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6.5X55 rem 700 classic, 358win Browning BLR, 7mmSAUM Rem model seven stainless/synthetic, 35 whelen savage 110. With your list i would go for a 7-08 in a rem model seven, nice compact rifle, for Georgia deer it should be perfect | |||
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I usually go with a BLR in .308, but if I'm hunting over an open field I'll use my .300WSM. Somedays I just feel a little strange and use my no.1 in 7x57. Can't go wrong with a 30-06 though. | |||
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In my young farm kid days, killed several with a .22LR, several with .223, .220 Swift, I often shoot meat deer during the winter doe season with my big bores just to get practical hunting experience with them, so have shot them with up to a .416. By far the largest number have been killed with a 7x57. A shot not taken is always a miss | |||
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6.5x55, 8x57, 7mm Rem mag, .303 brit, 7.62x54r, .308, 9.3x57 | |||
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I use a 300 RUM when hunting for a trophy; but have killed a bunch of deer with a 204 Ruger on depredation permits. Its all about bullet placement no matter what you choose, deer aren't hard to kill if you hit em right. Shoot whatever you get enough to know the rifle and your abilities. God Bless, Louis | |||
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6.5mm-300 Win Mag built on a Sako AV action. Brown Precision stock. 4.5x15x40mm Leupold in Talley mounts 24 1/2" barrel 1-8 twist. 140gr Accubond @ 3300FPS  ______________________ Did I mention I love Sako's  | |||
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Remington 700 BDL, chambered in the mighty .308 topped with a nice leupold 3-9x50...Shooting 165gr Federal premium trophy bonded tips and animals die from fear...If they dont die from fear they dont have a chance to run. 1 shot, 1 kill everytime... | |||
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I'm hunting with either a .30HRT ar15 topped with a Leupy 2x7x33LR (open country) or a retro A1 chambered in .223 shooting 55g Sierra Gamekings topped with a Trjicon reflex (Lighweight brush gun) I'll prolly use my 357 rolling block some too    ---------------------------------------- If you waste your time a talkin' to the people who don't listen To the things that you are sayin' who do you thinks gonna hear And if you should die explainin' how the thing they complain about Or the things they could be changing who do you thinks gonna care Waylon Jennings | |||
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All you list will work have had great success with t3 270, but used a 6.5 swede in rem. classic in six synthetic stock, 120 nosler bt reloader 22 , For me is the ultimate. I'm so impressed I've bought a t3 ss, and building two custom mausers, but a deer isn't hard to kill if you make a good shot. No matter where you go or what you do there you are! Yes tis true and tis pity but pity tis, tis true. | |||
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Well, this exercise in foolishness has pretty well attained the 3 pages or so I predicted. Guess it's given the OP a good and useful idea of what "everyone is using for a deer rifle." Now what? | |||
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This year I'll use a Chapuis 9.3x74 double. Last year I used a 260 remington Model 700 Ti The year before I used a Marlin 1895 in 45/70 The year before that A Remington 673 in 350 Rem Mag. And a different one every year for many years. I'd say a 30-06 in a Savage Model 110 or Remington 700 or in just about anything that feels good when you shoulder it. Ammo - cheap and easy anywhere you go in more varieties than can be listed. Perfect for anything in the US. NRA Lifer; DSC Lifer; SCI member; DRSS; AR member since November 9 2003 Don't Save the best for last, the smile for later or the "Thanks" for tomorow | |||
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I usually carry a 7x57 or a 6.5x55, but I'll probably take the 9.3x62 out this year as my primary rifle (just for fun). I just picked up a SAKO 85 in .338 Federal that I may pack along as my backup. | |||
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I've used a couple of three chamberings in the last 10 years or so: .223 Rem 6mm Rem .270 Win .308 Win .338 Win Mag 9,3x62 9,3x74R DR .375 H&H .470 NE DR Didn't like the effectiveness of the .223 ... not much leeway. Replaced it with a 6.8 SPC II. All of the others work fine. Interestingly, the larger bores do less damage to meat than a .270 Win. If I am in piggy country I'll almost always take one of the 9,3s as well ... and they do a wonderful job. Mike -------------- DRSS, Womper's Club, NRA Life Member/Charter Member NRA Golden Eagles ... Knifemaker, http://www.mstarling.com | |||
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Now what?....climb back under your rock If you dont like it, dont read it! Without question, you have the stupidest post on this thread. Who cares if the OP garnered any knowledge from this (hope he did), maybe its interesting to some of us to see what other folks use in their neck of the woods...thats what I took from it What I/we got from your post, is nothing. Rod -------------------------------- "A hunter should not choose the cal, cartridge, and bullet that will kill an animal when everything is right; rather, he should choose ones that will kill the most efficiently when everything goes wrong" Bob Hagel | |||
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Recommended to me by a forum member from down in the Carolinas, who has taken 'thousands' of deer...  22 hornet, 6.5 grains of Blue Dot and a 45 grain SP.... feels like a magnum... by my 17 HMR is in the shop...  ......  | |||
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For me it could be a .30-30, .308, 30-06, 7X57, .45-70, on a wild day... a 7.62X39, but never a .22" nothin unless I was poaching..not in many years. | |||
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right now it's a 375 H&H | |||
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I have used a 20 Ga. single shot loaded up with slugs... Also shot 30-30's, 308 and 30-06...All of which kill sht episs out of the deer... Persoanlly I prefer my 308 lightweight rifle. It kicks like a pissed off mule, but it shoots flat and into sub MOA groups. | |||
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Winchester Mod. 70 "Stainless Classic," 30-06, synthetic stock, Leupold 3 - 9x 40mm VX II. And most any other game in No. America, although I like to go larger cal. for Elk, or Moose and large Bear, neither of which I hunt, yet. | |||
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My "go to gun" is chambered 8x57jrs, and it's quite accurate with my "one load for everything" 200NP handloads.  I've taken everything from moose and bear on down with this gun/load,  And it works just fine in the brush,  Or across open fields,  It's been a great companion. DM | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles what is everyone using for a deer rifle?
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