Most of the cartridges mentioned have the necessary whoom and boom to kill deer. The variable in the hunting scenario is usually the hunter. The hunter needs to have a rifle that he has confidence in and feels "GOOD" about putting a well placed shot where it should go.

I relly like my Mountain Rifle LSS in 260 rem. I shoot 125 partitions over H4350 powder and it's great on Whitetail.

There are plenty of perfect deer rifles, but, where are all the perfect hunters? Rojelio

I have something over 30 Perfect deer rifles from 250 savage to 35 whelen.. In a normal year i sight in 8 rifles & hunt with 4. Last year the 4 were 1. 25'06 custom rem 700 action, 2. srock rem 700lss 7remmag(rainny day rifle with raingard scope) 3.rem m7mc 308 amd 4. rem 700ks 35 whelen..none of these are my best rifles but they fitted where & how i was hunting

Last year I decided to buy the perfect deer rifle. I ended up with a Dakota in 7X57. It's still perfect, although in a few years I might find one that's more perfect.

Within reason one cartridge is about as good as another for deer..especially if its used properley, but thats the catch isn't it...

To me the best all around deer rifle would be the 30-06, it always leaves a good blood trail when it doesn't kill them on the spot...thats all I ask...

Pick any caliber between & including 6mm & 30 and learn how to shoot it. THAT is perfect.

7 X 57,19" replacement barrel (Mil).sporterized mod 98 military stock.Timney trigger on 98 Mauser action. forward mounted (scout styled) scope, Home made recoil compensater 1" repeatability at 50 yds. Bingo roger

Of all the rifles that I have the lightweight 84M in 7mm-08 seemed optimum for my adult son who does not shoot much at all. I got the LOP just right for him which is most important and the trigger is crisp. The rifle has a new Leu 2-7 on it in Signature Zee rings.

For myself I can use almost anything that fits me. I prefer powerful cartridges even for deer. The rifle I go to when I have to get something is one of the .358's.

The perfect deer rifle? Hmmmm.
Well, I guess it's my Ruger77RLS carbine in 358Win. Short, lightweight, and with enough power to put down any deer from any angle.

Then again, I like my Rem.700 LSS Mtn. rifle in
270Win. for more open areas/longer shots. Or, maybe the mannlicher stocked Sako carbine in 308Win.

Heck, a good old Marlin 30/30 is probably one of the most practical for woods hunting. I miss mine (dang fool trade).

As someone already noted, there's a lot of perfect deer rifles/cartridges. Where's all the "perfect" hunters?

Where's all the perfect deer hunters?
Why, we live here in New Zealand!
]

Right on Oldun

It because we do it every weekend and then once we retire we do it every day. The perfect deer rifle is the one closest to hand where I live.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

My perfect deer rifles for out east are my old .358 BLR, a joy to carry, great pointer, very accurate; and my older flat bolt M77 in .308 for covering longer shots, never misses!
I'm working on my western deer rifle, a Savage 110 in .270. Amazing accuracy for so few dollars! Even though its so ugly, it beats the Weatherby, and Sako guarantees!

I have a tie for my number one Deer rifle. A .257 Wby with 6 X 24 Burris Signature, and a .270 WSM with a 4.5 X 14 Ziess Conquest. The Wby has killed many Deer, the WSM is new and raring to go. Just my .02's Good shooting.

The best and perfect deer rifle in the one you like best, shoots best for you and kills a deer everytime you take a good shot out to how ever far you want to shoot! That is completly up to you!

Model 7 .260 with a new-to-me 22 in barrel - "Perfect" for whitetails.



I've also got a .308 BDL, and my wife has this beautiful FN Browning 30-06 - "Perfect" for whitetails to moose.

No such thing as a perfect deer rifle, or any other kind of rifle for that matter. Pistols are so imperfect though that in reflection, all rifles are nearly perfect.

I knew when the guy in the article said "22 inch barrel" he was an idiot, maybe even a perfect one.

Dan, 22" too short for you?

friar

But of course!

I do have rifles with shorter barrels, a lot with longer barrels, and one with a 22" barrel that's on the way to Montana to be converted into a REAL rifle. 24" and a bigger bore.

My theory is that 22" is a compromise, and I hate compromise! That's why I got divorced the first time by the way. If you need a short barrel by God, make it short! If you can't lug a long barrel around the hills then by God all your barrels should be short! Did ya ever see a Ruger #1 with a 28" barrel? I makes 'em look sleek and racey instead of short and chuncky. Adds a little velocity too, and that's never a bad thing. Long is better than short, any reasonable gal will tell you that.

Dan

Perfect deer rifle is the Savage 99, and I don't much care what it's chambered in between .25-3000 and .358 Win. Scoped bolts may be very well in the west, but they ain't hitting on much when your only chance is a 30 yard wingshot as the deer soars over a road cut.

Stainless steel M 70 .270 with a BOSS to about 350 yrd.s.

Here's my idea in 6.5X55:

I have been considering going to just one rifle I made up for deer hunting out of the two in particular that I have been using for several years now. One a 19 inch barreled 7x57 that has 14 one shot kills to it's credit and the other a similarly built rifle in 308 but with a 24 inch barrel. Interestingly top loads for both use 48.0 grains of WC852 under a 160 grain Speer Hotcor in the 7x57 and a 165 grain PSPCL in the 308. Despite having a longer barrel the 308 is lighter and kicks harder. Both have good triggers and scopes and beat MOA with 3 shot groups. The 308 also has mostly 1 shot kills but it seems more feral hogs show up when I carry it and I am willing to take less than perfect shot angles on them so I occasionally have to shoot twice. On deer by far the 7x57 has proven to be the luckier rifle. It's shorter barrel is handier in tower blinds also. Nahh I will have to give em some more testing, 10 years or so.

One vote for a Dakota 76 in 280 caliber. Low recoil and lots of punch and range. Truth of the matter is I've used an 06 for years so the Dakota is this years perfect deer gun. By the way what does a "perfect deer" look like? I usually just hunt mulies and whitetails.

By the way what does a "perfect deer" look like? I usually just hunt mulies and whitetails.

The perfect deer is the one laying in the back of my truck with his tongue hanging out. Rojelio

The perfect deer rifle thats hard do say.

I shot them with every from 22lf to DGRs. Two of my favorites are a ruger no.1 in 30-06 and a sav 99 in 300 sav. I have killed dozens deer with both, with bullets from 150 to 220.

Any rifle that shoots a decent bullet at good vel. Will work well as long as the shooter does his part.

Gidday Guys,

Not wishing to skite but I have shot a heap of deer. Mainly fallow, red, whitetail, sika with a couple of wapiti/elk type animals thrown in for good measure mainly while meat hunting in the 70s and 80s.

First heap was with a Savage 99F in 308 with a 4x40 Miroku scope using 150gr Speer hotcores.

Second and biggest heap was with a Sako Forester 243win with a leuopold 4x m8 and Speer 90gr hotcores.

Third heap is still growing for the Remington 700BDL 30-06 with a 3-9 VXII and 150 gr corelocts and Speer hotcores.

Smallest heap but growing a Remington model seven 260 with a Burris fulfield 3-9 and 120gr corelocts and hotcores.

Shows that the best deer rifle is the one you are holding and use it within its capabilities.

Now the perfect rifle for deerstalking is another matter altogether. As long as it is within a reasonable power range it is a totally subjective decision.

My perfect deer rifle is the one I have yet to get my hands on. It is a Sako Forester (old style) rebarrelled to 260 Rem with a 3-9 VXII. Loaded with a 120gr hotcore at 2800fps this will handle anything I am likely to come across in this country. I would also like to give some of Seafires 100 gr loads a try.

This would be perfect for me because it has the nostalgia from days of youth and strong muscles. Of solid performance and quality that doesn't age tied to a modern cartridge that is not flashy but eminently suited to the task.

It will be my perfect rifle until I own it and then desire another. Much like the women in my life.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

It's nice to see that we all can pretty much agree that the perfect deer rifle, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. There are many perfect deer rifles. I'm glad to see the .260 mentioned, it is one of my all time favorite rounds, and at least to me is one of my "perfect" deer rifles. The 7mm-08 being another. I'm also glad to see the 7X57 mentioned, the old calibers don't get enough press since the new fangled WSM's have taken root. I would add that the .257R is another fine round for deer.
As to rifle, it's a shooter's choice, and that's what makes this country great. You can use anything from grandpa's old Savage 99, to a modern Remington Titanium, from the old standby Winchester 94 to the Encore single shot.
My hunting partner and I usually end up with at least two new deer rifles apiece every year. We like to try new rifles and calibers, and it keeps us practicing and working up loads in the off season. This year for me, will be a return to the Savage 10/110 rifle in stainless steel, and a return to my two favorite calibers, the .260 and 7mm-08. Last year it was a Ruger .280 and a Ruger .260. Before that it was a Ruger UL .308 and a ... well you get the idea. Most of our rifles are used, but not all, and they are in the range of "easy to afford" rifles. It's a lot of fun working on them and customizing them. It's also an eye opener, as to the effectiveness of some of the calibers and the lack thereof in others. I've found if you can shoot it well, it really isn't too important how much knock down power you have. A well aimed shot from a .243 will always out kill a poor 30/06 shot. Using more power in place of accuracy is a myth. That's also not to say the 30/06 is not a fine deer rifle it is, but in a lot of cases, not necessary, even though I love the round.
This makes the 8th year we've been using different rifles, so I better not get started, I could go on and on about what we've learned and how it's worked out. Let's just suffice to say it's a great learning experience, and a heck of a lot of fun.

There are many great cartridges to choose from, but over all I like the 6.5x55.

I too like to use different rifles when hunting deer.And the one in hand is the best deer getter at the moment.
Have been hunting deer for many many years and have taken many deer.Where I live they are not as big as they are up north so about any cal.works for them very well.Have many calibers in 243to 300wsm but a few years ago I got a 260,and I have to say that it is the closest thing to perfect deer rifle for me.For others maybe not,we are all different.
I had one in a rem mtn,ruger mk11,but sold them to get a rem bdl ss with 24 in barrel.Don't know why rem quit chambering for it in the bdl.But they sure had one fine rifle.
The 7/08 was mentioned and have one of those to in rem classic w/24 in barrel and it is a awesome deer rifle too
The 30/30 was mentioned too and it is one of the best deer rifles too don't have no idea how many deer I have dropped with one of those in a win or marlin.
30/06 think everyone knows how great they are.
Goes to show its which one you have in hand at the time.
Good hunting to all which ever you choose.

You also have to consider where you hunt, up here the deer grow larger than down south. I've hunted before with my old 6.5x55 and it did a wonderful job all-around, but definately a more dramatic effect on smaller southern deer. Up here, a Model 70 in '06 with a Leupy 2.5-8 is bang-on for deer, lots of weight, diameter, trajectory, it's just a reat round all-over. The .270 is next in line, but I prefer the 150 grain weights over 130 or 140.

quote:

Posted 31 May 2005 08:18
Winchester model 70 classic featherweight

In a .270 win None better IMO

Damn I am opinionated

I know this thread is a little old now, but have any of you tried a tikka t3? I have on in .270 Win that is a blast to shoot, and accurate as hell too. I'm taking it with me to Colorado this fall.

Any caliber from the 25-35 up is the perfect deer caliber if you like it....

I guess the .270 WCF would be one of the best all around deer rifle under any circumstances, but I don't own one these days, but I shot a ton of deer and elk with one back when...

Maybe the 30-06 is the hands down winner, it usually is in any discussion....It would be my final pick, but the .270 is close...