For the purpose of this poll I am limiting it to a DISCUSSION OF RIFLES USED FOR DEER HUNTING.

I'm sure most of us have a favorite rifle that we most often go to when we go hunting. Mine is the .257 Wby Mag.

However, I will change rifles depending upon the hunting conditions--location especially. For stands in heavy brush that will provide only a close shot, I use my .30-30 Marlin. For most locations that may provide a substantially longer shot I will almost always use my .257 Wby Mag. When I know that the range will be no farther than 150 to 200 yds, I'll often take my .243. I have one location that borders some very rough terrain that I don't want to have to recover a deer from, so there, I often use my .30-06 with 180 grain bullets--hoping that any deer shot with them will not go very far.

On the other hand, my father-in-law, when he was alive, used his .243 almost always even though he had many other options.

What is your approach to deer hunting.

Question:
When deer hunting I use:

Choices:
the same rifle regardless of conditions/situations.
different rifles for different conditions/situations.
generally the same rifle, but occasionally I'll use a different one for different conditions/situations.

 

the same rifle regardless of conditions/situations...... 300 Win Mag

I can see a fourth possible catagory. Where you have numerous guns in numerous calibers it's just natural to want to use them all, so maybe one then another or rotate amongst them. In other words, "different rifles for their own sake rather than based on conditions/situations in the field".

I am usually hunting with my 30-06. The only reason I see fit to switch is because I got a new rifle I want to bloody.

I use my 270 wsm 95% of the time, except when we do a drive and I am one of the drivers, the I carry something with open sights.

Peter

I hunted with a Ruger 300winmag for 14+ years, ended up getting a Ruger .257R to accompany it and for a better dedicated deer rifle. I also bought a bolt action .22 and set them all up the same, slings, etc. etc.

Both centerfires have 3x9's, the .22 has a 4x scope. I was trying to keep the set ups close enough to the same that I'm good and familiar with either one that I grab.

I have a couple other rifles and carbines, but those are my hunting guns, and after using a 300 for hunting stands, drives, big game, coyotes, blue grouse, and everything I could think of, I don't feel handicapped hunting near or far with a scoped bolt action.

For chasing down a cripple I always choose my 30-30 336 Marlin. I will use a quick gun with an low mag scope for drives and a rifle adequate to the distance I might need to shoot from a stand.

I have a stainless Ruger 77 (.270 Win.) that only gets to go hunting when it's rainy.

You didn't have the option of "I always pick wrong."
I try to hunt with many different rifles each year, sometimes two a day. I have woods stands, field stands, short range guns, long range guns, fast operating guns, and military sporters with Buehler safeties I can't find in a hurry. I often change spots or tactics mid-stream, and end up with the 'wrong' rifle. Like my 26" bull barreled 25-06 with light bullets swinging on a running deer at 10 yards. Like my far too heavy Mauser with the slow safety repeatedly jumping a wounded deer, and not getting off a short shot.

Its ok, I have fun, and I like rotating my guns.

One thing nice about living in the USA is one can own and use many guns. From varmints to very big game I can pick what is need.

Hell I told the wife when I had my 416 built it was for keep the elephants out of the garden she said we don't have any elephants in the garden I said see it is working allready

I also use specific Rifles along with specific Loads for different Hunting situations. One rifle could be made to do it all, but I do like using a few different ones.

Do you wear the same pair of boots/shoes at all times and every occasion? I would think not!
GWB

quote:

Originally posted by Shack:
I can see a fourth possible catagory. Where you have numerous guns in numerous calibers it's just natural to want to use them all, so maybe one then another or rotate amongst them. In other words, "different rifles for their own sake rather than based on conditions/situations in the field".

This definately fits in my choices as well.

What shack said, +2

I have quite an overlap when it comes to "deer" rifles so I rotate among several without any concern about conditions.
If you're shooting say a 700 in 7-08 w/a 1.5x6 or 2x7 scope, what conditions wouldn't that rig cover? Especially since I don't do long range.

When I hunt where drives are the norm, I use two rifles.....something like a M-70 FWT for standing and a Remington M-600 for driving. The carbine style bolt rifle is far better for walking through the brush and can be used for standing as a back up rifle.

I almost always have a backup rifle anyway.

I use a shorter rifle in heavy cover but most of the time carry my trusty custom 270 with a 23" barrel.


ddj

As a couple of you have stated, I should have had a category for choosing different rifles just because we have them and would like to use them. I tried to think the poll out well when I posted it, but for some reason, I didn't think of that possibility. Sorry.

If I'm in the thickets I like to use one of my .30-30's or my .35 Rem all are Marlins.
In the thickets near the property line I use either my .45-70 or 9.3x62.
In areas of open timber or mixed areas I use a .257 Roberts, a .270 Win, a .25-06 Rem, or a .308 Win.
If I'm hunting the power line, the beans fields or any really open country I'll use either my
.270 Weatherby or my .300.
In bad weather I will carry a synthetic stocked rifle.

My go to hunting rifle is a Model 70 300 winmag. Although I have a 243 up to a 45-70 with several in between that are rearng and nickering to go. Short is nice in the thick stuff, but I've never been bothered by length.

Joe A.

I use my 308 all the time unless I grab my 30-06 or my 6.5X55 or my 270 or my 270 WSM or my 44mag revolver or my 475 Linebaugh or one of the other forty or so Rifles !!!

I use the same rifle, but with a twist.

When I travel by air I use a synthetic stocked rifle and when I travel by car I use my wooden rifles. Only because I don't trust the airlines, not because of the conditions.

I use my M70 in .300 nearly all the time now. I have used a .270 M70 but prefer the "hammer" of the .300 WM with 180 gr. TSX bullets.

This is certainly not a scientific poll, but I was a little surprised to see that so many used the same rifle (for deer hunting) regardless of the conditions or situation. I probably shouldn't have been, because I know several guys that own many rifles, but are completely devoted to a particular one.

I use a 12 gauge shotgun for 90% of my deer hunting, because we shoot a lot in shotgun only areas. However for rifle in Pennsylvania I switch between a 700BDL in .264 Winchester Magnm and a Marlin 336 in .30-30.
If I am in the Poconos in the dense cover I go to the Marlin or If I am in south central *a on more open farms I go to the win mag.

I just rotate through them.

Waiting for the day when the ammo and proper ammo for the rifle I take for the day are not the same.

I use my Ruger .375 African for everything. It is actually lighter than the Liberty model 25.06 I used to have, though not quite as light or

handy as my old Marlin .444 guide model, also a used to have.

The scope stays on for open country, comes off for the brush.

TCLouis thats not so funny I have two savage tactical rifles one in 308 one in 223 I reach into the safe grabbed the 223 one(or so I thought) grab a pocket full of 223 ammo.

Had my wife drop me off a couple miles from home so I could hunt on the way back.

She drove off and when I went to load the gun I was surprised I had the 308 rifle 223 ammo and a long walk home not being able to hunt.

Good thing I wasn't attack by all the lions, tigers, wolves, bears and things.

A 24 inch heavey barreled rifle doesn't make to good of a club.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
TCLouis thats not so funny I have two savage tactical rifles one in 308 one in 223 I reach into the safe grabbed the 223 one(or so I thought) grab a pocket full of 223 ammo.

Had my wife drop me off a couple miles from home so I could hunt on the way back.

She drove off and when I went to load the gun I was surprised I had the 308 rifle 223 ammo and a long walk home not being able to hunt.

Good thing I wasn't attack by all the lions, tigers, wolves, bears and things.

A 24 inch heavey barreled rifle doesn't make to good of a club.

Worse yet a bunch of Moung!!!

I'm in category 4

I make it a point to use a different rifle every deer season.

Too many different types of terrain and hunting styles to make me comfortable with just one.

.257 Weatherby Accumark for spot and stalk in wide open spaces
.44 mag Ruger carbine for the other extreme--still hunting in the thick stuff, where 50 yards is a long shot
.350 Remington 673 for mid-range shots, or where black bear are a real possibility
12 ga Remington 870 where and when the law requires, which is often the case in my neck of the woods

I suppose if I had to use just one, it would be the .350 anywhere a rifle is legal. Fortunately, I don't have to.

quote:

Originally posted by Shack:
I can see a fourth possible catagory. Where you have numerous guns in numerous calibers it's just natural to want to use them all, so maybe one then another or rotate amongst them. In other words, "different rifles for their own sake rather than based on conditions/situations in the field".

+1