Hi Folks,
Below I have listed a table I compiled from the responses to my query about what everybody is using for deer this year. It is by no means comphrensive or very scientific. It's just some numbers I quickly tabulated.
Based on my observations, the Remington 700 was the most popular rifle. It was a dead heat between the .270, .280 and 30/06 for most popular caliber and Leupold ruled the roost in the scope category.

Despite what one would gather from all of the talk and marketing -hype, there were none of the new shortmagnums listed by respondents to my inquiry. However, there were several responses that listed allegedly obsolete rounds such as the .300 savage or .30/30 winchester.
It seems technology has had little effect on deer hunters. We seem to stick with what has worked for many years.
Good Shooting,
HBB

2002 DEER RIFLE PREFERENCES FOR ARF MEMBERS

RIFLES:

REMINGTON 700: 11

WINCHESTER M-70: 9

WINCHESTER PRE-64: 3

WINCHESTER 1886: 1

WINCHESTER 1894: 2
SAVAGE 110: 0

SAVAGE 99: 2

WEATHERBY: 2

BROWNING A BOLT: 2

MARLIN 336: 2

MARLIN 1894: 1

BLASER: 1

MAUSER: 4

RUGER 77: 4

RUGER #1: 1

HOWA: 2

MISCELLANEOUS: 13 (I.E. MARLIN MR-7 BROWNING BLR REM 7400 T/C ETC.)
UNKNOWN TYPE: 6



CALIBER OF CHOICE:

ONLY THOSE ROUNDS WITH TWO OR MORE RESPONSES ARE LISTED
IN THE TABLE

.243 WINCHESTER: 4

6MM REMINGTON: 2

.25/06 REMINGTON: 3

.260 REMINGTON: 2

.270 WINCHESTER: 5

7 X 57 MAUSER: 2

7MM/08 REMINGTON: 4

.280 REMINGTON: 5

7MM REMINGTON MAGNUM: 2

.30/30 WINCHESTER: 3

.308 WINCHESTER: 4

.30/06 SPRINGFIELD: 5

.300 WINCHESTER MAGNUM: 3

.300 WEATHERBY MAGNUM: 2

.300 REMINGTON ULTRA MAGNUM: 3

SEVERAL OTHER FINE CARTRIDGES SUCH AS THE .257 ROBERTS, 7-30 WATERS, AND .300 SAVAGE WERE ALSO RESPRESENTED IN THE RESPONSES


SCOPES

THE SCOPE CATEGORY WAS DOMINATED BY LEUPOLD (IT SEEMS JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY USES ONE) WITH AN OCASSIONAL NIKON, BURRIS, OR SIMMONS THROWN IN.

HBB...thanks for the stats! I love stuff like that. Very interesting!

I wish I'd responded to the origional thread, so I'll put my hunting parties choices in here for you.
Bob) Mark-X mauser w/ shillen bbl (full custom rifle) in 30-06 topped off with a Shepherd scope.
Wendy) Rem mod 7 (youth) in 7-08, Leupold scope.
Gerry) Mosin-Nagant model 44 7,62x54, synthetic stock, iron sights.
Jerry) Arasaka type 99 in 7.7x58 with Bishop stock and a 4X Weaver scope.
Marvin) 98 Mauser in 308win, Bishop stock and a Tasco scope.

Humm, only 1 plastic stock, only 1 that hasn't been modified, and only 1 dosn't wear a scope.

Well, I just listed the calibers so you add another ruger 77 MKII and a T/C contender carbine and two more leupolds.

Let me give my data
SAVAGE 110 30'06
Bushnell scope
or
Win 94 .45 LC
No Scope