I am tossing around the idea of getting a new deer rifle and wanted to get some feedback. I have a Marlin 30-30 and a .270. I am of the opinion that the 30-30 is the best there is, inside of 100 yards, and the .270 that I have is a fantastic gun but it is a custom made gun that is heavy and really just too nice to do the kind of hunting that I do.....so I am wanting to get something to use in place of the .270. I have always wanted a .308 so that is what I am thinking I will probably get, and the absolute max that I want to spend would be around $1,300-$1,500 (for the gun and scope). What are yall's recommendations for the gun and scope?
OT: Deer Rifle/Scope Suggestions
- Thread starter sandwolf.sixpack
- Start date
If you like the .270 round, then try a Remington Model 700 Mountain Rifle. It has a lighter barrel. I would add the Leupold 50mm scope to go with it. If you want another round, then the .308 is great for distance, but your rifle is probably going to be the same general weight unless you get a "mountain rifle" variation. If you want a good all-season gun and you don't have 300-yard shots to attempt, then try the CVA Scout .35 Whelen. It is very light and easy to handle, packs a lot of knock down power, can shoot through light brush, and can still deliver at 150 yards with accuracy while allowing you to use it during "primitive" weapon season.
I'll vouch for the model 700 as well.
I didn't go for the mountain rifle edition but got the standard wood stock model without the removable magazine, I think it's called the ADL stock. It's nothing fancy, but it's all I could afford on my 13 year old summer lawn mowing budget. I couldn't afford a leupold at that age so got a simmons 44mm with the thought that I would upgrade later and have been surprising pleased with the simmons to this day.
ETA: .270's the way to go
I didn't go for the mountain rifle edition but got the standard wood stock model without the removable magazine, I think it's called the ADL stock. It's nothing fancy, but it's all I could afford on my 13 year old summer lawn mowing budget. I couldn't afford a leupold at that age so got a simmons 44mm with the thought that I would upgrade later and have been surprising pleased with the simmons to this day.
ETA: .270's the way to go
Rem 700 (any model) w/ a Leupold 10x44
is all you'll ever need. That will last you until you die or the government decides civis no longer need guns.
is all you'll ever need. That will last you until you die or the government decides civis no longer need guns.
Remington 700 is the way to go
There's a reason the military uses it as their M24 base. Anyway, I just bought a AAC-SD in .308 and love it. This specific one comes with a 1x10 twist instead of the standard 1x12 twist which means it prefers the heavier bullets (168 grain and plus) which makes it an excellent choice for hunting. A 168 grain bullet traveling 2650 FPS will take down anything in the southeast with proper bullet placement. The AAC-SD also comes with a 20inch barrel instead of the normal 24-26 hunting rifle which I enjoy for the added maneuverability. Also the hogue stock isn't half bad. Free floating barrel as well. The AAC-SD also comes with a threaded barrel. To most people this means suppressor(which actually is legal to hunt with in MS) but I put a muzzle break on mine and absolutely love it. The recoil is minimal and it's a pleasure to fire with the break added to the end of the barrel. Highly recommend it. I have a 3x9x40 Leupold VX-II scope and it gets everything done for me. Now I know I'm going to have someone on here tell me how the .270 is superior to the .308, but honestly it comes down to preference. Within 600 yards you can put a .270 or .308 bullet on the kill zone of a deer using the remington 700 package. If you're wanting to shoot 1000 yards or plus neither caliber is for you. Anyway, if you have any questions shoot me a PM and i'll be glad to help. Good luck!
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-700/model-700-sps-tactical-aac-sd.aspx
There's a reason the military uses it as their M24 base. Anyway, I just bought a AAC-SD in .308 and love it. This specific one comes with a 1x10 twist instead of the standard 1x12 twist which means it prefers the heavier bullets (168 grain and plus) which makes it an excellent choice for hunting. A 168 grain bullet traveling 2650 FPS will take down anything in the southeast with proper bullet placement. The AAC-SD also comes with a 20inch barrel instead of the normal 24-26 hunting rifle which I enjoy for the added maneuverability. Also the hogue stock isn't half bad. Free floating barrel as well. The AAC-SD also comes with a threaded barrel. To most people this means suppressor(which actually is legal to hunt with in MS) but I put a muzzle break on mine and absolutely love it. The recoil is minimal and it's a pleasure to fire with the break added to the end of the barrel. Highly recommend it. I have a 3x9x40 Leupold VX-II scope and it gets everything done for me. Now I know I'm going to have someone on here tell me how the .270 is superior to the .308, but honestly it comes down to preference. Within 600 yards you can put a .270 or .308 bullet on the kill zone of a deer using the remington 700 package. If you're wanting to shoot 1000 yards or plus neither caliber is for you. Anyway, if you have any questions shoot me a PM and i'll be glad to help. Good luck!
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-700/model-700-sps-tactical-aac-sd.aspx
Check out the zeiss conquest. They are relatively cheap for the quality you receive. I've grown accustomed to the 50mm but a 40mm is all you really need. I have a few rifles but I have a savage .270 that is an absolute tack driver in the right hands (I'm no expert marksman) that I picked up for cheap. Give savage a test run and it'll leave you with more wiggle room on a scope purchase.
I have a T/C Venture in .308 that I bought a couple of years ago. I put a Nikon scope on it and total price was under $800. Like you, I always wanted a .308 so this is what I went with and I love it. It's a tack driver, for sure. You may also want to check out the Ruger American rifle. It's available in .308 and I've heard nothing but good things about it, especially for an economically priced rifle.
My rec...
My favorite rifle is my 7 mag Ruger. It might be a little heavy for MS soybean fields, but I find it does good double duty both in MS for white tail and in CO for mule deer and elk. I have owned a .308 which I liked, but it was a little light for where I am now. I have also owned .270 and 30.06. All have their plusses. The .270 is very accurate, the .308 is very flat shooting, the 30.06 is a good all - around weapon AND you can find ammo everywhere. My own preference for caliber is 7 mag because it is good for anything from deer on up (excluding BIG bears in Alaska and African game).
Don't skimp on the scope! I have a Leopold 3 x 9 gold ring which is very, very good. I also have a Nikon on my primitive weapon which is bright, but not as good as the Leopold.
You can get a .308 Ruger (or 700 Remington) and a Leopold scope for $1300 or so.
Happy hunting.
My favorite rifle is my 7 mag Ruger. It might be a little heavy for MS soybean fields, but I find it does good double duty both in MS for white tail and in CO for mule deer and elk. I have owned a .308 which I liked, but it was a little light for where I am now. I have also owned .270 and 30.06. All have their plusses. The .270 is very accurate, the .308 is very flat shooting, the 30.06 is a good all - around weapon AND you can find ammo everywhere. My own preference for caliber is 7 mag because it is good for anything from deer on up (excluding BIG bears in Alaska and African game).
Don't skimp on the scope! I have a Leopold 3 x 9 gold ring which is very, very good. I also have a Nikon on my primitive weapon which is bright, but not as good as the Leopold.
You can get a .308 Ruger (or 700 Remington) and a Leopold scope for $1300 or so.
Happy hunting.
No one a fan of the Browning 30-06? I have hunted with one for 25 years with a base Leupold scope and been very happy with both.
Save your money and wait
Buy yourself a Cooper model 52 Excalibur 6.5x284 Norma. Ammo can be bought online HSW 140 grain berger vld. Handloads are better. Scope choice nightforce NXS 5.5x22x56 MOAR reticle.
Low recoil, ultra accurate. High ballistic coefficient. You will be able to kill anything in North America out to 1000 yards.
Buy yourself a Cooper model 52 Excalibur 6.5x284 Norma. Ammo can be bought online HSW 140 grain berger vld. Handloads are better. Scope choice nightforce NXS 5.5x22x56 MOAR reticle.
Low recoil, ultra accurate. High ballistic coefficient. You will be able to kill anything in North America out to 1000 yards.
Rem.Mod 700, .308 cal, Leupold VX 3, 3.5-10 50mm, high mounts. You're welcome.
Use Leupold mounts and rings. Get the high bases as you will need them for the 50mm scope objective. Shoot 150 or 165 grain bullets. All you will ever need.
Backup plan-Mod 700, 7mm-.08 120 grain bullet.
Use Leupold mounts and rings. Get the high bases as you will need them for the 50mm scope objective. Shoot 150 or 165 grain bullets. All you will ever need.
Backup plan-Mod 700, 7mm-.08 120 grain bullet.
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700 cdl and a vx3 50mm. That will put you at your limit but you won't be disappointed like others have said. I have a cdl in 280 that I got when I was a teen. I have a browning xbolt 308 now and absolutely love the gun but the Remington is the way to go. Ruger m77 or tikka t3 are great guns too.
The Browning A-Bolt 30-06 with a Leupold 50 mm scope is an unfair killing machine. Simply the best and fits nicely in your price range.
Spend as much on glass as you do on steel. Putting a $75 scope on a $1000 rifle is the biggest mistake people make. I don't own one but but have heard and read good things about the Ruger American. My personal preference is a Ruger No 1 with Zeiss or Nikon Monarch on top.
30-06 A-bolt with a leuopold 3-9x40. Mine has probably enabled a 100 or so to be hung upside down over the 25 years I've had it. Last year I got a CVA .35 whelen, now I find myself toting it more than A bolt. It's short, compact and all weather stainless with composite stock. Sweet gun that packs a hell of a punch. It's a 30-06 on steroids. Have a Konus Pro etched glass balistic plex reticle scope. I like it as well. Got about 600 in gun and scope.
I'll requote something I wrote earlier about the Ought-Six:
A Rem700 or Ruger M77 w/ good optics is your weapon brand of choice. The new Ruger American is a GREAT rifle for less $$. As for the .30-06, Managed Recoil loads (Remington, $17 for 20 rnds) produce the same kick as a .270. Also, remember the weight of the weapon is directly attributable to felt recoil. Light youth weapons punch back harder than their regular size cousins in the same caliber.
Full Disclosure: I have an old Remington 760 slide-action (5.5lb carbine, 18.5" barrel) that will knock the ever lovin' crap out of you with 165gr full house loads. With the Managed Recoil, my nephew <100lbs can shoot it with no fear.
I would have no problem buying a full-up Remington 700 ADL or BDL in .30-06 for any female/child ~100lbs and up. Just use the Managed Recoil loads until their teen years, then try a 150gr Corelokt when they grow into their size.
On the optics, get one that has decent eye relief, so that they don't have to scrunch way up close to see the full picture. The nicer VX-II's have this already. Helps a lot as their smaller size and extra layers of clothing move them further away from the scope than a full size man. Anything north of a $500 scope (Vortex/Leopold/Nikon) and you're better off putting money into the rifle IMHO.
Cheers!
I have a model 700 classic in a .270 with a nikon buckmasters 4-9x50mm scope. The gun is heavy, but as accurate as any I have seen. I shoot 130 grain in that one in federal sierra gameking. It feels to me as if that load is perfect for that gun. I don't think I (personally) can be any more accurate than I am with that gun. The only thing I don't like about it is to me it doesn't pack enough pop for wild pigs to take them down instantly even if it is a heart or lung shot.
I also have a Browning stainless A-bolt with a leupold VX-L 4-9x55mm. The VX-L sits lower down on the barrel like the below pic. I shoot 165 grain federal sierra gamekings in it. It is not as accurate as I would like it to be. Could be the short action, shorter barrel, or the load I am using. I love the round. I wouldn't trade the .308 for anything. I like it better than .270. I wish I had the same remington model 700 in .308 caliber with that leupold scope. the perfect gun I'd say. The leupold gathers so much light it is incredible. You can still see at 30 minutes to an hour after dark. I'm sure brownings are awesome, maybe I'm shooting the wrong grain or brand. The pairing makes a lot of difference in my mind.
I also have a Browning stainless A-bolt with a leupold VX-L 4-9x55mm. The VX-L sits lower down on the barrel like the below pic. I shoot 165 grain federal sierra gamekings in it. It is not as accurate as I would like it to be. Could be the short action, shorter barrel, or the load I am using. I love the round. I wouldn't trade the .308 for anything. I like it better than .270. I wish I had the same remington model 700 in .308 caliber with that leupold scope. the perfect gun I'd say. The leupold gathers so much light it is incredible. You can still see at 30 minutes to an hour after dark. I'm sure brownings are awesome, maybe I'm shooting the wrong grain or brand. The pairing makes a lot of difference in my mind.
I second the Savage. I got the gun and scope combo for $390. It's one of the most accurate guns you can get straight out of the box. I got it in a .308 and killed two of the biggest bucks that I've ever killed with it. It's plenty of gun and it's very lightweight
All good suggestions
I have a Remington model 700 30-06. One of the goodthings about the 700 is that it is one of the most customizable (if that’s aword) rifles on the market, if you’re in to that or think that you possiblymight want to make it a custom rifle. If you go with a model 700 I wouldstrongly suggest having the trigger re-done by a gun smith (right away) . Remington’scome with a trigger pull of approximately 7lbs. At seven pounds it is hard to be accurate. I would reduce the pull to 3-3.5 pounds,which will make a world of difference.<o
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Another rifle that I have that I have been happy with is Tikka. Shoots great and comes with a goodtrigger. The only thing I don’t like isthat you have to take the safety off to take a bullet out of the chamber.<o></o>
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Great scope for the money is the Nikon monarch.<o></o>
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Caliber is in the eyes of the beholder. Every caliber mentioned will work on white-tail. I personally really like my 30-06. Everybody always has 30-06 bullets in stock and you can use it on just about every animal in North America.
I have a Remington model 700 30-06. One of the goodthings about the 700 is that it is one of the most customizable (if that’s aword) rifles on the market, if you’re in to that or think that you possiblymight want to make it a custom rifle. If you go with a model 700 I wouldstrongly suggest having the trigger re-done by a gun smith (right away) . Remington’scome with a trigger pull of approximately 7lbs. At seven pounds it is hard to be accurate. I would reduce the pull to 3-3.5 pounds,which will make a world of difference.<o
></o><o
> </o>Another rifle that I have that I have been happy with is Tikka. Shoots great and comes with a goodtrigger. The only thing I don’t like isthat you have to take the safety off to take a bullet out of the chamber.<o
></o><o
> </o>Great scope for the money is the Nikon monarch.<o
></o><o
> </o><o
> </o>Caliber is in the eyes of the beholder. Every caliber mentioned will work on white-tail. I personally really like my 30-06. Everybody always has 30-06 bullets in stock and you can use it on just about every animal in North America.
I just went through the same evaluation. My criteria was (a) accuracy of gun, (b) price, (c) quality of gun (d) light weight, (e) durable, (f) less recoil and (g) a nice quality of scope - all for under $1200. I already have and shoot a 270 (Ruger Model 77 with Nikon Monarch 3x9) , Ruger 44 Mag carbine with Leopold VX2 2x7 and see through mounts) and a single shot 444 with Leopold scope. I have taken many a deer with the 130 grain 270 as it is the perfect load for whitetail hunting. A 270 is basically a 30-06 with a 277 caliber bullet that allows it to shoot much flatter than a 30-06, 30-30, 7 mm, or a 308.
I have hunted with the 270 for 27 years and it is beginning to show some wear and tear as my primary hunting gun for so many years. I decided this year to purchase a new deer gun that will last me for the next 27 years. Here is what my research led me to within the $1200 budget:
Out of the box accuracy - Weatherby Vanguard, Thompson Center Venture and the Tikka T3. All three of these guns give you a guaranteed accuracy of 1 MOA at 100 yards right out of the box. The TC is the cheapest of the three. The Weatherby Vanguard is made in Japan by Hoya, TC is made in USA, and the Tikka T3 made in Finland by Sako.
Durability and weight: The Tikka T3 weights 6-3/8 lbs and the TC Venture about 7 lbs. The Weatherby is about 7.5 lbs. My criteria was a synthetic stock with a SS barrel.
After much research on the internet and looking and holding all three , I fell in love with the Tikka T3. It is light, has the best trigger on the market and the smoothest bolt action of any gun on the market next to a Sako. The scope rings that comes with the Tikka T3 are somewhat light, but none of the other guns even provide scope mounts. I would suggest purchasing some new scope rings if you choose the Tikka.
I chose to get a 308 because it is a good all around load with less recoil than a 270, 30-06 or any of the magnums. Although I have never felt the recoil when shooting at a deer, I do not want to get gun shy when I get up my 60's and 70's so a light recoil was desirable. I have always relied heavily on accuracy because if you can not hit them, it does not matter what caliber the gun shoots.
Scope: There can be all kind of debate on scopes and you can easily spend more money on the scope than the gun. If you do not shoot deer at more than say 250 yards - you will not need one of the fancy bullet drop compensating scopes as long as you select a flat shooting round such as 243, 7mm-08, 308, 7 mm Express, 270, 30-06 or one of the magnums. There are many good scopes out there but do not get a cheap one. The Leopold VX2, Leopold VX3, Nikon Buckmaster, Nikon Monarch, Vortex Viper, and Zeiss Conquest are all fine scopes. I chose the Nikon Monarch 2.5X10X42mm simply because if a deer is in close up heavy cover, it is easier to find them at 2.5X and the 10X is plenty for any shot over 300 yards. The light transmission is very important if you are a serious deer hunter and all of the above scopes are very good.
If you are into varmint hunting, you will need to go with a heavier gun and a much better scope because varmints are smaller and the distances may be 200 - 400 yards.
I have hunted with the 270 for 27 years and it is beginning to show some wear and tear as my primary hunting gun for so many years. I decided this year to purchase a new deer gun that will last me for the next 27 years. Here is what my research led me to within the $1200 budget:
Out of the box accuracy - Weatherby Vanguard, Thompson Center Venture and the Tikka T3. All three of these guns give you a guaranteed accuracy of 1 MOA at 100 yards right out of the box. The TC is the cheapest of the three. The Weatherby Vanguard is made in Japan by Hoya, TC is made in USA, and the Tikka T3 made in Finland by Sako.
Durability and weight: The Tikka T3 weights 6-3/8 lbs and the TC Venture about 7 lbs. The Weatherby is about 7.5 lbs. My criteria was a synthetic stock with a SS barrel.
After much research on the internet and looking and holding all three , I fell in love with the Tikka T3. It is light, has the best trigger on the market and the smoothest bolt action of any gun on the market next to a Sako. The scope rings that comes with the Tikka T3 are somewhat light, but none of the other guns even provide scope mounts. I would suggest purchasing some new scope rings if you choose the Tikka.
I chose to get a 308 because it is a good all around load with less recoil than a 270, 30-06 or any of the magnums. Although I have never felt the recoil when shooting at a deer, I do not want to get gun shy when I get up my 60's and 70's so a light recoil was desirable. I have always relied heavily on accuracy because if you can not hit them, it does not matter what caliber the gun shoots.
Scope: There can be all kind of debate on scopes and you can easily spend more money on the scope than the gun. If you do not shoot deer at more than say 250 yards - you will not need one of the fancy bullet drop compensating scopes as long as you select a flat shooting round such as 243, 7mm-08, 308, 7 mm Express, 270, 30-06 or one of the magnums. There are many good scopes out there but do not get a cheap one. The Leopold VX2, Leopold VX3, Nikon Buckmaster, Nikon Monarch, Vortex Viper, and Zeiss Conquest are all fine scopes. I chose the Nikon Monarch 2.5X10X42mm simply because if a deer is in close up heavy cover, it is easier to find them at 2.5X and the 10X is plenty for any shot over 300 yards. The light transmission is very important if you are a serious deer hunter and all of the above scopes are very good.
If you are into varmint hunting, you will need to go with a heavier gun and a much better scope because varmints are smaller and the distances may be 200 - 400 yards.
Very interesting to read everyone's gun choices, reasoning and paths that brought them to their choices.
I started years ago with the .308 caliber and was always shocked by the "knock down" of such a small caliber. Seems like the .270 came along and took over the rein as whitetail rifle of choice in the late 1970s. I never owned one but had many friends and family members that shot them. Great shooting caliber but had to trail deer that had great bullet placement. I moved on to the 7mm magnum. Great trajectory like the .270 but was still surprised by the need to trail deer after good shot placement. As I grew older I got tired of the pounding it gave me when target shooting so I gave it to a nephew and purchased a 30-06. It's very similar to the .308 I started with in a slightly larger caliber and has the "knock down" that comes with the 30 caliber. My original .308 was a Savage and I've owned several Reminton 700 and model 7 youth rifles and was/am satisfied with them but the Browning A-bolts have been my favorites for the money. I shoot a 30-06 A-bolt now and it will probably be the rifle I shoot for the rest of my whitetail hunting life. I've always shot Leupold optics cause I'm too tight to spend the money for the better scopes. I may break down and upgrade some day.
I started years ago with the .308 caliber and was always shocked by the "knock down" of such a small caliber. Seems like the .270 came along and took over the rein as whitetail rifle of choice in the late 1970s. I never owned one but had many friends and family members that shot them. Great shooting caliber but had to trail deer that had great bullet placement. I moved on to the 7mm magnum. Great trajectory like the .270 but was still surprised by the need to trail deer after good shot placement. As I grew older I got tired of the pounding it gave me when target shooting so I gave it to a nephew and purchased a 30-06. It's very similar to the .308 I started with in a slightly larger caliber and has the "knock down" that comes with the 30 caliber. My original .308 was a Savage and I've owned several Reminton 700 and model 7 youth rifles and was/am satisfied with them but the Browning A-bolts have been my favorites for the money. I shoot a 30-06 A-bolt now and it will probably be the rifle I shoot for the rest of my whitetail hunting life. I've always shot Leupold optics cause I'm too tight to spend the money for the better scopes. I may break down and upgrade some day.
Leupold makes a really fine hunting scope. You can spend 4x as much money on a scope if you want to, but for most white tail deer hunting applications, you won't have twice the scope. I've got two Leupolds and a Nikon Monarch on my deer rifles. I still love my .270 chambered Remington Model 700 with 130 grain bronze points for deer. I have been very impressed with my 6.5x55 Swede though as well. The killing power of my Winchester Featherlight Model 70 in 6.5x55 is far and away above what one would expect from looking at the round and measuring its ballistics. It is hell on wheels within 250 yards, and the deer haven't run more than 25-30 yards; two didn't make it past 10. In mainstream calibers though, the 30-06 and .308 are both great.
Bushnell AR Optics BTR-1 Rifle scope is the latest best rifle scope brand known to me so far.. It is best for those people who love to keep it as hobby or something else. Its durability is best among all rifles till now.. It gives you a distance vision up to 400 yards... The rifle scope is comparatively cheap than others. I personally suggest all to buy this riffle
Tikka T3 lite in .308. Relatively small brand with excellent quality. made by sako, check out. super light, great barrel
Tikka T3 Lite is a very quality gun....I have one in a 25.06 with a ziess scope that has put many deer on the ground with a 117 grain bullet. But Im no expert, I made the terrible mistake of shooting a nice buck this morning from less than 10 yards and from a high (climber) elavation at that. The hit was on, but the bullet blew right thru before it had time to open up. There wasnt much to trail and what little there was, ended about 300 yards away.
This all day. The best deal in optics right now is Vortex and they have the best customer service and warranty in the business. The new Diamondback HP line is around $400 and has better glass than the Leupold or Nikon in the same price range. The Viper line runs $450-$800 and is as good as some of the $1500 scopes. If you like the .308 then take a look at some of it's offspring. A 7mm-08 is flatter shooting and there are a ton of bullets available in 7mm for handloading. Also the .260 is an outstanding long range round with very light recoil. The ballistic coefficients in the .260/6.5 are great.
I haven't read through the whole thread, so sorry if already posted. My general advice for buying a rifle is to get one that feels comfortable. Don't spend a bunch of extra money for a gun that allegedly is super accurate. As long as you are getting a decent gun, it will be accurate enough for your purposes. Nothing irritates me more than when I see a guy drop $2000+ on a rifle that will hold 1/4" groups when I know that guy can't shoot 4" groups. Of course the gun needs to be accurate, but not a factor of ten more than your ability, and remember you will spend way way way more time carrying it around than shooting it.
I prefer a light/small gun with a big caliber. I cover a lot of ground during a hunting season and don't want to tote a long heavy rifle. The gun can feel less stable when shooting, but I almost never shoot at anything freehand so it doesn't bother me. Then there's recoil. A lighter gun will have more recoil, but it isn't really as much as you think. People are just taught to be scared of it for some reason. Wear a heavy padded jacket when you sight the gun in and don't shoot more than a few times and you should be fine. You will almost never feel it when shooting at an animal.
The actual caliber really just depends on your needs. What is your potential range? How much are you willing to spend on ammunition? I highly doubt you will ever shoot more than a box in a year deer hunting. That's less than a tank of gas for even some of the most expensive calibers. Do you think might ever use this gun for something else (trip out west for big game)?
I own two rifles that I will deer hunt with. A browning lever action .270 that is a great knocking around gun for most ranges. A Browning A-bolt Micro 7mm WSM that is a really compact gun with a big boom that I can shoot at long ranges and carry for miles and miles.
I prefer a light/small gun with a big caliber. I cover a lot of ground during a hunting season and don't want to tote a long heavy rifle. The gun can feel less stable when shooting, but I almost never shoot at anything freehand so it doesn't bother me. Then there's recoil. A lighter gun will have more recoil, but it isn't really as much as you think. People are just taught to be scared of it for some reason. Wear a heavy padded jacket when you sight the gun in and don't shoot more than a few times and you should be fine. You will almost never feel it when shooting at an animal.
The actual caliber really just depends on your needs. What is your potential range? How much are you willing to spend on ammunition? I highly doubt you will ever shoot more than a box in a year deer hunting. That's less than a tank of gas for even some of the most expensive calibers. Do you think might ever use this gun for something else (trip out west for big game)?
I own two rifles that I will deer hunt with. A browning lever action .270 that is a great knocking around gun for most ranges. A Browning A-bolt Micro 7mm WSM that is a really compact gun with a big boom that I can shoot at long ranges and carry for miles and miles.
To your point, buy a Savage Axis or Axis II. They are less than $500 and outperform the shooters ability 99.999% of the time. Buying a A-bolt or even a model 700 is a waste of money unless you want the sticker.
Best piece of shooting advice known to man...spend twice as much on your optics and mounts as you do the gun.
Best piece of shooting advice known to man...spend twice as much on your optics and mounts as you do the gun.
Deer Rifle
I have a Tikka T3 lite in a 25-06 caliber with a burris fullfield II 4.5-14 x 44 that is extremely devastating on deer with just an 85g bullet. No recoil with low grain bullets and absolutely lays a deer down. Very easy handling gun with smooth action. And it's for sell and like brand new. PM if interested.
I have a Tikka T3 lite in a 25-06 caliber with a burris fullfield II 4.5-14 x 44 that is extremely devastating on deer with just an 85g bullet. No recoil with low grain bullets and absolutely lays a deer down. Very easy handling gun with smooth action. And it's for sell and like brand new. PM if interested.
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