Deer Hunting
Can anyone suggest a good rifle for deer hunting? I have been told a 270 cal is a good all round hunting rifle.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Any suggestions are welcome.
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There are very many good rifles and calibers for deer hunting, so many that you could get 20 different answers from 20 responders nominating their idea of perfect. Tell us about which deer, and what sort of hunting.
These days the average deer rifle is a scoped bolt action in a caliber between .243 and .300 magnum. Most have a place and all of us have our favorites. .30-06 may be the best all around caliber of all, and many of us started with the perfect all-around-rifle-that will-do-everything-so-I-never-have-to-buy-another-rifle-dear. And for me it was 7 mag. .270 is a good choice, but you probably should get some ideas here, do some reading for more ideas and then go out and fondle as many rifles as you can. Find one that feels right to you, whether it is a .30-30 lever gun, a .270 bolt gun, or a semi-auto. Nothing is perfect for every hunter, or every hunt.0 -
I have bolt ,pump,semi and lever guns with several different chamberings and they all have taken there share of deer it mostly depends on budget ranges and what you like. With that said my favorite is rem 760 chambered .300 savage 0 -
Thank you He Dog and Savage. 0 -
Just my own preference but you can't go wrong with a Remington model 700 in rem. 7mm mag. 0 -
I've used everything from 22 Hornet to 7 mm Mag and a 54 cal. TC muzzelloader. 0 -
Lever gun - Marlin 336 in 30-30 or 35 Remington, or a Winchester 94 in 30-30
Bolt gun- 6.5x55 Swede in a CZ550, or a 308 Winchester in a Savage or Remington bolt gun.0 -
As all above have said, it's a matter of choice. Personally, I stay away from the mag rifles because of recoil.
I own most of the calibers mentioned above and have killed many deer with most over the past 50 years of hunting the US.
However, you also mentioned all around gun. The .270 recommended to you is truly a good all around gun, especially if you or a friend reload.
From prairie dogs, fox, coyotes, antelope, deer, black bear, and even an elk. Knowing your range and being accurate on target is far away more important than than caliber for the most part. A good .270 has little recoil, so less reason to flinch as with larger bore guns.
Try a few out, and you will probably go with what you originally thought about.0 -
all good answers above. i've hunted deer 35 years in VA, PA, MA, KS, NE. a lot depends on your area: 90% of deer in eastern woods are taken under 50 yards, but in the midwest shots over 200 yards are commonplace. leverguns can be good in woods, but less so across open fields. also if you're in a tree stand weight and handling are less of an issue than when walking
like many respondees i have several rifles suitable for deer and often just grab the one i feel like using, from 243 to 300 win mag. but 2 of them are 270 bolt actions, and they've killed more deer than all the others combined. you will not be handicapped in any way with one like them.
get one w a good trigger, not a heavy pull or lots of creep
choose one that you also just subjectively like and feels/looks good to you
hard to beat a tikka for the money
put a good quality scope on it, mid-power like 2-7x or straight 4x; burris is hard to beat for the money too.0 -
Smith and Wesson 460[:D][:D][:D] 0 -
You should give these guys a little info as what else you do when you're not out hunting deer. If you just want to kill the deer that's eating fruit off your tree in the back yard, go find a used one that's cheap in any caliber that has been listed here. If you just hunt one deer per year and leave it sit in the closet 'till next year, don't spend a lot of money on one.
In the off-season,if you shoot groundhogs, crows, prairie dogs, etc. get a 25-06.
Get with some friends and try some various rifles and you'll surely find one you like
My number 1 deer rifles are a .375 H&H. .338 mag and a hot .45-70.
Ninety% of my reason for hunting is shooting exciting rifles. If I just want meat I'd just go the meat market.0 -
You can't go wrong with either a 30/30 or a 30.06. The 30/30 was considered a good choice up to 100 yards for many years. Now with Leverevolution ammunition, the range has gone to about 200 yards.
The 30.06 is another good choice and I have personally taken deer at over 300 yards with mine.
Both calibers mentioned above (typically) have easy to find ammunition. That is another consideration given the current ammo trend.
As has been mentioned above, find what fits your needs. I personally would choose the 30.06 simply because my "kill zone" will be at at least 300 yards (with a good scope), ammo is easy to come by and although it may be slightly overpowered, I ALWAYS find my deer.
Three years ago I went with a friend to Alabama who shot a beautiful 10 point. Unfortunately he shot is at less than 100 yards and the .270 round never exited the other side of the deer. Thus, no blood trail. We found it the next day......
Of all the deer I have taken with my 30.06, there is ALWAYS an exit wound which will provide an excellent blood trail. Typically, I have found the game within about fifty yards of where they were shot. The deer I took at over 300 yards last year, still had an exit wound.
Anyway, my 2cents.......Aaron0 -
i would say, borrow rifles from your friends. shoot them and see what works for you.and what you shoot best.
there is no need to start out with a magnum, they have their place as do the smaller calibers. all will kill. shot placement is what is most important. the magnums can induce flinching.
a .270 is a very good choice, as is the .260, 7mm/08, .308,25/06,etc.
all sighted 1 1/2"+ @100 yds will give you a 200 yd. zero on average.0
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