rifle choice

[dave]

hi i am wondering if anyone could advise me on a good rifle for deere hunting thanks

[Bowhunters]

Welcome to the DHC forum.

This is the welcome section of the forum, moving this to the rifle section of the forum.

[Bowhunters]

Do you already own any rifles at all and if so list what you have including calibers.

If you don't have a rifle and are looking at buying your first, then are you a teenager or younger and if so you likely will need a youth sized rifle?

Have you shot anyone else's rifles? If so what calibers and what types were they?

What kind of action do you like (Bolt Actions, Lever Action, Semi Auto or Single Shot) actions on rifles?

Also do you just hunt whitetails or do you also hunt mule deer or will you want to hunt Elk later?

Where are you from and where will you hunt deer? Do you hunt where long 200-300yd shots are the norm like the plains or do you hunt in the deep woods or swamps where you can't see a deer or shoot until they are 50 - 100yds away?


These are all important questions because there is a very large number of differnet calibers that work on deer and different types of rifles and you don't mention anything about your exprience with rifles or if you want one that you would like to be able to use on other game as well like Elk or Black Bear or Moose.

Lots of questions but you want to be happy with what you end up buying, especially if its going to be your one rifle for a lot of years of hunting.

[ironhead]

Looks like you covered about all the bases bud.

[oldzimm]

I agree with Bowhunter, without the answers to these questions, it is hard to narrow it down to one gun. I'm going to throw a couple cards out on the table.
If your a young fellow, hunting deer only from 50- 100 yards-- 30-30 win. and the 30-30 can be used for black bear at that range.
If your shots maybe longer than 100 yards for deer------------- 243 win.
the next ones can be used on bigger game up to elk, at proper range.
If you have a little meat on your bones--------------------------- 270 win. or 308 win.
If you have some good size to you or not afraid of recoil------- 30-06 rem.
the 30-06 can kill just about anything on the American continent, if your using the right bullet. That is the secret, use the right bullet for the game you are hunting with what ever gun you choose.
( I think I may get some shots fired my way on this one)

[matt_3479]

Depends on the money you want to spend, and what your comfortable shooting. Since you didn't give much information cause i also need to know if theres a rifle season or if its just black powder and shotgun and bow. Where i live there is no rifle season on whitetail so i will be using a 12 gauge shooting slugs.

If you have a rifle season, there are a couple calibers that will work just great. If you only plan on hunting whitetail and nothing bigger then a 243. win would be a good choice. Minimum recoil, flat, and hits hard, and could be used on varmint. IF you want to maybe hunt something a little larger then a 270. win shooting 130 grain bullets is your gun. Its really flat, hits hard and a 270. win is the ideal whitetail cartridge and i use it on moose and caribou so you have room to grow but the recoil is substantail amount compared to the 243. win but still not alot. If you want a do it all gun the a 30-06, 7mm rem mag or a 300. win mag is the gun you want. The 300. win mag is a little big but will work good and can take anything in north america. I would personally choose the 243. win, 270. win or the 7mm rem mag

[USN_Sam1385]

hi i am wondering if anyone could advise me on a good rifle for deere hunting thanks

Get a Remington 700.

The Army and Marine Corps sniper rifles are built around this action. In my mind it cannot be beat.

Next, decide what caliber is good for you. I would go for a .270 or 30-06 as the ammo is very common and fairly cheap. Also, they can shoot almost any game in North America.

Next, find the gun that looks good to you, and feels good in your hand.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I personally though, would start looking at Remington 700 series. Can't beat them for a solid gun in my eyes.

Also, remember: the scope is more important than the gun. A great gun that you can't see anything with, is no good to you. People often spend as much on the scope as they do on the gun, if not more on the scope. Hope this helps. Shoot me an email with any questions. azchristir@yahoo.com

Good luck, and welcome to the wonderful world of deer hunting.

[Brow Tine]

.270 or 30-06 have always worrked for me. For deer I would not go any smaller than .270 IMHO

[mainewhitetail]

ya usn. sam1385 on the money. also practice practice all you can. it will pay off in many good memories !!! also down the road do some trigger work on the 700 . easy to do .look up on line. ps stay a one gun man.