Joey Kelly

Getting ready to get a new deer rifle. Trying to get my gun inventory back up. When younger I sold or pawned them. Any good recommendation on a good deer rifle? Longest shot 200 yards. Will be putting a scope on it. Really do not want a wood stock. Hate to beat it up pulling it up a tree. Thinking 270..or 30.06 really like the bolt action

countrygun

I'm kind of a 30-06 guy myself. I find it more versatile than the .270. I know the .270 fans will scream. but if i were to decide sameday to go after something heavier than a deer I think the 180 and 200 gn loads have a real advantage, and IMO picking a 30-06 as a deer rifle will give you the experience with the rifle that can't be bought by buying a heavier rifle later. My advice is generally to get a heavier rifle and use light loads to have the heavy capability later, rather than to either try and make a lighter rifle do, or spend time and money buying and getting used to a heavier gun later.


So many good bolts are made in that cal, Ruger (of course) and Savage would have to be my personal favorites.

omglolcoolj

Try looking at a Weatherby Vanguard, or a Remington 700.

I just bought a Vanguard 30-06, synthetic stock, for around four-hundred.

With the scope, mounts, and bipod put on it was six-hundred, thirty dollars.

Sub m.o.a. at one-hundred meters.

Furthest I've shot it is six-hundred meters, accurately.

I couldn't be more pleased with its performance.

terry_p

I have both and either wouldn't be a bad choice. I like my 270 but can't really explain why other than my 270 is just a little more accurate than my 06's and it'd stainless which I favor with a synthetic stock. It is a M77 and is a good working rifle. If you could be hunting bigger deer like Elk or Moose then the 06 will give you access to heavier bullets. Good luck and post some pics when you purchase.

Joey Kelly

Thank you all. Had a stainless 7 mag several years back. Figured that would be a bit over kill for just white tail deer..

R65

In Western Oregon, it is mostly shots under 75 yards.

I want the new 77/44 SS in camo. It is 1.5" longer and 4oz heavier than a regular 10/22.

For all intensive purposes, you get a deer/hog gun, that is the same size and weight as the venerable old 10/22, and it's great out to 100 yards.

Perfect for tree stands.

I have an aimpoint, that I would want to use, should I get one this spring.

I don't think you would find a lighter rifle setup, for using under 100 yards.

R65

supergun

You didn't say what your price range is, and it seems like you have your caliber picked out so I'll just give you my opinoin on the rifles themselves. I feel like Ruger makes the best production bolt gun for under $1,000, they are very smooth, accurate, and IMO the best looking rifle made. Ruger bolt guns, atleast in this part of the country, are a little more expensive but of very good quality. Savage is the biggest bang for your buck though hands down, and I've been told by numerous gun guys that they will out shoot most other out of the box production rifles. Remington 700 is a legend as well as Winchester model 70, and I have owned a couple 700s and 70s they are both good guns, although I am not a fan of the new Winchesters. I own three Weatherby Mark V rifles in 243, 7mm Rem. Mag, and 300 Weatherby Mag, and I would put them up against any production rifle made, but they are $1,500 guns, I haven't messed with the Weatherby Vangaurd series of rifles but their supposed to be very accurate and they run at a cheaper cost compared to Ruger, Remington, and Winchester. Another rifle I have not messed with is the Thompson Center bolt guns, I own an Encore and a Contender with no complaints, but I haven't even held one of their bolt guns. They are supposed to be of good quality and accuracy, which I'm sure is true knowing the level of craftsmanship Thompson Center uses.

My list from top to bottom.
Ruger
Savage
Remington
Thompson Center
Weatherby
Winchester

There are a few brands I left out because I have had 0 experience with them, but any rifle you pick will be a good deer rifle if you like carrying it. They will all shoot plenty accurate enough to deer hunt with even though they may not shoot MOA, but in all reality they don't have to to be a good deer rifle.

Hope this helps

countrygun

i landed a Winchester Trapper, .44 last spring

LunaticFringeInc

Looking at your stated purpose (deer) likely under 200 yards for max shot distance, I am thinking a .308 would be the ticket. Its a nice effecient cartridge thats hot on the heels of the 30-06 when using bullets 180 grains or lighter. Performs very well in barrels as short as 20 inches making it quiet handy. Shoots pretty flat trajectory wise and works well on deer sized game and will be adequate for Black Bear although I would prefer something with a little more frontal area. Any place that sells 30-06 ammo will likely have a number of loads in 308 Winchester too.

I own two very accurate 7mm Rem Mags, very accurate 300 Win Mag and a decent 338 Win Mag all in Remington 700 actions. Wanna know what my last purchased rifle was chambered for? Yeah thats right! .308 Winchester in a Remington 700 VLS. I almost cant remember the last time I fired a round through the other 4 rifles. You know what? It kills deer and hogs just as dead as the 300 Win Mag with half the recoil and a fraction of the expense in ammunition!

I say get a 308, its more than enough gun for what your going to be asking it to do.

Lee D

THIS is a solid argument for the .308

srg81

I don't think you could go wrong with 270 or 30-06. My decision usually swing towards the ammo options and prices at the local wal-mart (or wherever you buy ammo). I think the Savage deer rifles are definitely the most accurate for the price nowadays, and they shoot great. Especially if you're not looking for a beauty queen. Tikka makes some good quality rifles that are a little more sexy. All that said, my favorite deer rifle has been my Ruger 77 Hawkeye in .308. It's lightweight, rugged-yet-smooth, purty, and shoots Hornady 165 BTSPs sub-MOA at 200 yds all day long.

brimic

I'd go with a Tikka T3 or a Savage 10 in a 308 family cartridge, but not necessarily the .308, the .260 and 7mm08 are the best balanced of these. (.243, .260, 7mm-08, 308, 358 win) The .308 is best if you don't reload as it can be bought anywhere.Tikkas and Savages are going to be at the top of the heap for out-of-the box accuracy, I've shot many of them and own a few myself and have never been disappointed.

Charlee37

22-250. Love it! First dear i took with it was 300+ yards. 1 shot.

grandpabear

.270 Would be the right choice IMO. .06 is a good gun, don't get me wrong. It's just a heavy bullet. You might someday want to shoot farther and the .270 will with less bullet drop. Heck, the .270 will keep up pretty well with a 7mm mag. with more managed recoil and a lot easier on the wallet for ammo. I myself have shot a lot of deer with my .243. I used to have a .270 and swapped it for a compound bow. My Ruger .243 will shoot groups with the bullet holes touching each other all day long. I use rem. 100 grn. corlokt ammo. and the bullet always ends up just under the hide on the off side of a deer. That means all of that bullets energy was used inside the animal with none of it wasted. With the .270 you will most always get passthroughs. JMO

oldgreenie

Picked up a savage axis stainless synthetic 7mm-08 for my wife for x-mas and I really like that caliber it shoots so nice I don't want to put it down.