MOVED Need opinions on a new deer rifle

[Jim_]

Ren 700 in .308 ... had been my only hunting centerfire rifle for decades. I only upgraded the trigger. I  figured a good cartridge for whitetails, and fun at the range. I hunt walking around, in recovering mining/timbering land in west-central Pa.

A few years ago, I bought a used Browning lever action in .243 for a new shooter/hunter I was mentoring. Now, its my gun for deer. The cartridge is plenty for my kind of hunting, and I like the easy carrying and mounting. Like the little recoil, too . lol

Good luck.

[Bucksnbows]

1 minute ago, Jim_ said:

Ren 700 in .308 ... had been my only hunting centerfire rifle for decades. I only upgraded the trigger. I  figured a good cartridge for whitetails, and fun at the range. I hunt walking around, in recovering mining/timbering land in west-central Pa.

A few years ago, I bought a used Browning lever action in .243 for a new shooter/hunter I was mentoring. Now, its my gun for deer. The cartridge is plenty for my kind of hunting, and I like the easy carrying and mounting. Like the little recoil, too . lol

Good luck.

I’ve spent the last 46 years hunting with first a 30-06 and then a 7mm Remington mag.  This year I’m switching to a .257 Roberts. All the gun I’ll ever need to shoot whitetail under 120 yards. 

[Jim_]

24 minutes ago, Bucksnbows said:

I’ve spent the last 46 years hunting with first a 30-06 and then a 7mm Remington mag.  This year I’m switching to a .257 Roberts. All the gun I’ll ever need to shoot whitetail under 120 yards. 

The older I get, the littler gun I like. lol

[Bucksnbows]

9 minutes ago, Jim_ said:

The older I get, the littler gun I like. lol

It’s funny how long it takes the average rifle hunter to get past the testosterone phase of shooting magnum calibers 40 yards at whitetail deer to realistic cartridges that are best suited for that size game at relatively short distances.  I am guilty as charged myself. But many of those cartridges are great if we venture out to long distance shooting or larger game like moose or elk or the like. 

[nickmarch]

If any of your handguns are revolvers use that!  It's cool as hell!  

[nmc02]

I prefer the 470 nitro express for deer.

[gaberdeen]

Tikka T3 in 270 cal.

[MGHunter66]

5 hours ago, gaberdeen said:

Tikka T3 in 270 cal.

^Really good bang for your buck rifle and great cartridge for PA and beyond. If you have more $$$ a Weatherby Mark V chambered in 270Wby mag is the optimum deer rifle

[Outandabout90]

7mm-08 in a 7600 Remington pump.  I don't have one but its my dream gun.  I did buy a xbolt in 308 last year and it is an awesome deer gun as well. 

[archer36]

10 hours ago, Bucksnbows said:

It’s funny how long it takes the average rifle hunter to get past the testosterone phase of shooting magnum calibers 40 yards at whitetail deer to realistic cartridges that are best suited for that size game at relatively short distances.  I am guilty as charged myself. But many of those cartridges are great if we venture out to long distance shooting or larger game like moose or elk or the like. 

Magnum calibers were popular years ago because bullets sucked. Modern bullets make moderate calibers take down most game.  If you are shooting over 500 yds, a flat shooting magnum will give you an advantage. For most hunting, a .270, .308, or 30.06 will cover all the bases and ammo more readily available. 

Brown/Grizzly Bears, and Big African game calls for more firepower. 

Edited August 12, 2021 by archer36

[trapoholic]

The OP stated that he will be hunting in the forest. Most shots will be under 60 yards. The most important thing is being familiar with your firearm. A hunter who can shoot great from a bench rest, may not be able to shoot a "Pie Plate" off hand at even 50 yards. The key here is practice. I live 5 minutes from Cherry Ridge Range. I will soon be going there three times a week and mostly shooting a .22 rifle off hand. Practice is so important. Bench rest shooting is primarily for sighting in and working up loads if you re-load.

[Bucndoe]

1 hour ago, trapoholic said:

The OP stated that he will be hunting in the forest. Most shots will be under 60 yards. The most important thing is being familiar with your firearm. A hunter who can shoot great from a bench rest, may not be able to shoot a "Pie Plate" off hand at even 50 yards. The key here is practice. I live 5 minutes from Cherry Ridge Range. I will soon be going there three times a week and mostly shooting a .22 rifle off hand. Practice is so important. Bench rest shooting is primarily for sighting in and working up loads if you re-load.

OP also stated he wanted a bolt action. The first two things he/she needs to know is what action type, and then what caliber. Some prefer bolt, some prefer lever, some semi-auto, and some prefer pumps. All of them shoot straight. It's a Ford-Chevy-Dodge or Victor-Duke-BMI discussion after that

[Jim]

Tikka T3 Stainless 6.5 Creed 

[trapoholic]

2 hours ago, Bucndoe said:

OP also stated he wanted a bolt action. The first two things he/she needs to know is what action type, and then what caliber. Some prefer bolt, some prefer lever, some semi-auto, and some prefer pumps. All of them shoot straight. It's a Ford-Chevy-Dodge or Victor-Duke-BMI discussion after that

Its BMI all the way for large bodygrips. And Dukes for the #160's.

[Bucndoe]

44 minutes ago, trapoholic said:

Its BMI all the way for large bodygrips. And Dukes for the #160's.

Victor's for 1.75's. I ain't getting wrapped up in this one