[el44vaquero]

Always deer hunted myself with lever-actions in either a Marlin .357 or Marlin .30-30. Mostly been in thick brush withing 50yrds, and all my Marlins have open iron sights.

Now I've purchased a Winchester Model 70 in .30-06 with a Simmons 3-9x32 scope . Trying to figure out what to take with me this upcoming season. I will have the chance of hunting in the wide open spaces where shots are around 100yrds.

What's your hunting setup?

[Polishrifleman]

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .243 with an old lyman all american.

[one-shot-one]

.243
6.5X55 sweed
.270
7mm mag
.308
.30-06
.300wsm
.44 mag
.45-70
depending on when/where/and my mood :D

[mtnbkr]

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 6.5x55 with 2-7x33 Leupold VX-1 on top.

Chris

[dakotasin]

i use/have used/will use again:
7 rem mag, 7-08, 7 rum
308, 300 win mag, 300 wsm
25-06
338 win mag
357 mag
480 ruger

i have used and won't use again (not sure what i'll do w/ the guns, though):
223, 22-250
243

[TrapperReady]

.30 Rem - Just because. :scrutiny:

[Hawken50]

flintlock that is.

[jacobtowne]

Other: 12 gauge.

JT

[esheato]

HS lightweight sporter in 260 Rem.

Ed

[kimbernut]

.243 Win,.270 Win,7mm08rem,30-06 Spr.,308win -all Great Rounds.

[Lennyjoe]

Savage 110 in 30-06.

Also, PSE G-Force with carbon arrows. :D :neener:

[Bill2k1]

.50

[wdlsguy]

.243 Win.

[sumpnz]

CZ 550 American 6.5x55mm. Though I haven't hunted whitetail with it yet. Hunted mule deer last year and will be using it for cow elk hunting this year.

[scubie02]

these days i've got several depending on circumstances and what strikes my fancy

pre-64 win 94 in 30-30
Model 70 featherweight 270
Steyr Mannlicher 7x57
Browning Abolt 243
sporterized 8x57 mauser
Remington model 8 in 35 Rem

hmm, probably forgetting something...

[rico700]

223
22-250
243
25-06
*270*
300 win mag
45-70

Used all at least once but love the 45-70 (with open sites) in dense cover and Remington titanium in 270 with 3-9 lupy for more open terrains.

[Chuck R.]

Steyr Mannlicher in .270 Winchester with a 2.2-9X Swarovski


I’ve also used/use:

Steyr Mannlicher in 6.5 x 57mm
Rem Mod 7 in .350 Rem Mag
Remington 700 in .300 Win
Remington 700 in 6mm Rem

But the one I use 98% of the time in the .270 Win.

Chuck

[ACP230]

I started with a rifle at 16, before that I used an old single-shot 12 gauge. The rifle was a sporterized 1917 Enfield, .30-06.

I moved on to a BAR .30-06 Grade II. Accurate and handsome but heavy.

Then used a 16 gauge shotgun and a .357 Ruger Blackhawk for a couple years.

Then a Swedish Mauser carbine 6.5X55.

Then a TC Contender pistol in .357 Maximum for a year or two.

Then my best deer rifle came along. It is a Ruger 77RL, a six pound .250 Savage. Accurate, classic in styling, and easy to carry. I've killed most of the deer I've taken with it.

I have since used a Ruger VT in .308 a few times but it's too hefty if I move at all.

I'm looking forward to hunting with the .250 again this year.

I used to use a Navy Arms "Country Boy" .45 caliber muzzle loader and a TC .50 caliber Thunder Hawk in muzzleloading season, but the cold usually keeps me home in December these days.

[Souris]

I use several. Depends on where I'm hunting and what part of the season.

.50 black powder
.45-70 in a Marlin 1895 or Ruger #3
.30-06 in a Winchester Featherweight or Rem 700 ADL

.44 Mag in a virginian Dragoon

[scout26]

12 gauge Mossberg 500 with rifled barrel, intregral scope mount and 3-9x scope.

(Shotgun, muzzleloader or large caliber handgun only in Illinois)

I want to get the muzzleloader barrel for it also. :D

[pcf]

221 Fireball
222 Rem
223 Rem
243 Win
257 Roberts
6.5x55 Swede
6.5-06
30-30
300 Savage
30-06
338-06
9mm
357 Mag
44 Special
44 Mag

[MilsurpShooter]

8mm

[TexAg]

Mostly use a Model 7 6mm Remington.
but also use .45Colt in Marlin 1894 or Vaquero.

[CARRY'IN]

Shot Sitka Blacktails with 7.62X39MM SKS (ball ammo). Worked every time. Just get close and know your anatomy. Also whacked one with a .303 British.

[454c]

short range- 30-30
long range- 30-06

[jdkelly]

35 Whelen


Respectfully,

jkelly

[wanderinwalker]

.260 Remington in a M700 Mountain Rifle topped by a VX-I 2-7x33mm. Light, quick handling, accurate, low recoil.

sumpnz,
In all the reading and listening I've done, I wouldn't have thought an elk would fall to less than a .300 Maggie, even a cow elk! ;) Interested to hear how it goes...

(Seriously, I'd probably take my little .260 elk hunting if I ever get a chance to.)

[rbernie]

For a while now, my primary deer calibers have been:
7x57 (1895 Chilean Mauser) - primary
303R aka 303 British (1944 BSA/Shirley No4Mk1) - backup

This year may be different, though - my Savage 99s in 308 and 243 are itching to get out and play and I'm almost of a mind to let 'em (if I can get the loads dialed just right in time)....

[Art Eatman]

About half and half with .243 and .30-'06. Sorta depended on mood and where/how I was hunting. I wouldn't use a .243 in mule deer country. I always preferred the '06 when I was walking-hunting.

Since my legs aren't as young as they used to be, I'm now playing with a 700Ti in 7mm08.

Art

[meathammer]

I use a Rem 700 ADL in 7mm Magnum. When I was a kid I used my Dad's 700 ADL in .30-06. Both kill deer dead. I'm thinking of picking up a .30-06 bolt gun of my own, just because I think everyone should have one. :)


--meathammer

[critter]

Lets see: I've taken deer with each of these:
Shotgun: 12 ga #00 Buckshot
Shotgun: 12 ga Foster Slug
30-30
30-06
25-06
300 Win Mag
45-70
.44 mag
.35 Whelen
Muzzleloader: .45 cal Kentucky
Muzzleloader: .54 cal Renegade

[rick_reno]

50 caliber muzzle loader.

[sumpnz]

wanderinwalker - No problem. I might not want to use that rifle if I were going after a monster bull on a trophy hunt just becuase I would want the insurance of a bigger gun on "the hunt of a lifetime". But for the smaller cows I'll be hunting that should prove a pretty adequatly lethal round. Mature cows are usually 450-600#, whereas bulls are usually 600-900#. I'm loading up 140gr Barnes XLC bullets, and am getting around 2850fps. If that won't kill an elk then my shooting is just too poor and a .300+mag probably wouldn't help that much.

[Quickdraw Limpsalot]

Usually:
.54 (Flintlock)
.35 Rem (lever)
.308 (bolt)
.44 Rem. Mag. (handgun)
.454 Casull (handgun)

[griz]

Mostly now a 50 cal muzzle loader and a 250 Savage, but have used:
223
243
6mm TCU
762 X 39
357 mag (rifle)
12 gauge
20 gauge
Bear compound bow

[smokemaker]

.50 cal ML- Omega
.54 cal ML- GPR
I have a 12 Ga with a rifled slug bbl, not that I ever use it anymore. Muzzleloaders are too much fun.

[fisherman66]

280
7mm express
7mm-06

of course those all all the same and out of the same heavy barreled Ruger with a petrified stock. They don't make'm like that any more.

Maybe I'll get one with the GP100 .357mag this year.

wish list for white tail et al: .308 rem lam varm

[newfalguy101]

The last several years I have reverted to the gun I killed my very first deer with, my Norinco SKS chambered in 7.62 X 39.

I have also used:

.44 mag
.357 mag
.243 Win
.308 Win

Only the .243 and the .308 had scopes. Each time they had the same scope, a Tasco "golden antler"/ tv view.

All in all though, I much prefer to shoot with iron sights :D

[Smoke]

.22-250 & .300 Savage ...most often.

Smoke

[skynyrd1911]

model 1300 Winchester 12 gauge using rifled choke and Winchester platinum tip sabot slugs. 2 3/4 " 400gr. haven't hunted with a rifle yet.......but I do own a Marlin 30-30 that I'd LOVE to harvest a deer with.

[Blacklabman]

Ruger Redhawk .44
Ruger 77 in 30-06 every once in a great while.

[Brian Williams]

357
45 Colt
7mm-08

[45crittergitter]

None of the above. .416 Rem and .300 Win

Likely to try: .348 Win and .223 Rem (75 gr. Scirocco)

[Johnny Guest]

Haven't always been successful, though . . . ;)

I've killed deer with rifles in .30-'06, .243, .257, and .32-20. And handguns in .45 ACP, .45 Colt, and .357.

I've also gone afield, willing to shoot deer with .30-30, .303 Brit, 8mm Mauser, .308, and .45-70. This season, I intend to blood my .35 Whelen and .45-70 Guide Gun.

Best,
Johnny

[20cows]

7.7-06 (Arisaka Type 99)

.38-55 (Win. 94)

[dtalley]

in the Texas Hill Country
from age 10 to 28 - .222 Rem.
age 28 to present - 6mm Rem.

[Ol' Badger]

6.5x55 swedish

Light recoil on my boney shoulder and hits deer hard.

[GunGoBoom]

None of the other 5 calibers I have used to hunt with (not always successfully) or will use this year are on your list:

2. .243 Win
3. .25-'06 Rem
4. .45-70 gov't, and
5. 6.5x55mm swede

(and .50 cal inline muzzleloader)

so I don't know whether to vote none of the above or .270. Can you modify your poll to include more choices?? The two most commonly used (to be used this year) will be .243 and .45-70, but I plan to add a really good 6.5x55 as my primary deer rifle when I get the fundage (probably a CZ 550). I consider my .308 win, my 7mm rem mag, and perhaps the 7.5x55mm swiss to be my elk rifles, along with the .45-70 as well (though never actually been elk hunting yet). I also have a 10mm carbine, .454 casull revolver, a .223 rem, and a 7.62x39mm which I *in theory* may try and use at some point on whitetails. Also want to add a .35 rem marlin 336 for a brush gun at some point. Oh, I did hunt 2 days last year with a .44 mag revolver...no deer seen.

[Remington788]

12 guage. Illinois does not allow the use of a rifle.

[GRB]

Kind of limited choices in your poll and you only allowed one answer for each person so I just chose other. I have hunted with multiple calibers including: .30-.30, .35 Remington, .358 Winchester, 7.62x54R, 7.62x39, .357 Magnum, 12 gauge to name most of the ones I have used. Right now I go with 12 gauge and the .35 Remington.

All the best,
GB

[pokey074]

I'm hoping to take my very first deer this year. If I can get good enough with it, .45 Colt out of a Ruger Blackhawk. If not, .303 British out of a No. 4 Mk. 1 Enfield.

[Shaun]

Lets see you missed a few I hunt with


6x45mm
6mm Rem
7mm Mauser
8mm Mauser
7.62x54R
32-40wcf
33wcf
38-55wcf
45-70 gov
357 max
307win
308 win
45 colt
303 brit
44C&B
54MuzzleLoader

[Lonestar.45]

.270 Remington BDL 85% of the time
30-30 Sears Ted Williams Model 100 beat to heck, 15% of the time.

Bought the BDL in '87, had it glass bedded and a slight trigger job on it before I even shot it for the first time. Wouldn't trade it for anything, and looks almost like the day I got it, even though it's been through many many hunts over the years. It's my do everything rifle, and it does.

[HKGuns]

300 Wsm

[MassHunter2190]

12 gauge, then .50 black powder.

[only1asterisk]

45-70
38-40
44 Mag
45 Colt
6.5x55
8x57
30-06
260 Rem
30-30
12ga
35 Whelen
30-40 Krag
338 Win Mag
222 Rem
22lr (a stunt of my misspent youth)
243 Win
250 Savage
25-35 WCF

I can only think of a handful of shots were the 30-30 would not have done as well.

[Byron Quick]

I usually use a Browning BAR in .300 Win Mag with a Redfield 3X9 scope. I also use a Carolina Precision Arms rifle built on an Argentine 1909 Mauser action in .35 Whelen.

Need to try out a sporterized M1903 Springfield that I bought from Art.

I've several more nice rifles in appropriate calibers that I haven't hunted with yet.

[JShirley]

Johnny,

Good luck with the Whelen. It worked great for me. :)

Last times I went hunting, I was likely to use Mossberg 500 with Ghost Ring Sights, loaded with Remington Reduced Recoil Slugs, if prowling, and sporterized '03 if stand hunting.

John

[killzone]

270 WSM
243 WiN
308 w
300 WIN mag
375 H&H
12 G (one time only)
308 patriot
300 wea MAG
338 WIN
280REa
7 mm RUM

[1911 guy]

My savage is very accurate, more than enough for where I hunt in W.Va. I'd feel comfortable from spitting distance to several (2-3) hundred yards which is all I need for whitetails. Plenty of whuppin' to stop a deer if I place my shot correctly, don't care to find out how it will perform if I mess it up.

[Charles S]

What I utilize to hunt with changes with the season and the terain. In October I hunt with my Bow. Early in the season when I am hunting from the ground, most of the time, I hunt with my Winchester 94 30-30 or my Remington 600 308 with a scout scope. If I happen to hunt from a stand I like my Remington 700 30-06. If I know I am going to have to walk a long distance, and if brush is not too much of a problem I really like my Tikka T-3 Lite in 270. There are plenty of others, but those are the guns I use the most.

Charles

[Legionnaire]

Mostly .308 from a Remington Model Seven. Have also taken deer with a 12 gauge slug gun, Ruger SuperRedhawk in .44 mag, and an Encore pistol in .243. This year I plan to hunt with a Marlin 1894S in .44 mag set up with a Leupold scout scope in an XS Sight Systems scout mount.

[04SilverSCFX4]

50BMG!..........j/k, I previously owned a Ruger M77 MKII All Weather in 300 win mag. Like it so much I sold it and upgraded to a Remington 700PSS in 300 win mag.

[Mannlicher]

Where I hunt, I prefer the Marlin .44 Mag with my handloads. 30-30 ranks up there too. Where you hunt has a large influence on what you use. I like swamps, and feeder/drainage creeks, lake sides, and thickets. Thats the terrain in North Central Florida, and South Georgia, where I hunt.

For the times that I hunt across peanut hay fields, or pasture, then I take my custom Mauser in 7X57 Ackley.

[Flyboy]

.50.

Stuffed in from the front, over a charge of real black powder (no Pyrodex for me, thanks).

[Vern Humphrey]

I've killed a lot of deer with the .30-30 and the .30-06. These days I tend to like my 6.5X55 Swedish Mauser, and my Colt .45 (either a Colt New Service, or a Ruger Blackhawk.)

[Dr.Rob]

I've primarily used a 30-06 but I've also carried a 12 ga. 870 with slugs (my 'back up" rifle... gets funny looks in elk camp. Wouldn't hesitate to bust an elk with it. .54cal Hawken percussion rifle, .44 Mag Ruger Vaquero, Dan Wesson .357 Maximum. An my FIRST deer rifle, like many folks, was a Marlin 30-30.

[AK-74me]

12 ga.

BowTech MightyMite with 100 grain spitfire

[Newt]

Mainly I use a .260 Rem. Model 7

Sometimes... .243 Tikka T3 Lite

Every once in a while... 30-06 Savage Model 110

When I can... .50 CVA in-line

[pete f]

usually a 300 savage in a 99 but it could be
a 250 savage,
a 35 winchester in a 95
a 35 remington in a 81
a 44 mag in a 94 trapper
a 308 in a whole bunch of things
a 348 in a 71
a 257 in a #1
a 6.5 swede in a 77 or a 1901 huskvarna
a 280 in a 70
a 270 in a 70
a 30-06 in a 54 or a '03
a 303 savage in a99
a 243 in a 788 or 700
a 35 whelen in a 7600
and some others just for fun
a 338-06 in a 7600
a 45 70 in a 86 or a siamese mauser
3030 in a 36A
35 rem in 36A

[Charles S]

usually a 300 savage in a 99 but it could be
a 250 savage,
a 35 winchester in a 95
a 35 remington in a 81
a 44 mag in a 94 trapper
a 308 in a whole bunch of things
a 348 in a 71
a 257 in a #1
a 6.5 swede in a 77 or a 1901 huskvarna
a 280 in a 70
a 270 in a 70
a 30-06 in a 54 or a '03
a 303 savage in a99
a 243 in a 788 or 700
a 35 whelen in a 7600
and some others just for fun
a 338-06 in a 7600
a 45 70 in a 86 or a siamese mauser
3030 in a 36A
35 rem in 36A

Sounds like a very nice collection of hunting arms.

Charles

[askikr]

i use my grandfathers old pre 64 winchester model 70 featherweight in 30-06. i love the performance of this caliber. i have used the same gun since i was 13 yrs old. im 24 yrs old now and i dont think i will ever "out grow" this gun. by far my favorite gun. i have used other calibers out of various makes & models but i would always reach for my trusty 06 first.

[JollyWhiteGiant]

I am stuck hunting in this danged sloug zone so 12 guage smooth bore. Still tryin got find a rifled slug I like though (Federal classics don't do very well). I always have a .45 Colt Blackhawk with +P handloads but haven't had a chance to use it yet.

[goste]

Mostly, nowadays, Rem. ADL .243 / Savage 99 .250. Sometimes, my old mans sporterized no1mk3 .303.

[2sigs]

well lets see
20 Ga. Foster slugs in Mossy 500 w/buck barrel
12 Ga. Foster slugs in 870 of course but started with a 30" full choke then cut off the 12" I didn't need :D
30-30 lever guns
.243 Win. in Rem. 788 and Savage 99
7mm Rem. Mag. in Ruger M77
30-06 in way to many to mention or remember
.308 in a few models only have A-Bolt anymore
7mm-08 in a Sweet lil Remington model SEVEN(love that gun)
6.5x55 mauser
7mm mauser
.357 magnum wheel guns
.41 Mag with 275gr. cast slugs :evil:
.44mag both lever and wheel guns
10mm in witness

This Fall 308 44 lever and 10 on hip

Happy Hunting!!

-2Sigs

[Berek]

.300WSM for me.

[james rogers]

I find part of the fun is having so many choices of guns to use. I've used and may use any of the following this year. The form did not allow more than one choice. Overall I,d be inclined to pick the 30/06 in a 180 grain corelokt

270 savage 110
303 British smle
30/06 (commercial Mauser) Golden State Arms Centurian
308 600 Remington
30/40 Krag 1898
7.7 mm Arisaka
12 gauge 1948 Springfield/Savage Humpback
44. MAG Interarms Virginia Dragoon pistol

I have not hunted deer with the Arisaka yet. The other old military guns are ancient sporters.

The 303 my dad bought in the early 1950's so I've been shooting it all of my life. The old bore is rough but it groups ok. Its cut down and the factory sights are at least a mile off. Within 100 yards with a scope it gets the job done very well.

The krag finish is very dark and oxidized its been on the gun for a very long time. A close inspection reveals that the stock was cut and inserted to provide a good pistol grip. It groups very tight. Once again I'd take the 270 or 30/06 for long range work but I've never tried the Krag at long distance.

I have not taken deer with the pistol yet.

JR

[Guns_and_Labs]

.260 Remington or 6.5x55 Swedish. Handloads on both.

Great ballistic performance, both external and terminal, and low recoil. Incredibly accurate.

[killzone]

270 WSM does wonderes any time anywhere. That small thing makes the deer flap and toss like a bug. its real funny :D . first time I saw it my jaw just droped

[el44vaquero]

Call me strange, but watching an animal flopping around like that isn't something I find very funny.

[mustanger98]

Call me strange, but watching an animal flopping around like that isn't something I find very funny.

:scrutiny: :uhoh: Me neither. I'd rather use the old .30-30, .243 or .303, place the bullet right- upper-lungs/spinal, and put 'em down in their tracks. My Daddy explained his results with this shot to me in great detail. They may raise their head one time, but they bleed out and expire very fast. Hopefully they don't even know what hit 'em.

By the way, these newfangled SMs and SSMs don't impress me.

[Vern Humphrey]

By the way, these newfangled SMs and SSMs don't impress me.


Every time they bring out the latest, hottest development in cartridges and firearms, I'm seized with an overwhelming desire to run right out and ignore them. :p

[Don Gwinn]

12-Gauge, baby.

[phantomak47]

300 Savage

[JShirley]

JWG,

I've very good results with both Remington Magnum 3" slugs (the first two from my Mossberg 500 went into touching holes at 25 yards) and Remington Reduced
Recoil Slugs (I've taken two deer and 1 armadillo with these).

This is OT, but I had to respond: How hard would you train today if you knew you had to fight for your life tommorrow?

Ans: Not too hard. I'd be resting. :)

John

[sako_75]

.257 Roberts and .41 Rem Mag

[tc300mag1]

I use a Dowlaoded 300 mag since i roll my own and a 44 or 454 this year looks like it will be the 500 as my side arm