What rifles for deer hunting this year?

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I used 2 today, rem 700 sps 24" barrel in 7mm08 in the morning and an m11 savage in the evening. Should have flipped the script and used the 7mm08 in the afternoon. Cold fingers, thumb, small yang safety and inexpensive replacement gloves, that weren't warm enough for conditions, because my other 4 pairs grew legs and walked away, combined for watching a buck run away without a shot being fired. Oh well tomorrow is another day.
 
I went out this morning and saw some deer in the fields so this afternoon I took my Bergara 6.5 CM and hit one of my favorite field stands. About 5:00 a doe came out at the far end of the field feeding along the fence line. The Sig Rangefinder said 265 yards so I put the second mark in the BDC at the top of her shoulder squeezed, and she disappeared. The autopsy showed the arteries at the top of her heart were gone. I love it when they hit the fields. Sorry, but I didn't have my phone with me for pix.
 
My m11 savage 243 redeemed itself on Sunday took a spike buck osok, unfortunately we took a tumble into a drainage culvert so I won't be able to use it until I Chek out zero and insure that nothing is broken. Went down pretty hard, but no ill effects on the old body so far.
 
The ones that have been going out with me are the Marlin 336 in 35 Rem and the 444 Marlin.
The triple 4 has been getting the nod most of the time.
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Marlin model 03030, in 30-30 caliber. First harvest with 30-30. Hunted for 40 years with bolt action .270 cal. Always wanted to try a lever action.
 
Remington 700 (1970) in 30.06 with Leupold Freedom 3x9 scope; 165 grain Hornady Interlock SP over 58 grains of H4831 and CCI match primer. End result was a one shot doe at 70 yards.
 
So far this season I've only hunted in a shotgun area. This afternoon it will be an afternoon sit in a rifle area. Time for the Marlin .30-30 that now has an illuminated reticle scope since NY State now allows me to shoot a deer for the 30 minute period after sunset. This is my first year using an illuminated reticle scope although I've shot deer in low light dawn & dusk conditions before with non-illuminated scopes. Should be interesting if I get an opportunity at last light, although I would prefer to fill my tag with enough daylight time to avoid gutting a deer in the dark.
 
I’ve been bringing my slug gun recently. Most of the deer I shoot are so close that a slug gun just seems to make more sense.
 
Opening day here in Wisconsin is next weekend, I'm starting the day with my VZ-24 in 8x57(NOS M48 barrel, McMillan, 4x32 Meopta).

If I feel sporty, I might get out the M70 in 257 Bob...

I'm going to use a CZ 550 Safari Magnum in 458 Lott because I want to use enough gun.
 
Use my rifles in a rotation. This years new acquisition Marlin 336 in 35 rem is up first followed by 358 winchester in a BLR and if I am lucky my Mannlicher-Schoenauer model 1905 in 9x56mm. In case you missed it I have a definite affection for 35 caliber holes in critters.
Update the 336 has been blooded took large doe with one shot through the heart. On to the BLR in 358 win. I really liked the 2x Simmons Turkey scope with the diamond reticle.
 
Should be interesting if I get an opportunity at last light, although I would prefer to fill my tag with enough daylight time to avoid gutting a deer in the dark.
........ Update: Filled the antlerless tag at 3:23 PM yesterday and had enough time to finish things up before dark. It's the first deer I ever shot with an illuminated reticle scope; except it wasn't illuminated because I didn't need it. Not complaining. Sure beats gutting deer in the dark.
 
I've rotated my deer rifles but this year I took 2 at different times.
I have a new to me Rem 700 BDL in 7mm mag and took it the first few days without success.
51618333577_139e4e19a4_k.jpg 2021-10-22_04-02-21 by poofy27, on Flickr
A few days later, I took my Tikka T3x in .300 WM and shot a doe at about 100.
Last year, I took a National Ordnance 1903A3 and got a doe.
51730480659_a04a201979_k.jpg 2021-12-06_06-35-58 by poofy27, on Flickr

The upcoming after Christmas special regs area will Have me taking an Ithaca Deer slayer in 12Ga and a handgun but undecided on Ruger RedHawk in .44, Ruger New Model Blackhawk in .41 or S&W 66-2 in .357

I have also used a Savage Model 30 in 20 ga which I won't use again, a Remington 760 pump in .06, A 30-30 Marlin 336 and a Savage 111FNS in .300 WM.
 
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Update my m11 savage, 243 win connected on a spike buck. On the way out of the woods I fell with it on my shoulder, so it was sidelined for the rest of the season. The AR 15 was out all day yesterday, but saw nothing so no deer for that one.
 
I took two to camp, and took them both out different days. My Winchester M70 Featherweight in 30-06 and a Ruger American in 243 Winchester. The .243 was fired and successfully took a 4 pt buck. It's the second deer I have taken with a .243 and my handloads.

-Jeff
 
My daughter (12) just up and decided she was going to hunt. I wasn't even going to go this year. No desire. So I had to go hunting for a rifle in my safes that wouldn't level her and wasn't a 12 lb varmint gun. Only thing I found was this
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An old remington 700 257 Robert's id stuck in a safe at my dad's house. Lol. No idea what year, no idea what variation (other than bdl) i got it cheap 20 years ago. First big rifle id ever bought. Then as I got more rifles it went to storage. Might be a bit much for her but she enjoyed shooting it. No idea what ammo it was lined up for. But the nosler ballistic tips (blue tip) i found were about 2 inches high at 100. So that's what we used.

She did shoot my 300 mag once. She handled it, but I'm afraid she would develop some flinch
 
I hope she gets to take a deer with it. The Bob is a great young hunters gun and will work great on deer with those Noslers Congratulations on adding another hunter to our community.
 
I hope she gets to take a deer with it. The Bob is a great young hunters gun and will work great on deer with those Noslers Congratulations on adding another hunter to our community.

We watched a spike for a long time one day. Seen many doe. She will get her one. I'm afraid she is only horn hunting, which lots of people do. I always kind of frowned on that myself but I guess that's just the way some hunters are. Lol.

I've used the 257 Robert's many years ago. Great gun. I have a couple. I retired them years ago to carry ugly guns I don't care to get scuffed and wet and nasty lol. Ive never seen another like that remington 257 though. No sights. Super long chamber. Longest I've ever seen. To get the bullets to contact the lands I believe the bullet would fall out of the case. Lol. It was a decent shooter but a long way from great. Weighs less than all my other 700s.

Apparently there is a whole crop of young hunters around here. Her buddies all killing deer this year. 10-13 years old. Most girls. Lol
 
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