Deer Rifle

[pdowg881]

I apologize if they are already threads on this as I haven't been able to find them. I am going to try hunting next season, and all I have is a shotgun, which I am palnning to use it the land behind my house(shotgun only). But my dad is also interested in picking up a couple .30 caliber rifles. He did a little hunting when he was younger but sold the rifles when I was a kid. So we really aren't aware of what there is now, and the prices of new versus used rifles. Im also curious about binoculars. I have a pair of Jason binoculars model 296 perma focus 1000, 10x50 WA field 7 degrees. This a bunch of gibberish to me. They're about seven inches long and I'm not sure if they are going to be too big, but they seem great when looking through them out in the woods.

 

[DWARREN123]

For a rifle I believe the choice should be made on range used and max shot. For 100 yards or less it is hard to beat a Marlin lever action in 30-30, about twice as much as shot gun range.
As for binoc's I like some of the compact models for hunting, bigger equals more weight.
Optics is usually one area where you get what you pay for.

 

[pdowg881]

It would be used for not much more than 200 yards, and being a college student, both gun and ammo price is definately a factor. I'm a bit reluctant to go for a 30-30 because if the need ever came for a longer range hunting rifle, it would require me to buy another gun. I also don't like the feel of lever actions.

 

[KINGMAX]

Optics = you get what you pay for. $$$$$$$$

BIG $$$ means better optics. For the most part a cheap pair of bino's will last a while. When they start fogging up, or have a permenate double-image, get rid of them, buy again. It's up to you.

 

[hoghunting]

For a good quality, accurate and fairly inexpensive rifle, look at the Stevens - it's a Savage without the Accu-trigger. You can get it in 308 or 30.06

 

[KINGMAX]

Back to the Rifle

Last year I finally went to a bolt action Remington 700 ADL in .270. It has not let me down. I have slowed my shots down, was able to get 4 out of 6 deer dropped right where they were standing when hit, one bolted less than 50 feet & fell over, and the sixth one fell at about 150 feet from where it was shot. Ranges in the shots were from about 80 yards, out to 147 paces for one large four pointer w/ a thick stubby 2 x 2 rack. It looked as if it trotted around in a tight circle and fell face/chest straight down. The shot went through both sides of the chest, blowed out a section of rib bone at the exit wound.

In the past I have used a semi-auto Ruger DeerField Carbine .44 Magnum for a brush gun. I was a bit quick on the trigger and would usually get a second backup shot off. The range on the Deerfield I trusted out to about 125 - 150 yards, not much over that. With ths Remington 700 in .270, I feel confident in my shooting out to 200 - 250 yards. So as you can see I have doubled my range

 

['Card]

OK, you start the process by deciding what action you're interested in. You say you don't like lever-actions, so that leaves you with a semi-auto, a pump, a bolt action, or a single-shot. Which one you choose will be heavily influenced by what type of hunting you're going to do, what type of terrain you're going to do it in, and your personal preferences. In the northeast, stalkers seem to prefer semi-autos or pumps (or lever actions), although bolt actions are always popular too. For hunting from a stand or a stationary location, bolt actions or single-shots are more popular choices.

Once you decide on the action, think about caliber. Range of 200 yards or less, heavy woods and hilly terrain, right? Most popular choices in the northeast would be .30-30 (only in lever actions), .270, .308 or .30-06.

So once you make those two choices, start hitting some gunmaker's websites and make a list of who makes the action you want in the caliber you want in your price range.

As for the binos - I wouldn't worry about that too much. At 200 yards or less, about all that you're going to need binos for is picking out which deer has the antlers, and you're better off doing that with a scope.

 

[koja48]

Hard to beat the .30-06 for an all-arounder. Ammo is readily available & in a large selection & makers like Stevens & Savage make a reasonably good rifle that isn't too terribly expensive. This caliber is also fairly often found among used rifles.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have a pair of Jason binoculars model 296 perma focus 1000, 10x50 WA field 7 degrees.

Jason binoculars are not top quality -- but don't worry about that now. If you can carry them afield, they'll serve you for a few years until you can afford to buy better.

"10X50" means ten power (makes things appear 1/10 as far away as they really are) with a 50mm objective (front) lens. In general, for dim lighting, you need a large "exit pupil" -- that's the spot projected out the rear lens. The human eye can dialate to about 7mm so a 7mm exit pupil would be best in low light. Calculate exit pupil by dividing objective lens diameter by power -- in this case 50/10 = 5mm exit pupil. Not all that bad.

"7 degrees" refers to the field of view -- if you think of your binoculars as the apex of a triangle, the angle of the apex would be 7 degrees. At 1,000 yards (the standard distance), a degree subtends 50 feet. So if you look through your binoculars at something 1,000 yards away, you would see a circle 350 feet in diameter. This is pretty good -- too small a field of view makes it hard to find something in your binoculars.

When considering a rifle, also consider sights -- a good scope can cost as much as a rifle (and sometimes more), It sounds to me, thought, that you would be well-served right now with something like a Marlin .30-30 and iron sights. That would be the lowest overall cost to you.

 

[pdowg881]

I'm going for bolt-action and am from the responses considering it in 30-06. What kinds of prices can I expect both new and used for some like a rem700 or equivalent? Something with a good set of iron sights but with the ability to add a scope down the road.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Deer are easy to kill. I tend to hunt with a rifle that fit's me and carries well in the woods. I've shot more deer with an old marlin .30-30 than all my other rifles combined. They are just fine out to about 150 yds. And, they don't jar your shoulder or make your ear's ring for 3 days.

 

[pdowg881]

Again, I do not want a 30-30 or lever action. I'm looking for a bolt action, that has good irons, and has the ability to mount a scope if I ever decide to do so. Because I don't know the various prices, I'm curious to the prices I would be looking at on new or used rifles. I'm not looking for something fancy. The best way I can put it, is what is the 870 express of bolt action hunting rifles?

 

[ojibweindian]

If you're set on a .30-06 bolt action with iron sights, and you're on a tight budget, you will be looking at used rifles.

And, most likely, you'll be looking at a Savage like this one: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=70267933#PIC

 

[Clipper]

OK, since no one else will, I'll do it... Get a couple of Mosin-Nagants in whatever flavor you like, M-38 or M-44 carbines or M91-30 rifles can all be had for about $100.00. M-39 Finns will cost a bit more, but are still cheap. If you're paying attention to condition of the bore when you buy, they'll do fine for 200 yard shots with the iron sights.

Ammo is cheap, with milsurp target ammo for about $.10 or less per round (@ 800 or so round cases) and hunting softpoints from $12.00/20. Powerwise, they're right between .308 and 30/06, and it's .30 caliber, like you want.

There are both fiberglass (ATI & Boyd's) and wood (Boyd's) drop-in stocks available at reasonable prices if you wish to ditch the military furniture, and there are several setups for scout (no gunsmith) scope mounts or more conventional drill-and-tap mounts with various turn-down bolt conversions.

 

[Art Eatman]

Start off with just looking, at gunshows and gun stores. Feel and fondle, to sorta learn what really appeals to you. Then you can think about cost and such.

I've never had problems with used rifles. I've taken many in trade during my gunshow-table years. They all shot plenty good for deer hunting. Folks are far more likely to bargain down in the price of a used rifle, making it more affordable. And, often, it will be a package deal, already having scope, mounts and sling.

Mostly, don't be in a hurry to buy anything.

Art

 

[pdowg881]

Thanks for the advice. I'll start scouring the local gun stores.

 

[JJE]

You'll be a lot happier if you buy a "bino-buddy" contraption that loops around your shoulders and takes most of the weight of the binos off your neck. They're available everywhere, not very expensive, but once you use them, you will never carry binos again without them.

 

[phreeq]

I've been considering deer hunting myself, and I have a question...Any opinions on wether a K-31 would be a good choice for hunting? I already have the rifle, so I wouldn't have to go buy a new/new to me rifle if the Swiss would be suitable.

 

[pdowg881]

JJE, they come with a satchel that can be put on a belt. Would that be a comfortable place?

 

[Art Eatman]

phreeq, the rifle/cartridge combination is plenty good. As long as you can hit into a six-inch circle at 100 yards or more, using a hasty rest as out in the field, you're good to go.

What ever distance whre you become unreliable about hitting, that's about the limit of the distance for you to shoot.

I'd guess that pretty much any full-power military rifle cartridge is plenty good for deer hunting.

Art

 

[atomchaser]

I've been considering deer hunting myself, and I have a question...Any opinions on wether a K-31 would be a good choice for hunting? I already have the rifle, so I wouldn't have to go buy a new/new to me rifle if the Swiss would be suitable.

The K-31 with suitable (expanding) ammunition is certainly a capable deer caliber. On the downside, it is rather heavy to drag around in the woods. You might consider an aftermarket scope mount if you are going to hunt with it.

 

[glockman19]

For hunting I got a Remington 700 CDL in .30-06. It's agreat rifle witha universal round that can take anything in North America.

 

[pdowg881]

What kind of prices would I be looking at for something like a used 700 in 30-06?

 

[glockman19]

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I'm not sure but...I just paid $650, for a NIB one. Check out gunbroker.com

 

[JJE]

Regarding the binos: Depends on your style. I spend a lot of time looking through the binos. If I'm not walking, I'm glassing. Waist carry is obviously comfy, since you're not supporting the weight on your neck or shoulders. If it isn't a hassle to keep getting them out of the waistpack, or if you just don't glass that much, then waist carry would work. I use the binos so much, I pretty much have to have them around my neck.