Deer Rifles... Can anyone help me decide?

[Dorrin79]

Planning on going whitetail hunting in South Texas this fall.

I currently have a Yugo SKS and a M48 Mauser.

My question is, are either of these guns suited for taking deer? Or should I get a different rifle (and if so, which one?)

Hunting down here is generally 'brush hunting'. The Yugo is long and heavy.

The Mauser, I fear, is too much gun for the small deer we have around here.

So, any thoughts? Also, what are some good hunting rounds for the calibers you recommend.

NOTE: I just had a small windfall this month. I could spend as much as $500 to acquire a new rifle, if needs be.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Deer are pretty small in Texas.

You could, with proper bullets, easily do with a .223 or a .22-250.

If you're interested in doing other types of hunting, such as varmints, that's even more reason to get a .223 or a .22-250.

A .243 or .250 Savage would also be EXCELLENT choices.

If you want to stick with the rifles you've got, then I personally would use the SKS if accurate enough.

 

[Dorrin79]

.243 savage, hm?

which model?

I kind of have a hole in my collection - I need a scoped 1/4inch bolt rifle for long distance work.

What about the .270, I've heard good things in the past...

 

[Edward429451]

For 500 bucks you can get a new Savage or Remington (almost enough for a BDL) in whatever caliber suits your fancy.

Pawn shops are a great place for slightly used Remingtons, bout 300 to 350, usually with scope.

Good Huntin'!

 

[Big_R]

If you can handle and hit with your Mauser, it will do a nice job. I assume your M48 is in 8X57 which is an excellent all around cartridge. If it were up to me, and your M48 isn't a collectable, get the bolt handle bent, install a two position safety, sporter stock, drill and tap for scope, and add optics. The smith work will be around $100.00 plus parts. Add a $100.00 scope and spend the rest on your hunt.

Ryan

 

[Selfdfenz]

What will the Mauser do accuracy-wise?
Most deer just about everywhere I've ever hunted were 100 yds or less away when they were bagged. If the Mauser will do 3" or less at 100 yards I'd give it a try.
Remember, commercial (Remingtom for example) 8mm SP ammo is downloaded rather alot.

Now, having said that, where is nothing wrong with a new Model 7 in 243 or 7-08.

S-

 

[rock jock]

Deer are pretty small in Texas.

If he means true South Texas, as in the Valley, then the deer are actually kinda beefy. I would not go with anything less than a .243. I think the Mauser would be fine if you can consistently hold groups under 3 MOA. I would not recommend the SKS.

 

[Brian Williams]

NEF Super lite handi rifle in 243... inexpensive and accurate... very lightweight.... accurate.... supposedly coming out in 7mm-08 or a barrel swap..... oh did I say accurate.... inexpensive barrels can be added for swap in everything from 22hornet to 45/70 and very cheap.

I also recommend Win Compact Classic in 7mm-08, cause I love mine.

 

[David4516]

If your using it for longer ranges, I'd get a good Bolt action in .25-06

For "brush hunts", you won't find a better gun than a Winchester Model 94 in .30-30

You can find used ones in good shape for under $200

 

[Mike Irwin]

Rockjock,

Define "beefy."

From my understanding it is rather unusual to have a deer over 80 to 100 pounds, with the average being smaller.



Dorrin,

It's actually the .243 Winchester, but Savage Arms chambers that caliber.

If you're not a handloader, I'd suggest sticking with the .243, instead of the .250, as the ammo options available for .243 are quite a bit wider.

 

[Selfdfenz]

Depending on the area, population and the level of animal husbandry you can do a lot better than 80-100#s in Texas. Lots better.

On range land where the deer compete due to overpop, poor cover and poor quality food they may be smaller but not necessarily.

Texas can produce some good sized critters, and some big racks, if they are managed a bit.
S-

 

[Art Eatman]

The Hill Country bucks of central Texas will generally dress out in the 80- to 125-pound range, even on the same ranch! Some will run 140 or a bit better, particularly as you get out around Uvalde and northwest of there.

South of US 90, west from San Antonio, and on down toward Laredo, you can find bucks to 175 and 200 pounds.

A good west Texas mule deer can easily dress out over 200, although a lot are brought in at around 125-160. Mulies grow pretty big up in the Panhandle.

I've never hunted any in the country east of I-35 on over to Louisiana...The state has worked some deals for hunting on timber company lands.

Art

 

[Mike Irwin]

OK, I was sadly misinformed.

.243 would be the minimum, then, in my view.

 

[Kingcreek]

You might want to check the used gun racks and gun shows for some of the "old" chamberings. I bought a good used ruger m77 in .270 with a Leupold 3X9 vxII for $350.

 

[TIMC]

I hunt south Texas brush country. If you are going to be in the brush I would suggest something with good stopping power. It's not fun struggling through the brush in search of a deer unable to see the ground clearly and hearing that distingtive rattle. We may not grow the biggest deer but we do grow some whopper rattle snakes.
I would suggest something in the .30 cal range.
I use a Remington mod 700 30.06 with Federal Clasic 150gr HS ammo. I like to see them drop in their tracks.

 

[scotjute]

Dorrin79,
Some good advice so far. I'd like to add the Swedish Mauser caliber 6.5x55 mm. Shot my first deer with rifle in north Lousisana a couple of years ago using iron sights. This was a big deer approx. 140 lbs. Went down so quick I didn't see it fall.
This is a hard-hitting caliber that has light recoil and is relatively flat, penetration is supposedly better than 30'06 (so I've been told). I plan to hunt south of I-10 this year as well as a trip to Louisiana, and in a couple of years want to go on a trip for mulies. This caliber is versatile enough to be very appropiate in every case.
It's still available in Swedish Mausers from Samco or pawn shops, in the
$200-300 range, also Ruger, Winchester, and Sako have bolt-actions in this caliber. I've hunted thru heavy Louisisana brush with the short-barrelled M96 Swedish Mauser, 24" barrell, and it works ok, tho I'd prefer 20-22" barrells in heavy brush. The longer barrelled models, 29" barrell are too long and in my opinon need to be cut down for pratical use.

 

[Dorrin79]

good advice, all.

I think I'll look around for a .243 or .270 of some sort used.

 

[Art Eatman]

At common hunting ranges in Texas, there ain't a nickel's worth of difference between a .308 and an '06. 150- to 180-grain bullets, whatever suits you. I've always used the 150s, as did my father and uncle--and that's a heckuva lot of deer.

Thing is, if you run on to a big old hog, you don't have to worry about adequate penetration. If you have to reach out a bit farther than usual, you don't have to worry much about remaining energy.

I dunno. They mostly all work, from .243 on up. It depends mostly on how well you're "married up" with your rifle. I basically feel that "more is better" for serious hunting.

, Art

 

[auschip]

If it comes down to a choice between the .243 and the .270 I would choose the larger .270. While you tend to see smaller deer in Central Texas, if you do see that big bruiser, you want to have enough gun to take him clean. I typically hunt South Texas (cotulla), and am confident I can take any 4 legged creature (in the State) with the .270 using the right bullet weight. For deer, I prefer the WInchester Silvertip 130 grain, but try a couple out and see what shoots best out of your gun once you get it.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

.270 in a Savage, Remington 700, Ruger or Winchester 70 bolt action. Tikka, Browning and Weatherby Vanguard are good foreign-made options. Leupold Vari-x or Weaver Grand Slam scope.

The .270 shoots flat and fast and will handle most game. You also cannot go wrong with .308 or 30-06, just use lighter loads. Even if the deer are small, too much gun is better than not enough. We're only talking a 7.62mm hole here that will likely go right through and make a slightly larger exit wound.

AS far as a a scope goes, most are variable these days and you'll spend $200+ for something halfway decent. Maybe look on e-Bay or at shops for a used fixed 4-power Weaver K4 -- s/b less than $100 and serve you well.

If you want to save $$ and are OK w/ open sights, get a Swedish Mauser or a good old used Marlin or Winchester 30-30 for around $200-$250. The Mauser will go up in value and the 30-30s are classics. I suggest you leave your M48 as-is.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

I don't think you "need" another rifle. That Mauser will do the job. How well do you shoot with those sights? I'd replace the front "wedge" sight with a post, or even a Williams "Firesight", and replace the rear with a mojo (I think Williams makes a similar sight).

The 8mm ballistics are pretty close to 30-06 or 308, so any of them will work great at 100 yards or less.

You'll have to zero the thing with hunting ammo. You shouldn't use that FMJ Turkish surplus stuff on deer.

Regards.

 

[Keith]

Most of those old military rifles are regulated pretty oddly. In my experience, they generally shoot real high - as much as a foot high at 100 yards!
I don't know about the Yugo, in particular.

By the time you sporterize them at todays prices, you might as well have bought a proper sporting rifle. If money is an issue, look to used guns which are generally a very good buy. Most rifles will outlast all of us with a bit of minimal care.

Keith

 

[JShirley]

Add a Williams peep sight to your SKS, and you'll be good to go.

Alternatively, get a NEF/H&R single-shot in anything from .243 to .45-70.

John

 

[Feanaro]

The Mauser should be able to perform quite well. Mine will put bullets on the black whenever I'm capable of it. And 8mm will take down a deer. I'd buy some imported stuff like Igman though, American 8mm is badly underloaded. I also have trouble getting the Remington to chamber, because of the soft lead nose. It's also cheaper. =) Also a note, you can buy a B-Square M48 mount that goes over the rear sight leaf(stick a pistol scope on there and you have a long eye relief scope ready to go), no bent bolt and other such troublesome crap.

www.ammunitionstore.com for 8mm ammo.