First Deer Rifle, Veterans please give advice

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Jonny V said:
New manufacture rifles (or anything for that matter) are roughly built. You can see this for yourself. Go to the gunstore and ask to see a new rifle from the maker of your choice. Then ask to see a 30 year old used rifle in the same price range. On the new rifle, when you look inside its guts, you'll see:
plastic parts
sloppy machine work and tool marks
untrimmed metal flashing
rough, painted surfaces
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Looked at a brand new Winchester Super Grade at Gander Mountain the other day...looked like a fine rifle to me. Fit and finish was nearly custom grade. I am not impressed with the newer Remington 700 BDLs though. Smooth pistol grip cap, as opposed to the checkered cap my 30+ year old rifle has. The bluing is not polished like my 30+ year old rifle (Winchester Super Grade has about as high a polish on the barrel as I have seen outside of Sako) Wood doesn't look as good on the newer BDLs either.

I am still gunning for a Remington 700 VLS though. Still love the looks of that.
 
don't mean to take this off track

I would recommend the larger diameter caliber you have listed 30-06 or 308, just my preference, but all the calibers you have listed are fine chioces for deer.

I'm suprised no one mentioned a browing (I'm a little biased as a 30-06 A-bolt was my first deer rifle). It shoots great and it seemed to have less recoil than a rem 700 in .270 (but it could have been the loads??)

also, someone mentioned virgin steel on older guns, I'm not sure how that makes a difference versus a new rifle with recyled steel?
 
I'd recommend a Stevens 200 or Marlin XS7 in 308. The Mossberg is OK for the money, but can't compete with the Stevens or Marlin. The Remington 770 is indeed a steaming POS. Don't even consider it.
 
.30-06, .270, .308, .243
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Any of these calibers will do. Ammunition is relatively cheap, plentiful, and accurate. The other calibers will also kill deer, but they are more expensive. 7mag ammo is usually plentiful but a little more expensive. For deer though, all you need is a .243, so again, any will do the trick.
 
Yeah, we've gotta remember his price range (max $500). I should also say that most of my comments were meant for this price range. It's easy to find new rifles that have beautiful workmanship (Browning, Weatherby Mark V, Mauser, one of the custom makers, etc). The problem is that those new rifles are going to be well north of $1000.

If we look at his $500 number, he probably needs rifle, scope, and at least some ammo.......With this in mind, his best option is the used market and lots of searching and comparing. I've been buying bargain firearms for years now, and I know how I feel every time I have to go to multiple gun stores and fondle lots of different rifles :D + :what: = :neener: !!!!!!



Semper Fi
 
Regardless of brand of rifle, the .270 is the choice I would use. Just as deadly but less recoil of 30.06, and 150 grain bullets work on elk just fine. I shoot 130 and 140 grain for deer.
 
I'd say the same for 308 and 243. 270 is good, but ...

Browning A Bolt - you bet, you see one, grab it - but it will be used to come even close to your price range and it won't be in the rack long - guaranteed :)
 
I guess I'll be the lone ranger and recommend the CZ550 (mine is .270).

If you can find one for the price you want.

I bought mine in '03 for $450...don't know what they cost now but if you can get it, it's a good rifle!

I also shop the used rack these days but if you don't know what to look for you might get one that has been used and abused.

Good luck!
 
I would just go for a savage stevens or howa I have had both and still have howa. Weatherby vanguard is a good choice also.
 
All the calibers you list will work on deer. .30-06, .270, .308, 243, 7mm-08.

Of those .243 would be a the bottom of my list; the .243's effectiveness stops at deer, the other keep going. 7mm-08 would be at the top of my list. Most good sporting goods stores (and online stores) will have ammo. Of the ones on the list my WalMart doesn't have .308 or 7mm-08 on the shelf.
 
You have to look at your priorities. Are you planning on a rifle that you'll put in a lot of range time with, and also take hunting? Or are you planning on this being a hunting rifle that you'll just take shooting enough to feel comfortable?

If you plan on shooting a LOT, cost of ammunition should be carefully considered. IF legal for deer where you are, a Howa .22-250 should be quite accurate, more economical than most new rifles, and ammo will cost less. Just be sure to go with a heavier 62-grain SP when you're ready to go for deer...

Buying a quality used rifle is also a great idea.

John
 
I've only used 4 rifles for hunting, a savage 110 and Tikka T3 both in 30-06. Great caliber with a wide varieties of weight. Biggest deer I shot 11 points 225 lbs dressed, I shot with a 125 gr bullet at about 85 yards. Since you reload you can reload the 110 grain for varmints as well. The other two are a Winchester 30-30 and a Marlin 336 35 remington. Any of these will get the job done for what you want. The 30-06 rifles are accurate out of the box.
 
I am going to pile on with the used rifle idea. I like old bolt guns with iron sights for deer. You could start with iron sights and eventually buy a $200-ish good scope. And always have the iron sights for back-up. But don't get the peep-thru site mounts.

It might not be your cuppa tea, but I have found a few deals on old sporterized Springfield 1903s and 1917 Eddystones with pretty good (not great) 60's era optics (Weaver, Redfield) in the $300 or less range. Sometimes much less. Lots of guys are selling rifles these days.

Don't forget about the venerable 30-30 lever action. Nice to carry in the woods if you are a walking hunter.

If you go used, just make sure the muzzle is not ripped apart from cleaning.

If you go with 30-06, you have the option of surplus ammo for practice and plinking. .270 will shoot faster and flatter if you reload or just plan to sight in and hunt.
 
Redhat said:
I guess I'll be the lone ranger and recommend the CZ550 (mine is .270).
I bought mine in '03 for $450...don't know what they cost now but if you can get it, it's a good rifle!
Click to expand...

Unfortunately....or fortunately depending on how you want to look at it, they have become so popular that they are in the Browning A-bolt price range now...$700+
 
There is a lot of info here. Some good, some not so good. A .270 is a necked down 30/06. How is that going to give less recoil? When I went looking for a deer rifle I shot a friends 30/06 side by side with his .243. The .243 gave me whiplash, and I quit after 3 shots. I love the rolling back of the 30/06(shot up all five cartridges). I bought a .308 cause that is what I could afford and bought a used one with scope and sling. The recoil/ballistics are about the same as the 06. The 06 is more versatile because of the ability to hold more powder thereby throwing heavier bullets farther with flatter trajectories than a .308. Availablity of the 2 is usually comparable. Good luck with your search and let us know how it turns out for you.
ll
 
Remington (dispite recent slander) makes some of the finest bolt action rifles to this day. I would chamber it in 270 and go with the 700 series, for the reason of superior ballistics -vs- knockdown. Personally, Im using a Sharps 45-70 this year... haha
 
Thank-you all, I plan to look at some local gunstores soon to search the used rack, went to one just the other day but it was more of a tactical gun dealer, and they only had three options, none of which I liked or could afford. I am ALL FOR OLD STYLE QUALITY. However if I can't find something older, I may look at a walmart savage or stevens. I will shoot my rifle as much as I can. However I do not know how much that will be. (Control freak-safety freak mother) I currently have a Mosin Nagant, and a 12 gauge pump, synthetic stocked shotgun. What would these different calibers compare to the Mosin and the 12 gauge? I'm not afraid of recoil, but rather want the largest caliber I can shoot accurately. How much will muzzle jump affect my accruacy?
 
As far as comparing the calibers, the 270 will recoil a little less, and the 3006 about even with the Mosin. The 12 with slugs might be the stiffest recoiler of the bunch. Since money is an issue for you, I would really suggest the 270 or 3006. You can get Rem Express loads for less than $20 a box, and they will kill anything you would be shooting at. The 130gr 270 load is out the barrel at more than 3000 fps, and has a decades long reputation for "lightning strike" kills.

Joining your local gun club and signing up for all the hunter safety and other training classes they offer might help to assuage your mother's fears.

The muzzle jump will affect your accuracy if you let it. Making sure that you have properly mounted the rifle to your shoulder and cheek, and used your sling to really crank down and steady the piece is key to reducing the 'felt recoil'. If you do your part and not flinch, then you won't have to worry about it because the muzzle jumps after the round is long gone. Also remember, it's not how hard the rifle hits you that counts. It's that you hit your point of aim and kill the animal cleanly with one shot. Taking recoil is not a test of manliness.
 
Devildog,

The 7.62x54R Mosin round is right between 308 and 30-06 powerwise, and should be recoilwise as well. Of course, weight of rifle, stock fit and shape, and load being fired will all effect felt recoil. In my neck of the woods, 243, 270, 308 and 30-06 are all readily available and the same price for hunting loads. The 308 has an advantage for large volume practice as you can get surplus 7.62x51 NATO and also match ammo for practice much more easily than the others. These rounds are not for hunting, though.
 
Thanks Johnny, I've already completing hunter's safety, and been successful and safe on my first hunting trip (squirrels). I've been denied the request to join the local gun club..
 
Why would they deny you? Or was it your mom who denied you? If that's the case, you're stuck and will have to wait until you're 18. If the club denied you then you should find another to join. Gun clubs don't have much business excluding young people and discriminating against folks who want to join. One of the primary reasons for the existence of clubs is to provide good, safe instruction to young members.

Hang in there, read all you can, get some snap caps for dry firing, and be patient. You're going to do real good, even if it takes a little longer than you might want. There are lots of people on here who'll be happy to help out too.
 
I personally will throw in with the "Get a .270" crowd, although my favorite deer gun is a Ruger 77 in .257 Roberts. My wife shoots a 77 in .243 cal., but is falling in love with my Ruger 77 Mk II 270. She's a new shooter and hunter, but has a nasty habit of shooting 100yd targets with the 270 that have 3 overlapping holes, and a sub-1" group. -I may have to retire, and let her bring home the venison! I had a Vanguard in 308 for a few years, and it was a serviceable gun, but it shot no better than 1-1/2" at 100yds no matter what I fed it with.

I also owned 2 Remington 760's in 270, and neither would group better than 4" at 100 yds. For a short time I owned a pre-64 M70 in -06; it drove tacks, the recoil was easily handled, and I hated to put in the gun shop rack - but that's another story.

I think for a young shooter that a bolt action is a good rifle, because it is easier to keep track of from a safety standpoint. Bolt open = no fire, and the gun's innards are readily visible.
 
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