One rifle, one caliber for whitetails; your choice?

[Kernel]

Ruger M77 MkII stainless laminate (pre Hawkeye)

.260 Win. (7-08 would be okay, too)

Leupold 3-9x40.

 

[Roadkill]

Top is a 1948 FN Mauser in 30-06, 180g bullet, Leupold 3x9 Varilux III, hand loads, great for fields and open areas.

Bottom is a 1970ish Marlin 30-30, 150g Lever Revolution bullets, hand loads, Tasco World Class scope, perfect for climbing stand and brush.

I always bring both. Always get deer with both.

 

[Nick5182]

I'm limited in my state...so...I'd have to say My Remmy 870 pump action 12 ga. Rifled slugs...?

If I could use a high-power, I'd go with a Remington 700 in .308

 

[mregunz]

I'd go with a howa model.1500,cal.--.270,130'sand hornady only.That's all I shoot anyway.IIn everygun I got .Is hornady bullet's.And even the so called inferior bullet's of 35 yr's ago in the 130.horn. never let me down.If I did my job was alway's one shot kill's.Good Shooting and huntin.

 

[Kernel]

^^^
Iowa does now allow high-powers in certain counties during the Late Bonus Season. Has for the last couple of years. Hopefully, the DNR will view the results as positive and allow for expanded usage.

 

[timberwolf204]

my vote is for my Browning A-bolt in 270 win., second favorite is TC G2 contender with 30-30 win. Hornadys out of both. 140 btsp in the .270 and 160 lever evoloutions in the 30-30. but to each is own.

 

[farscott]

Just one: My Browning 1885 in .243 Winchester topped with a Leupold 3-9X Compact. My wife bought it as a Christmas present for me several years ago. Great rifle in a great caliber from the greatest wife.

 

[Legionnaire]

Another vote for the Remington Model 7 (bolt action) in .308. Mine rides in an H.S. Precision sporter stock and wears a Leupold 2-7X compact. It's a great carbine-length walkaround rifle, particularly well suited to the wooded hills of Pennsylvania.

 

[Todd1700]

Bolt Action
Tikka T-3
25-06

The 25-06 shoots flat with very mild recoil. The 115 to 120 grain bullets are about the perfect weight for deer IMHO. And the 25-06 is just hot death on whitetails. These Tikka T-3's are the most accurate rifles I have seen in this price range. I know several people who also own one and they report similar levels of accuracy as well. I paid 458 bucks for mine and straight out of the box it shoots factory Hornady 117 gr interlocks like this.

 

[deerhunter61]

Bolt Action
CZ - American 550
6.5X55 Swede
Topped with Ziess Conquest 3.5X10X50

Best deer rifle I have ever owned! Smooth smooth smooth and accurate!

 

[Wadero]

Remington 870 Express- 12 gauge..... I am low maintenance.

 

[dougw47]

Deer Cartridges...

I killed 20 something with a Winchester 670 in .243, great rifle and cartridge. They were all one-shot kills, until 1990 something. Had a couple run on me that I had to track due to bullet failure...cheap ammo, thin skins...blew up and did not fully penetrate. I lost my faith in Walmart box ammo due to that.

My brother talked me into a .270 Winchester and the 130 grs never failed after that. That is my go-to rifle these days.

I have taken some of my other rifles and killed deer, notably my 7 x57 Mauser...it is a real sweetheart. Some with a .308 and also .30-06, both Model 70's (I Love them).

All the cartridges mentioned are great and more than adequate for deer, glad I don't have to choose just one. But if all you have is one gun in .243 to .30-06 you can't go wrong...as someone else said, practice with it til you are the expert.

 

[Capt Gary]

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Stainless 30/06. Custom McMillian stock, Leupold VariX III 2.5 X 8.
A good factory or handload with a good quality 165 gr. bullet.

 

[MinnMooney]

Remington 700 CDL .270 Win. with a Nikon Monarch in 2.5-10x50 SF

Easy cartridge to find in Podunk Jct. and scope is great from before sunup to well after sundown.

 

[kscharlie]

When hunting where rifles are allowed:
Left hand Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .270WSM.

When hunting in shotgun only states:
Remington 870 with fully rifled cantilevered barrel.

 

[Big Bill]

I'd have to stick with my Ruger M77 Mark II 25-06.

 

[walteray]

bolt action
Remington 700
.308 Win without question

 

[docsleepy]

why is everyone in favor of bolts instead of semi? (I need an education)

 

[quackslayer]

Bolts

docsleepy;

Bolts guns IMO, are the most accurate because of the way they are made and operate; not saying that autos are not accurate but most of the time the most accurate of the two would be the bolt action;

 

[VTGD7940]

Out of all the guns I have, my one deer rifle would be:

-Remington 742 Woodsmaster
-.30-06
-Semi-Auto

But I have always preferred bolts over all, and am getting a Lee-Enfield .303 within the week, so once I see how it shoots I may have changed my mind.

 

[tc54]

for deer only, if i were starting out today:

bolt action
ruger hawkeye, wood/blue
270 win

 

[trex1310]

Kimber Longmaster Classic
Bolt Action
.308
Hornady Custom 168grn Boattail hollowpoint
Zeiss Conquest 4-12 56mm

 

[Don357]

Almost anything in .308. I personally use a Stevens Model 200 and a CETME, both in .308/7.62x51.

 

[kenno]

308 win

 

[JEB]

lever action

marlin 336

30-30 winchester


it still works and its my favorite rifle.