Pick me a new deer rifle, please

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DogBonz

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I know, I know… the most boring question ever. But give me a break. I am going to get back into hunting after about a 15 year hiatus. I have wanted to for a while now, but time constraints, among other things, have prevented me. So last night the wife and I watched “Super Size Me”, and after wards the wife said how we should only eat organic meat. Off the cuff, I replied “I should just start hunting again”. She looked up at me and said, “you should”.

So here we are. I now need a deer rifle… Well a new one. I have my Win mod 70 Feather weight in 30-06, and my Win mod 94 in 30-30. Now I know both are awesome deer rifles, but the wife doesn’t. She thinks that I need a new rifle… Shhhhh:rolleyes:

I have only 2 qualifications. It has to be either 30 cal or 6.5mm, as I already reload for those calibers. Also, it has to be under $1000.

So, let’em rip. What should I buy and why. What is your favorite deer rifle for under a G-note and in either 30 cal or 6.5mm.

I will most likely be hunting whitetails in up-state NY.

Thank you for your input

Fred
 
browning a-bolt...mine is in .300 wsm, potent medicine for deer, but you can choose whatever caliber you like. reasonably priced. Also, the new thompson center icon is a very nice rifle for around 800
 
Boy

this is a really broad request - you only have about 300,000 choices :D

OK, since you asked, if I were going to buy a rifle for deer hunting right now, I'd go for a Savage with the accutrigger in .260 Remington. Make it a stainless steel model with your choice of stock - laminated would be nice.

Top it off with a 2-7x Leupold.

That caliber is basically identical to the 6.5x55 Swede and is probably the perfect white tail caliber IMHO.

Another option would be to get a used Winchester Classic Featherweight in 6.5.55 - I have one and its a pip.

Ditto on Reminton 700 classic in the same caliber.

You can go with a 30 caliber if you want, but it won't kill bambi any deader than the 6.5 and I guarantee that it'll kick more. ;)

There, now you have something for other's to agree or dissagree with :evil:

ETA - wow, two posts beat me to it - guess I take too long.
 
+1 on the .260 for a dedicated deer rifle. I'm liking the ruger M77 all weather, since you have the pretty gun niche filled with your winchesters. A fixed 4X or 6X loopie would also serve you well if you don't like variables.
 
Thanks guys

this is a really broad request - you only have about 300,000 choices
Click to expand...

I left this really broad so that I could get some ideas that I never would have thought of if left to my own devices. I am also interested in what deer hunters that hunt a lot use, or what they would like to use. I would like to hear why the like or dislike a particular gun/ cartridge.

thanks a million, and keep'em coming
 
Actually both of the rifles that you have are ideal for hunting deer already.

The 30-30 is a good brush caliber and the Win model 70 in 30-06 is a classic deer rifle.

But I can understand wanting to get something else just because, but know in advance that you don't really need it. Half of the stuff that we gun owners buy isn't really out of need, it's out of wanting something new. Why do you think our wives are usually pissed off whenever we get something new? This is a rare opportunity, so you better buy something new while you can.

However, it depends. Are you envisioning a long range shot (long range in a hunting situation to me would be beyond 300 yards, since we need to be sure of a clean kill), or are you looking for a brush rifle that's ideal for close range shots (0 to 100 yards)? My answer would change depending on what your answer is. Plus it depends on what type of deer you're going after. To some people, Elk could be considered a "deer". The term deer could mean anything from 20 LBS (Pigmy deer in Africa) all the way up to 2000lbs (giant Eland), so it's kind of a broad category.

I'm not being a smartass, I'm just trying to clarify what you're going to be using the rifle for exactly.

I'm guessing that you'll be going after some mulie sized deer, would that be correct?
 
+1 for the A-Bolt.

The only downside I see with an A-Bolt is that if you go with the wooden stock, getting the first scratch on such a nice gun will break your heart.

On second thought, an old Mosin Nagant 91-30 with S&B soft points will drop a whitetail in its tracks. :D
 
I know it's not your specified caliber but I met a guy at the range shooting a Weatherby Ultra Lightweight .270. That gun was a tack driver; you could cover the group with a dime - 200 yds. Kicked hard though.
 
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Browning

I am not thinking of any shots over 300 yards. Infact, when I used to hunt with my grand pa, the longest shot any of us took was about 150 yards, with most shots taken at about 75-100 yards.

I will be hunting whitetail deer in NY state, so you can probably figure on 150-250 pounds.

I know that I don't need a new rifle, but the wife told me to get one, so I not going to let this rare chance pass me by.
 
Only one or two choices here....

Do something interesting and different.....go for an M96 Swedish Mauser or a Springfield 03A3....don't touch 'em or sporterize 'em in any way. Don't have to!

You will enjoy the challenge of hunting with a piece of history. You'll also become a collector, most likely....and you'll have a truly INTERESTING rifle in contrast to all the Remchesters out there. :rolleyes:
 
How about a BAR in 308 . There is a new one on gunbroker.com with a Leupold VX-II 2x7 for $900 . And you can use autos in New York . :D
 
Marlin 339 in .30-30 would be a good one but you already have a '94.

Maybe something milsurplus like a Mauser? You can get real nice wood sporter stocks and make it look just as good as a $1000 rifle for a couple hundred.
 
T/C

I vote for a Thomson Center Contender or G2... I've never shot one, but I've always liked the idea of a interchangable break barrel rifle. Nice and short and light. I only suggest this cause you got every other classic dear rifle already... :D
 
I really enjoy my Browning Lever Rifle (BLR) in .308. However, with a $1K budget you could get into a Kimber 84 or a Sako if you want a really pretty rifle.
 
wow! is this all? so simple, CZ-550, IN 6.5 SWEDE, or I think they also do a 6.5 grendel, or 6.5-284. In any case, this is the rifle you want.
 
308 or 260 in a sweet little Remington Model 7. Wood and blue, stainless and grey speckle or stainless and cam, they all look terrific and are a class act.

They other one that gats my attention is the Browning A Bolt in the lightweight with cam stock. First A bolt that I have ever seen that I would actually buy.

But the model 7 combines state of the art and classic style and it's made in the states. I try and buy off my allies first. US and England.
 
Most of my hunting buddies up here use self loaders.....
Find a Reminton 7400 carbine in 30-06........
 
Depending on what you have and what you like, the wife probably won't have a clue what you buy, so you COULD get something other than a hunting rifle, like, say, a nice Garand, and use your Model 70 or model 94 for the deer.
 
260 Remington.

107L.jpg

175L.jpg
 
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