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What Deer Rifle... I'm Going Nutz Ova Here!!

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Tophernj:

Congrats on the decision. I never have owned one, and so I can't make any other comments about the choice. The important factor is that you enjoy it. I understand about the short throw on the bolt. The Mark Vs have 54 (I think) degree rotation. It makes for fast follow-up shots. I'm looking forward to some range photos!

Geno
 
Congrats on your choice. I hope it works out for you and have every reason to believe that it will.

I liked the features on X-bolt as well when I was looking a few years back. I was deciding between it and a Thompson Center Icon. I drove by the TC factory on the way to work every day so I decided to support the local guys. That worked out for less than a year before the factory move to Springfield MA! Oh well, I've still got a nice rifle.

It is funny how some features that are inconsequential to some people become very important to others. I damaged my right thumb in a childhood accident and the safety on the Wins and Rugers are in the exact WRONG spot making them very uncomfortable. The Remington style lever or a Savage style slide don't bother me at all. It is important to get the features that work for YOU.

Good Luck.

Dan
 
Thanks for the support, all. Much appreciated.

DantheFarmer: I say a TC Icon for sale on the Gancer Mtn. website for 500. I most likely should have purchased it. It wasn't there long. Beautiful guns.

C
 
If you want a pretty factory rifle, look for a Kimber 84m Classic Select in the caliber of your choice.

Here's one in a .257 Roberts I recently picked up. Will shoot most loads under an 1"
IMG_20140412_085428_386_zps34399899.jpg

Here's my favorite woods rifle that I have, Remington Model 7 7mm-08 (20" barrel) in a brown stock.

The way it sits, it's a hair over 6 lbs.
IMG_20140412_085946_956_zpsfc6ee8f1.jpg
 
I hunt with a 788 in .308. My Dad bought it new at K-mart in the 60's. It has killed many deer in the 200-400 yard range with factory ammo. Dad is gone now and I started hunting with it a few years back. Worked up a new round for it and in the process gained an understanding of why this gun has developed a cult following. It is a tack driver.

I have several firearm choices when hunting whitetail. Other than its accuracy the gun is light and easy to handle in a tree stand. The 22 inch barrel helps with this. The bolt has a very short throw, which eliminates clearance issues with the scope (I wished all of my bolt guns had this bolt).

Most of the 788s with a good barrel are going for over 600. Don't worried about the condition of the stock. It can easily be refinished and re- bedded for 150-200.

The Winchester featherweight is a good rifle too. It has a nicer stock. For hunting they are probably about equivalent in regard to accuracy. From a bench my 788 is sub MOA.

You can spend a lot more money, but you cannot go wrong with a 788.
 
@up 2 snuff: I have already purchased the rifle. Thank you for your insight, however I feel that the Browning will suit me a bit better than the 788. And although the 788 is a classic, I feel the Browning will become one.

Now it's on to glass... I'm thinking the Leupold VX-R 2-7x33 would be a perfect match on this gun. I like the idea of the "dot" reticle and the magnification isn't crazy. Plus the scope is relatively light and clean. Any thoughts?

C
 
You don't want a dot for hunting. Too easy to get lost in low light and heavy brush. I would go regular duplex or German #4. The heavy duplex is great for hunting but a bit thick for targets.
 
@R H Clark: the scope I am interested in is a traditional 2-7 with a moderately heavy reticle but in the center of the crosshairs is a 1 or 2 moa dot. Its not a red dot scope like an EoTech or some such. I would not want a red dot only scope on a hunting gun. Thank you for weighing in.
 
A small red dot like that can be a huge help in getting on target quickly. Doesn't sacrifice accuracy in any way, and you can always turn it off and just use the reticle.
 
Congrats on the Browning. It will make a fine deer rifle.

It has been my experience that you cannot go wrong with a leupold.
 
Wasn't finished. Fat fingered the send button.

I favor a 3x9x40 or a 4x12x40 scope because it allows more magnification when sighting in or bench shooting. When I am hunting I usually leave the magnification around 5. I have found over the years that I don't have the time or need to adjust the scope or think about mil dots when a shot on a good deer presents itself. I sight my rifle to be in a 4" kill zone from 0-200 yds, and aim for the middle of the kill zone, which is usually a double lung.

When hunting I don't want to think about the gun. I want to think about the shot. Cross hairs on target, then bang!
 
I wasn't thinking red dot, I was thinking one of those scopes with just a dot. I don't know if I would like a 2 moa dot on crosshairs or not. It would be fine for hunting but I like to shoot finer than 2moa sighting in, so I don't know if it would be hard to be precise with it or not.

I like Leupolds VX2 2-7, the 2-7 and VX3 2.5-8 are my favorite current production hunting scopes. I've thought about trying their VXR 2-7 and I definitely would if it were 1" and the size of the VX2 2-7.
 
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