your favorite deer rifle/caliber?

[SpeedAKL]

So it's almost that time again (season starts less than two months here in VA), so.....what is your top choice in caliber for taking Bambi?

This is NOT a thread arguing objectively about the "best" deer caliber. That can vary greatly based on hunting location, size of deer in the region, and various shooter preferences. Rather, what is the gun/caliber you're most likely to take out of the safe when deer season rolls around?

I'm going to be using my Remington 700 SPS Varmint in .308 Winchester. Yeah its a a big heavy piece, but accuracy is spectacular and I'm very comfortable shooting it. My roommate is using a 700 ADL in .30-06, and two of our hunting buddies use a 700 ADL in .243 Win and a Savage in .25-06.

 

[chriso]

All the calibers you mentioned are GREAT rounds for deer, I live in california and hunt up in the sierra's we have got decent sized deer my father swears by his win mod 70. in 243 he has taken a lot of deer with it but i also have seen him shoot them and they get up skip off leave a bloody mess and still can't track the darn thing "this season actually about 2 weeks ago". MY preference for hunting in my area is my ruger m77 mkII in 30-06. 30-06 is a very versatile round some days I switch it up and hunt for bear so I like my rifle to be capable of doing both jobs. A new rifle will be replacing it for the end of season sps varmint in 308 as well.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I use a 700 BDL .25-06 topped with a Leupold 4.5-14 VX-III.

 

[dfloomis]

My favorite rifle for deer and others is 280 Rem.

 

[Mosey]

I have gone through many deer rifles and have enjoyed hunting with most of them but the one I keep returning to is my Ruger No1 in 7mm Magnum. All of my hunting is done here in Colorado and I usually have an elk tag to fill also. The 7mm splits the difference very well. I like the shorter rifle with a longer barrel concept that the single shot offers and most of all it's a beautiful rifle.

Mosey

 

[t george]

i like my 30 06 rem 700 first and then my 243 rem 700 2nd BUT IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT PART OF THE WORLD I HAPPEN TO BE HUNTING

 

[Vaarok]

Military mauser rifle in 8mm using Winchester 170gr factory ammo.

 

[Shawnee]

There are a bunch of really good deer rifle calibers but my "go to" rifle caliber happens to be the .243.

However...

.... my favorite deer swatter is unquestionably my .44 Super Blackhawk.

 

[OOOXOOO]

I have a 1917 Enfield in .30-06 that has been sporterized. It is easy to carry and accurate. The best part is I don't cry when I scratch it.

 

[Legionnaire]

Remington Model Seven in .308. Mine sits in an H.S. Precision stock and wears a Leupold 2-7X compact scope. Also have the same setup in .243 that my kids use.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Haven't really settled on a favorite just yet. Gimme a few years (10-15 or so) to kill a deer with each of them and then I'll let you know. For now, it'd probably be my Rossi single shot in .243 win or my sporterized Swede 94 Mauser in 6.5x55mm, since I sold my .25-'06.

MY favorite deer killer is a bow and arrow, though. More exciting and challenging, and the season is a lot longer.

My favorite rifle for deer and others is 280 Rem.

Nice chambering - what rifle?

 

[ThomasT]

My favorite deer rifle is a 98 Mauser G33/40 action with a P.O. Ackley barrel on a Fajen stock built by my Grandfather. Its chambered in 7x57 Mauser. I have a Nikon 3x9 Pro-Staff mounted on it.

I have killed the majority of my deer with it. Nothing runs away.

 

[homers]

ruger M77 (mid to late 70's model), 243 and 7x57

 

[TIMC]

This year for hunting it will be all .308, my own hand loads in two different rifles.
Bushmaster AR-10


FN PBR

 

[TCB in TN]

Browning BLR in .308. Great guns. Followed by the ole Marlin 336 30-30

 

[MMCSRET]

Started shooting a 270 Winchester in 1956 and fell in love with it. Have approx. 30 other center fire rifles but I keep the 270 at the front of the rack.

 

[trstafford]

Light weight, low recoil, enought power up close

Used to be my Ruger in 30-06 but the last couple of years its been my CZ 527 carbine in 7.62x39.

 

[janobles14]

1. browning a-bolt in .30-06
2. marlin 30-30
3. nef handi in .243

 

[357sigRog]

Rem. model 7400 in .270. I also like 243, 35 Rem and the 30-30 win. but the 270 has always been my favorite.

 

[Win75]

Winchester Model 70 Sporter Varmint 26" barrel in .243.
Ammo is reloads with 100gr. Nosler Partitions and IMR4350

 

[Quickdraw Limpsalot]

Same ol' answer for me:

Marlin 336 in .35 Remington.

 

[ctgmi]

Either a Marlin .30-30
or a Ruger .44 carbine

 

[Moose458]

Sporterized M38 Swede in 6.5x55, Leupold 6x scope, and a Boyds thumbhole stock. Handload 140 grain Barnes X bullets. Killer combo.

 

[Colt46]

Don't overlook the Swede

Harder to find than most other calibers. Low recoil, accurate and is just as deadly on game as cartridges that pack a lot more muzzle energy.

 

[texastony]

Last year it was Model 70 Coyote in .308.

This year we are in brush and wife is using Marlin 336 .30-30 and I will have my 1894 .44 mag.