Deer Rifle Recommendation?

[God Bless America]

God Bless America--You do not need any bullet heavier than 150-165gr so the 308 will do just as well as the 30-06. Modern bullets have replaced just getting bigger to do the job.

the 30-06 always does it a little better. for example, http://www.barnesbullets.com/ammunition/vor-tx-rifle/

I have both.

me too. I have killed more game with a 308 than with a 30-06, but if I had to start with one rifle, I would start with the 30-06.

It is much easier to get mil surplus ammo for the 308 to plink with.

they are about the same now, for me. 7.62x51 surplus used to be cheap and plentiful, but not anymore where I live in so cal.

certainly, neither the 308 nor the 30-06 is a slouch, but for hunting, the 30-06 can do more that the 308 can.

[Ronin2]

What I chose to hunt CA deer and hogs twenty years ago and still working for me:

Weatherby Vangard (yes Howa action) "Fiberguatd" with a fiberglas stock in .308 , 20 in barrel and a Leupold 2x7 scope weighing in a 6 1/2 lbs (w/o scope) and gives me one min of angle accuracy.

[elk hunter]

Sometimes I think I'm the only Quaterbore Shooter on here.

The Old .25-06 and .257 Roberts where beloved for generations as the one all cartridge.

Flat shooting to 500yds and available in 50gr on up to 125gr. You could shoot gofers, bunnies, yotes, deer, and even elk with the quarterbore.

Nope........there are more of the .25 gun people than you think, I also shoot them from time to time. Good caliber but they are not the complete answer to the do all rifle caliber.

As long as the OP sets up a good sturdy outfit that could be in any of a dozen different calibers and combinations they will be fine. Proper bullet placement proper bullet construction are far more important than the caliber or the brand name. Place the right bullet on the game inside of the limitations of the shooter and rifle ammo combo and it's lights out for the animal. The all copper bullet situation is another kettle of fish, I'm glad I am not forced to deal with that mess.

[tanks]

Either will do the trick. At elk camp last year there were couple of guys with .270 so it works.

Personally, I'd go with the .308 due to availability of cheap military surplus ammo for plinking. I also think that more manufacturers offer .308 than .270.

Now, due to lead ammo going away I'd go with a .308 that has a 1:10 twist or faster as copper and brass bullets are longer compared to the same weight lead bullets and require a faster twist to stabilize.

[Citizen_B]

Either will do the trick. At elk camp last year there were couple of guys with .270 so it works.

Personally, I'd go with the .308 due to availability of cheap military surplus ammo for plinking. I also think that more manufacturers offer .308 than .270.

Now, due to lead ammo going away I'd go with a .308 that has a 1:10 twist or faster as copper and brass bullets are longer compared to the same weight lead bullets and require a faster twist to stabilize.

Thanks for that note on the lead free CA future. I'm still a bit split on 308 vs 270. I lean 308 for the reasons you outlined but I keep staring at ballistic charts and impressed with the 270 flatness. I suppose it doesn't really matter if the vast majority of shots are under 200yd.

[Norsemen308]

here is my recommendation (#11001) LOL,

I have both calibers and I reload, so that might weigh into my decision more but the truth of it is this...

dont listen to the .308 vs. .270 banter. Anything the .308 can do the .270 can do SLIGHTLY BETTER on deer. I say this because .270 shoots faster, flatter and the bullets available for it in the present day really nix the "bigger is better argument"

I see a lot of guys saying they want a deer rifle, but they want to shoot cheap .308 through it... I am not really for this idea if this is my primary hunting rifle. With my hunting rifles they are zeroed on the ammunition I will be using when hunting, if I zero on a 168 A-max and then start shooting 147gr wolf, my accuracy will be drastically different... If I then zero during my 147 shooting, my 168 wont be on.

I zero...and only shoot that. Because the more I shoot the same ballistic set-up the more accurate I can become. If you switch ammo, you will frustrate the heck out of yourself. "hunting set-up" and "plinking set-up" are two different things. You will start chasing the "clock", I shoot at 2 with this ammo...zero it in...next shooting trip... I am at 12 now.... Just zero once and practice your form. and for DEAR GOD, get a set of shooting sticks or shoot from the sling... I have never had a buck wait for me to set up a shooting table and shooting bag.

Circling back to which caliber would I pick? I would get the .270, it is a HECK of a rifle cartridge in its ability to shoot flat over long distances... A lot of deer hunting in CA is not like Sportsman TV episodes... You are shooting for distance, across ravines and such. I know 0-400 my .270 will shoot flatter. But again, it's all in the practice. Get a good scope, practice at different distances and remember your hold-overs. You can do this with either a .270 or a .308 and be just as happy. I just really like flat shooting cartridges.

If I could open another can of worms.... take a peak at the .270 WSM. it's a ballistic demon....But ammo is LOTS MORE and more difficult to find...

.270 or .308... you will not have a problem, just depends on what feels better to you!

For Maker, either a Weatherby, or a Savage. R700's have gone down hill in a hurry with QC concerns. Savage accu-triggers are great out of the box and the weatherby fit and finish is bar-none.

final parting gift, remember its a LOT more about shot placement than bullet GR. I have a set of moose antlers that where taken by a .270 back in the early 80's.

happy and safe hunting!

[joemoia]

I'll bring up another alternative deer rifle

I'm not a hunter but my brother-in-law has hunted deer for 30 yrs using his venerable Remington 141 pump-action rifle in 35 Rem. He says he can get off a 2nd shot, if required, quicker using the pump than any lever or bolt action he has tried.

I've found at the range that I can get off a 2nd well aimed shot with my Rem 7600 pump quicker than any of my other rifles, except my Rem 750 semi-auto
(both are 308)

[Norsemen308]

you will never get a second shot on a deer.

they can leap about 30 feet in a single bound.

[darkjedi351]

I just bought a .270 Winchester model 70 featherweight and mounted a Leupold vx-3 3.5-10 40 mm scope on top. Beautiful gun. The new FN built model 70 is awesome

+1 great gun and caliber. you really appreciate he featherweight during long hikes

[scidx]

you will never get a second shot on a deer.

they can leap about 30 feet in a single bound.

Never say never...

While I'm sure we're in the same boat that second shot ability is not of dire importance, I've done, seen, and heard plenty of second shots on deer. Animals do silly things sometimes.

(I've never seen it, but I've heard of thirds, too)

[LynnJr]

you will never get a second shot on a deer.

they can leap about 30 feet in a single bound.

You do not go hunting very often do you

[Mojaveman]

Taking into account everything you've mentioned I'd go with a Winchester Model 70 featherweight in .270.

Would you consider putting a Leupold 2X7 on it?

[softmentor]

[as_rocketman]

Fun thread. Lots of favorites.

Between me and my family are four dedicated centerfire huntin' rifles. Three of those are in .270 Win. (The other is a .45-70.)

My pops has a pre-'64 Win 70, iron sights. Wonderful rifle.

My own is a Browning BARII Safari. A little heavy but fits me like a glove, accurate, reliable, and confidence-inspiring.

My brother-in-law is far and away the most avid hunter in the family. He settled on a Savage Axis, which he hates for the flimsy stock and staple-gun trigger pull (his words). But he loves it because it gets the job done and he doesn't care about throwing it in the back of the truck, dragging it through mud and snow and lava fields, and generally abusing the heck out of it. There's considerable wisdom in this viewpoint.

Caliber-wise, .270 Win is more than adequate to anchor anything you're likely to encounter, out to ranges that border on the irresponsible for an average hunter. It's easy to find and there are good factory loadings in lead-free bullets (Barnes TSX group very nicely for me). It's long-action, loud, and a little snappy, but a proven performer.

Personally I don't get too worked up about caliber, there are lots of choices that get the job done. For my brother-in-law I advised him to pick the caliber all his buddies used, provided it wasn't too stupid, and that was .270 Win.

I've handled and lusted after lots of hunting rifles. If I wanted one today I'd probably look at Tikka first, though given my good luck with Miroku I'd want to shoulder an X-Bolt, and Win 70 remains a standout. So long as it fits you there are literally dozens of right answers. Have fun.

[kayaker]

you will never get a second shot on a deer.

they can leap about 30 feet in a single bound.

I've only killed about 8 deer, at least 2 were shot while moving and required a 2nd shot to put down. My bolt action was plenty fast enough for the job.