Deer Rifle Recommendation?

[Citizen_B]

[stranded1980]

Ruger American rifle in 270 Win. Leupold VX-2 scope.

The Ruger American because it's ready to rock'n'roll out of the box, it's inexpensive, and it's fairly light for the price. I went on a hunting trip where there were some too scared to go into the bush for fear of scraping or damaging their expensive hunting rifle; what a waste. At $350, there is little emotional attachment to damaging that Ruger American.

The Leupold VX-2 because it's considerably better than the VX-1, but negligble difference between it and the VX-3. There's even a cool youtube video of putting one in the wash machine.

The 270 because it's always on the shelves, will kill most anything in North America, and just looks cooler. For lead-free, I like http://site.cuttingedgebullets.com/ I use their MTH bullet in .277

[TMB 1]

Japanese rifle. Japanese scope, Bushnell

[Jarhead]

Remington 700 in 30/06 with an HS Stock and Swarovski Z3 Scope, hunt anything with that caliber, light enough to be a Mountain Rifle

[Thanatos2203]

The VX-R scopes are worth looking at too. You get VX-3 internals with VX-2 glass (more or less). They have a range of fire dot options at a pretty reasonable price.

[NickZag]

I agree with NightHawk. The Tikka T3 lite is solid. Perfect size, great trigger, and reliable. I like the .308 over the .270 but that's just my preference. For 300 yards both will shoot flat.

[Garandimal]

Remington 700 BDL/Win M70 featherweight
Leupold VX-II 3-9
.270 Win.
150 gr. PSP
140 gr TSX

Sighted at +3" at 100 yards:

100 +3
200 +2.5
250 (+/- 0)
300 -4
400 -18
500 -40




GR

[Citizen_B]

I bought the Leupold VX-R Patrol 3-9x40mm:

http://www.leupold.com/tactical/scopes/vx-r-patrol/vx-r-patrol-3-9x40mm-30mm/

It was a toss up between that and the Vortex Viper PST 2.5-10x44 . The PST was attractive but I preferred lower profile turrets and the reticle is a little busy. If Leupold made that Patrol in 2.5-10x40, or the Vortex PST with standard mildot/center dot illumination, I'd have gone with that. I'm comfortable with MRAD so MIL/MIL was a natural choice. I'm a bit surprised mildots aren't more prevalent. Seemed there were much more MOA reticles in the lower/mid-level scopes and you have to pay a premium for mildot. I didn't want to put the extra cash down for FFP since any reticle ranging/windage I may do would be for 200+ yds (outside of MPBR) and I'd be at full magnification anyway.

I liked the idea of the illuminated center dot for the possible aid in a quick low-light or dense brush opportunity and for hogs. The scope was $600 and I'm not sure how much of a value deal that was for the add-ons of an illuminated dot and MIL reticle. Now that it's bought, you guys may commence with comments on why it was a bad idea and there were better deals to be had.

The focus is now on ammo. I'm thinking I'd like to start fresh using lead-free for hunting since the writing is on the wall. Any suggestions on a premium lead-free .308 hunting cartridge?

[shaff777]

Anything Barnes vortex offers is awesome....nothing better iMO....

[ACfixer]

Get a .30-06 and be done with it. Pick the rifle you like, buy a quality optic and some good rings, shoot 20 rounds at the range to sight it in at 150 and go hunting. This isn't brain surgery.

[6mmintl]

And here again is more/different basket of recommended rifles.

You cannot get agreement by committee, pick one and live with it.

[Thanatos2203]

I love how people don't read the thread and keep making rifle and glass recommendations without realizing the OP already bought both.


As far as ammo goes, I personally have been very happy with Hornady and they would get my nod here. Most of my use has been with the American Whitetail which I have shot in .308 and .270. I can get sub MOA accuracy and price is good. It is not, however, lead free although Hornady does have lead free offerings. I have heard good things about the Barnes VOR-TX mentioned above but have no experience with them and they cost a little more. Either company is going to put the critters down just fine.

[as_rocketman]

The Barnes TSX bullet (and its predecessors, the X-bullet and the Easter Egg XLC) have always performed extremely well in my .270, grouping near the best of all loads tested. I stuck with 130 grain, and got almost the same comeups as 180 gr .300 Win Mag. No need for a heavier bullet for any woodland creature to be found near here...

For a .308, 168 gr TSX should get the job done nicely, and will probably be close in trajectory to match / practice loads. You should have no difficulty finding this ammo for under $40 a box shipped.

[FishnHunt]

Another vote for TTSX. I use 130 in my 270 with great results.
But in 308 use 150 gr. those bullets work better when going faster. I use 168 in my 06. 180 is fine in the 300 mag.

[Hunt]

plug this in to your ballistics software 120gr .284 Barnes TTSX with a MV of 3000 FPS. tough to beat the 7-08 for what the OP describes. imo the only cartridge to beat the 7-08 for OP description would be .270 Win. The Tikkas are nice and Zeiss makes superp entry level scopes. Check the long gun for sale section here at CG some HUGE good deals in there right now.