My dad's ol' Savage 99 in 300 Savage with an antiquated Wilson scope on it. This set up has taken more deer then I can count. It's now mine and I still hunt with it.

Don't hunt anymore but if I did I'd use the only rifle I still have that fits the bill - a Savage 340 in 30-30.

Don't have a photo. Interesting rifle though. Three round box magazine, one locking lug bolt gun. Reckon you could use the new-fangled pointy tip rounds if they fit the magazine.

All these pretty pictures make me want to head to the LGS and browse for a nice used 94 or 336 - although they cost an arm and a leg these days I hear.

Does it look like this Smithman.
I got my grandson one and his first buck with it was a 13pt mastic deer��

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It hasn’t seen much use since I transferred to the east coast but I’ve had this Ruger 77VT in .308 since the mid 1990s and it was my go to deer and antelope rifle back home on the high plains.

I bought it at the time as it offered a very good factory trigger and most importantly a 26” medium heavy barrel profile that Ifelt would optimize accuracy and maximize efficiency with the .308 Win. It proved to be very accurate, very stable, and yet still light enough to carry in the field. And with the 26” barrel it delivers .30-06 velocity from the .308. The barrel is old school in terms of being throated for traditional .308 Win bullets in the 150-168 gr range so magazine length 165 gr Game Kings sit just off the lands and deliver excellent accuracy.

The original laminated Varmint/target stock was very stable, but also very heavy and I almost immediately removed it for something lighter. At the time there were not many composite options for the 77VT but I did find a Ram-Line stock that could be made to work.



Its major failing was a fore end that was way too bendy for serious use with a sling or bipod. The Hogue overmolded stock (bottom) Remington started putting on their 700 SPS tactical 20 years later had the same issue.

I addressed it by routing out the fore end for an aluminum beam cut to clear the barrel and then bedded in place, (middle) at the same time I glass bedded the action. The end result was a reasonably light weight sub half MOA rifle with a stock suitable for a shooting sling or bipod.

About 3 years ago I replaced it with the aluminum bedding block version of the Hogue over molded stock (top). Stock options are still limited for the 77VT.



It’s just as accurate and more comfortable in cold weather, but slightly heavier.

I also still have my Remington 788 in .243 Win. My first deer and antelope were taken with the .243 Win and it’s still a good youth cartridge and the 788 is a nice sized rifle for field use.

The 788 shot far better than it ever should have and it’s cutting into Remington 700 sales played a big part in Remington’s decision to discontinue it. Its main Achilles heel is a fragile bolt handle that won’t tolerate a great deal of abuse.

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213th FBINA

That's it. Glad to hear your grandson had success with the one you gave him.

Found this article on the old rifle:

Just a moment...

Pre 64 M 70 fwt 30-06. Weaver 4x post-crosshair.

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

Smithman thanx for that article

My two favorites: Winchester M70 Featherweight in .270 WSM. Absolutely love this rifle. Have killed deer with it from 15 feet to 315 yards. Bought it new in 2006, after Winchester announced the closing of their New Haven facility. Left hand action and controlled round feed. Shoots like a laser. Second favorite is a Remington 700 BDL in .30-06. Bought it new in 1985, and it is responsible for taking the largest buck I have taken, in 2009. Left hand action.

I am right handed, but shoot long guns left handed.

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SWCA 3297 SWHF 583

Hard choice, if I had to go with scores I would have to go with my old Remington 141 in .35 cal. Second would be toss up between my old 1895 Winchester in 30GOVT06 or pre 64 Win 70FW .308. I’ve probably owned 200+ deer guns in my life. Many should get honorable mention and only couple bummers like Rem 742 & 760.
I’ve been thinning mine way down. Deer season in yesterday but to cold and windy for me. I have to use a straight case here in Ohio so going with Ruger #3 in .375 Win. Only Ohio legal rifle I have left.

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This Remington 700 BDL, in .30-06, belonged to my uncle. He was never able to hit anything with it. The reticle in the scope was adjusted all the way to the right, and it still had a POI 12" to the left of POA, at 100 yards. I took it to my gunsmith, who quickly noticed that the holes for the scope mount were not in-line with the bore. Windage adjustable mount was the answer. Since then, it has taken 4 deer, with 4 shots, at ranges from 75 to 330 yards. None required any tracking (take note, all you Hornady SST naysayers...). It puts a cold bore shot into a one inch bull at 100 yards, every time, if I do my part, and there's not gale force winds. On top of all that, it is a simply gorgeous weapon to stare at.

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George

Left to right, Belgium Browning BLR .308, Bergara bolt action in .308, and my old Ruger 77 flatbolt .308 that has killed more deer than any other rifle I own. I really like the little BLR in the woods, though.


Belgium Browning BAR in .30-06. I've never killed a deer with this one (yet) but my son has.


Winchester 71 deluxe rifle, .348 WCF, of course. I have killed deer with this one.


Remington 700 in 6.5 Remington Magnum, not one you see every day. It has killed several deer and a barbary sheep (aoudad).



Remington 660 in 6.5 Remington Magnum. Love this little rifle, but it hasn't been a lucky gun for me so far. I've taken it hunting quite a few times but haven't had a shot opportunity with it so far. It wears a Leupold 3-9x Patrol with the Firedot reticle, so should be a great little woods rifle that can also get it done at longer ranges. I worked up a mild load for it using the old long 160 grain roundnose Hornady bullets. Have to seat them pretty deep in the case but I just think they'd have to be deadly on game at about 2300 fps.


I have a few more I don't have pictures of, including an old Ruger 77 roundtop 7mm Remington Magnum that is my elk rifle, and my most recent addition, a Kimber 84M stainless synthetic in 6.5 Creedmore. Yeah, after holding out for years I finally drank the Creed Kool-Aid, ha. Very nice little lightweight rifle, 6.6 pounds scoped and ready to hunt. Light is getting more and more appealing the older I get.

I’ve been a .243 fan for a long time. The prettiest deer rifle I own belonged to my dad. A Mauser 660 which is the imported American version of the Model 66. For those not familiar with it, it has a two piece sliding bolt which makes it the smoothest I’ve ever handled. My dad killed a lot of West Virginia deer with it before he passed. My son has killed a bunch of New York deer and a 300 lb bear with it. The scope that’s currently on it is not befitting such a beautiful rifle. And I’m currently looking for a gunsmith I trust to install new recoil pad.

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I had a Mauser 660, also my first rifle, also a .243. I didn't know what I had, and eventually traded it off. Unique and beautiful rifle, awkward safety. It was hard to find a scope base for it at the time I had mine (mid 70s).

CVA .44 rifle

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You really have some beauties. And you have a nice collection of cool 308s. 308s will kill deer like nobodies business. If you can't kill a deer with a 308, go back to cleveland.

Also, your comment about "liking the little BLR" is on the mark. The way a gun carries in the woods is a subtle feeling. Light, trim, solid, trusty, just a sense, a feeling when a gun feels good in the woods. When it works and you see your buck piled up in the fading winter light, it's a good feeling.

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"Free dirt, you dig."

My son and his Air Force buddy got loose in “Whiskey Holler” with their Browning A Bolts last week. It was his buddies first deer ever. He’s hunted Vermont on state land for years and never harvested one. So a little NY 7point is a trophy. Also, we’re not trophy hunters. 2 1/2 yr old 8 points are the norm.

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Thanks for posting this thread beagleye. It’s always interesting to see what other hunters use in various parts of the country. I think I counted twenty (20) 30-06 rifle users so far!

Sorry about the sideways pic. I usually use my iPad. But this time I used my phone. Big mistake.

Anyway, The AR-10 is this year’s favorite. Next year, it may be something different.

When the season is running out, and l need to make a tough, long shot on a big critter, a good .308 is the solution.

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30/06 is the do all rifle. There’s nothing in N America you can’t hunt with it. That said , the only one I ever owned was a Sporterized 1903. I had to take it as a group of guns I bought. I planned to sell it but my son decided he needed it.

There are some pretty nice classic lever and bolt action rifles here .I don't hunt deer but if I did I think I'd track down an older lever action either a Winchester or a Marlin.
Here in the Pennsylvania woods I would assume most shots on deer are well within 100 yds . Perfect for a lever action rifle.

bighorn 6.5 PRC

Kimber Montana 260...

ruger ultralite 7/08...

bighorn 6.5 creed...

For a good while. I really like the 2/3rds magazine. It's an accurate carbine and will certainly do the job if I do mine.

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My Marlin 1895SS in 45-70 never needed more than 1 shot on a deer when I was hunting in PA woods.

Won't bore you with another Win 1894 picture. Vintage of 1926, 26" octagon in 30-30. Little to no finish remaining on the receiver. I'll bet it's fed a family or 2 during the depression and war years.
Had a Ruger Ultralite in 250 Savage, should have kept that one, 3 shots 3 deer.
Kind of wanted to blood my 38-55 Ballard but stopped hunting 5 or 6 years ago.

I am humbled in the company of these rifles

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Think twice, shoot once.

I never did kill a deer with it. My first was with a borrowed rifle (my hunting partners) and my next few were with a bow. I’ll never part with it though,it was my dads 😊

Resurrected thread! I love these!!!

1971 vintage Remington Model 788 in .308 Winchester. Probably cost $150 or $175 when new. I used it for target practice for years until in the early 1990s I was invited to go deer hunting. First year or two was slow going but thereafter this old baby took its share of whitetails. It's been awhile but maybe someday I'll go again.



I have other rifles, including a nice Model 94 .30-30 that has taken a deer or two, but the thread said favorites so here it is.

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Come and take it!!

Pre-war Model 70.......30.06

I don't hunt anymore, but my Winchester Model 100 is still in the closet and ready to go.

My Marlin 336 .30-30, remodeled/refinished by me.

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Pisgah

I assume you know that forming .300 Savage brass from .308 is very simple. Just FL size in a .300 die and shorten the neck.

2019 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 270Winchester
Short Magnum (unmodified). Leupold Fire-Dot scope.
130gr flat base bullets only, IMR4350 powder only.

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

Short and Sporty for hiking accompaniment

I like shaping wood

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Think twice, shoot once.

What caliber?

My three- a 1914 Rem Model 8 (.35 Rem), a 1930 vintage 1903 Springfield sporter and an early German Weatherby Mk V .270 Wby Mag.

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Some Might Say.

Here are three of my favorites.

#1) Pre 64 Winchester M-70 Super Grade. 30-06 SPRG, Made in 1945.

#2&3) Parker Hale M-1200's One in 270 Win, the other in 30-06 SPRG.

I've talked about these before. They were just too good of a deal to pass up. The Win M-70 cost $400.00 and the two PH's were $400.00 and $600.00. I haven't a clue to the scopes as they are packed away and it's a pain to dig them out.

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6.5 Grendel, lightweight, low recoil, accurate and deadly. I'm confident of an ethical shot out to 300 yds. Great gun.

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These pics have been posted before.....Top: 30-06 ( Remington 700 action, Bartlein sporter barrel, Timney trigger and and H-S Precision stock).....Bottom: 243 Win (Remington 700 action and barrel, Timney trigger and H-S Precision stock).

These are the only centerfire rifles I have and I've hunted with them for everything from varmints to elk.

Don

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Laus Deo! <><

I purchased an ULA in 1993, chambered in 284 Winchester. It has taken many head of game in the past 30+years. All time favorite gun of all the items in my collection of firearms.

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"Favorite" is difficult concept to nail down hereabouts. As far as deer rifles go, I have about a dozen that could justly be called my favorite at any given time, including bolts and levers and autos. The last 5 years or so, however, there is one that just plain gets used more than the rest.

This is a "build" I pieced together, starting with an old post-ban Bushmaster lower. My idea was to assemble a deer rifle to use in the heavy cover of a marsh we hunt right behind the house, where a long shot is maybe 75 yards, and most deer are taken inside 30. I wanted it as light as I could get it, capable of fast follow-up shots, and capable of quick, humane kills. The result is a .300 Blackout with a fluted Wilson Combat barrel, slick side upper, 3.5 lb. single-stage trigger, Aero scope mount, and Leupold Ultralight 2.5x scope. With scope mounted and an empty 10 rd. mag, this gun comes in at 6.5 lb.
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Ain't This Fun Though?

Don't hunt but have three deer rifles:

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Buy American
Vote Responsibly

I'm really late to this post but have not hunted deer for bucoo years but kept (and still shoot) the rifles.

Most all of the states I lived in while actively hunting deer required .30 caliber minimum during season so the Winchester 94 in 30-30 requires no additional info. It was, for me at least, the least expensive, handiest brush gun in the Adirondacks of New York State, circa 1962-1965. Where I hunted the State required you to have a local guide in those years to avoid getting lost! No GPS or cell phones in those days, no ATV's either, and humping that lightweight 30-30 was easy-peezy.

The other one, a 1962 Sears Roebuck .303 British Sporter cost $45 delivered to our local train station freight dock (also the Sears catalog store, same person). The $45 included the $1.26 extra for the leather sling. This rifle was also a very good gun for the northwestern Pennsylvania wooded hills we hunted for whitetail.

The Winny 30-30 pictured is NOT the same I had when hunting eons ago. I was drafted into Army in 1966 and when I came back years later the 30-30 had disappeared. I think maybe sold due to real tight times, but I never pursued it. The Model 94 shown is a genuine Hartford CT USA manufacture before the Winchester Repeating Arms disappeared.

The 1962 Sears catalog page shows the 30-06 and Mauser sporters, along with the full military versions. Enjoy

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570