I'd like to see some favorite deer rifles

[Drm50]

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.

 

[gfors]

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.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

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.

 

[Bald1]

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.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

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).

 

[holo]

CVA .44 rifle

 

[beagleye]

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...

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.

 

[Bald1]

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.

 

[brendonjames65]

30-06's are going strong!

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!

 

[Yendor357]

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.

 

[Bald1]

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.

 

[Empe]

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.

 

[huntsman22]

bighorn 6.5 PRC

 

[huntsman22]

Kimber Montana 260...

 

[huntsman22]

ruger ultralite 7/08...

 

[huntsman22]

bighorn 6.5 creed...

 

[Buick]

I've had this Glenfield Model 30

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.

 

[Golddollar]

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.

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

 

[46er]

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.

 

[gemihur]

I am humbled in the company of these rifles