What Hunting Rifle?

[Chukar60]

Bill-

How would you rate pronghorn meat, compared to that from deer? I've heard it's pretty bad. Fit only for sausage. But some hunters may just not be processing the carcass right, and I think they have scent glands on the legs that have to be removed carefully, lest they taint the meat. ??

Taken care of properly, I prefer it over deer. Skinning and cooling needs to be done as soon as possible. Most important no hair can be on the carcass. Won’t hurt to rinse the carcass with clean cool water.
Handled poorly, its some of the worst game I’ve ever tasted.

 

[crazyphil]

1956 when I came home from the Air Force my Dad gave me a 1903
Springfield 30.06 that he had put a Bishop stock on. Nice rifle, but
I couldn't hit the broad side of the proverbial barn with it. I was sitting
on a hillside and a trophy mule deer buck went meandering by about
150 yards below me. I used all 5 shot and didn't hit nothing but air.

So, in 1957 I traded the Springfield in on a Winchester model 70 30.06
with a Weaver K4 scope on it. I took deer, elk, bear, antelope, etc. etc.
and would swear on a stack of Bibles that I never missed with that rifle.

I gave all my long guns away in 2000. When I told my wife, she said
you did what? Are you crazy? So that's how I got the handle crazyphil.

I've been asked a few time, usually by students, what rifle I would
recommend for the good hunting we have here in Idaho. I always
recommend Winchester model 70 30.06.

 

[JayFramer]

I’d carry one of those neat St. Louis rifled guns carrying 28 balls to the pound, with the new “cap lock” mechanism:

 

[Cdog]

I get to shoot a lot of rifles, as people bring them to me to zero. Today's dollar buys a utilitarian looking, yet accurate rifle.

With today's lower priced entry level rifles out performing the majority of yesterday's premium rifles, that's where I'd start now. One thing the newer entry level turnbolts feature is the detachable magazine. I'm just not a fan. For the price, I try to overlook it.

Even though not my cup of tea the Ruger American shoots! The now discontinued Marlin X series have performed great too. I recently picked up a T/C Compass chambered in .308 Win. for just over $200.00 (Price Sells!) It features a free floated 5R barrel, familiar 3 position safety, and a modified old style Model 70 type trigger.

Caliber ain't near as important as competence and confidence. Know your rifle and choose the proper bullet construction for your intended game.

 

[jdlii]

Selecting an appropriate rifle for a particular task can be daunting but, as others have said, the modern bolt action rifle and it many manufactures, provide great options. The 6.5 Creedmoor, after several years, has become very popular and has earned its reputation for accuracy.

I started hunting with my Dad in the 60's when blue steel and walnut was the order of the day. Deer were scarce in those days and although I was armed with an unaltered 1903 Springfield, which I still have, I didn't shoot a deer until the 80's. It was after I had completed college and during law school.

I begin shooting high power rifle matches in the late 70's and those events trumped deer hunting, at that time. Once I refocused on deer hunting my first dedicated deer rifle was a Ruger Mod. 77 in .308 with a Leupold 2.5 x 8 power scope.

I had transitioned from using an M1A for high power to a pre 64' Mod. 70 target rifle. That led me to trade the Ruger for a pre 64' Mod. 70 in 30.06 for hunting.

That rifle is still my primary deer rifle and wears a Leupold VX3i, 4.5 x 14 scope. Like many of us, I have acquired additional rifles in various calibers. I have used my pre 64' Mod. 70 that was rechambered by its prior owner to .300 Weatherby for elk, as well as for deer.

My favorite for deer hunting is the aforementioned Mod. 70 in 30.06, a Sako Mannlicher in 30.06 and a DPMS Oracle in .308. Yes there is a trend for .30 caliber rifles in my hunting rifles with one 7mm Remington Magnum and a .243.

 

[EdinDenver]

I'm in Colorado - basics are 30-06 or .308. You can't go wrong with either anywhere in the country. Adjust for weight from there (Remington Model 7 in .308 is a good option...I have a 5R with detachable magazine that doesn't weigh much more).

 

[federali]

Remington 760

First, the Remington 760 is one of the all time great hunting arms that can do it all. I happen to own a Model 7, SS, in 7mm-08 Remington and I love that rifle. It's so easy to carry in the woods. Any of their contemporary chamberings such as 7mm-08, 308, 260 Remington will do the job.

I too am cross eye dominant but as a teen, I learned to shoot off the right shoulder (I'm right handed) and can now shoot off either shoulder. This comes in handy as I've taken a number of deer left handed when deer approached my stand from my right side.

A scope tends to minimize problems with cross eye dominance.

 

[Bill Bates]

Bill-

How would you rate pronghorn meat, compared to that from deer? I've heard it's pretty bad. Fit only for sausage. But some hunters may just not be processing the carcass right, and I think they have scent glands on the legs that have to be removed carefully, lest they taint the meat. ??

Chukar60 got it just right.

Pronghorn is excellent surpassing deer and elk. My wife who really isn't into eating game says she thinks antelope is better than beef. It is sweeter with no gamey flavor and very tender.

The key is to take it quiet, which means pass on one that has been run all over the country. The adrenaline pumped into an animal's muscles will not be very palatable.

Once an antelope is on the ground you want to get it skinned and on ice as fast as possible. We try to get them in the cooler within an hour or two after being shot. Here is one of the places a high cooler like a Yeti and their close competitors are at their best. My buddy and I when hunting antelope keep a 100 qt. cooler filled with ice just for the antelope.

Getting it cool quickly is key to having edible antelope.

Handled right and you will have some fine meat for the freezer.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

I’d carry one of those neat St. Louis rifled guns carrying 28 balls to the pound, with the new “cap lock” mechanism:

Nice front stuffer. I use my .54 Lyman great plains rifle for
about any big game in my neck of the woods.

 

[Rio Laxas]

I use a Blaser R8 with barrels in .30-06 and 9.3x62 Mauser. I also use a FN produced Winchester Model 70 in .30-06. The Winchester is an excellent rifle and would be my choice for a hunting rifle that won't break the bank.

 

[Bill Bates]

When I was younger, big, heavy rifles didn't bother me. My most used big game rifle was a DWM 1909 Argentine Mauser, sportsterized and rebored / chambered to 35 Whelen. A steel framed Browning BLR in 358 Winchester deserves at least an honorable mention.

Now days, I have gravitated towards light weight, blued steel & walnut bolt actions. A Kimber French Walnut stocked 84L in 30-06, a Kimber 84M in .308, and a Ruger 77 Compact with pretty wood and great blueing in 7mm/08 are what I usually grab today if I am hunting with a rifle. All are several pounds lighter than the typical centerfire bolt action, are great to carry, and plenty accurate. A .30 cal. bullet isn't needed for deer, but when elk get mentioned, A .308 or 30-06 becomes a good minimum choice.

Larry

I do like the Kimber and Ruger M77.

If I was starting out today and buying my first rifle I think one of the Kimber synthetic stocked rifles would be the top of my list. I had a Kimber Montana 7mm-08 for a while. It was great little light rifle. I had a Leupold VariX III 2.5-8 scope on it. That rifle weighed just over 6 lbs. I kind of regret selling it but at least it funded another couple of guns.

The Kimber Hunter in 6.5mm Creedmoor or 7mm-08 would be a great mountain rifle that wouldn't break the bank.

 

[Valmet]

In my part of the Midwest we have gently rolling hills and brushy bottom ground. A Savage Model 170 pump in 30-30 with open sites was always my go-to whitetail gun.

If I were to venture west and find elk, it'd likely be the Weatherby MK5 in 257 Weatherby Magnum and it's Redfield scope that'd get the duty.

The .257 Wby is an absolute killer, a truly fantastic cartridge that is often overlooked.

 

[BigBill]

In ‘72 my first hunting rifle was a ‘72 western auto revelation bolt action 30-06 with Tasso scope was $172 at the time. I had to reload for it to shoot nickel sized five shots groups to this day at 100yds.

My last new hunting rifle is a ‘94 Remington 700 in 338win mag. I can put two bullets through the same hole at 100yds using new Winchester 225 gr psp ammo. Again bolt action. I purchased the 338wm so I could hunt anywhere in North America and light african game.

As I get older I regret buying bolt actions I should of purchased semi auto hunting rifles. I’m 68yo now.

 

[diyj98]

I've hunted deer for the past 20 years or so with a Tikka 308. I'd a new T3 308 if I had to replace my rifle for some reason. If I did hunt elk, I'd probably step up to a 30-06 just for a little more energy.

 

[Texas Star]

The .257 Wby is an absolute killer, a truly fantastic cartridge that is often overlooked.

A guy named Wally Taber used his .257 Weatherby a lot in Africa and wrote about it in safari magazines.

I met him after a lecture and he said it was more effective than its caliber would suggest.

Roy Weatherby sent me one of those clear Lucite blocks with his cartridges inside. I have it on a bookcase, after all these years... It makes it easy to eyeball any of his proprietary cartridges.

 

[growr]

57 posts and not one mention of a Savage? Wow....out of the box accuracy is on par with many bench rest guns at a fraction of the cost.

Not the prettiest rifle ever made, but they are incredibly accurate and very rugged.

At least in Billings Montana the Savage is VERY popular on the range....Many calibers to choose from....AND I don't even work for Savage!!


Randy

 

[lawdog45]

Too many Rifles.
Elk Browning Safari in 338 Win Mag
Deer: Custom Sako in 270 Win. or Custom Sako in 300 H&H, or Mannlicher Schoenauer in 30-06 or Styer Scout Rifle in 308 Win.
I'm thinking I may need to start selling.

 

[lawdog45]

Too many Rifles.
Elk Browning Safari in 338 Win Mag
Deer: Custom Sako in 270 Win. or Custom Sako in 300 H&H, or Mannlicher Schoenauer in 30-06 or Styer Scout Rifle in 308 Win.
I'm thinking I may need to start selling.
OOPS Forgot 2
Sauer and Sohn Drilling 16X16X 8x57JR
Eduard Kettner Combination in 16 over 8x57JR

 

[Texas Star]

Too many Rifles.
Elk Browning Safari in 338 Win Mag
Deer: Custom Sako in 270 Win. or Custom Sako in 300 H&H, or Mannlicher Schoenauer in 30-06 or Styer Scout Rifle in 308 Win.
I'm thinking I may need to start selling.

Why? Doesn't hurt to have several good rifles.

Which Mannlicher have you got? I think the .30-06 was first offered in 1924.

Does yours have the full length "stutzen" stock?

 

[lawdog45]

MS is a 1961 MCA does have Stutzen stock.