Remington Model 700 BDL in .30-06 with a Leupold Vari-X II 3-9 power scope. 165 gr Nosler Partitions. It's a tack driver. Big medicine on whitetails.
What is your "go to" deer rifle?
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BruceM
Member
It's my 1st. A 1970 vintage M70 .30-06 with weaver tip-off mounts and an old Redfield Widefield 2x7. That scope is so old it isn't click adjustable. The original pressed checkered stock blew out behind the recoil lug mortise so she's been restocked with a factory XTR stock, free floated and glass beaded. I took the factory trigger down to 3 1/2 lbs. and she's a 1 MOA shooter for five shot groups with ammo she likes.
I have a bunch of newer and nicer rifles in the safe but my eye and hand always searches for her first.
Bruce
I have a bunch of newer and nicer rifles in the safe but my eye and hand always searches for her first.
Bruce
Freischütz
Member
Win M95 in 35 WCF
Smitty357
Member
I have a custom build .308 on a winchester model 70 action. By far the sweetest deer rifle ive used in many years. Along with my 100 yard groups on factory Hornady 150gr ammo.
Heavy barrel, full glass bedded stock, timney trigger, 25" barrel cut down to 22" and crowned. My .22lr kicks harder than this thing.
Heavy barrel, full glass bedded stock, timney trigger, 25" barrel cut down to 22" and crowned. My .22lr kicks harder than this thing.
Remington 700 action/barrel in 30.06 (from 1980) with an H-S Precision pro-series sporter stock (aluminum bedding block & free floated barrel) topped off with a Leupold Vari-X III 2.5X8 scope. I've used this combination for deer and elk for many years. 
Don
Don
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rojodiablo
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What's my rifle for deer?
Easy. 30-06. Coyotes to elephant, and everything in between......
Easy. 30-06. Coyotes to elephant, and everything in between......
Mine is a pre 64 Winchester model 70 in 30-06. My dad won it in a raffle in 59 for a dollar ticket. I have a 3x9 Charles Daly wideview on top of it.
Bozz10mm
US Veteran
Back in my deer hunting days, it was a Remington 788 in .243 caliber. Had a Weaver K-4 on it. Wait, it still does.
I've got a 30-06
I've got a 30-06 that I used for deer hunting but I don't hunt anymore. The 06 is kind of a no-brainer. Need a deer rifle? Get a 30-06.
I've got a 30-06 that I used for deer hunting but I don't hunt anymore. The 06 is kind of a no-brainer. Need a deer rifle? Get a 30-06.
model70hunter
Member
Pre 64 model 70 in 270 Win. My dad bought it new in about 53. He scoped it with a Lyman All American in 4x with fine cross hairs. It was the only deer rifle he ever owned. I had borrowed it a time or 2 for hunts out west and used it 2nd weekends when Dad did his normal opening morning one shot buck kill.
I inherited it 15 plus years ago. It has since been with me on most deer hunts, I killed my biggest buck with it. It probably will go to my oldest grandson.
I inherited it 15 plus years ago. It has since been with me on most deer hunts, I killed my biggest buck with it. It probably will go to my oldest grandson.
ACP230
Member
Mine used to be a Browning BAR in .30-06.
For many years now it's been a Ruger M77 RL in .250 Savage.
Most deer I've shot with it have dropped on the spot.
For many years now it's been a Ruger M77 RL in .250 Savage.
Most deer I've shot with it have dropped on the spot.
BobC357
Member
Remington 700 BDL, 270 Win, with Redfield 5-Star 4X scope.
I use it for deer, antelope, elk and more.
I use it for deer, antelope, elk and more.
Wingmaster
Member
Mine is kinda like the original post. I bought it thinking I would use it for a year or so and trade it off. Its a Weatherby Vanguard chambered in .270 with an Ugly plastic stock.
The problem was, I loaded a couple of different loads for it and went to the range. The first group was ok at about 1 1/4 inch. The second load shot 5 shots with 4 of them touching and 1 about 1/2 inch out. I pulled that one. I decided on that load.
I don't worry if I drop it on a rock or hunt in rain or snow. It has a lot of bumps and bruises but still shoots better than any factory gun I have.
I have shot many deer a few antelope and about 8 Elk with this gun and don't ever see it going anywhere. I have used it for an excuse to buy another rifle saying I will get rid of the old .270, but I knew deep down the old .270 wouldn't be going anywhere.
Ugly and beat up but dang it has some good memories.
Wingmaster
The problem was, I loaded a couple of different loads for it and went to the range. The first group was ok at about 1 1/4 inch. The second load shot 5 shots with 4 of them touching and 1 about 1/2 inch out. I pulled that one. I decided on that load.
I don't worry if I drop it on a rock or hunt in rain or snow. It has a lot of bumps and bruises but still shoots better than any factory gun I have.
I have shot many deer a few antelope and about 8 Elk with this gun and don't ever see it going anywhere. I have used it for an excuse to buy another rifle saying I will get rid of the old .270, but I knew deep down the old .270 wouldn't be going anywhere.
Ugly and beat up but dang it has some good memories.
Wingmaster
Chesterfield
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A Remington Model Seven in 6mm is what I reach for first. For longer range shooting there is a Remington 700 in 25-06.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
I only went to a bigger caliber because I've had a few close calls with the unknown. In the very thick pines once and the tall grass another time.
I'm older now so I'm on the ground I can't use tree stands. Plus I'm not built for running nor speed.
One of the college degree stuffed shirts at work asked me once you shoot the bear how do you get it to the car? I told him I run up to the bear and kick him in the butt to pizz him off and he chases me to the car where I turn and shoot him. I was very serious about it. After a few minutes he turned to me and said na.
My camp borders on the green mountain national forest. It's away from the neighbors but in the hottest black bear country.
I'm older now so I'm on the ground I can't use tree stands. Plus I'm not built for running nor speed.
One of the college degree stuffed shirts at work asked me once you shoot the bear how do you get it to the car? I told him I run up to the bear and kick him in the butt to pizz him off and he chases me to the car where I turn and shoot him. I was very serious about it. After a few minutes he turned to me and said na.
My camp borders on the green mountain national forest. It's away from the neighbors but in the hottest black bear country.
For those damp, rainy days so common to deer season in Pennsylvania, I have my old 6.5 X55 Swedish Mauser. A 1908 Karl Gustav. It's fitted with a Lyman 57 peep and ramp front sight from a Remington 700, I think. Nothing special to anybody else but me. In better weather I might carry my Ruger #1b 30-06 but the Swede is my favorite. It's been to many a remote ridge with me.
Shoots very good for a parts gun, despite the bolt having a different serial # than the rest, and I don't have to worry much about getting it dirty.
John
Shoots very good for a parts gun, despite the bolt having a different serial # than the rest, and I don't have to worry much about getting it dirty.
John
Sebago Son
Member
Deer Rifles...
I have three killin' guns matched to the conditions of where I hunt.
For the swamps of Maine it's an iron-sighted Marlin Marauder in .35 Remington.
For the hills and hollars of West Virginia it's a Remington 721 in .300 H&H with a Leupold 4-12x.
... my son killed a nice little 3-pointer waaaaaaay over there on the far hillside with this rifle.
For everything in between it's a Pre-81 Browning BLR in .358 also scoped with a Leupold, a 1.5-5x.
Over the years I've laid down alot of meat and filled alot of freezer space with these rifles...
I have three killin' guns matched to the conditions of where I hunt.
For the swamps of Maine it's an iron-sighted Marlin Marauder in .35 Remington.
For the hills and hollars of West Virginia it's a Remington 721 in .300 H&H with a Leupold 4-12x.
... my son killed a nice little 3-pointer waaaaaaay over there on the far hillside with this rifle.
For everything in between it's a Pre-81 Browning BLR in .358 also scoped with a Leupold, a 1.5-5x.
Over the years I've laid down alot of meat and filled alot of freezer space with these rifles...
A M70 Win. 30-06 with a Leupold 3X9X40 set on 6X. I use 55 gr. IMR4350 and a 180 gr. Sierra BTSP. Larry
BUFF
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I bought my first deer rifle in October, 1974, a Remington ADL in .30-06 with a Bushnell 4X scope. It was my first really good gun and I greatly enjoyed shooting it. It got me into handloading. It can do anything I am ever likely to ask it to, with high quality, controlled expansion hunting bullets at quick speeds in 150, 168, 168 and 180 grain.
A few years later, seriously dating a woman who seemed interested in trying hunting, I bought a new Ruger M-77 in 7X57 Mauser. She thought it a bit big and heavy for her petiteness. A local gunsmith cut and recrowned the barrel to 16-1/2 inches and tuned the trigger, a local stock whittler chopped down the forend and generally slimmed down the stock, recheckered it to the original pattern and applied a nice oil finish, overall making the rifle 3 pounds lighter. I added a 4X Redfield Fullfield and handloaded it with 139-145 grain bullets, both of which liked H-380.
The woman and I parted but the rifle is still in my safe!
I have some bigger bore rifles, .45-70, .375 H&H, some smaller, but I think for what little deer hunting I still do, the Remington of the Ruger (maybe the first Ruger Mountain Gun!) will do it.
A few years later, seriously dating a woman who seemed interested in trying hunting, I bought a new Ruger M-77 in 7X57 Mauser. She thought it a bit big and heavy for her petiteness. A local gunsmith cut and recrowned the barrel to 16-1/2 inches and tuned the trigger, a local stock whittler chopped down the forend and generally slimmed down the stock, recheckered it to the original pattern and applied a nice oil finish, overall making the rifle 3 pounds lighter. I added a 4X Redfield Fullfield and handloaded it with 139-145 grain bullets, both of which liked H-380.
The woman and I parted but the rifle is still in my safe!
I have some bigger bore rifles, .45-70, .375 H&H, some smaller, but I think for what little deer hunting I still do, the Remington of the Ruger (maybe the first Ruger Mountain Gun!) will do it.
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