What is your "go to" deer rifle?

[Squarebutt]

Living in a shotgun-only state, my first deer gun was my first shotgun, a war-surplus Ithaca Model 37. Killed everything from pheasants to whitetails. For other states and other seasons, a Ruger 77 in .308 and a Thompson Center stainless inline .50 fill the bill.

 

[Faulkner]

SKS in 7.62x39 . I believe I paid $72.99 plus tax when they were being imported en mass about 20 years ago.

I also have a pre-64 Winchester 94 in .30-30 that I really like. As a practical matter, there is little difference on deer.

I agree, it's been my experiance the 7.62x39 and .30-30 perform about the same. I've taken several deer with my Russian SKS.

 

[akjaeger]

My favorite deer rifle is a 1936 Winchester 71 Deluxe, in 348 of course.
The rifle I've killed the most game with in Idaho the last 3-4 years is a Springfield M1A "Scout". That little 308 has accounted for 3 Whitetail bucks, two bull elk and a wolf.
My Go To hunting rifle is a custom Winchester 338 Win Mag built by Jim West of Wild West Guns back in the early 90's. It was my "guide's rifle' for years of hunting in Alaska and it's going with me to Africa in May.

 

[millisec]

A little mainstream but my goto hunting rifle is a 1973 Remington 700 BDL 30-06 with good old fashion walnut furniture. Pop off the scope and its got open sights for up close and personal.

 

[Ranger514]

My first deer rifle was a Win. Model 94 .30-30 my dad bought in the mid 50's. He gave it to me in 1964, when I was old enough to hunt with him in the dense woods of the Black Hills. I've taken many white tail over the years with that 94, but it mostly sits in the safe nowadays. My current go-to rifle for deer and elk is a Remington 700 CDL .280 scoped with a Leupold VX-3L 3.5X10.

 

[VonFatman]

For many years I've shot several different rifles...
This is my 'go-to rifle' Just a plane-Jane Savage. Pre-AccuTrigger but I'd did have a Timiny Trigger installed. It's a take driving rifle.

Bob

 

[gregintenn]

Here in Ohio TC Scout .54 caliber

For out of state where a centerfire rifle can be used Winchester .30-06

I've never owned one, but I've always liked the looks of the TC Scouts.

 

[The Highlander]

I've taken the most deer with an F-250.


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[R. G. Amos]

Winchester M70 Featherweight in 30-06

 

[gmiller0737]

We run Walker Dog's on Deer so go to Weapon is a Browning A5 Magnum 12 loaded with 000 Buckshot,When still hunting it's aBrowning Bar Mk 2 Safari in .270 Winchester


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[Berserker]

Remington 700 30-06, with Leopold VX II 2x7. Any bolt, and lots of scopes will do. I think about some day getting a SS one with black stock, so I have to worry about it less. Walked out in the rain last year. Maybe leave a garbage bag in my blind.

I don't have lots of experience with different sets ups, but a good scope is probably the best investment. I like pushing the legal hours, but want to know what I am looking at.

I bought an expensive, to me, Leopold Mojave, binoculars. Damn, they blow away the cheap ones for taking in light.

 

[Berserker]

a long shot is 100 yds.
For about the last 10 years I have found that the rifle I use the most is a NEF single shot. .

I have been thinking about one in 45-70, ya I know it is is alot of gun, but I want one. Would be good for bear too. I have never shot over 50 yards at an animal.

Thought it would be a good gun for road hunting, could load it fairly quite, not worrying about bouncing around a scope. I'd probably put a peep sight on it. Good for ATV too. Plus not all that expensive.

 

[Berserker]

This Rossi .44 magnum has slowly replaced my Marlin 336 as my go to rifle:

Bought a Marlin 1894 last fall in 44mag. Nice walking gun. Haven't shot it in anger yet. Just finished loading a few hundred Hornady XTPs 240 with H110 24 grains.

I put a Skinner sight on it, and will probably put a Wild West loop on it. After cycling it 1k times, it smoothed up.

Good camp gun, with 10 shots, you can stop a bear, wolf, or anything else. H110 kicks abit but gf could use it. I may get .357 for around the house for her.

 

[beagleye]

Great Thread

It's fun to see the variety and see how the "right answer" is really just what floats your boat, nothing more.

My favorite, the one I will probably use for the rest of my life cause I am a creature of habit, is this 50s vintage BSA featherweight 30-06. It is very light, barely 7 with scope and loaded but it has a good muzzle break. It just feels so good in my greedy mits.

 

[Berserker]

It's fun to see the variety and see how the "right answer" is really just what floats your boat, nothing more.

Are you saying we don't need to buy another guns?

I am jealous of some of bucks in these pics. Maybe my luck will improve with a better gun.

 

[beagleye]

Are you saying we don't need to buy another guns?

I am jealous of some of bucks in these pics. Maybe my luck will improve with a better gun.

NO NO NO NO NO, that's not what I am saying.

 

[GRIZZLYBEAR]

When I'm whitetail hunting in the swamps and brush in Pa my go to meat getter is the "PA Amish machine gun" the Remington 76/7600 chambered in .35 Whelen with an 18.5 inch barrel followed by the big brush buster the .45-70 Gov't. These are iron sighted firearms

When hunting the hollows and mountains of PA I use either a 7MM Remington Magnum or a 300 Remington Magnum topped with a 3X9 glass.

 

[Ethang]

My deer "rifle" for 20 years was a Mossberg 500 with Breneke slugs, took a lot of deer with that one. I switched to an Encore ML about 10 years ago and havn't looked back. If MI will ever get with the times and approve pistol caliber rifles in the shotgun zone I will switch to a lever action 45 Colt.

 

[410bore]

Savage 10-MLII Smokeless Muzzleloader, Leupold 3-9
Barnes Expander 100% Copper Hollow Points







One of Dad's shot with the same combination.





Whenever I get up to Michigan's UP with some family friends I take a Remington Model Seven in 7mm-08 with a Leupold on top.

 

[Harrison]

A born in 1950 Savage Mdl 99 in 250 savage, with a Weaver K4 scope. Shooting handloads with 100gr Speer bullets.