Deer Rifle Suggestions

[spankrz]

i am looking for an affordable but accurate deer rifle. i was considering a rem 770 30-06 today, but i came home and did some searching online and it sounds like it is one of the biggest p.o.s.'s out there. from what i have read, it seems everyone likes a savage better for the cheaper rifles. i was on bud's guns and was looking at a savage "edge xp" scoped combo in a 270 for right above 300. i live about 20 mins from bud's retail store in lex, i am not a beleiver in buying a gun until you hold it and get a feel for it. basically i am looking for a cheap but accurate and smooth deer rifle, scoped combo or i can buy a scope, i am trying to stay under ~350 dollars.

 

what do you guys shoot? 270? .308? 30-06? 7mm? i want a consitant gun that produces a tight pattern to be used for deer hunting. i don't care about looks. any suggestions would be appreciated

[Mckenzie]

I've been looking into getting a real good flat shooting deer rifle also. I have plenty of big bore rifles like a 30-06 and a 7.62x54r but those are almost to big. Sportsman Warehouse had several rifle/scope combos in varying calibers for around 300 bucks, i think a .270 is probably the best all around caliber to go with.

[renegadeking]

all depends on your hunting style, if your out in the open, farm land, etc. you want a real flat shotting rifle such as a 7mm and i believe a 270mm shoots flat too but don't quote me on that. If your hunting in the bush out of a tree stand you want something different, something that doesn't have to shoot flat but has more "punch." Accrucy comes from the length of a barrel, lead type and grain of the bullet. i shoot a 7mm browing x bolt. I have a 150 grain hornidy ballistic tip Its sited in at 300 yards dead on. i can group a loonie size at 300 yards on a rest. The gun has a 28'' barrel i believe, great for out in the open, but makes walking in the bush a real pain in the butt. i also reload my own shells so i get better accuracy then store bought shells.

 

P.S if you site your rifle in a one brand of shells, only use those shells, same grain too. Every brand and grain of bullet shoots different then another.

[txab]

25-06, 270

[sab316]

Yeah depends on what you're shooting. If you're close quarters (anything up to 100 yards) I use a .30-.30. Saved up my money and bought it from a pawn store when I was little. Best shooting gun I've had. Its bagged me several deer. If I'm anywhere under a 100 yards thats whats on my back. Most of the land I hunt is hardwoods and pines so I don't have too many open field shots. If I do, I just borrow my dad's 7 mag. That som bitch is like shooting a howitzer at them

[spankrz]

so .270 sounds like a good caliber, how about a gun? i have heard good things about rem 700's but they are out of my price range right now. it seems the 770's are junk, i have seen some good things about savage's entry-level rifles?

[Carder09]

I use a savage 270 myself and its been very good to me.

[cparks555]

I shoot an old Browning A bolt .270 and it's been a great rifle, I've heard nothing but good things about Savage rifes also.

[spankrz]

sounds like i am going to go look at a savage next time i get a chance to. what price range is a browning A bolt? if anyone can think of any others i should consider i am very open to suggestions

[tyhuck]

I agree with the others that it depends on where you are hunting. If you are shooting between 100 - and 150 yards, the heavier bullet of the 30-06 is great. You can go further, but its not ideal. For long shots Ide use something in a small acliber with a larger powder load like a .270 in either a 150 or 130 grain. On the other end, if you are shooting in close, brushy areas, Ide use something like a 30-30 or a shotgun and slug.

 

Most of the time I shoot a Thompson Center Encore Pro Hunter, in 30-06, with a Leupold scope. But that not a cheap combo. Im not sure, but I think it was a $1200 - $1400 setup. The gun I used in HS is a Remington Gamemaster (model unknown) pump, in .270, with an unmarked scope. My grandfather bought it years ago for my grandmother to shoot. Its got a muzzle break and a 2.5" recoil pad on it. It is a sweet gun and she used it a couple of times, but gave it to me when she lost interest in hunting. I currently use it as my backup rifle. The TC is a great gun and I can shoot it all day, but the Leupold scope is rather sensative. On the other hand, my unmarked scope on the .270 has only been off target once.

[redjewel2ss]

i have a Remington 770 30-06 that is about 30 years old. lets just say they don't make them like they used to! the finish on the modern remington's is pitiful.

 

i have that and a 25 yr old remington 870 12ga. and they both look and shoot like they were brand new.

 

both were passed down to me.

[spankrz]

thanks for all the input guys, this is why this forum is so successful.

[ChevyTech77]

i have a Remington 770 30-06 that is about 30 years old. lets just say they don't make them like they used to! the finish on the modern remington's is pitiful.

 

i have that and a 25 yr old remington 870 12ga. and they both look and shoot like they were brand new.

 

both were passed down to me.

Same here but my 30-06 is a model 742. Born and bred Remington shooter/owner. 30-06 is my weapon of choice, if I take the time to even get out there hunting. Too many other things going on anymore.

[cparks555]

Weatherby makes a very accurate rifle also, some of the less expensive models are fantastic.

[5829BMG]

Savage 270win will put the smack down on just about anything on 4 legs in North America. Coupled with some Hornady lite mag loads flat out to 300 yards no problem.