Posted: 1/21/2014 2:48:27 PM EDT
| Hey guys I am trying to find a good deer hunting rifle. I have outgrown my youth model and want to get a decent firearm. I'd like to keep the caliber at .30-06, .308, or .270. Some models I am thinking of are the Remington 700 BDL, Tikka T3 Hunter, Browning XBolt, and the Ruger M77. It doesn't matter if it's synthetic or not. Any suggestions or people who like one of these better than others? (Price below $800 excluding tikka) |
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Hey guys I am trying to find a good deer hunting rifle. I have outgrown my youth model and want to get a decent firearm. I'd like to keep the caliber at .30-06, .308, or .270. Some models I am thinking of are the Remington 700 BDL, Tikka T3 Hunter, Browning XBolt, and the Ruger M77. It doesn't matter if it's synthetic or not. Any suggestions or people who like one of these better than others? (Price below $800 excluding tikka) Those are all excellent choices. |
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Buy a tikka T3 in 30-06 or 270. You wont have to do anything to it to get it to shoot. They don't make a short action so there is no point in getting a 308 unless you want that caliber for a specific reason (ammo compatibility mainly).
My brother has one in 30-06 that shoots sub moa with cheap factory ammo out of the box. I am probably gonna get one in 270. My remington 700 in 308 took a lot of hand loading to get it to shoot right at an inch... and that is with neck sized cases and a long OAL. I will have to start upgrading stuff if I want it to shoot any better. |
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I know this is a vague question, but what do you think is better for deer hunting (long/short action)? You can save a couple ounces in weight if you choose a rifle that has a short action (chambered for short action cartridges - i.e. .308 win). You do not have as long of a bolt throw if you choose the short action as well. If you feel that is something you want/need for follow-up shots, then you'll be better served to look for a rifle that is short-action chambered. As mentioned above, Tikka manufactures their rifles in long action, but the action is so silky smooth that I do not see it as a huge negative. I use to hunt with a right-handed iron sight Remington 721 .30-06 (I'm a left-handed shooter) prior to getting my Tikka, and to be honest, I never attributed any problems with follow-up shots to the long action. The .30-06, 270 Win, 308 Win debate has been discussed ad naseum, and each cartridge has its benefits - availability, cost, ballistics, etc. I would recommend handling the rifles you mentioned so you have an idea of whether you would be better off with a short action. You mentioned that you were looking at the hunter model for the Tikkas, I'd also recommend looking at the lite versions. The hunter model weighs approx 6.6 lbs and the lite versions weigh approx 6.1-6.3 lbs (depending on whether you get the blued/stainless steel version). Cabelas has the blued version on sale for $550. The stainless steel runs $680-$750 depending on whether you need it to be lefty friendly (which was my case). ETA: typos |
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I know this is a vague question, but what do you think is better for deer hunting (long/short action)? I've hunted with more than 1 of both - really doesn't matter much to me which one I have as far as dealing with it in the field. The only one that does "feel" a little handier than the others is my Model 7 (260Rem). |
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The .308 or .270 is perfect for deer or any "small" game in North America. If you want a large selection of power and bullet weight in factory cartridges, however, then the .30-06 is the way to go. (A bit overkill for me, but I also don't go after big game like elk and the like.)
What's your hunting style? Are you sitting/in a blind or are you out roaming? If roaming is your game or you have a long way to the blind, you'll want a lighter rifle. As per manufacturer, I cannot recommend Remington rifles enough. Specifically the m700 series. You might end up paying a bit more, but the rifle should easily outlive you and it's ready to go as is. And if you do end up wanting to get custom work done on the gun, the m700 platform is by far the easiest to get done. You could also expand your options and go with a Winchester Model 70. My grandfather's pre-64 M70 still works like a dream and is the only gun I would choose over my 700s if I had to. I'm not entirely sure of their affordability these days, though. |
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If you're just looking for a deer rifle it's hard not to recommend the .308 just because of the availability of ammo, both surplus and factory.
I bought my daughter a Savage Hog Hunter in .308 and we've been very pleased. She dropped a 5 point at 118 yards, one shot, 150 grain factory ammo. My son and I have had very good luck with .223. But I hand load for the rifle and we're limiting shots to 150 yards or less. The best whitetail caliber here in the Southeast is the .243 IMO. It's not the most popular (that would probably be the 30/30, .270 or 30-06) but I think it does the best job. Low recoil in a lightweight rifle, short barreled rifle. The more years I spend hunting with my kids, the more I've come to appreciate light, handy rifles. Put a fixed 4x or a 3x9 turned down on low power and you're set for the thickets. Make is whatever you like. I have Remington, Savage, Steyr and ARs. Cool thing about the Savage is that you can change calibers very easy. Tikka makes a fine rifle too. |
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Why is Savage not on your list?
You sound like a young man with limited experience. A lightweight rifle in 30-06 will test you. If you go light, choose a lighter caliber. My deer rifle is a rem 700 adl in .270 with no recoil pad. The only time I enjoy shooting it is in the field, at an animal. I could keep using it, but I want something more to my liking. My next deer rifle will either be .260 or 7-08. I currently have a Savage 12BVSS I mounted a match .260 barrel to. Love it, and 7-08 is almost identical in performance. Out of curiosity, what ranges are the majority of deer taken in your area, and what is the longest shot you might have to make to take a deer. |
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Nikon Buckmaster is a good line.
I use one on my AR. Leopold VX 2 never seems to be wrong. I use one on my Encore 30-06. Weaver Grand Slam is every bit as good as the VX 2. I have one of those on my Encore Muzzle Loader Barrel. www.natchezss.com has great prices on refurbished scopes . |
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Hunting in the Cheese Head State almost any standard caliber will work as most shots are under 100 yards.. If you are thinking of hunting in the western states in the future, stick with the long action calibers like the 270, 280, 30-06 or even 7mm mag. The biggest benefit of the 270 or 30-06 is the ammo is usully cheap and available no matter where you hunt. The choices of ammo in these calibers is HUGE. The 270 or 30-06 have probably killed more animals than most of the other calibers combined. (excluding the .30-30)
I started out with a .30-06 and moved on to the .280 and most of my friends shoot the .270 'cause they don't reload.. You can't go wrong with any of the calibers that I mentioned. |
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30.06 will give you incredible flexibility in ammo and game choice. I have an old (1970's) Ruger M77 and its solid. Its my primary deer rifle.  This is my go to rifle. Whaps deer like the fist of God. I LOVE toting this rifle in the woods. She's got close to 50 deer to her credit. Some close (15 feet  ), all the way out to 250 yards.
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This is my go to rifle. Whaps deer like the fist of God. I LOVE toting this rifle in the woods. She's got close to 50 deer to her credit. Some close (15 feet ), all the way out to 250 yards.Quoted:
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30.06 will give you incredible flexibility in ammo and game choice. I have an old (1970's) Ruger M77 and its solid. Its my primary deer rifle. This is my go to rifle. Whaps deer like the fist of God. I LOVE toting this rifle in the woods. She's got close to 50 deer to her credit. Some close (15 feet ), all the way out to 250 yards.What ammo or bullet do you like/prefer? |
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What ammo or bullet do you like/prefer? Quoted:
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30.06 will give you incredible flexibility in ammo and game choice. I have an old (1970's) Ruger M77 and its solid. Its my primary deer rifle. This is my go to rifle. Whaps deer like the fist of God. I LOVE toting this rifle in the woods. She's got close to 50 deer to her credit. Some close (15 feet ), all the way out to 250 yards.What ammo or bullet do you like/prefer? I handload and have literally tried them all. Ive settled on Winchester supreme ballistic silvertips 150 or 168's but like the bc and velocity of the 150. I hunt over a big crp field at times and a long poke is required there, but were really splitting hairs here. Any modern hunting bullet in the 150-180 grain range works exceedingly well but the Nosler BT's are crazy accurate out of my gun somImhunt them with confidence. Thay can overexpand if up close (re: that 15 foot shot) or if you hit the shoulder of a deer quartering to you. I literally grenaded the guts of that deer making the gut job a lot more effort/work than normally required. I suggest that people try different loading in their particular rifle, find what shoots best and hunt with greater confidence |
