Looking @ buying a new gun for this upcoming deer season..?

Question

And was just wondering what route I should go? Price isn't TOO big of a deal, but I don't want to spend some huge amount. I only deer hunt about 5-6 times a season due to work, but I want to get a better, more dependable gun.

Any Suggestions?

Answer 1

I have a couple of different deer rifles but I would highly recommend my favorite one, a Remington 270 pump. I got the special purpose one with the flat matte finish instead of a blued barrel. Go with whatever action you are most comfortable with but the 270 (the 30.06 is overrated and more than you need for deer) is a great all around gun for deer hunting. It has a flat trajectory and plenty of knockdown power without too much overkill. There is no need to go bigger unless you will possibly use it for larger game. I prefer the 150 grain cartiridges for shooting in the dense woods where I live but the 135 grain would be fine, especially if you are hunting in an open area. I put a Leupold Vari X 2 (2-7 power) on my 270 and it has been really accurate, even after dropping it out of a tree stand. I spent just a little less on my scope than I did on the gun itself.

Answer 2

We have a whole lot of suggestions....most all good ones....but narrowing the field down will take some more info from you.

What part of the country and in what kind of terrain do you hunt?

Back in the thick swampy forest of Louisiana where I grew up, .30-30 was ideal, as most shots were under 100 yards, many less than that. 12 ga slug guns worked quite well too.

I now hunt on the wide open plains of the west and in most places you need to be able to reach out a few hundred yards in some cases or across a valley, so a long range powerful caliber like .270 or .30-06 (or .308) with a good scope and something to rest your rifle on are needed.

Savage makes good basic rifles, .270, .308 or .30-06 would be good. Remington is a step up, well actually several steps up as they make several quality lines.

You will hear from a lot of people who suggest magnum calibers but I am a firm proponent that no magnum at all is needed for whitetail or mule deer. The costs and the power are all overkill IMO.

Answer 3

Well, whatever you feel comfortable shooting, but I have some suggestions. I use a Savage model 111 in 30-06, and love it, and it puts deer down like nothing. Just like the other guy mentioned, you can not beat Savage package deals. The scope that comes on it is a Simmons 3-9X, and will suffice, but I am going this week to get a Leupold on it. I have also used a 7mm Rem. Mag too. But just like JD said, you do not need a magnum caliber. I only used this Winchester model 70 7mm Mag because it was the only gun I had at the time. Also, you will never hear many people mention this caliber, but l also use my 8mm Mauser(8X57mm). It is a great caliber, and it is one of the most misunderstood, and unappreciated calibers in the United States. Best of luck.

Answer 4

It's a bit late in the year to be looking, since you'll have to put a scope on, find a load it likes, and fix any problems that might crop up. I'd go with a Sako 75, but if budget is more a problem than the risk of having something come up like the need to free-float the barrel, then I'd suggest a Remington 700, perhaps with a Leupold 2-7 VariX II on top, for the hunting in your part of the world, and I'd pick 7mm08 as the best chambering. That should cover about anything you want to do in east TX, AR or OK.

Answer 5

It all depends on WHERE you'll be hunting . . Is it open range or dense brush country ???

On open range, where the shots will be over long distances, a fast bullet with a flatter trajectory might do the job best but, in heavy brush a 12 gauge shotgun, firing a slug, will bust through the foliage that would deflect a smaller round . . .

I have an old Remington 742 - 30.06 cal. and a Remington 1100 12 ga. so, I can go to the best gun for the terrain . . . Why not ask the guys who hunt your area what they've had success with and the problems they've encountered, then make an educated choice . . . .

Answer 6

Because the question was not answered as to what type of rifle to get for the purpose of reliability I will address it for you. I would go with the Savage 110 Line of rifle if price is a issue. If not I would go with a FN or a Steyr i like the second option. the prohunter model in stainless is great they offer it any a wide range of calibers and it is extra high quality in the $600-$800 price range. Check sales ads in ShotGun News. If you want to know about caliber I would go with a rifle in 308 if deer is to be the bigger 4 legged game you hunt, if not choose the 30-06. 30-06 can be loaded light to shoot flat and fast or heavy for that knock down punch. In a 308 i would go with a 20 inch barrel and in 30-06 I would go with a 24 inch barrel. If you want to know about optics, don't skimp. Good optics mean more then the rifle in poor light conditions.

Answer 7

I would look at a 30-06 bolt action. A bolt action is more accurate and dependable than pumps and semis. Browning a-bolt with a composite stock. Composite is only way to go. Can hunt and rain and no warpage. I went to alaska several years ago and all the guides use composite stocks. I would put a 3x9 scope on it. I used to go with the Luepold but for the money I have gone to .Nikon monarch series. They are less expensive and are good optics. No its not to late in season to purchase a nes rifle. Several years ago I had ordered a new rifle . It came in 2 days before opener. I went to range sighted it in. Opening morning i took the largest pointer to that date.
I also have a sweet winchester 270 wsm that i have harvested several deer with. Anything that you would use a 30-06 on you could use the 270 wsm. It also have a composite stock. Optics are Burris. Nice shooting rifle without alot of expense.
My favorite is a Rugar #1 single shot s.s. with a Nikon 3x9. Stock is wood but laminated. Sweet looking rifle. And if you practice do you really need more than one shot?
Good Luck in picking out a new rifle. Good luck in getting your trophy deer.

Answer 8

I am a big fan of the Savage rifles for value and accuracy. Mostly for their accuracy! The package rifles come with a cheap scope and it does need upgrading at a later date but for a put your money down, go to the range and sight it in, and start hunting you can't beat the Savage package deal. For caliber, a .243 with 100 grain bullets, or a .308, .270, 30-06, whatever will all do a great job on deer.

Answer 9

Personally I have a 270.semi-auto it has flat trajectory and very little kick(recoil) I regularly shoot deer out to 300yrds as deer seem to never come close to me maybe because i smoke! But it does kill deer i can attest to that never had to take more than one shot not bragging just the simple truth very good to reach out and touch someone I hunt from tree stands so i know where the bullet goes beyond the target passed on a tenpointer last yr because i was on the ground some will say i'm foolish better to err on the side of caution besides there's plenty more deer out there I hunt public land that's why i did'nt shoot had it been private i would have taken the shot but on public never know who's out there!!

Answer 10

There's nothing "wrong" with the 710. It worth the money however you should replace the mounts. The Stevens brand (the old savage rifles pre-accutrigger) has a manufacturer price of about $330 for the rifle. I think it will much more accurate than the remington. I'm also hearing very good things about mossburg which is at the same price as well