Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

Discuss rifles, carbines, and other long-arms here (AR-15's, AK's, etc...)
User avatar
Harrier
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 904
Joined: May 26th, 2018, 7:47 pm
Reputation: 7
Location: Right Here

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#46

Post by Harrier »

There are a couple things besides caliber and glass you should also consider...
If your going to be climbing piles of rocks... err I mean Arizona mountains & trails on foot, a lighter rifle (7#-8#) will be noticeably welcome. Any of the 10# blunderbusses will become a boat anchor real fast. Also, consider realistic distances- unless your in some heavy brush country or a lot of washes, it ain't gonna be 100 yds - more like 300+ or out on the windy flats - so you don't want a lot of drop or drift to contend with . Those two criteria make caliber and bullet selection more important - how important is it to you NOT to let a wounded animal wander off into the bush?
There are lots of calibers that would fill the bill, and a lot that won't. I would not recommend 30-30 for a lot of the hunting area out here, but it may be just the ticket in the right environment. I consider a 243 as under power for Mule deer (requiring precise placement and shorter ranges) but OK for the little Coues Whitetail.
Personally, 6.5 is the smallest caliber I'd recommend and prefer a 270 for its long range flat trajectory or a 308 for lower recoil and wide range of bullet selection. If you are thinking of longer shots or using it for Elk someday, I'd step up to 7mm/300/338 Mag, and a good Decelerator pad on the butt... JMO


User avatar
Lucafu1
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 98
Joined: May 14th, 2018, 9:36 pm
Reputation: 0
Location: Tucson

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#47

Post by Lucafu1 »

I would recommend getting a rifle for both deer and elk. I have a Rem 700 in 30.06 listed for sale that would work.
User avatar
GunSmoke
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 211
Joined: May 16th, 2018, 6:22 am
Reputation: 0

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#48

Post by GunSmoke »

I agree on the distance concern. A humaine shot and not allowing a wounded animal to wander off is extremely important to me.

I am strongly considering 300 Win Mag or 7 millimeter mag for precisely these reasons.
User avatar
XJThrottle
ArizonaShooting.org Bronze Supporter
ArizonaShooting.org Bronze Supporter
Posts: 2877
Joined: June 26th, 2018, 5:43 pm
Reputation: 7
Location: Phoemex

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#49

Post by XJThrottle »

User avatar
shooter444
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 1790
Joined: May 14th, 2018, 1:17 pm
Reputation: 6
Location: Az desert

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#50

Post by shooter444 »

Lucafu1 wrote: July 17th, 2019, 11:17 am I would recommend getting a rifle for both deer and elk. I have a Rem 700 in 30.06 listed for sale that would work.
Disclaimer,... I don't know the member, above,... and, I don't know his rifle.

But, I do believe that the 30-06 sprg. cal. can do it all,... and, has been doing it all, for around 100 years.
In my opinion,.... Where I live, the 30-06 is good to go from bear to yotes, hell, I can see it hand rolled down for prairie dogs, as well! Can other calibers do these specific things as good, or better,... maybe,... but I lean more towards multi use calibers. I don't see myself having a different, caliber, game specific, rifle, for every different game, jmo.

Personally,.... I traded off my last ought6 around a decade ago, and, I have missed that caliber ever since. I just filled that hole with a Mossberg Patriot in 30-06 around a week, or so, ago. I have just finished putting it together and looking forward to developing a load it likes.

The 30-06 sprg. has been offered in rifle production models for the past 100 years, and probably will continue to be offered for another 100 years, imo. :whistle:
Last edited by shooter444 on July 19th, 2019, 4:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.
User avatar
Ballistic Therapy
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 1435
Joined: June 18th, 2018, 4:05 pm
Reputation: 2
Location: Pima County

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#51

Post by Ballistic Therapy »

The 30.06 is the best all around caliber made.
It will kill anything in America , as a matter of fact it has even killed everything in Africa.
User avatar
shooter444
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 1790
Joined: May 14th, 2018, 1:17 pm
Reputation: 6
Location: Az desert

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#52

Post by shooter444 »

Ballistic Therapy wrote: July 19th, 2019, 3:49 pm The 30.06 is the best all around caliber made.
It will kill anything in America , as a matter of fact it has even killed everything in Africa.

Agreed!!!

I have loaded it with 110 grain subsonic, to 220 grain brush busters,.... for rats, to deer,.... never been disappointed by its performance,... doubt I ever will!
User avatar
792mauser
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 565
Joined: May 17th, 2018, 6:15 am
Reputation: 14

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#53

Post by 792mauser »

Remington 700 in 30-06, 7.62x51 (308), 7.92 mauser or 270. And you should be good to go.
User avatar
Steve_In_29
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 921
Joined: June 7th, 2018, 10:52 am
Reputation: 2
Location: St John's, AZ

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#54

Post by Steve_In_29 »

I would skip anything new from Remington. Savages are known for being accurate out of the box with great triggers (Accu-stock/Accu-trigger).

I highly recommend looking at Howa (they make Weatherbys) as they come with a lifetime sub-moa guarantee.

As to caliber anything from .243 to 30.06 will work but 30.06 will give you much more versatility. As with the appropriate selection of loads it can be used for everything from varmints to elk.
User avatar
GunSmoke
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 211
Joined: May 16th, 2018, 6:22 am
Reputation: 0

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#55

Post by GunSmoke »

Thanks guys. I've heard the same advice about Remington multiple times now, a bummer that that is where the company has gone. I've not handled a howa, but I was impressed by the bergara and tikka. Any reason not to buy 300wm? Feels like that covers all the bases. I don't have any other bolt guns, so if one can handle it all, that's ideal.
User avatar
redj
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 220
Joined: May 19th, 2018, 10:00 am
Reputation: 0
Location: Sonoran Desert

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#56

Post by redj »

If you are looking for a rifle to kill everything a 300WM will do it.
It will make a mess out of the smaller critters.
300WM is a big gun for killing a Coues Whitetail.
They are not very big animals.
If you want a gun for Coues Whitetail there are lots of better choices.
Most of them have already been mentioned.
User avatar
Steve_In_29
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 921
Joined: June 7th, 2018, 10:52 am
Reputation: 2
Location: St John's, AZ

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#57

Post by Steve_In_29 »

GunSmoke wrote: July 26th, 2019, 9:26 pm Thanks guys. I've heard the same advice about Remington multiple times now, a bummer that that is where the company has gone. I've not handled a howa, but I was impressed by the bergara and tikka. Any reason not to buy 300wm? Feels like that covers all the bases. I don't have any other bolt guns, so if one can handle it all, that's ideal.
What are you planning on hunting on a regular basis that would require 300WM? Which is also WAY more then needed to hunt deer with.

As an all around caliber 30.06 is really all you need for game in North America. Though admittedly it is a bit light for Grizzly or Polar Bears.
User avatar
Longhair1957
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 553
Joined: July 25th, 2018, 6:01 pm
Reputation: 1
Location: Phoenix

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#58

Post by Longhair1957 »

Pick up a nice single shot .30’06 like this! Works awesome!

Image
User avatar
shooter444
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 1790
Joined: May 14th, 2018, 1:17 pm
Reputation: 6
Location: Az desert

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#59

Post by shooter444 »

Mighty fine looking piece you got there Longhair,... in my most favorite long action caliber, too!!!

Falling Bock?
Last edited by shooter444 on August 13th, 2019, 3:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
GunSmoke
ArizonaShooting.org Member
ArizonaShooting.org Member
Posts: 211
Joined: May 16th, 2018, 6:22 am
Reputation: 0

Re: Got drawn for Whitetail, need to buy a deer rifle. Model & caliber suggestions?

#60

Post by GunSmoke »

That's a good looking rifle!
Post Reply