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

[428cj]

Go with a 30.06 and they work.

 

[Longhair1957]

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

Falling Bock?

Thanks and yes, Browning 1885 falling block.

That's a good looking rifle!

Thank you

 

[shooter444]

Hmmm,... a Browning falling block in 30-06 sprg.,... doesn't get any better than that!!!

 

[nvgdude]

As a kids I hunted with a lever action 30-30, it was my uncle's. I miss that rifle.

So I've narrowed it down to 308, 7 mm mag or 300 Win Mag. Thoughts?

You are hunting DEER, not MOOSE. And white-tails are small compared to mule deer. 308 is more than adequate.

The 30-06 Falling block you picked up will work just fine, for whitetail I would use a 150 grain SST

 

[GunSmoke]

Hey guys, to close the loop on this I did pick up a bergara 308.

 

[Steve_In_29]

Which Bergara?

.308 is good but doesn't have the option of heavy loads for bigger game that a 30.06 would have given you.

 

[GunSmoke]

I actually picked it up mainly for the ammo price, and the option to practice more with a bolt gun. I'm new to more precision shooting, everything else I own is semi auto. I picked up an HMR. Yes it's heavy, but so far it's been a great shooter. I'm run this this year, and have the excuse to buy anouther caliber next year.

 

[Steve_In_29]

Hopefully you don't have to lug that 9.5 pound (without optic) HMR around much while hunting.

 

[17-21-23]

Remington 700 in 308.

 

[GunSmoke]

Agreed that it's heavy. I'm not worried about a few pounds though, I'm in a lot better shape than that. I backpack with much heavier load than I'll be carrying on this hunt.

 

[Steve_In_29]

Good luck to you on the hunt and let us know how it goes for you.

 

[weenis]

Barrett Fieldcraft in 6.5 Creedmoor. With Allen sling, Hill People stock sleeve, Leupold LRP 6.5-20x50, Spartan Javelin bipod, and 9 rounds, the total weight comes in at 8lbs 4oz.

 

[shooter444]

Nice,... clean,... direct,... all business,.... I like it Weenis!

 

[GunSmoke]

Repeat post removed

 

[weenis]

Nice,... clean,... direct,... all business,.... I like it Weenis!

Thanks. It's light weight and long range. It was fun to put together. I'm most impressed with the base platform from Barrett, and the bipod.

 

[jlfornoff]

i use a Remington 700 in 270. i run the Remington core lokt 150 grain, but the 130 grain will easily put down a whitetail. i'm using a vortex diamondback 4-12x40 scope. i've got about $800 in my setup. i would second the thought of spending more on your bino's. may also want to pickup a range finder if possible. good luck on your hunt!!

 

[GunSmoke]

Realized I never closed the loop on this. First sunset of the hunt I had a very small buck sighted in at about 340 yards. I made the rookie mistake of not taking the shot thinking that I’ve already seen two and I’ve been out here six hours I’ve got another week to find a bigger one. By the end of the week I’d seen another nine does, but no more bucks! All my buddies at camp started saying “don’t skip a shot you’d take on the last day on the first day.” Of course they didn’t start saying that until the last day. Where was this good advice on that first evening? Lol. Great time overall, and learned a lesson about being choosy. Thank you all for your advice. Will definitely pick up a lighter rifle. By the time I added the optic and threw my can on it it was pretty heavy. Caring it around wasn’t an issue, but with the weight a quick set up for a shot is not as easy.

 

[Edge]

I use a .243 or 06.

Well how did the hunt go?

 

[azman]

I have taken Coues with several calibers through the years... 2 with a 30-30,
1 with a 25-06, 1 with a 30-06, 1 with a 308, 2 with a 270.
Obviously, there are a lot of good calibers and bullet selection is probably more important.
BUT, I will pick the 270 as my favorite.

 

[was21]

As a kids I hunted with a lever action 30-30, it was my uncle's. I miss that rifle.

So I've narrowed it down to 308, 7 mm mag or 300 Win Mag. Thoughts?

... and a 20 year hiatus.... stay with a 308 . Let’s you get some practice in that most probably won’t do with the bigger stuff due to cost/fatigue. Just a thought. YMMV