ultimate deer rifle???

With my limited experience and having shot or owned 500+ rifles in my life so far, one rifle raise to top as the ultimate deer rifle. The Steyr Scout 308 is very close to perfection. YMMV
 
Potashminer said:
"ultimate" - I believe that changes with age and experience? I started out thinking 30-06 was end all and be all - because that is what my Dad used. Then to 308 Win. Then to 7x57. Latest one that I bought for myself to use is a Ruger Compact in 243 Win - I had bought two others previously in 243 Win, one for wife to use for her first deer and one for our grandson to use. My brother is two years younger than me - he has used a 300 Win Mag, for elk, moose, deer, wolf and sheep for 30 plus years - he got his rifle about the same time that I bought my 338 Win Mag. We have taken many dozen deer and elk in various parts of Saskatchewan with those cartridges - I am sure 15 feet to 300 yards, or so - at extremes. A lot is what you have used - I have never used 270 Win, 280 Rem, 25-06, etc. but know guys who will say those are "perfect" - often the only one they have ever used - and it works well. And we met an older dude in Northern Sask. who told us his 22 rimfire Magnum was the perfect deer cartridge / rifle for him - he was not terribly interested in regulations, licences, or seasons - just what worked best for him.
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About right Potash...about right. A good Sask saying comes to mind " Each to his own, said the Old Lady who kissed the cow "
In an unusual tactic I'm going to suggest a caliber that I do not have, nor want. In a platform that will likely not grace my safe.
If Joe ( Or Josephine ) Average asked me to suggest a rifle for them to hunt deer with? Some sort of a Canoe Paddle ( Savage maybe?) in a 6.5 CM or 7/08 ( See that Shyte, Gatehouse?... poked fun at you on the CM before... when trolling was more innocent...but acknowledging it is a pretty good cartridge).
Because I'm a baby boomer and like wood and deep blued steel in a briskly recoiling caliber... well, that don't make it perfect for Joe Average. Most of my rifles are in Calibers far to big for the task at hand... really, most of the main battle cartridges are overkill. Pretty sure that 8 x 57, 8 x 63 ( for sure) or even a 30-06 are a bit more than required for dispatching deer. Wood and Blued steel rifles are heavy, prone to rusting / swelling in inclement weather and do not fit with Joe Average's habits... can't take a Ruger No. 1 pushing brush in the rain...Travesty!
I'm not pooh, poohing the fellows who show up with an 8mm STW, 338 Lapua and 50 BMG...each to their own. Most folks are gonna give them the side-eye without my input anyhow. Recalling a 'Merican article laughing about someone showing up at Hunt Camp with an AK47. They are out there ( not here of course, different platform T97 perhaps:50cal: ), folks whom have to be the Center of attention... their deal, not really mine.
Of course to me 'Ultimate' doesn't mean appealing to a small percentage whom are ( or consider themselves) Nimrods, but rather a to platform whom anyone can master. This is how I see an 'Ultimate' deer rifle.
And it gets so old reading Nimrods pimping their own favorite platform, I've been bouncing around here long enough I can even guess what certain members are gonna suggest, LoL.
Step out of your routine and put forth something deviated from your same old... acknowledge that the fellow you are debating with has some valid points.
Spirit of Giving and all that.
Merry Christmas break all.
 
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SuperCub said:
Maybe for where you live and how you hunt there. :)
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The 257 Vanguard is ~$850 and Fuddtastic 117 Grain Roundnoses are out there.

As per the OP's question though; light recoil and 150 yards max, a fast 22 is going to put deer on the ground faster than any 300 Savage or 35 Remington.
 
There are many that would qualify as the ultimate deer gun. Just so happens that they all are in this book. ;)

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Well depending where you live/hunt could dictate what’s a good application for a deer hunting rifle, out west here in BC many cartridges fit the bill, but a lightweight SS bolt action rifle is about ideal for our climate.

I hunt with a 6lb 12oz 280 Ackley Improved shooting 160gr Accubonds and imho for myself that’s about perfect for a deer hunting rifle/cartridge combo in BC.
 
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Weatherby Fan said:
Well depending where you live/hunt could dictate what’s a good application for a deer hunting rifle, out west here in BC many cartridges fit the bill, but a lightweight SS bolt action rifle is about ideal
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Quite right on your opening line.

By contrast, here in Ontario the sheer numbers of Win 94 30-30’s or Rem 740/7400/760/7600’s Carbines in 308, 270 or 30-06 that are being or have been used in Camps all over this province would have you believe they are the ultimate fit. Most of them have coming from the tradition of an above rifle being passed down generationally or a first time hunter being told that’s all they really need.

For the atypical Ontario Camp where line or dog drives are being used, they are well suited to Ontario’s mix of hardwoods, farm fields and shield country for the average 100-300yrd shot that maybe encountered. Reasonably light, fast target acquisition and easy to cycle for follow up or moving shots. All of the boxes are checked for an Ontario Deer Rifle with them. Yes, they may be considered boring, outdated or dare I say Fudd’ish. Yet, for the average hunter that only gets out the two weeks of rifle season and back into the safe it goes until next season, they work well for that intended purpose.

There’s is certainly no denying or arguing the sheer volume of Venison those above models have accounted for over the decades here in Ontario.

Are they the “Ultimate Deer Rifle”? As the above quote states it’s all about perspective and where you are.
 
For where I hunt the 300 savage is about perfect for the job
I carried a 303 British with peep sights this past fall it was awesome for where I hunt
That being said I also have a 260 and a 270 and a 7 mm rem mag for hunting cut blocks and power line cuts and swamps
 
Ultimate Deer rifle, sounds like getting a compromise just right. The closest to "just right" or "can cope with most situations" I got in a build was with my old Mauser 1909, Lothar Walther 308 sporter barrel 20", in a carbon fibre Multipurpose stock with AICS type magazine system 5 or 10 shot mags. On top the 3-12x50 Schmidt & Bender Zenith with Flash Dot 7, precision hunter turrets on up as well as windage. Bolt was converted to be semi CRF, but also does push feed. Just about the most reliable feeding rifle I have. Many deer have been taken with her from 5m to bit over 400m. First choice rifle I give to guests. She has the original 2 stage trigger in here slightly tuned to around 2.5lb.

Rifle fitted with a 7oz front mounted can and 5 shot aics mag.

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edi
 
I really don't think there is one ultimate deer rifle.
There are literally thousands of good options however, depending on where your location. Is .
Mine is a personal choice, for me it is the ultimate , and it never fails to deliver.
Others have cringed at the thought of having to hunt with the cartridge it is chambered in , or the action It is in, or the choice of sights.
Cat
 
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Ruger American Ranch in 556, 7.62x39 or 6.5 Grendel with a lightweight Leopold LPVO would hard to beat for lightweight, compactness, handiness and Deer effectiveness out to 300 yards
 
Me personally if was deer hunting( no real deer hunting up here) I think I would use my Belgium BAR 30-06 with a 2-7 or similar scope on it! Quick follow up shots, versatile caliber, nice rifle and mine shoot really well!
 
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So perfect the deer come to it at the rifle range. Howa 1500 with k&s stainless barrel in 7x57. Now its sporting an S&B fixed 10x42, and a customised wildcat sythetic stock. Light, great cartridge, reliable as the come.
 
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