what rifle to get for deer hunting

Mike Webb said:
These threads can go on forever. Everyone has a different notion of what makes a good deer rifle. If you want a bolt you have loads of options. My advice would be to keep recoil and weight down, that means everything from a .243 to say the .30/06 if you are not recoil sensitive. Many guys who shoot 12 gauge magnums for waterfowl extensively are over gunned with .30/06 levels of recoil when it comes to shooting a rifle accurately. They are two entirely different kinds of shooting; instintive swing and pull to deliberate holding, contolling breathing, wobbles and trigger squeeze. A deer poked through the boiler room with a 100 grain .24 calibre bullet is preferable to shooting the front leg off one with a 7mm magnum.
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Agree .. good advice
 
A Lee Enfield would not be my choice...why start with technological handicaps via bubba the basement gunsmith?

Plenty of better starter rifles out there:
Ruger American, Savage Axis, Marlin X7, Etc.

.243 to 30/06.
Save the magnums for later...if ever.
 
If I were starting out again ( like 44 seasons ago ! ) deer hunting in the Parry Sound/Kawarthas/Muskoka areas, I would seriously consider a Remington 7600 in 243.
If I were a bolt action fancier, something like a Remington 700 Mountain in 257 or Model 7 in 260. For a lever gun, tough to beat an older Savage 99 in 250/3000
(250 Savage) or 300 Savage. A Model 94 Winchester 30-30, 32 Special or 38-55 rifle (as opposed to a carbine) is a pretty good choice too !
As a lever fan, I've also found the 44 Magnum, 348 Winchester, 358 Winchester and 45-70 Winchester to my liking.
Although I've owned only one ( a Model 742 in 308 ) that never caused me any trouble, I'm just not a semi-auto fan.
Smaller calibers that I like include the 243, 6 mm, 250 Savage, 257 Roberts and 25-06, 260, 6.5 x 55, 7 x 57 & 7 mm/08.
If moose are to be included in the equation, I would lean toward a 270, 280, 300 Savage, 308 or 30-06.
Absolutely nothing wrong with the 270 WSM, 7 mm WSM, 7 mm RM, 300 WSM or 300 WM for moose, but IMHO, they are more
than I care to use for the short range shooting we typically see.
I far prefer a good peep site like the Lyman Foolproof over open sights, but even a WGRS peep or tang site works well too.
For a scope, mount as low as possible, something of good quality, in the 1-4x or 2-7x range, with flip-up scope covers.
A detachable sling should also be part of the outfit.
Above all, get a rifle that fits with an action type you are comfortable with .... and learn to shoot it well.
 
"...in Southern ON..." GEEZUZ! Read the friggin' law. It is NOT all of Southern Ontario. It is only some municipalities and it has nothing to do with the bullet diameter. A .270 uses a .277" bullet. Some municipalities that have the daft restriction say nothing greater than .275 and it's by cartridge name. Some specify .270 though. You have to read the Hunting Regs and by-laws for where you intend to hunt.
Now go buy the .270 Win because it'll kill any game in Ontario with a change of bullet. Mind you, it's not the only cartridge that will do that. It is one of those that will be found anywhere.
 
I am fan of the .308 for a general purpose hunting gun. A carbine version will reach out to several hundred yards and still be short enough for bush creaping. Get a 1-4 or 2-7 scope and keep in on the lowest setting until you need to crank it up.

The availability of bullet choices can't be beat. Keep in mind that if you change bullet weight or even maker, you should take some test shots at known distances to know your point of impact.

That said I have carried, .308, 6.5x55, 30/30, 7.62x39, 44 magnum, 30-06. And will be carrying 7mm-08 and 7 Rem Mag next year.

Find a gun you can shoot without flinching and that you can hit your intended target with. Forget everything anyone says from that point on.
 
Lots of great caliber there. The deer wont feel the difference... 243 and up will do the job. For my part i use a 8mm mauser from deer to moose. Most important get one that you think looks good and feels right in your hands!
 
Deer and Bear!

For deer I would suggest a 243 cal semi auto as my choice and for Bear a dedicated slug gun in 12 or 20 ga. Once you are comfortable hunting both try a bow it's awesome having to get real close! Would have really liked to use a handgun for both but not allowed here!
 
Don't get hung up on ballistics, although they are an interesting study. When you've been sitting/standing for hours and are cold and tired, the ability to take a quick accurate shot outweighs a bullets SD or velocity etc.

I would suggest one that you find comfortable shooting and purchasing ammunition for. If the ammunition is expensive or the gun uncomfortable to shoot, you won't want to practice. I have friends who don't shoot their rifles because they don't like the recoil or don't like the expense of $1 plus per round ammunition. Shooting is fun and if you practice all year, you stand a better chance of being successful when the time comes.
 
not reloading look at 270, 308 or 30 06. ammo avalable everywhere and on the cheaper side. will do for almost any hunting you may need.
 
When I lived east of Orono and first started hunting I bought 2 rifles the first was a 30-30 model 94 and then a Winchester model 670 in 243. That summer I don't remember shooting the 30-30 but carried the 243 almost every day. That was back in the early 70's. I still have both rifles and will be going out for coyotes tomorrow and the 243 will be going with me. I have had 30-06's, 270's, and have 308's, and a 358, among other calibres, I am really fond of the the 257 Roberts but I trust that old 243 over all. If you are starting out with small game and a possible deer hunt. The 243 will do it and you will use it more than a 270, 308, 30-06 among the other calibres mentioned above.
David
 
6.5x55mm Swede (Mauser) as it has a light recoil, can load up to 160grain projectiles and has a flat trajectory out to 300m. You can pick up a used Husqvarna hunting rifle from Trade Ex in this caliber and have a winner and accurate shooter right away. I picked up a deer rifle in 6.5x55mm M96 sporter from Trade Ex for 250 + tax and ship. Anyone who owns one or has shot the 6.5x55mm will attest to its virtues. Good luck and happy hunting!!
 
Magellann said:
You can't beat a 30-30 Winchester, most popular deer rifle around.
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Maybe in 1925. I have seen only one .30-30 in the field in the last 20 years or so. It is NOT the most popular deer rifle around any more, and for lots of good reasons.

Anything that comes in either a .30-06 case, or a .308 case would be my advice.
 
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