what rifle to get for deer hunting

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Cactisjoe

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As the title states i am wondering what caliber rifle to get for deer hunting and maybe black bear I am new to shooting I already have a .22LR as well as a couple of 12 gauge shot guns what size do you guys recommend
thanks
P.S let not start with a brand yet just looking to start with caliber.
 
It depends. Where are you hunting? What is the terrain like? What kind of distances do you think you will be shooting? Do you think you will ever hunt Moose or other large game?
 
30-30 will work as it will be lower price to purchase but limited to shots of 150 yards. 308 or 30.06 can be bought cheap for used guns and ammo is very available and reasonable price. If you want to spend more money then look at 270, 300, etc. Just remember that most center fire rifles will kill a deer, some just put bigger holes in them!
 
For the first rifle, get something .270 or under, should you ever want to hunt yotes or the like in Southern ON your good to go.

For those out west, we have a caliber restriction of .270 or less when there is no big game season.
 
thanks guys i do live "north of seven" so no rifle restrictions that i am aware of not far north of seven 2 km south and shot gun only for deer from what i hear. I will be traveling a bit to go find deer sounds like the 270 might be getting my vote as my uncle has a farm in Orono so yotes and deer (his farm is in bow and muzzle loader only region) with same rifle do i understand this correct Canadian_Zuk
 
Cactisjoe said:
thanks guys i do live "north of seven" so no rifle restrictions that i am aware of not far north of seven 2 km south and shot gun only for deer from what i hear. I will be traveling a bit to go find deer sounds like the 270 might be getting my vote as my uncle has a farm in Orono so yotes and deer (his farm is in bow and muzzle loader only region) with same rifle do i understand this correct Canadian_Zuk
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Yes, you can hunt Coyotes with a 270 at your Uncles farm, but not deer as it is bow and shotgun only area for big game. Lots of Coyotes around Orono too, my range is there and I see them stalking farms fields in the area almost every time I go.
 
Anything that shoots a centre fire cartridge will do.

Read the "What was your first deer shot with thread" for examples.

There's too much myth making in the gun world.They all pretty much do the same thing.
 
Consider the .243Winchester. I'm not saying it's best for your situation, you'll have to figure that out for yourself as you are the only one who will have all the details. Just don't overlook it. Actually, consider every calibre anyone suggests, the process of thinking through what would be good about it and what would be bad about each will lead to realising which one has the least bad and the most good. There isn't "perfect" but something might be pretty close.

e.g. .243Win:

Pro: versatile - you can get factory ammo with varmint bullets or reload you own, so if you use it for coyotes you have the choice of not ruining the hides. Larger bullets are deadly enough for deer and black bear. Recoil isn't bad so it's easier to shoot accurately, which helps ensure the smaller bullets compared to .30 calibre cartridges are big enough. Availability - it's not an uncommon cartridge, you won't have trouble buying ammunition or the components to reload.

Con: Although with good bullet design and correct shot placement it can certainly kill bigger game, if you are going to eventually go for moose it would be better to have the margin of a bigger calibre. (Mind you, that's an excuse to buy another gun, so maybe it's another advantage of the .243?)
 
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I'm using a 30-06 but probably only cuz I found it for a good deal and ammo is everywhere. I'm considering stepping down to a 270 or 243 even but my 30-06 works perfect and allows me to hunt larger game as well.
 
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