Deer Rifles

[ShaneHallum]

In your opinion... What is the best deer rifle for my wife and myself. Now, I'm a big boy but my wife is smaller and is affraid of a bigger gun. What would be our best bet, since we can't afford a gun for each of us.

 

[buckdead]

i got a remmy 700 in .243 and win model 70 featherweight in .243 and both are good accurate guns. imo either gun would great for anyone to use to kill a deer.

 

[Hogbear]

I've got a Ruger 77 in .243 that's my main deer rifle. Mine has a long bull barrel so it's heavy to tote around all day but it has basically no recoil and it's a lot quieter than short barrelled rifles. Can't go wrong with a .243.

Hog's Breath still has some good deals on those long barreled Styer Pro Hunters in .243. They're a long thin barrel so they're a lot lighter to carry than my Ruger, but still easy on the ears. They have an adjustable length stock so different size peoples can shoot them comfortably.

http://www.hogsbreathfineguns.com/special_deals.htm

 

[mr.big]

Rem 700 CDL or Mountian Rifle 308

 

[Kimberman]

Something in 243, 260, 7mm-08, or 308.

 

[mr.big]

a DPMS 260 would be nice also

 

[ShaneHallum]

I was thinking .243 but wasn't for sure. What are the ballisitcs on the 7mm-08's? I've never messed with one.

 

[Plateau Hunter]

As far as caliber I think the .250 Savage, .257 Roberts, 6.5x55 Swede, or the .260 Rem are just what yall need. However unless you are a reloader ammo can be problematic in all those calibers. Personally I never cared much for the 6mms so the 7/08 is probably your best bet in a more available caliber ammowise. Plateau Hunter

 

[muddyboots]

I love my encore in 7mm/08. My wife shoots a model 7 Remington in same caliber.

 

[woodchuckc]

243 or 7mm/08 for calibers; I suggest looking at a Tikka T3 Lite. I bought a left hand action in 30/06 last year, and it is the most accurate big bore rifle I have with a really good trigger right out of the box. I have never heard of anyone having one that was not a shooter. You can find them for a really good price on gunbroker.com - I got mine from Bud's Gun Shop who lists a lot of rifles on gunbroker.

 

[Buck Assassin]

I like my savage model 10 in 243! its light and easy to carry!

308 aint a bad round either!

 

[hunter drew]

my wife shoots a rem 260 youth model. Also 130 grain bullet

 

[Tiny]

In your opinion... What is the best deer rifle for my wife and myself. Now, I'm a big boy but my wife is smaller and is affraid of a bigger gun. What would be our best bet, since we can't afford a gun for each of us.

The one you and your wife like the best and "Fits" you both that both can "Handle" decentaly.That will be hard to do from what you said in your size differences above, still possible though.Just take the wife and go looking. Most ladies have a much shorter "lenght of pull" than most men and fair better with a Compact or Youth rifle. You get one that fits you well chances are it won't your wife and she won't be able to shoot as well with it. They will likely be big difference in the scope postions for each of you as well.

The point being the best bet is get 2 one for you and one for your wife.

A Marlin 336 might serve you both.

 

[ShaneHallum]

A Marlin 336 might serve you both.

I've got one, a .35 lever action. She don't like it at all. She will not be hunting very much, but when she does.. I want her to be confident.

Which shoots faster? .243 - 7mm-08 ? Which shoots a heavier round too?

 

[Hogbear]

.243 and 7mm-08 are both based on the .308 brass.
.243 is 6mm in diameter so 1mm smaller than the 7mm-08. There fore the .243 will be a little faster and the 7mm a little heavier. The .260 fits in between them. I love my .243 because that's what I've been using for 20+ years and it's been a real death ray on deer, but really there's not a whole lot of difference between the three.

 

[7mm08]

OK. I am the absolute study for this thread. I am 6'6" and 300#. I have shot all kinds of rifles and all kinds of calibers. I chose a Remington 7mm-08 to kill deer from 300yds to 10yds with lots of accuracy. My Mountain DM kicks a little because it only weighs about 6lbs. It's very light even with scope. Some guys on here think you have to kill deer with a 300 Win Mag. You can, but my question is why? .243 are great rounds for eastern whitetails and anything smaller, as well as 7mm-08, and .308. Short actions are great for chambering in my opinion. Even IF you get lucky enough for an elk draw and get a 100 yd or less shot in east TN on an elk, a 7mm-08 will kill it as well.

IF you liked getting the crap kicked out of you, or you might cower down when some good old boy laughs at your "kid's or girl gun", then shoot some huge round, and blow a hole the size of a plate out of a 150# animal. IMO most of those folks can't really shoot, and need to just hit the animal in the ribs and hope for the best. Accuracy is also effected greatly by the anticipated recoil of the rifle, so the less recoil, generally the better accuracy overall. If you like to kill deer dead in their tracks under 300 yards in the east, especially the south, wooded or beanfield, without much thought process to shot dynamics get a 7mm-08 or .308. I chose what I thought was the best combination of both military worlds....7mm bullet on a .308 case.

BTW. I don't think that Remington made that Mountain DM in a .308. I would however love to find the "Classic" made the last year of that series in the .308.

Good luck

 

[ShaneHallum]

7mm08 thanks alot. I can relate to what your saying about the bigger guns. There isn't a need for something like that around here. I think I'm going to get one of those 3 guns... depending on the price of ammo. .308 would be the cheapest way. But I don't wanna go that route. Maybe the .243

 

[7mm08]

Excellent choice, good luck.

 

[megalomaniac]

I'm currently making a rifle for my 4 yr old to shoot this year...

I'm starting with a wood ADL stock, have chopped it off to around 10 1/2" LOP and completely refinished it. I'm dropping a Remington Titanium mountain rifle barreled action in the stock. Actually it's already done, just got to get to the range to start the load workup.

It's in 7mm-08. I'm planning on handloading 120gr Ballistic tips at around 2200 fps. Probably top it with a red dot scope, so there no chance for scope-eye on the little fellow. Downloaded like that, I suspect recoil will be similar to a .223, despite the ultra light weight.

I chose a 7mm over the 243 simply because I'll get a little bigger entry hole, hopefully little better blood trail.

 

[ShaneHallum]

Cool.. post some pics of your gun.

I like the idea of having a bigger entry hole. I think if I was to use some good hollow points the .243 would be plenty.

 

[mike243]

here's you a chart to give you ball park figures on recoil,i will post a link to remingtons balistic so you can ck out some of the caliburs folks talk about ,if i was rich i would own 1 of each mike243


Cartridge (Wb@MV) Rifle Weight Recoil energy Recoil velocity
.17 HMR (17 at 2550)... 7.5 0.2 n/a
.204 Ruger (33 at 4225) 8.5 2.6 4.4
.22 LR (40 at 1165).... 4.0 0.2 n/a
.22 WMR (40 at 1910) ...6.75 0.4 n/a
.22 Hornet (45 at 2800) 7.5 1.3 3.3
.222 Rem. (50 at 3200). 7.5 3.0 5.1
.223 Rem. (55 at 3200). 8.0 3.2 5.1
.223 Rem. (62 at 3025). 7.0 3.9 6.0
.22-250 Rem 55 at 3600) 8.5 4.7 6.0
.220 Swift (55 at 3800) 8.5 5.3 6.4
.223 WSSM (55 at 3850) .7.5 6.4 7.4
.243 Win. (75 at 3400). 8.5 7.2 7.4
.243 Win. (100 at 2960) 7.5 8.8 8.7
6mm Rem. (100 at 3100) .8.0 10.0 9.0
.243 WSSM (100 at 3100) 7.5 10.1 9.3
.240Wby Mag 100 at 3406 8.0 17.9 n/a
.25-35 Win. 117 at 2230 6.5 7.0 8.3
.250 Savage 100 at 2900 7.5 7.8 8.2
.257Roberts 120 at 2800 8.0 10.7 9.3
.25 WSSM (120 at 2990). 7.25 13.8 11.1
.25-06 Rem. 120 at 3000 8.0 12.5 10.0
.257 Wby Mag120 at 3300 9.25 15.1 10.3
6.5x55 Swede140 at 2650 9.0 10.6 8.7
.260 Rem. (120 at 2860) 7.5 13.0 10.6
6.5mm-284Norma140at2920 8.0 14.7 10.9
6.5mm Rem Mag120 at 3100 8.0 13.1 10.3
6.5x68 S (140 at 2990)..8.5 16.8 11.3
.264 Win Mag 140at 3200 8.5 19.2 12.1
6.8mm Rem. SPC (115 at 2625) 7.5 8.0 8.3
.270 Win. (130 at 3140) 8.0 16.5 n/a
.270 Win. (150 at 2900) 8.0 17.0 11.7
.270 WSM (150 at 3000). 8.0 18.9 12.3
.270 Wby Mag 150at 3000 9.25 17.8 11.1
7x57 Mauser 39 at 2800) 8.0 14.0 10.6
7mm-08 Rem. 140 at 2860 8.0 12.6 10.1
7x64 (154 at 2850)..... 8.0 17.9 n/a
.280 Rem. (140 at 3000) 8.0 17.2 11.8
7mm Rem. SAUM 160at2931 8.0 21.5 13.2
7mm WSM (160 at 3000).. 8.0 21.9 13.3
7mm Rem. Mag150 at 3100 8.5 19.2 12.1
7mm Wby. Mag140 at 3300 9.25 19.5 11.7
7mm STW (160 at 3185).. 8.5 27.9 14.6
7mm Ultra Mag160at 3200 8.5 29.4 n/a
.30 Carbine 110 at 1990 7.0 3.5 5.7
.30-30 Win. 150 at 2400 7.5 10.6 9.5
.30-30 Win. 170 at 2200 7.5 11.0 9.7
.300 Sav. (150 at 2630) 7.5 14.8 n/a
.307 Win. (150 at 2600) 7.5 13.7 10.9
.308 Marlin Express 160 at 2660 8.0 13.4 10.4
.308 Win. (150 at 2800) 7.5 15.8 11.7
.308 Win. (180 at 2610) 8.0 17.5 11.9
.30-06 Spfd.150 at 2910 8.0 17.6 11.9
.30-06 Spfd 180 at 2700 8.0 20.3 12.8
.300 RemSAUM 180at 2960 8.25 23.5 13.6
.300 WSM (180 at 2970.) 8.25 23.8 13.6
.300 Win Mag 180at 2960 8.5 25.9 14.0
.300 Wby. Mag. 150 at 3400 9.25 24.6 13.1
.300Ultra Mag180at3230 8.5 32.8 15.8
7.62x39Soviet 125 at 2350 7.0 6.9 8.0
7.62x54R Russian 174 at 2600 9.0 15.0 10.4
.303 British180 at 2420 8.0 15.4 11.1
.32 Spec. (170 at 2250) 7.0 12.2 10.6
8x57 Mauser 170 at 2360 8.0 12.9 n/a
.325 WSM (180 at 3060). 7.5 33.1 16.9
8x68 S (150 at 3300)... 8.5 25.3 13.9
8mm Rem Mag 200 at 2900 8.5 32.9 15.8
.338 Marlin Express 200 2400 8.0 16.2 11.4
.338-57 O'Connor t 2400 8.0 19.2 12.4
.338 Federal (210 at 2630) 8.0 21.9 13.3
.338-06 A-Square (250 at 2500) 8.5 28.2 14.6
.338 Win. Mag. (200 at 2950) 8.5 32.8 15.8
.338 Win. Mag. (250 at 2700) 9.0 33.1 15.4
.340 Wby. Mag. (200 at 3100) 10.0 29.6 13.8
.338 Ultra Mag (250 at 2860) 8.5 43.1 n/a
.357 Mag. (158 at 1650) 7.0 4.7 6.6
.35 Rem. (200 at 2050) 7.5 13.5 10.8
.358 Win. (200 at 2490) 8.0 20.9 13.0
.35 Whelen (200 at 2675) 8.0 22.6 13.5
.350 Rem. Mag. (200 at 2700) 8.5 22.3 13.0
9.3x62 (270 at 2550) 8.5 33.3 n/a
9.3x74R (286 at 2400) 8.25 34.3 16.6
.375 Ruger (270 at 2840) 9.0 41.3 17.2
.375 H&H Mag. (270 at 2690) 9.0 36.1 16.1
.375 Ultra Mag (300 at 2800) 8.75 53.2 n/a
.378 Wby. Mag. (300 at 2900) 10.25 71.1 n/a
.405 Win. (300 at 2200) 8.0 30.6 15.7
.416 Rem. Mag. (400 at 2400) 10.0 52.9 18.5
.416 Rigby (400 at 2400) 10.0 58.1 19.3
.44 Rem. Mag. (240 at 1760) 7.5 11.2 9.8
.444 Marlin (240 at 2400) 7.5 23.3 14.2
.45 Colt (255 at 1100) 8.0 4.0 5.6
.450 Marlin (350 at 2000) 7.0 37.2 18.5
.45-70 (300 at 1800) 7.0 23.9 14.8
.45-70 (405 at 1330) 7.5 18.7 12.7
.458 Win. Mag. (500 at 2100) 9.0 62.3 21.1
.458 Lott (500 at 2300) 10.0 70.4 21.3
.460 Wby. Mag. (500 at 2600) 11.25 99.6 n/a
.470 N.E. (500 at 2150) 11.0 69.3 20.1
.50 BMG (647 at 2710) 30.0 70.0 12.3

 

[mike243]

here ya go,take any thing you hear or read about with a open mind,these are factory loads & are a decent comoparision of caliburs,hand loads in all can be made faster/more accurate,have fun,the only good way i know of is to shoot a bunch of diffrent rifles & pick 1,mike243
http://www.remington.com/products/ammun ... allistics/

 

[ShaneHallum]

Thanks Mike.. looking at the .50 bmg... I wanna shoot that sucker!

 

[ShaneHallum]

I've always liked the 22-250 but they are so expensive.

 

[7mm08]

Mike,
The boys from GA got us beat on readability of that recoil chart.
Try this...

http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=56996

 

[mike243]

thanks,that paste i done never looks the same as when i view the website,i will save that link as a # of folks dont know or were told off the wall stuff about diffrent caliburs,i shoot a 243 & a 300wm & love both,i carry them each during season,the last 2 deer i shoot with the 300wm,mike243

 

[pety221]

Model 700 in 7mm/08 or 308. Buy it in a youth model since them stocks are a lil harder to come by. Then look around on 24hourcampfire for a take off full size stock. If ure ever down this way I've got a older wood stock for a 700 adl u can have if u want it. I think

 

[pety221]

Went n looked I've got 2 wood adl stocks one regular n one that's had bout 2in cut off the butt end of it.

 

[ShaneHallum]

I wanna shoot the .260

I've had the 25 06 loved it. Thought about just getting her one of the handi rifles. Save me alot of $$ and get me whatever I want.

 

[Grizzly Johnson]

I wanna shoot the .260

I've had the 25 06 loved it. Thought about just getting her one of the handi rifles. Save me alot of $$ and get me whatever I want.

That sounds like a plan, especially if she isn't hunting alot....