What is the best deer rifle?

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turf08

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Im in the market to buy another deer rifle. Im torn between a couple guns, but Im curious about your opinions. So please tell me what your #1 choice gun would be if you only get one!!!!
P.S. Be specific, ie. brand, caliber, action.
THANKS!!!!
 
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I love my 30-30 but that's partly because it's the only rifle I've deer hunted with and it's compact and lightweight and shoots good to 100 yards and has great knockdown. However if I had to choose one gun I would probably go with a .270. Not sure though, I've only ever shot a 270 once and have shot a 308 a few times but I can't tell which I would like better.
 
All great guns and calibers mentioned above, but it's really up to you and where you hunt.

If you're an ambidextrous shooter like myself that wants to fill the freezer, you might not op for a bolt gun. I have a Marlin lever gun in .35 Rem with a crisp, aftermarket trigger that's a tack driver. Even with a scope, I like it's balance, and it shows in how I shoot it offhand. Not bragging at all, I'm just saying that I can shoot it a lot better offhand than any other rifle I've shot...ie. bolt guns or my last, a single shot Handi-rifle in .270. However, if you hunt big fields, power lines, or cutovers from a shooting house you'll probably want a more flat shooting rifle. Don't go nuts over firepower, though. Excessive recoil and noise never helped anyone's shooting.
 
I love my 338 win mag. I know a lot of people will say overkill. I can take the recoil and shoot it as good as any of my smaller caliber guns, better than some. No matter how good you shoot we are all human and will make a bad shot from time to time. This gun makes up for some human error. I shot through a 3" thick cedar one time and still killed the 8 pt standing on the other side of it, I meant to shoot beside it. I spend to much time and money to let a opportunity slip away because of to small a gun.
 
Glad to hear all the accolades for the 7-08, as I picked one up a couple months ago and just shot it for the first time Fri. It's a Tikka SS and about the smoothest operating bolt and trigger pull I've ever handled.

Still don't see it taking the place of my -06 tho. ;)
 
I'm a rem fan myself and if I had to choose on cal for big game hunting it would be the -06 one of the most versatile there is imo.
 
Another vote for 7mm08 from me. I have quite a few rifles, and this year I'm going to it instead of my 270. Hard to beat an older Rem 700, but this new 7mm08 I got is a Mossberg 4x4 - so far I've been impressed!
 
The best depends on your preferences. I prefer wood and stainless with a CRF claw extractor. A Winchester Model 70 with a Sporter stock chambered in 260 Rem would be a dream come true for me.
 
I'm impressed with all the positive 7mm-08 feedback. I've shot about everything from 243 to 300 wm and wsm over the years. I like to shoot a lot and got tired of shooting 3 shots and my entire body hurt. I have 2 7mm-08s now. A full custom Rem 700 and a factory Rem 700 with a tune up. Nice easy shooting caliber.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I just picked up a gun that I hope will be the one i was looking for. I got a Sako A7 300wsm. However the next rifle I look at will defiantly be a 7mm-08. I had no idea they were as popular as they are. Thanks to all
 
I have used a Model 70 Winchester for over 48 years. No complaints, shoots just as good today as it did back then. My Dad and his hunting buddies all had Remington 742 Woodsmasters back in the 60's and early 70's. I believe Remington discontinued them around 1980, but I'm not real sure.
 
I've always felt that since a deer is a light boned, relatively small "big" game animal, it doesn't take a whole lot to kill them. To me that means the cartridges ranging in caliber from 25 to 7mm are perfect. Why take more abuse on the shoulder than is needed to take the game animal you are shooting? Also, you will shoot better if you can focus on the shot rather than surviving the recoil.

As far as the particular model or brand of rifle, that is such an individual choice that my opinion doesn't really matter.
 
The rifle that you are most comfortable with and most confident in shooting is the best rifle IMO.... Way too many out there to say one is better than the other.. It's all in the the person that's in charge of it to define "best" in a deer rifle..

As far as my opinion, I don't have one really. I've been shooting the same rifle since I was 12.. A Ruger M77 .270..
I've always loved it. I've owned a couple other Ruger rifles and loved em all. If I was going to buy a new one, it would be a Ruger .270 with the green Hogue stock.
 
Hands down for me, the Model 70 Extreme weather in SS and calibered in 270 wsm. Love this gun, topped with the Nikon Monarch 3x12x42....if I remember correctly! Deadly.





 
My favorite has been my Winchester Model 70 in 7mm wsm, but I have others that I love as well. My 240 and 257 Weatherbys can't be beat for minimum recoil. I like to train with a 22, then I'll shoot the big boys a couple times to make sure they're sighted in. I do not recall a time shooting a deer that I have actually felt recoil even with 300s. The 7-08 has been getting a lot of good press lately, and I may have to break down and get one. How is ammo cost guys?
 

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