Author Topic: Poll - Eastern Deer Rifles (Read 49568 times)

Chuck White · « **Reply #30 on:** July 04, 2005, 03:54:58 AM »

I normally use my Remington M-7, 7mm-08!

I have several others to choose from, like a Rem. 700BDL 7mm Rem Mag, Marlin M-444P, 444 Marlin, but my "go-to" rifle is the M-7 7mm-08!

Mikey · « **Reply #31 on:** July 06, 2005, 02:56:37 AM »

Bummer Dudes, he gives us only one choice when we have soooo much to choose from. He didn't ask if we had preferences for rainy or snowy days, hot or cold weather, or interference from anti-hunting groups. I have a number of rifles all set to go for hunting season - all are sighted in, cleaned and ready. Each has a box of ammo hanging off the trigger guard so that no matter which one I grab it always has the right ammo with it, and I check just to make sure. And, I always bring two rifles in case something happens with one of them and it goes out of commission.

Cam69conv - you mentioned piddly ol tree limbs and sapplings and the like - I once took a rather large Tom Turkey right through a 4" Maple. He was about a hundred yards away and the verticle cross-hairs in my scope completely blocked out the tree. When I looked after I touched her off all I saw were feathers and this tree falling down. The 265 gn 444 had penetrated through the tree and had taken the back half off causing it to topple - the slug kept true to its path and gave us turkey dinner that night, complete with toothpicks (lol).

If your 444 wallops you a whole bunch, get yourself one of those PAST Recoil Shields, they work wonderfully. Mikey.

loaded4bear · « **Reply #32 on:** July 12, 2005, 02:50:48 AM »

In my home state of NJ we are prohibited from using centerfire rifles (too many damn people). So, at home, my choice for deer & bear is my Benelli Nova 12 gauge w/ a fully rifled 24 in. barrel shooting Winchester Partition Gold slugs.
When I hunt out of state in the east (mostly Maine & Pennsylvania), my "go to" big game rifle is my Remington 760 pump in .35 Remington caliber.

Varminter · « **Reply #33 on:** July 22, 2005, 12:29:16 PM »

Here in East TN shots are pretty close. (15-100 yards) All i used last season was a NEF handi rifle in 44 mag. It's really all you need around here unless you find a field to sit on. And even then the magnums are too much. I wouldn't even carry a 30-06 around here. Everything you can do with it around here i could do with a 7mm-08. When some one says "a long shot" around here that means about 200 yards. Magnums and most long action calibers are just too much gun IMO for the area.

ktw · « **Reply #34 on:** July 22, 2005, 06:59:07 PM »

Quote from: Rick Teal

Assume:

1) You do not have a deer rifle.
2) You have enough money to buy just one rifle for hunting in the east.
3) What type and cartridge class would you pick?

Given the assumptions, there is no good choice but a muzzleloader.

It would allow you to hunt a lot more days (rifle and muzzloader seasons) and a lot more places (significant portions of the east have restrictions on centerfires).

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #35 on:** August 01, 2005, 02:20:47 PM »

This poll is getting lots of views, so I made it a sticky. Let's see how it goes as time passes

kdael · « **Reply #36 on:** August 21, 2005, 08:24:09 AM »

My choice would be any quality bolt in .308. I shoot a Rem 700 w/Bushnell 3200 3x9x40. My wife shoots a Browning Micro Medallion in .308 w/Leupold Varix ll 3x9x40 (she stole it from me).

Our 12 year old son(John Wayne fan) thinks you should only shoot lever actions. His rifle is a .30-.30 Winchester 94 Trapper w/Burris 4x. Our 10 year old daughter uses a .30-.30 TC Contender w/16" barrel and a Bushell Trophy 1.75x5x32.

Still working on what our 6 year old son will shoot and have a few more years to work on what our 1 year old daughter will shoot. :wink: Put enough of us in the woods; one of us will drag something home! :-)

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #37 on:** August 22, 2005, 02:13:48 PM »

I'd fit right in with the 12 year old. But he'd probably out distance me. :eek:

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #38 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:00:07 PM »

I have an affinity for single shots so I would choose a H&R1871 7mm-08 single shot rifle with a Mueller 2-7x32 scope...

kenscot · « **Reply #39 on:** September 19, 2005, 12:49:53 PM »

Going to give my browning micro hunter in 7mm-08 a try this fall. sweet to carry and shoots 1/2 MOA groups

JKump · « **Reply #40 on:** December 09, 2005, 02:16:07 AM »

My choice: a 308 caliber. I am also a single shot rifle guy, I use a NEF survivor 308 w/bull barrel, with a Nikon 4x32 scope on top. However, I don't think you could go wrong with any good bolt gun in 308.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #41 on:** December 09, 2005, 03:34:23 AM »

A classic 1952 Savage 99R in .300 loaded with 150 gr Federal shells,
topped with a vintage Weaver 3X scope. How sweet it is!

" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the expereince."

FishHunt · « **Reply #42 on:** April 12, 2006, 05:34:35 AM »

I am a lefty so my choice would be a short action LH Savage or Remington in .308Win top it off with a good quality scope around the size of 3-9x36 or 3-9x40 and I'd be set. You could burn alot of Mil-Surp ammo in practice. With newer loads & bullets the .308 covers a lot of ground.

<><Fish

bud340 · « **Reply #43 on:** April 18, 2006, 06:42:01 PM »

I would likely use a 45/70 with a light load because of the dense population of people. You can never be too safe. :cb2:

K.K · « **Reply #44 on:** May 04, 2006, 02:48:12 PM »

Although I hunt with any of 20 or so deer rifles I own, I think one would do well pick a bolt action rifle in 270 or 30-06 for these reasons:

1. Can handle brush if the rifle fits you well
2. Shoot flat enough for open country
3. Generally most accurate of the other choices
4. Ammo can be purchased anywhere. (Try finding 300 Weatherby Mag cartriges in some Adirondack small town)
5. The rounds are proven killers of any deer or eastern big game that walks.

That said, I cannot imagine the horror of only being able to own one rifle!

Micahn · « **Reply #45 on:** July 30, 2006, 09:49:30 PM »

I use a Savage 99 300 Savage. I also use a Stevens 12G pump. Both was passed down from my Father. Both in my eyes are great for just about anything I might want to hunt in the eastern states. Well I also have a Remington nylon 22, Between them 3 I am good to go I feel.

32WINSPL · « **Reply #46 on:** August 17, 2006, 09:39:52 PM »

I would use my Marlin 336 chambered for .30-30 Winchester and topped with a Banner 1.5-4.5X32mm Wide Angle scope. If Black Bear are being hunted or expected I would load with 170gr Remington CL otherwise I would use 150gr Win. Power Points...................................I hunt with Uncles and Cousins in Central Ontario and the last time I was out, this is what was carried: 1 Savage M99 .308, 1 Savage M99 .300 Savage, 1 BLR .308 w/scope, 1 Marlin 336 .30-30 w/scope, 1 Browning MKII Safari 30-06 w/scope, 1 Winchester M94 .30-30 and 1 Winchester M94 .32WS. All levers but one, no lies. BC

NYH1 · « **Reply #47 on:** August 31, 2006, 11:08:53 AM »

If I could only have one deer rifle it would be my Remington model 700 Classic 280 Rem. Right now I have a 3-9x40mm Redfield scope on it. I'm going to replace the scope with a Leupold VX-II 4-12x40mm scope. If this really was my only deer rifle (which it's not) I would go with a Leupold VX-II 3-9x40mm scope instead of the 4-12x40mm.

jro45 · « **Reply #48 on:** October 20, 2006, 04:53:57 AM »

The rifle I would use for deer on the East Coast is my 30/06 , my 7mm, 257 WBY or my 270 Win. My state is flat so its a shotgun state. I usually use my 20 ga.

loaded4bear · « **Reply #49 on:** November 16, 2006, 07:07:27 AM »

You could "cheat" & opt for the T/C Encore. That way you would buy one rifle and have the versatility of switching barrels...anything from .17 centerfire to safari cartridges (.375 H&H .416 Rigby, etc.) + muzzleloader barrels & slug barrels! how can you beat that???

BIG JAKE · « **Reply #50 on:** November 21, 2006, 08:40:42 PM »

My remington model 700 in 7mm rem mag been using it sinc I was 15. It was the first deer gun I owned and its my getter done gun. She's never let me down.

mspaci · « **Reply #51 on:** December 13, 2006, 05:43:38 AM »

I live & grew up in shotgun only area, 20 guage ultra slug with lightfields. I have never killed a deer w/ a rifle(except muzzleloader). But if given the choice I would probably shoot a remmy pump in .270. Mike

Flatshooter · « **Reply #52 on:** September 12, 2007, 08:15:30 PM »

I have used a Marlin lever .30-.30 and currently use a Remington 700 BDL mountain rifle in .30-06.
But my dream would be a Remington BDL mountain rifle in 7mm-08 followed by a Winchester lever action .308.
Choices, choices, choices...
Gotta love America!

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #53 on:** September 14, 2007, 12:24:14 PM »

I took a nice buck with a scoped 88 Winchester in 308 last year. Worked like a dream.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #54 on:** November 22, 2007, 10:13:15 AM »

One rifle to do it all is easy! A .308 Win bolt action with a 3-9X40 scope. I'm not going to go into the brand of either rifle or scope. I know I'm going to get grief for this next comment but modern rifles are Ford Dodge or Chevy. A pick up is basically a pick up and each has it's following. So with that said I will defend my bolt action rifle with the fact that they are accurate, easy to fire and reload, and come in many configurations to please the shooter. A bolt rifle can be had in Stainless, Varmint, wood, lightweight, and even full stocks. There can be a quick follow up shot if needed with a simple flick of the wrist.
I will defend the .308 win with the simple word of variety. There are a whole slew of loads for this little round that will meet the need of any shooter, young or old as well as handle all eastern big game be it White tail, black bear, or Moose. From the 125 grain reduced recoil loads to the brush bucking 180 grain round nose soft point. I know the round does not beat the brush but it does have a large frontal area that allows for larger deformation and energy transfer but still has the power for deep penetration. I think the two factors of soft round nose and quick energy transfer are reasons why some rounds built a reputation for brush bucking and anchor the deer where you shot it, while other cartridges with more power did not, due more to bullet design.
Personally my eastern deer rifle is a Ruger M77 or Dad's Sako Deluxe, neither wear a scope but my shots are not far ( Usually well under 200 yards) in either eastern North Carolina or in upstate New York where I started deer hunting. A 3-9 scope will allow for those who do not shoot as much as I do to be on target easier and quicker not to mention give them the confidence factor of the cross hairs.
McWoodduck

Doesniper · « **Reply #55 on:** November 24, 2007, 12:48:44 PM »

.250 sav or .260.

Tn Jim · « **Reply #56 on:** June 23, 2008, 10:01:18 AM »

7-08 with a Nikon Monarch 3x9-40 for deer. Hog or bear is a 45-70 with a 4x32 Simmons Pro Diamond shotgun scope. Both on a T/C Encore frame.

Butch Fish · « **Reply #57 on:** June 25, 2008, 05:03:02 PM »

Because I have to choose a Rifle instead of a shotgun I would choose my Thompson Center Contender in 45-70 Govt.

NYHunter · « **Reply #58 on:** August 21, 2008, 07:10:10 AM »

My choice for the 'one gun question' would be the Rem. 760 / 7600 carbine in .30-06 or .308.

FLNT4EVR · « **Reply #59 on:** September 12, 2008, 05:18:36 AM »

I'll take my Remington Model 7 CDL in .260 with 129 grn Hornady sp.

Poll

What Rifle Type and Cartridge Class Would You Pick For Deer Hunting in the East?

Author Topic: Poll - Eastern Deer Rifles (Read 49568 times)