Need deer rifle

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pwrstrkd

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What would be a good option around $400 for a deer rifle for hunting in Arkansas and Pennsylvania? I live in NJ where we cannot hunt with rifles so it will only see occasional use. I don't mind used guns. Looking to get a 270 or 308 but open to other options. Any advice will be appreciated.
 
Hell ya... Mosin Nagant... shoots cheap mil surplus at the range and you can get premium expanding bullets for hunting season. If it gets rained on, who cares!!! If you don't finish em off with the first shot you can even always bayonet through the heart, (jk :p ). Its not terribly difficult to mount optics to them either...which certainly would help over the crude irons. I have mojo sights on my m44 and can very easily hit a 16x9" steel plate at 200 yards with cheapo milsurplus. Thats easily a front shoulder shot.
 
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+1 on the Savage

I have a Savage .270 and it is extemely accurate. I also like the placement of the safety.

Many people use a Mosin Nagant for deer hunting. But it is definitely a step down from a quality modern rifle. The safety is aggravating, the butt plate is steel, accuracy is pretty good, trigger pull is ok, it is a little difficult to install a scope and it is as tall as some men. That said, I love mine and think it is the best value in rifles there is.
 
Take a look at the Thompson Center Venture I used to be a huge Remington 700 fan, but I think the Venture is the best deal going right now a friend of mine bought one in 30-06 from Dicks Sporting Goods for $449.00 and it will shoot 1 MOA or less with good hunting ammo, it has a fully free floated barrel, adjustable trigger, detachable magazine, 5R rifling, a lifetime warranty and its made in the USA.

http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/venture.php
 
I live in Arkansas right in the middle of deer central. You're not going to need a rifle that shoots out to 300 yds. I use a Winchester 94 30/30. Most of your shots are going to be 75yds or less. If you don't want to use a lever action 30/30 or .35, go with a Savage Axis in .243, 270. or 30.06. One of the Mosin's will do, they're just a bit heavy if you have to walk up hill very far. Good luck and good hunting. I could sure use a few less deer around here.
 
Ozarkrecluse, you ain't kidding about them hills... :)

a lighter rifle will be much more beneficial than some super-shooter

oh... +1 savage
 
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Thompson Center Venture or Weatherby Vanguard or used Winchester Model 70 in the .270 or .308 you named as your caliber choices.

These will work fine in Arkansas and should you later decide you want to hunt more open country will also work quite well there.
 
Savage in .270, .308, 7mm-08, 30.-06 would be hard to beat for the price.

I had a Stevens which is made by Savage in .25-06 man that thing could shoot.
 
If you want a cheap, accurate, durable, and reliable rifle right out of the box go with a Savage and you can't go wrong.

I bought mine for $250 OTD at Wal-mart a few years back with a Bushnell scope already attached. Thing shoots within 2 inch groups at 200 yards on a calm day at the pits and I'm not a very good shot. Lightweight also, but if I was going to do it again, I would have spent a few more $ and bought one with a removable clip. That's the only fault I've found in my rifle is it sometimes fails to chamber a round because the internal clip funks up.
 
Just curious all you folks reccomending Savage where are yall hiding when someone comes on having problems with Savage......lol it just seems like when anyone ask for a rifle reccomendation a lot of people reccomend Savage, but when someone has a problem with one its like Hello....Hello....Hello anyone out there........:eek:
The above post was written in fun.......:)
 
You really can't go wrong with Savage, Tikka T3 or TC Venture. If you have to climb alot of hills you might compare the weights. I'm not a 30-30 fan for reasons of personal experience but others do well with it. The lever actions are no longer the bargains they once were.
 
If the shots won't be very far, there is nothing wrong with a Marlin or Winchester lever action. For a bolt, there are plenty of good choices but count me as one of the Savage guys. They flat out shoot. If either one of mine shot a moa group I would be in panic mode trying to figure out what is wrong.
 
Heck, if shots are going to be 75 yards + or -, get a 12 gauge pump shotgun and use slugs for deer, then shot shells for birds. One gun for all hunting purposes.

If you prefer a rifle, I’d go with a .30-30, or even an old SKS.
 
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