Need deer rifle

Savage for me too. One thing I'd like to comment on, is I recommend going with the Savage 110 or 10 depending on if it's a long or short action caliber. You can get these at Walmart for $387-397 depending on the Walmart and that's with the accu trigge which is worth every penny imo, and with a cheap scope to get you started. All for under your budget.

I'd stay away from the Axis/Edge imo just because it's not near the gun as the 110 and it costs nearly as much. I think when a lot of guys are recommending Savage, the are talking about the 110/10 instead of the Edge/Axis, but they often don't specify it.

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........
The above post was written in fun.......
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I've not seen any threads about people having issues so I must have missed them. My advise is to call customer service as Savage has great customer service to go along with their product. That being said, while I'm sure someone somewhere has had a problem, I've never personally seen anyone have a problem with a Savage other than basic stuff like breaking the plastic trigger guard, ripping the recoil pad, etc. Stuff that really isn't part of the guns function. Savage has always taken care of these issues though.
 
Trivia - Pennsylvania is the leading state for Deer harvest (1.2 million).

According to Boone/Crockett Club, the most popular cartridge for Whitetail Deer is .270

I was surprised to see the long-lived .30/30 only represents 2% of trophies, nation-wide.

(the .300 Win Mag is the most common nation-wide - but that includes all species, such as mule deer, elk, etc.)
 
H&R Handi-Rifle in .308 with a 4X scope. Most accurate centerfire rifle I own. The short barrel makes it a nice gun to carry in the field and if you need a second shot it doesn't take long to reload. Take the time to make the first shot a good one and you won't need a second shot. If you miss a second shot will just be a wild shot at a rapidly disappearing target, better to wait until you get a better shot.

If you have a shotgun in 20, 16 or 12 gauge put a 2.5X scope on it and you are good to go with what you have.
 
.300 is the most common cartridge for trophies registered with Boone/Crockett. (different than ownership/purchases)

(B&C does not differentiate between .300 weatherby and .300 Win Mag - but they would differentiate between .300 and .30-06 --- go figure)

Most popular calibers by species include:

Whitetail deer—1.) bow, 2.) Muzzleloader/shotgun, 3.) .270
Black bear—1.) bow, 2.) .300 Magnum, 3.) .30-06
Pronghorn—1.) .300 Magnum, 2.) .270, 3.) 7mm Magnum
Sheep (bighorn, Dall’s, desert, Stone’s)—1.) .300 Magnum, 2.) 7mm Magnum, 3.) .270
Mule deer—1.) .300 Magnum, 2.) 7mm Magnum, 3.) .270
Elk (American, Roosevelt’s, Tule)—1.) .300 Magnum, 2.) bow, 3.) tie: .30-06, 7mm Magnum
Moose (Alaska-Yukon, Canada, Shiras)—1.) .300 Magnum, 2. ) tie: 7mm Magnum, .338 Magnum
Caribou (barren ground, central Canada barren ground, mountain, Quebec-Labrador, woodland)—1.) .300 Magnum, 2.) .270, 3.) .30-06
Blacktail deer (Columbia, Sitka)—1.) .30-06, 2.) tie: 7mm Magnum, .300 Magnum
Coues’ whitetail deer—1.) 7mm Magnum, 2.) .270, 3.) .300 Magnum
Cougar—1.) bow, 2.) .30-30, 3.) 6mm
Rocky Mountain goat—1.) tie: .270, .300 Magnum, 3.) tie: 7mm Magnum, .30-06, bow, muzzleloader/shotgun
Brown bear/grizzly—1.) .375 Magnum, 2.) .338 Magnum, 3.) .300 Magnum
Muskox—1.) Bow, 2.) .300 Magnum, 3.) tie: 6mm, .375 Magnum
Bison—1.) .338 Magnum, 2.) tie: 7mm Magnum, bow


Source:

http://www.biggameawards.com/?cat=1
 
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Ah, I see. So it's not really most popular, they just count multiple cartridges under one name. That seems... Stupid.



Anyway, to the OP, I would also recommend Savage with accu-trigger. Cartridge would be 7mm-08 since I reload. If not reloading, .243.
 
Sort through the used gun rack. Find a rifle the fits good, not too heavy, has a smooth action, and is rust free. If it's chambered for .243 to .30-6, it'll work fine.
 
Any bolt gun from a major manufacturer in .308 that is around budget will be just fine. we all talk about A manufacturer being better than B-Z but any gun with a good reputation is fine for a 300yd. deer rifle. check the used racks for the Rem/Win/Brownng/etc. you like then save up for a GOOD scope. It's a big mistake to buy a cheap scope, that's where you need to worry about manufacturer. i like you choice in the .308.
 
I bought a Ruger M77 MK2 that looked brand new, for $400, at a Gander Mountain out of the used gun rack. Not a scratch on it, and the Gunsmith didnt think it had been fired.
It was chambered in .308. :)
 
There is alot of people in the north east like & use the Rem 7600-760 pumps. They work great,fast action, good hunting accuracy,& not everybody has one. 270 or 3006 dead is dead both are great. good luck
 
Weatherby Vanguards are nice


if you have great eyes:
K-31 7.5 Swiss
Swedish Mauser 6.5 mm
pretty much any C&R gun with a very good+ bore and don't bubba it



Used savage, Winchester m70, etc.


Just go to your local gunstore and see what they have used and try to narrow it down without buying first time.
 
Another for Marlin 30-30.

$400.00 will cover a 30-30 and leave some toward a scope. Ammo for it is everywhere and it's a fun rifle to shoot at the range. Good deer dropper at 150 yards or less. Quick and nimble. Thousands and thousands of people started out with that rifle. For now, it's all you need.
-Jon
 
Or you could buy an AK and start hunting those REALLY aggressive deer! Lol I know I know im just kidding.

+1 for the 30/30 post.
 
arki_newbie said:
Find yourself a used marlin 336 30-30 It's a great wood's gun most shot's around here are less then 100 yards.
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+1

Classic design, good to 200 yards, good balance. They're just something that is really fun to shoot, too.

Definitely go used; the older the better. (unless they're beat-up)
 
Everybody gets to state his opinion. As far as caliber goes, I personally think that the 243 is marginal for deer. Sure, it'll do the job, but go one size up for better performance. A lot depends on what size your deer are. If it's the puny little Texas deer, a 243 is fine. For the larger deer that I hunt in the Louisiana low grounds, I'd suggest starting at 257, and I'm a fan of the 270. A couple of tracking trips through 20 inch deep ice cold knee deep water in your 18 inch tall Lacrosse boots and the clothes-ripping and skin ripping brambles in the fading evening light will make you want a caliber that puts them down quick. Yeah, yeah, and tell me that if you shoot em in the neck they won't run, but sit next to me when the big one walks out in the right-of-way at 275 yards in the fading light and you didn't see him till he was half way across the road, and you have maybe 8 seconds max to pick up the rifle, get set, and make the shot. Yeah, sure...shoot him in the neck. I gave my Dad a 243 about 15 years go, for his birthday. The old BAR in 308 was getting too heavy for him. Dad said to me "Son, that ain't enough gun". I took it back and got him a 270, and all was well.
 
AR & PA

I've hunted deer both places, and cannot think of a deer taken or a shot/opportunity that would have required anything more than a Marlin 336 in 30-30. No shot over 100, and many inside 50. My AR deer were killed with a Ruger .44 auto

Still widely available, easily scoped, fast repeat shot, etc.

My only reservation is that managing the traditional half-cock safety safely and correctly requires a small bit of understanding. Marlin has danced around that issue with the cross bolt safety (not on my rifles!) but it seems the way of things in our liable age.

If you think you might end up on a cut over or R.O.W, or start shooting one side of the valley to another, then you may need something different.
 
PA hunting

Anything in either would do. I prefer .308. Look in the used racks should be lots. I use a .30-30 in a marlin too. I also shoot a lee enfield in .303 British and it works great. I would recommend in your choices the .308 and look for a used bolt action. The ammo is inexpensive and very common.
 
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