Input For New Deer Rifle

[Hilltop]

Something else I'd suggest is to set a maximum price for the rifle itself leaving you as much room as possible to purchase high quality glass and mount systems. Too often I've seen friends go by an $800 rifle and top it with a $300 scope/base/ring combo which doesn't make sense in my eyes since a hunting rifle is useless without a reliable optic on top of it.

Very good point.... You really do get what you pay for when it comes to glass and mounting systems. I have had some good luck with cheaper Burris and Nikon products but they pale by comparison to my VX3 when you look through them.

 

[Colorado T]

Couldn't recommend more the 270!! One of the flattest shooting calibers. Have killed everything from Lopers to elk with mine.
Have never had a problem finding ammo, although I reload my own.

 

[bigsky2]

I would definitely be proactive when it comes to buying ammo. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

 

[Huntinguy0120]

Tikka T3 Hunter (walnut stock, blued barrel) chambered in .270 Winchester ($678)
Talley Medium Rings & Bases ($120) ***Tikka's usually come with their own rings/bases
Nikon Monarch 2.5-10x50 ($399)
Butler Creek Neoprene Sling ($20)

Total Price: $1220. Leftover cash for ammo! My tikka eat's the cheapo Winchester CXP (silver box) very well and also the HSM (orange box) in 130 grain like its his job! 150 grain's shoot well for those larger mountain deer too. Ammo is readily available everywhere!!!

You can also pick up a back up magazine for $60 or so. Also, a limbsaver 'precision fit' puss-pad (recoil pad) for another $40.. Money well spent!

 

[Timberstalker]

Tikka T3 Hunter (walnut stock, blued barrel) chambered in .270 Winchester ($678)
Talley Medium Rings & Bases ($120) ***Tikka's usually come with their own rings/bases
Nikon Monarch 2.5-10x50 ($399)
Butler Creek Neoprene Sling ($20)

Total Price: $1220. Leftover cash for ammo! My tikka eat's the cheapo Winchester CXP (silver box) very well and also the HSM (orange box) in 130 grain like its his job! 150 grain's shoot well for those larger mountain deer too. Ammo is readily available everywhere!!!

You can also pick up a back up magazine for $60 or so. Also, a limbsaver 'precision fit' puss-pad (recoil pad) for another $40.. Money well spent!

I haven't bought a rifle in over 15 years, if I were going to buy another I would consider something like this.

 

[swampokie]

.257 weatherby mag topped with leupold 4.5-14. 25-06 for slightly less range but more available ammo

 

[FORD#1]

bigsky2, Excellent question. I have been out of hunting for years and am in the process of researching rifles. I noticed that the Eastmans advertise Salvage rifles. Anyone out there know of the quality of these guns. I am leaning toward the 7mm mag. Thankyou!FORD#1

 

[Retterath]

i pick would be a 7wsm or 7mm they have such great bullet bc and also a great longrange rifle, i have heard nothing but good things about those tikka's.

 

[Retterath]

If I was in your shoes. I would go with the Tikka T3, replace the factory stock with the B&C Medalist (much better fell, handles recoil better, and has an aluminum bedding block, put on some Talley lightweight rings, and throw on a leupold 3.5-10x40 (with the CDS dial or B&C reticle) and call it a day. I have this exact setup with the Zeiss 3.5-10x40 conquest with the ballistic reticle in 7mm Mag, and it is a great rifle, and it weights about 7.5 lbs ready to hunt.

Here is a pic before I switch to the Zeiss glass (it was too good of a deal to pass up.
View attachment 10117

looks like a great setup

 

[In God We Trust]

I shoot a .300 win mag but have a .270 in the closet for antelope hunting. I would also recommend a .270 to fit what you are looking for. My brother just switched from a .270 to a .300 win mag as well but he has killed deer, antelope, and elk with his .270 for over 15 years. It is a great caliber. As far as glass goes you cant go wrong with Vortex. They have a great product at a good price and a bullet proof warranty. Leupold is great as well but you get less for your money with Leupold IMO. As far as factory rifles go Savage is making a great rifle these days. They make a few with the accustock and free floated barrel. I have been a Remington guy my whole life but my brother has bought 2 savage rifles in the last few years and they are practical and shoot great. Good luck.

 

[Eberle]

I got 37 long guns (rifles & shotguns) My favorite that I hunt big game with our as follows. Out west, antelope = 25-06, mule deer = 7mm rem mag, elk = 300 win. mag. Local (Oklahoma, Texas & Kanas) whitetails & hogs 308 win & 7mm-08 rem. If I had to choose just one to cover everything? It would be 7mm rem mag. As far as brand, go shoulder several at a gun show or sports stores & see what is comfortable. Ammunition, I'd look at midway usa, nosler custom ammo in accubond or partition is hard to beat. Barnes also has good factory ammo.

 

[6mm Remington]

A 25-06, 270, 280 Remington, or a 30-06 would all work very well. I had a Remington 700 MTN rifle in .280 Remington and it sure was a great rifle & cartridge combination. Tikka's really seem to be good shooting rifles and are made by Sako and they build quality stuff. hard to go wrong with one of those.

 

[magnum12]

+1for the tikka as well! I purchased one over a year ago ins 308 and have been very impressed with it out of the box. Sitting on top of is is a DNA scope mount and a vortex diamond's scope.

But as others have mentioned, the 7mm mag is a great choice as well and is what I hunt with th for deer and elk.

 

[Timberstalker]

This thread makes me wish I was in the market for a new rifle.

 

[6mm Remington]

This thread makes me wish I was in the market for a new rifle.

I'm a very lucky guy and I'm having built for me right now a Winchester Model 70 Classic Sporter which will be pillar and glass bedded and the trigger tuned-up. I am having a new barrel put on it in 280 AI. Man am I excited!!

 

[Eberle]

If you want to look at several guns online checkout budsgunshop.com & cdnn investments. Sometimes you can find some good deals. Buds has a 90 day layaway with 20% down.

 

[Live2Hunt]

Have you considered a 270 Winchester ? Either Remington Model 700 or Winchester Model 70. I love the 270 so much that I have 3 of them, most recently purchased a Winchester Model 70 extreme weather, stainless with a black stbthetic stock, fairly light but it ran me 1,300 just for the rifle. Remingtons mountain rifles are light and nice to pack around and are offered in several chamberings. Winchester model 70 Classic Featherweight's are also very light and easy to pack around and are also offered in several chamberings. Ruger M 77's are also very good rifles but not real light. All of the calibers suggested in previous comments are all good calibers, 243, 25-06, 270, 7MM. My advice would be to go to your local gun shop and hold a few different rifles and then decide what rifle you like in the caliber that you like in your price range. Hunting rifles are alot like trucks, every hunter has a favorite one and opinions are going to vary drastically

 

[packmule]

No brand loyalty or anything, but these are pretty good to 500. Chrono day to get their turrets ordered. XCR I(s) & II(s) & a bdl s/s..can still occassionally find a NIB XCR I and have recently seen a cpl nib bdl s/s in magnum calibers come through.

 

[SansSouci]

A 25-06, 270, 280 Remington, or a 30-06 would all work very well. I had a Remington 700 MTN rifle in .280 Remington and it sure was a great rifle & cartridge combination. Tikka's really seem to be good shooting rifles and are made by Sako and they build quality stuff. hard to go wrong with one of those.

This is exactly what I'd recommend.

I really, really like the .280 Rem, especially if you might hunt larger game. But the other cartridge suggestions; e.g., .270 Win, '06 are just as good. If you like short action rifles, look in to either a 7MM-08 Rem or .308 Win.

 

[SansSouci]

While I don't own a Tikka, I do like them. I do own a Sako. Sako makes excellent rifles. However, I'm not sure if Sako rifles are worth the current premium they now command vis-a-vis Tikka. I think I'd go with a Tikka.