Ruger Deer Rifle
 

So I am getting a Ruger in the near future for deer hunting. What model and what caliber should i get. Any reccomendations would be appreciated. Thanks

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

Ruger Hawkeye

Stainless if your hard on guns like me.

Standard wood model if you like a nice piece of wood.

cartridge depends on what you are comfortable shooting.

For deer I'd go 243, 25-06, 7mm08, 308, 270, 7x57, 6.5x55, 280...........You get the picture ;)

What kind of distance will you be shooting? Do you ever plan to hunt anything smaller, or Bigger? We need to know some more details before we can help you pick a cartridge to best suit your needs.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

The one that fits you best!

I'm curious, though... why are you dead-set on a Ruger? Do you get a discount on that brand only? Have you already handled many rifles, & decided that you like the Rugers the best? Do you work for them, or does a relative?

Perhaps I'm reading your post wrong. It sounds, to me, as if you're saying something like, "I'm buying a Ford in the near future. What model should I get?". In which case, we'd all ask if you were towing, hauling, dragging kids around, looking for great mileage, trying to pick up chicks, etc.

As for the cartridge, I'd suggest staying at .270 or below if this rifle will max-out at deer sized game. You'll shoot more often than you will with a larger cartridge, & you'll kill 'em every bit as dead.

Though you didn't ask, a 4x or 6x scope would be plenty, as would a 2-7 or 3-9. If you spend > $150 on your scope, you can get into some pretty good glass.

FC

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

You CAN'T go wrong with the best cartridge ever for deer-7mm08.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

Rammer- I was thinking along the lines of a M 77 Hawkeye. I will be using it primarily hunting deer in the woods in Vermont, which means the distances wont be too far. Probably no shots much over 150-200 yards. I would like to be able to use it for some larger game though. So I was initally thinking along the lines of a 7mm-08 or a .270 for deer, but will those do well on say. a bear or a elk? Or should i go to a bigger caliber?

Folically Challenged- I have a family tie to Ruger, so you can see why i am going to be getting one.

Should i consider any other models than the Hakeye? Thanks for the input guys.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

I love Ruger rifles!!!!

I suggest you get a new Ruger M-77 Hawkeye with a stainless action/synthetic stock.

As for cartridges, I suggest them in this order:

1. 30-06 Spfd
2.280 Rem
3.270 Win
4.308 Win
5.7mm-08

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

I have killed nearly 100 whitetail deer with a Ruger M77 Ultralite in 270 WCF. It is a great rifle in an equally great deer caliber. I haven't handled a Hawkeye, but I do like their looks.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

The 7mm08 and 270 will both do a fine job on elk. I would keep shots under 300 yards with both of them, and use a bullet such as a Barnes TSX, Nosler Partition, or a Nosler Accubond when chasing bear or elk.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

VT Outdoorsman,
I was looking hard at that "hawkeye"; consider Remingtonand Savage as well.
Hay - Rammer, no mention of 30-06!!!!!
The most popular big game cartridge in the USA, and with good reasons.
Ask for more feedback/imput from "Rammer"; I think this guy knows what he is talking about.

..."too hot for the band"...........................E.J.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

My Outfitter in SE BC guides for Moose, Elk, Black Bear, Grizzly, Mountain Goats, Bighorn Sheep, et. al., in his territory. They stipulate .270 as their "camp minimum". Other places want a .30-'06 or bigger. I think either one would serve you well. However, ifdeeris your quarry 95% to 99% ofthe time, I'd trend toward the smaller calibers. Heck, if the larger game would come in a "hunt of a lifetime", surely such an event would warrant the purchase of another rifle, would it not???? That's what we all LIVE for!

Here are some more thoughts on the subject, from Mr. Randy Wakeman:
[blockquote]
What we are left with at present is the spectacularly boring concept of adequacy. It is has been said in different ways over and over again over the last 100 years, and proven for at least that long as well on the game fields, that the entire genre of .270 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, .308 and variants, and the 7mm Rem. Mag. all do pretty much the same thing. The difference is more our own ability to accurately place a shot based our familiarity with rifle, cartridge, trajectory, our own self-control, and our attention to proper bullet selection for specific game size, toughness, and impact velocity.

There are very few recorded instances out of tens of millions of examples where an appropriate bullet with proper shot placement from anything in the .308 to 7mm Rem. Mag. genre has failed to do its job on anything with hooves.

Thisarticle from Chuck Hawks talks about choosing 1 rifle for all your hunting: http://www.chuckhawks.com/one_rifle_hunter.htm

FC
[/blockquote]

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

I'm not a big fan of the 30-06 to tell the honest truth. I think they kick way more than they should, and I've never found one thats overly accurate. I have a Ruger M77MKII in 30-06 that collects dust, as well as a Remington 700 30-06 (still never been fired, I won it).

The Remington is more than likely going to be used for a donor action someday for a future project. The Ruger was my first deer rifle so it isn't going anywhere.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

Those thoughts by Mr. Wakeman are very true. Thanks for the input.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

VT Outdoorsman,
Folically Challenged has offered some insight I think you will find indispensible.
I foundit worthwhile also.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2d.rifles.htm

Enjoy!!!!

...."Captain Fantastic"..........................E.J.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

Chuck Hawks has some great articles. I think i am leaning towards a M77 Hawkeye chambered in .270 Win for the rifle i am getting. I have been thinking about a lever action too, seeing as i am going to be hunting primarily in the woods in Vermont. But i think i like the idea of a bolt action better. Thanks.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

I used Ruger .270 for years. In 1995 I switched to Ruger 6.5mmSwede. If it were today, I would go with CZ 6.5mmSwede......

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

Ditto. Although I personally like 25-06 for a chambering, I've been dying to get into a .280 and that would likely suit you better if you want to get into elk or bear. Heard many many good things about 7mm-08. Same with 6.5x55.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

I have also heard many good things about the 7mm-08. My buddy just got one and he loves it. He uses it in pretty much the same hunting situations which i plan on being in with this new gun.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

VT Outdoorsman,
"They" say, that the 7mm shoots as flat as the 270 with the knock down power of the 30-06; not a bad combination.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

As for which Ruger *model* to go with, I don't think you can go wrong with the 77. They're tough to beat, IMO. You might need to get some trigger work done, but that's not a given as some might have you believe. The 77 target/varmint triggers are excellent. Of the last two 77 Mk II's I ordered new (25-06 and 7 wsm), one had an outstanding trigger and the other was fair to good.The25-06felt like it had either work done already or a custom trigger in it and the7wsmhad a decent trigger for hunting. The 7wsm's could be better, but it wasn't bad, by any means.

I don't know anything about Ruger's lever actions (96) except that I think they're ugly. :) The new Mini-14 Target is quite a rifle though, from what I understand, although I'm not a fan of using a .223 for deer. Looks like it would be an excellent choice for prairie dogs/coyotes/etc or just the fun of shooting.

The Ruger model I'm in love with, though, is the #1. Unless a single shot is absolutely not your cup of tea, that would be the way to go, IMO.

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

I jsut got a new rifle a few weeks ago and was debating between a Ruger M77 Hawkeye and a Tikka T3 Stainless Lite. Im not gonna say what i picked but they were both great feeling rifles and i know i would have been extremely happy with either of them. I couldnt decide between the rifles because i loved them both so i used the cartridge they were chamberd in decide for me. I ended up with a 300WSM. Now im kicking myself for not getting both of them so i know what Santa is bringing me for Christmas!;)

RE: Ruger Deer Rifle
 

I have a Ruger M77 MKII in 270 that I got this summer great rifle knock deer over in there track but if you want elk and black bear go with a 30-06 or the like. The 270 will put them down sure enough as the sun will rise but I like insurance.