Deer Rifles – my experiences

Over the last 30 years I have used lots of different rifles for deer, antelope, and the occasional elk if I got lucky. Can't say I have ever had a BAD experience with any of them, these are just my experiences so don't get all defensive and crazy if my opinion differs from yours.

My first deer was a big fat mule deer doe I shot near Cascade Montana. I used my Grandpa's Model 88 in .284 Winchester. Shot was about 250 yards. Right behind the front shoulder, down she went. A lot of the hunting magazines and gun writers talk bad about the Model 88, they often say it has a crappy trigger and mediocre accuracy. All I can say is that this gun has put a lot of meat in our freezer over the years and I have made some exceptional long range shots at antelope using it. Years ago my Dad had a friend load him up a couple hundred rounds for it and I am pretty sure they are all loaded with plain old Winchester Power-Points or something very similar, nothing fancy. Anyway, I like it a lot except that shells are hard to find and they are expensive. Never really been a problem though, Dad still has enough of those reloads he got to last at least the rest of his life

The next year I carried the gun my Dad got new as a graduation present. It is a pre-64 Model 70 Winchester in 30-06 Springfield. All I really have to say about the 30-06 is that it just plain gets the job done. A very useful caliber. Shells can still be had for $15 a box if you watch the sales and they are available anywhere. Dad has killed deer, elk, antelope, bear, moose, and a couple buffalo with it. It has the original iron sights on it and never had a scope mounted on it. Dad took it on a guided elk hunt a few years ago. When he pulled it out, I guess the guides were ribbing him about iron sights and gave him his Indian name “Old Iron Sights”. He went on that same hunt with the same guides several years in a row. To make a long story short, they don't tease him anymore. He has shot that gun for 50 + years just the way it is and is quite deadly with it.

I used a borrowed Model 94 Winchester 30-30 while I was stationed at Ft Bragg to take a couple of deer. All my shot were inside a hundred yards and the deer dropped just fine. The woods were so thick there was no need for anything else. The 30-30 is a fun gun to shoot but it never appealed to me enough to buy one. A really good round, just not my personal preference.

My next deer rifle was an T/C Omega .50 Cal muzzleloader. I shot 2 does with this rifle and was amazed at how accurate it was. Good rifle , wish my ex wife had not stolen it along with the other 22 guns she took.

Next was the .223 Remington. I had a Bushmaster AR-15 and thought it would be just the ticket for deer out of my treestand on the 24 acres I used to own in Missouri. The brush was too thick to see over 50 yards anyway so shots were really close. Shot a doe in the neck at 40 yards. Good round, but I think it is too light for most deer hunters. A guy just has to know the limits of his rifle and stick to shots he knows he can make.

Next was a Marlin 1895G in 45-70 Government. I shot a mule deer buck at about 125 yards with it. The shot went in behind the front shoulder and angled thru his body and just exploded his liver. I was surprised it did not bust his guts, but it never even touched the stomach ( I still cant figure that out). What surprised me was a . 45 hole on entry and a .45 hole on the exit and I was shooting a fairly hot loaded 300 grain bullet. Anyway, I have reserved this gun for fun shooting and it is what I carry when I am hiking.

At some time through the years I have been handed a 7mm and a 300 Win Mag to shoot and have gotten deer with them both. Excellent performance from both. Only thing I don't like is expensive shells and long action. I have also shot one with a 270 Winchester before. It did the job, felt pretty much like the 30-06 to me.

I got to shoot a doe a couple years ago with my friends 300 Ultra Mag. WOW, that is a lot of gun. I felt like I had just shot a groundhog with a tomahawk missile. Way to much gun for deer I think. Would be an awesome gun for elk out in the open, but shells are extremely expensive and if I got one I would rarely ever shoot it. I just can't justify the expense. Maybe if I got a really good deal on one, but it would have to be a helluva deal.

In the last couple of years I have been using a Remington 700 in 30-06, and and my latest toy has been a model 700 in 308 Winchester. Both give me excellent accuracy and performance on game with 150 Grain SST's. I like the Model 700 just a hair better than the Model 70 Winchester. No reason why, I just do.

Well, you might be wondering what I like the best. Maybe it is just my age, but I like the .308 Winchester the best for anything up to elk. It has a shorter action than the 30-06 and with the 150 grain bullets and I have not seen a hair of difference between the two on deer or antelope. I will probably keep the 30-06 sighted in for 165's or 180 grainers for elk. The 45-70 gets fed 405 Grain lead flat points and is carried for grouchy bears in the back country. The 7mm, 300 Win Mag, and 300 Ultra Mag will certainly do the job well, but I personally feel “over gunned” a bit. In all reality, honestly, it really doesn't take much of a gun to put one thru the heart and lungs of a big game animal. Just take your time and make a good shot, at a reasonable distance. Don't think because you can make a 400 yard shot off the bench in July that you are going to do the same in November with your heart pounding, freezing weather, the wind blowing, or snow falling. Shooting in the field isn’t the same as off a concrete bench with sandbags. With the 308 recoil is not a problem, shells are cheap, and there are a lot of different loads and bullets to choose from if you do not reload. When my grandsons get old enough to go out, I will be setting them up with 308's as their first big game rifles.

Anyway, I really look forward to your comments............

Most modern fireams will out shoot the shooter.........after all, we're only human !


We all know it's all about bullet construction & placement.


Right tool, for the right job !

I have shot most of the calibers you talk about on critters, and have to agree across the board. The shooter has got to understand his, the guns and the situations limitaitions prior to the shot, to make it connect. Having been used for deer is a big difference from being appropriate all over.

Cool read. I also agree with the .308win being a great all around cartridge; for most hunting situations.

Tom

I'd have to agree with your comments as well, that being said my primary deer guns are a 270 WSM and a 35 Whelen. I have a few other lighter recoiling guns but for the time being those are my favorites that I feel would not have any issues feeling undergunned no matter what I'm hunting.

Sounds like you take a practical and sensible approach to your caliber and rifle selecting. Nice write up. BTW, how long is the barrel and that marlin, and hows the recoil on the 45-70/405gr?

Depending on the exact model it would either be 18 or 22", then the question comes in what load he's shooting. The Remington 405 gr load is very mild due to it's being loaded for the lower pressures supported by the trapdoor's and Springfields. The Buffalo Bore and Ultramax ammo are fairly stout.

The barrel on the 45-70 was 18 inches, I have since cut it down to 16 1/8. I load the 405's to black powder velocities, so the recoil is not bad at all. I have it set up for shots inside of 75 yards, with Skinner peep sights. I do love the versatility of this round. I can load it anywhere from the power level of a 45 ACP to Buffalo Bore. Cast bullets are the way to go with a 45-70.

I agree, nice read. It looks to me as if you have a very commendable quality. The ability to be open minded in your trials of various calibers. In your same situation I hope that I would echo the same sentiments. However, I have only one high power rifle in my collection, and fortunetly we have never disagreed.

I handload and that makes the price of ammo pretty much even across the board. Except for the amounts of powder the rest is the same.

A 30-06 and a .300 Win mag have the same max overall length and except for bolt face use the same length/style action.

My first choice for everything is a .300 Win mag.