Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

Just a quick easy poll. What's your preference for action and your reasons (related to deer hunting of course).
(assuming you use a gun to hunt deer)

Here's mine:

1. Bolt, accuracy & reliability.
2. Pump, speed
3. Semi, worried about the action jamming.
4. Lever, Sorry, just don't like lever action guns. For me it's less accurate and the action is awkward. Just my opinion, no reflection on anyone else. (started hunting with a Winchester 32 cal lever action).

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

Pick your shot, make it, and you won't need the second shot. Bolt action is all you need.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

I'M A BOLT ACTION MAN MY SELF AND TIMBER SAID IT BEST

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

bolt

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

Bolt- most accurate and in the event I must shoot a second time plenty fast enough.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

I'd have to say...
1. Bolt
2. Lever
3. Pump (never tried it)
4. Semi (I think it's cheating the deer, just my thought)
~Cody (forgot to put this in the first time, oops!)

Edited by - Black_Rap on 01/15/2002 21:53:22

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

Lever.
I cut my teeth with a Model 94 Winchester 30-30. When I needed more range I went to a Savage 110E 30-06. I never felt comfortable with that gun. My lovely wife bought me a Browning Lever Rifle in 7mm-08(just before my daughter was born) and everthing has been fine ever since.
Ultimately whatever you feel comfortable with and can shoot accurately. That's the best gun for you.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

1) bolt
2) bolt
3) bolt
last but not least
4) BOLT

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

Whatever floats your boat.From semi to bolt, it's not the gun but the shooter.Know your gun.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

I like a bolt action ,but I own bolts ,levers ,pumps and semi-autos .When I was a kid my Dad was always getting after me for shooting to fast , so I went to a bolt action to slow myself down .I found out that you don't have to shoot everything twice before it falls down . Now I very seldom shoot over once so a bolt works great for me .

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

DeerTrack, said it for me.I am also left handed so I have always shot a pump.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

"Cheating the deer" Oh my, you must have really worked hard to come up with that one. I love my semi and for anyone intelligent enough to learn how to properly clean their firearm jamming is not a problem. I am in and will always be in the minority here, must be the non conformist in me. I don't take the derogatory comments toward semis personally and I hope you guys don't take what I'm about to say personally ( and if you do I don't care) but it seems that you're being a little elitist here with your comments but hell, we're all turds in the punch bowl as far as bow hunters are concerned.
It's a simple undeniable fact, Remington, Browning, etc., all make a high qaulity semi auto and your bias is misplaced. To you that say one shot is all it takes, you are either
not being honest or haven't hunted enough to have the experiences where a 2nd and sometimes 3rd shot is necassary. My biggest deer to date was a big 'ol swamp buck that I hammered, he fell to the ground thrashing, without moving either hand from the firing position I looked over the scope and in the next second he was up and started to run when the 2nd shot put him down for good. If he would have made it 30 yrds in any direction he would have been in 2 1/2 - 3 feet of water and probally never recovered. Yea, I think I'll keep using my semi, it's only killed 40+ deer so far.
Regards to accuracy, I will concede the ultra long shots to the bolt action but anything out to 200 yrds is just as dead with my semi as your bolt.
Canadahunter, you seem to be the voice of reason, thanks.

Mark in SC

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

I`ll go along with timbercruiser on this one.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

I uase my bolt most of the time.I have a semi a carry a couple of times a season.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

I'm with Rem7400--I use a semi (Remington 742) and I love it. We rarely get shots over 50 yards. Of the guys in my camp, they all shoot either Remington semiautos or Remington pumps.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

I agree, it's the shooter and shot placement. If you can't handle your gun it doesn't matter what it is. I love shooting all actions, however my tastes change. I prefer to hunt w/ single shots, not for any reason other than I like them. I love the way a good bolt gun feels and handles and I hunt with them also. Now when it comes to lever guns, I just think they are a hoot and I have to go into the woods with one occasionally because they are just cool. I own several semi's but I just don't enjoy them as much as the others but they have earned their place in the woods. I know a couple of guys that hunt with them and they work just as hard at finding deer as I do.
I get really tired of hunters sounding like the anti's over choice of tools. It is not the tools, it is how you conduct yourself in the woods.

SOTHRDNK

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

Bolt action.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

Well I learned to hunt with a single shot rifle because according to my father shot placement is key and you have to make the first shot count, it keeps you from taking sloppy first shots. He was right, there have been very, very few times I have needed a second shot and never have needed a third. I am not saying you should only use a single shot, I don't, as a matter of fact the second gun my dad bought me was a bolt action. He bought that after I had proven that I made the first shot count. I let more than one walk due to not being sure of the first shot.

The gun I prefer depends on the situation, for rifle hunting in brush or areas where all my shots are going to be under 125 yards I prefer a lever action with iron sights (due to the peepers getting weak I am thinking about a scope though), for bird (shotgun) I use a semi, if I hunted a place where most of my shots were over 125 yards I would use a bolt action. Every gun has its place.

The Tazman

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

I shoot a lever action and enjoy it, but it is the only deer rifle that I've ever owned. I like bolt action as well, but if I needed a second shot (and I have on occassion) I would appreciate the speed of a semi or pump.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

Just keep in mind, I didn't ask what gun was best, just what you prefer to use personally. Just want to keep the tone friendly.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

Bolt

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

I have all except the semiautomatic, but I actually shot a single-shot most of the time. Make the first shot count and you don't need to worry about follow-up shots.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

1)revolver
2)encore/contender
3)Singleshot
4)bolt
5)semi

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

pump all the way and i'll never go back..my old semi 30-06 jammed alot and cost me oppertunities on some deer so now i'm going with a .270 pump...fast and will not jam!!

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

1. Single shot - never jams, accurate, challanging, fun
2. Bolt - accurate, fun, fairly quick follow-up

Never tried the others for deer hunting - but I bet the deer would vote against all types!

Hunting is a right, treat it like a priviledge - respect nature

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

Mainly use a stick and string anymore, but used to use a bolt.

Rem7400...semi's are illegal in alot of states, that may be why so many people are against them. Personally I don't care, but They aren't legal here in PA!

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

I am with phulo, I am sure deer would make them all illegal!

The Tazman

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

i prefer the auto mag,,then bolt, then pump, but my 1st shot always counts..

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

Jason,
you are correct that some states do not allow the use of semiautos, that is how I came across my first semiauto. My oldest brother lived in Pa and had a 742 that he loaned me since he couldn't use it. I have sinced replaced the 742 with the 7400 that I use today. I hesitate to agree to the statement that alot of states do not allow them though. I do not know the actual number so will withhold any additional comments in that regard until actual numbers are made available.
I have alot of respect for our friends here on this board and some of the one shot, bolt wonder hunters have proven theirselves to be legitimate, ethical, knowledgeable hunters from prior posts on previuos threads of varying topics but their comments within this thread does a disservice to our younger friends that are just taking up deer hunting. Their biased comments have no basis in fact or reality and I pose several thoughts to ponder and respond to if they desire.
First thought, one shot, one kill. Okay, that is a preferable result that we all strive for but the reality of it is that if you hunt deer long enough you are on occasion going to have to shoot more than once. One of our one shot posters on this thread ( who I have alot of respect for) has posted on another thread recently that he has killed over 150 deer and yet by his post here on this thread he would have us beleive that they were all killed with one shot each. Sorry but I just don't buy it. A final thought on this matter is that accepting the fact that at times a 2nd shot may become necassary I prefer to have a weapon that will autoload the next round thereby my hands never leave the firing position/points of contacts with the rifle. This fact alone has made the difference from a kill on site verses a long and possibly fruitless tracking job as mentioned in my earlier post.

Another point of contention I have with our bolt hunters that have made negative remarks to the reliabilty of semi autos I respond as follows, the function of reliabilty or lack thereof has nothing to do with the function and design of the gun but with the user's ability to properly clean the firearm. Think about this for a minute, 99% of the firearms used by law enforcement and the military are semiautos. Are my friends here trying to tell me that the people in charge of procurring these firearms sat around discussing the merits of the various weapons under consideration and came to the conclusion that they would prefer a weapon that is prone to jamming, unreliable and inaccurate over the superior weapons such as bolts, single shots and levers. That out of all the choices available they picked the worst of them all as the primary weapon of the vast majority of their personnel to be used in life and death situations. Or would you have me beleive that the manufacturers of these weapons deliver a different type of semi to the military and law enforcement than they do the hunting public. I don't think so.

I see some very clear and distinct advantages to using a semi over other weapons of choice but in the process of stating these advantages I would hesitate to denigrate your weapon of choice and I only ask that the same from our one shot bolt hunters. I glad that you like your gun but don't run mine down with your biased, inaccurate comments.

Have a good day,
Mark in SC

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

Here's mine:

1. Shoot whatever caliber you like as long as it's legal for the game you plan to hunt.

2. Shoot whatever action you're most comfortable with (practically any new gun will shoot good enough for deer right out of the box, after sighting it in of course). If you want a tack driver just for hunting,,be my guest, waste your money on glass bedding, etc.

3. Whatever you choose...practice...then practice some more.

4. Don't get sucked in to caliber, brand and action arguments. You can't win and everyone has a favorite they swear by but it might not be right for you.

5. When all else fails...see number 4 above.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

Why is it that when one person prefers Action A over Action B, he or she is seen as denigrating Action B. To be fair to those who have had semis jam (I'm not one of them), we don't know if the jam came from improper cleaning or dirt / debris while in the field. It happens.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

1. Bolt - precision accuracy
2. Lever - Browning BLR only, 7mm.08
3. Semi - started with an 742 in a 30.06
4. Pump - Still seems unatural for a rifle

JMHO

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

I shoot a bolt 270, to each his own.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

I prefer a bolt because there quick to load and not as dangerous as a semi.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

" to each his own", I couldn't agree more.
Unfortunately some of our friends continue to make statements with no basis in fact or knowledge of the subject.
"bolt not as dangerous as a semi" Where did Bud get that one from? What is it that make's the semi more dangerous Bud? I think you are greatly mistaken my friend, you are not referring to the function of the gun but the person behind the gun. Try to stay focused on the topic.
"bolt keeps you from making a sloppy first shot" Sorry Taz, don't blame that on the gun(semi auto), sloppy first shots are once again strictly a function of the person holding the gun.
"jams all the time" Once again the function of the person that cleans the gun not the gun itself.
Look guys, maybe I'm sounding a little to sensitive to the subject and so this will be my last post addressing this topic (unless somebody says something really, really stupid!!!:) ) but lets face it, this topic has been the subject of prior threads and some of our friends have consistantly made biased, inaccurate, uninformed statements regards to semi autos that does no service to any of us that visit these boards to exchange ideas. My son as well as other young hunters that visit this site are looking to us for information, I'm not particularly fond of the idea that my son might read some of the crap that's been posted and thinks that his dad hunts with a piece of junk. The reality of it is that the Rem 7400 is normally priced a few dollars more than your average bolt action, that it is a fine piece of machined steel and in the hands of a competant hunter it will kill deer just as dead as any bolt will.
One final thought, if you one shot, bolt wonder hunters like I can give you a pretty good list of the disadvantages of a bolt. I prefer not to but if you ask me real nice like I 'll see what I can do.

Respectfully,
Mark in SC

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

rem7400, I am not trying to take sides in this as I could give a rats butt what anyone shoots, but I can think of at least 2 instances where the firing pin locked forward in a semiauto and basically turned the firearm into a fully automatic weapon. In one instance the shooter lost most of his hand, and in the other the shooter lost his life along with a big portion of his head. When they let the bolt go forward to load the chamber, the gun fired unexpectedly and the barrel naturally rose up. Freak accidents yes, but had they been shooting another type of action it would not have happened.

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

The action I most enjoyed shooting was an autoloader. I always shot better and with more confidence using this action. When I realized that I would never have to rush anything if I missed or a bullet was lost to unseen brush (because the next shot would always "be there"), I became more deliberate and careful with my shooting.

Over the years this gun began jamming as parts wore out, and a replacement I picked up didn't last long before breaking down. I simply lost confidence in the reliability of the action, and have since switched to levers and pumps. In the thick stuff where I hunt, bolts are inappropriate.

Edited by - Rick Teal on 01/16/2002 22:36:51

RE: Lever, Bolt, Pump, or Semi for deer.
 

this was a opic on which do you prefer, come one people its ok to answer. if you give advice on an action that is extra. and the best advice for that is what ever fits them best.