• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Hunting & Fishing If only one gun for deer hunting????

L

Longrange1971

Private
Minuteman
Mar 29, 2012
14
0
52
Maryland
Hi Folks,
I know this is an absolutely horrifying thought, but If you could only have one gun and its main purpose was deer hunting out to say 400 yards, What would it be??? I am more interested in very accurate factory rifles. Which gun would you choose and which caliber would it be in???? Thanks.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

30-06 over and over and over again.

Every time the "one and only rifle comes up" the 30-06 is tough to beat.

EDIT: Missed the "Factory Gun" part

In that case, a Sako TRG22 or a used custom 30-06/308
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

Love my 30-06 for deer - It kills stuff.

It's a Browning X-Bolt topped with a Viper HS 2.5-10x44

The Hornady Superformance 150gr GMX shoot really well out of it.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

just about any good rifle in .260 .270 .280. .308. 30/06. .330 would work.

its not the caliber as much as the delivery device..ie; rifle

find one you love to carry around all day, and be sure you can hit most anything you can see within that range from various positions with first shot.

use goo bullets, NOT bthp.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

Agree completely with 30-06. Personal preference is the Howa 1500 for a factory gun. Inexpensive, very solid right from the box, a sharp smith can turn these into single hole tackdrivers.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

I would say 30-06 or .308, for one reason only....because when you are in the middle of no where, and realise you left your ammo at home. Just go to the local store, or the old man in your hunting group and borrow a round or two. Good luck finding .260, .280, or .330, but you might get lucky and find a .270. Hunted in several backwood towns in Oklahoma, one thing is for sure. During hunting season anyone that sales ammo carries 30-06, .308, 30-30(nice option out to 250yrs), and sometimes .270. Magnums are becoming more popular, but still hard to come-by if you left yours at home.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

I'll second the rem 700 5R in 308. 308 is also a benefit if you do not handload with brands like Blackhills and Federal GMM on the shelf.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

I think for a factory rifle a Browning is a beautiful gun! I purchased a browning A-bolt 300. wsm a few years back and that rifle is a shooter! its a beautiful looking gun, light weight enough to carry around! i took my first deer with it and my little brother (13) took his first deer at 255 yards with it. I would have to say a browning a-bolt would have to be my choice in make and would have to be 7mm rem mag, 270. wsm or my 300. wsm just cause i love it so much!
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

For the money a Tikka T3 is hard to beat. Smooth like glass action, crisp adjustable trigger, and MOA or better gurantee...plus I have never seen or heard of one that will not shoot MOA or better. For deer sized game it's hard to beat the .270 Winchester and that would be my choice. However, any of the fast, hard hitting .22 calibers up to the .30 caliber magnums, with bullets of adequate construction, would have no problem taking deer sized game.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

I would get a Winchester model 70 30.06 or a 270 if its a factory rifle.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????


just deer... 5R- 308
one rifle to do all
5R - 300WM
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

Factory rifle, factory ammo?

For only 400yds there are lots of cartridges suitable. I personnally don't buy into the whole 'what if you run out of ammo?' argument. Hunting license, rifle, ammo, knife are at the top of my list and i have never been out in the woods and had to borrow ammo.

I would choose .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor. The factory offerings in 6.5 Creedmoor have been crazy accurate. Or a Remington 700P in 308 win with Federal 168gr Gold Medal Match. For deer to 400yds both of these would be very accurate with an edge in the wind to the Creedmoor.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

My model 70 in 7x57 nothing else needed or required. I have used it for the last 20 plus years with great effectiveness. It was O'Connors first choice before the 270 and it remained a favorite of his for many years after. Elanor (his wife) used it with great effectiveness.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

Any of the big name factory rifles out there are suitable for killin deer to 400yds. Win model 70, Rem 700, Tikka T3, Savage etc, are all good out of the box. We are not talking about shooting matches here.

As for caliber, there is no need for anything bigger than a 30-06 for Deer, especially inside 400yds. I am not a fan of any .22 caliber for deer though. Anything from a .243WIN up to 30-06 would do the trick. I really like the 6mm Remington, .257 Roberts, 7x57, .260 Rem, 25-06 range of calibers.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

i like R700 in .308 tons of ammo out there and cheap to shoot
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

I'm just zero in a 270 in the backyard and letting it cool right now, first one I have owned and I like it. So I'll say 270 win. for deer.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

Rifle just for deer 400yds and in, 243 win running 115 berger hunters, BOOM, someone had to say it.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

7rem mag, one of the most popular rounds for deer hunting.
zero at 250yd....great round stops them in their tracks.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

7mm Mag.I have killed deer with 223 - 300 ultra, from 25 -550 yds. If I had to choose one caliber it would be the 7mm.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

All the above calibers are worthy of the title. My choice is the 300WM.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

Browning BAR Mark II in 300WSM

Super light recoil for easy follow up shots if needed and very accurate right out of the box.

Does not weigh a ton either so is easy to pack around all day.

Not sure if you still can, but there was a time you could order them through Cheaper Than Dirt, in the Safari model, with a brake installed for under $1000.00

Wide variety of bullets on the shelf at any sporting goods store.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

I'm going to say my AR-10 in .308 even though it's too heavy for packing long distance. Hopefully the Noveske 14.5 afghan in a 6.8 I just ordered will be my new favorite gun for deer hunting.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

243, 260, 25-06, 7mm rem magnum, 30-06, 308, 300WSM...

can't go wrong with any of them.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bad pickle</div><div class="ubbcode-body">why not one for all game - 375 R, H&H, wby, RUM. </div></div>

I Like this. .375 H&H Mag. Reason? You dont even need to gut or skin whatever you shoot. just pick up the chunks and toss em in the stew pot.


+1
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

Rem 700 chambered in 308. There isn't anything you can't take down in North America with it. Ammo is cheap and you can find it anywhere.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

I like the 30-06 in a Mauser 98, or a M-70 Winchester. You can find ammo for it anywhere.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

Should of added to my above post. If you don't' like the mauser or winchester just buy a surgeon receiver and build a 'o6 on that. All 3 have the potential to be accurate rifles. Just depends on whom builds them, and how much skill you have.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

AE .308

Find an old MK 1 for $2700.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

I've hunted everything in Colorado and New Mexico with a .243. shot placement is everything no matter what caliber but I like as little meat damage as possible. I'd also take a .270 or 30-06 as a "go to hell rig" All three are hard to beat! Plus common enough you can find ammo anywhere you go.

XM110
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

my vote goes for .260. Awesome all around caliber that really sacrifices nothing. Ballistics of the .300wm with less recoil. if you hit a deer solid with a .260 or a 300 it is dead. Like wise if you hit a deer in the ass with a .260 or a 300 still the same reaction.
I killed my elk last year with a .260 from 500 yds and it only took one shot. Right through the heart out the other side leaving a silver dollar sized hole. my experience with the 300 is that it would have done the exact same thing.

so fwiw i say you dont need a magnum for deer.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

7mm, either the rem mag or the wsm because it is hard to get the same performance with a variety of bullets and still hunt most animals in north america.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

Probably a .257 Roberts in a Ruger #1. Tough to say though. The .243, 6mm, .25-06, .260, 6.5X55, 7X57 and 7mm-08 are all great picks in my opinion.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

rsbible: thank you for finally getting to the 257 roberts! wonderful rifle and if you hand load then u can really make it shine. But if u were looking for something to spit factory ammo then u got to go with the 25-06. several companies load the 100 gr barnes triple shock and that thing is hell on deer out to and past 400. Not to bad recoil and shoots flatter than most calibers mentioned above.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

Remington model 7 308, very light and compact package. The Rem 700 5R is nice but to heavy for brush hunting. Second choice would be 30-06 in 98 Mauser. Very dependable. I`ve hunted around the country and I like hunting rifles that weigh less than 10 lbs with scope. Also, barrel length, I like 22" or less. Nothing longer. Too hard to go through brush.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ManBearPig</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The same thing I kill everything with.... REM 700 .308 and 150 gr bullet.</div></div>

+1.. For Elk I might go with 165gr. But the 308 is short action, so you get a lighter gun. Very versatile cartridge available at any Walmart.

A 6 pound 308 won't hurt you.
 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

I use a Sako Finnlite .300 WSM and alternate between two Winchester Supreme Ballistic Silvertip loads:

150 grain for Whitetails/Mulies
180 grain for Elk

I like the versatility .300 WSM offers for the various types of deer roaming around here in North America. It is also the one rifle I took with me to Africa for plains game. Forgot to mention, mines got a muzzle break on it so kicks like a .243 (and sounds like a howitzer!)

 
Re: If only one gun for deer hunting????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: The Duke</div><div class="ubbcode-body">7 rem mag, its hard to beat <span style="color: #CC0000"><span style="text-decoration: line-through">as a hunting round</span></span></div></div>

Fixed it for ya.

Overkill for whitetail, but loaded with a 140-160 bullet, the 7mag will annihilate a deer like a lightning bolt from Zeus himself at any range inside 500 yards.

The '06 is second place. Damn fine all-around cartridge

270 is third. Certainly not the "all around" cartridge like the '06, but for hunting specifically, probably better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
Looking for general hunting gun for Florida hogs and deer.
Replies
14
Views
395
BCP
BCP
7
WI/IL/KY Looking for a hunting buddy / mentor to learn me up and hunt with
Replies
7
Views
389
748rpilot
7
Jayjay1
Hunting & Fishing Help me choose a caliber for varmint / predator hunting
Replies
36
Views
1K
carbonbased
carbonbased
L
Precision Gas Gun Builders
Replies
12
Views
656
PRSDietitian
P
B
ARC hunting rifle builds
Replies
12
Views
940
4O6shootist
4O6shootist
Top Bottom
Back