Im just curious what size/caliber deer rifle you guys use? When I was 12 I bought a savage 110 .243 for about $330 bucks. It was one of those deals from walmart that came with the cheap 3x9x32 scope. With the help of my granddad I had a guy float the barrel glass bed the reciever and lighten the trigger to 3lbs and I bought a bushnell 3.5x10x45 scope with redfield base and rings. Its works flawlessly for years. Ill be 27 in a few months and the rifle will turn 15 about the same time. It still shoots dead on but the stock is too short and I find myself hunched into the gun to fully view the scope. I shot competitively in college so I pretty much know my way around a gun and know ANY rifle can be made dead on accurate with the right tweaking. Most guys I hunt with laugh at me because I shoot a .243. They wont have anything but a 7mm .300 win mag and very few with 30.06 or .270. I like that I can put a 95 or 100 grain bullet anywhere I want. Patting myself on the back I rarely miss. My new preffered shot is straight through the ears which replaced cutting the windpipe. I consider 200yards a long shot. Most dont but I do. 9 out of 10 deer I kill are 100-120 yards.

Now back to the question at hand.
I want a new rifle and have been doing some reading on the new short magnums. Has anyone shot or use a .25 wssm? I like the 120 grain bullet, flatter trajectory at 100 than my .243, knock down power out the yingyang and less recoil. The last two doesnt bother me and really isnt a factor. I just want to buy a gun I can take out the box with minor tweaking and kill deer without using a portable cannon.

I know I am going to a Leupold 3x12x50 VX2 scope regardless of what I buy.

 

I haven't touched a rifle in years... but have (in a friend's G'safe) a Glock 17 (9x19) and just got rid of a .44

 

Guns, who needs guns when your tires are as big as the deer, i just run them over. Almost got three this year.

 

True!


...but they taste a little better when theyve been shot and processed.

 

.338 is my weapon of choice

Ray

 

.338 is mighty big for deer. That thing shoots over a 200 grain bullet...correct?

 

Oh, I just saw you were in Alaska.

 

Well i was using a 45-70 but for the last couple of years i use this:

It's a British Enfield, 303 Cal with a 3x9x40 BSA scope. It's quite accurate and fun to shoot. I also picked up this Swiss K31 this year which is real accurate without a scope so i might use it as a backup rifle.

I'm a firearms collector so i have quite a few to choose from when i go hunting. Personally i don't think I'll ever use a modern style rifle again, I love the milsurp rifles.

 

Nice looking guns, father in law also has a gun collection that is in excess of at least 50+ types and styles from early as 1800's-to today....its pretty cool...He is also an die hard hunter at the age of 63. His latest addition to the trophy case is a 700lb Elk . The guy can field dress a deer just like he was a surgen in a hospital......The other cool part is since he was 12 yrs old he as bag a least 1 deer a year........

 

Thanks! I too have an extensive collection, My oldest is a Japanese hand cannon from around the 17th century.

 

Hmm...Enfield...Looks familar..I have one in .30-06 with British Proofs on the barrel. A factory conversion...most went to South Africa in circa 1946 (some were imported into the US also). The stock is checkered at the wrist, and has been cut down to a schnoble tip at the front. The receiver has been drilled and tapped for scope mounts and peep sights.

Bolt Actions..kinda rare around here in the land of levers.

Ever see a Winchester Model 1895 Lee-Navy straight pull musket or sporter?

The muskets were used by the US Navy during the Spanish-American War. The caliber is .236 USN aka 6MM USN. Winchester promoted the Sporter version, but only 1700 were ever made.

How about a J. P. Sauer Mauser sporter? Mauser 98 action, engraved receiver.

How about a Remington-Keene? You know..the bolt action rifle made in the 1880's WITH an exposed hammer.

Old iron = gotta love 'em.

Winchester enthusiasts = winchestercollector.org

The website for the Winchester Arms Collectors Assn. Y'all can join the site free and ask all the questions you can think of. You might get answers from the Big Dummy there, too. Look for the user name of WinM1895 (as in lever actions, not bolt actions).

 

I haven't seen a #4 Enfield in 30-06, A rare one indeed. I have been looking to get a Tower Enfield for my collection lately. The last Remington-Keene i saw was going for about 3 grand, A little too much money for me right now but a cool looking piece.

 

I paid $300.00 for my Remington-Keene, but that was a lotta money back in the 1960's when I bought it.

Tower Enfield...prolly find one on gunsamerica.com or gunbroker.com.

I prefer Gunbroker...you can bid there. Gunsamerica has firm and sometimes outrageous asking prices.

 

Wow 300$ Bucks! I wish i could find one for that price. I've been cruising GB a bunch lately, Figure I'll buy myself a Christmas present.

 

we dont have deer cept on a island.. moose on the inland is our deer