Author Topic: What Rifle to Buy or Use Poll (Read 2412 times)

Rwalter63 · « **on:** September 18, 2005, 03:58:58 PM »

Hello Everyone

Well NYS has expanded the the areas that you can hunt with rifles so I am looking for a rifle. I am curious what other people are going to use this season. First off I will be mostly hunting whitetail deer. I hunt in Cattaragus County near the Bucktooth State forest lands so it pretty wooded there. I guess my maximum shooting distance would be around 200 yards or just past that. Since its not far from Alleghany State Park there are plenty of bears in the area so I want a caliber that has the power to take down a decent size bear if needed. I am leaning toward the following two guns and want to choose one of them. The two guns I am debating on buying are the Remmington 7600 pump and the Marlin 336 Lever action. Well if I go with the Marlin I'll proabably choose a 30-30, but if I choose the Remington it will be either a .270, .308 or 30.06. So what would you choose.

I realize I can not include every caliber in the poll so feel free to vote for other and write in a ballot if I don't have it listed.

Well lets have some fun with this and good luck hunting

NYH1 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2005, 06:26:03 PM »

You will be hard pressed to find a better rifle then the Remington model 7600 for deer/black hunting from 2 feet to 200 yards. I had a 7600 Carbine in 30-06. I traded it and kick myself every time I think about it. Even being a "carbine" and having a 18" barrel instead of a 22" barrel, the 7600 Carbine is going to be a lot better at 200 yards then any 30-30 will ever be! If you like the 7600 "rifle" instead of the "carbine", I wouldn't get a 243 Win. for deer/ black bear hunting. Stick with the 270 Win., 308 Win. or 30-06 Spr. and you won't go wrong. :grin:

RCL · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2005, 12:51:19 AM »

It's hard to beat a basic bolt action in .30-06 for any type of deer hunting. They're accurate, take a lot of abuse in the field, and easy to maintain.
I've been using a Winchester Model 70 Featherwieght in Pennsylvania since the early 1980's, and a Remington Model 760 pump for several years before that, both in .30-06. I really wasn't impressed with the pump, I couldn't get it to group to my satisfaction.
The .30-06 is also one of those cartridges you'll never have a hard time finding ammo for.

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2005, 02:19:43 AM »

Well...Seeing as how I just sent for a 7-08 barrel for my H&R Ultra Rifle I will have to vote for that one...Only problem is that isn't one of the selections. So I chose 7mm...But I could have chosen .308 also...Both of these rounds have a part in the 7mm-08...

Edit...I added 7-08 to the poll but I cannot vote for it again buy anyone else that wants that 7-08 can now vote for it.

tscott · « **Reply #4 on:** September 19, 2005, 03:40:34 AM »

Coming from NY, permit me a little nostalgia here. When I was a kid in the 50's, hardware stores would jump through hoops to get in .300 Savages Model 99. They went out the door quick....$79.95. Everyone in tthe lower Hudson Valley had one it seemed. Today whether I'm hunting the Blue Ridge of North Carolina, or 45 miles north of Manhattan. My first deer each season is taken with the first "Mountain Rifle", Model 99f (1955) Featherweight. I got lots of deer rifles in an array of calibers. .300
Savage is equal to any deer cartridge.

ironglow · « **Reply #5 on:** September 21, 2005, 04:00:22 PM »

A funny thing happened at my range in the woods the other day..
I bought a Remington 7600 "weathermaster" (nickle & synthetic) in .308 and my grandson bought a Marlin 336 in 30-30.
We went to the woods where I have a range setup along an old logging trail, to sight them in.
Now this old blacksmith is nursing a torn rotator cuff ( painful shoulder) and I found the 7600 to be very awkward for me and both shoulders being a bit sore, the reach so far forward to the slide was a bit far for me along with trombone actions not being my favorite..

That Marlin was soooo sweet to shoulder and handle for this 5'8" grandpa..

My 18 year old grandson Jonny is taller and has to duck for our doorways..
the 7600 was more to his liking...........

So..we swapped on the spot

Now, I know that "dollar-wise" Jonny got the better of the deal by far !

That doesn't bother me a bit, shucks...I GIVEN my 3 grandsons and 1 grand daughter at least a couple guns each. That's a grandpa's duty, isn't it !...LOL
So what is a choice for you..depends upon you age, stature and the natural affinity you have for any given action.

All those higher powered rounds are nice, especially for the long shots. But I will go to the woods with the 30-30, knowing that more whitetail deer have been taken by 30-30s than any other round.

Reminds me of a situation I heard a local doctor relate when he had returned from a Canadian moose hunt with a nice trophy head.
One of the local guys asked him what he shot the moose with..the Dr. replied, " I used my old Marlin lever in .35 Remington !"

One of the local guys kind of guffawed and said, " The .35 Remington was kind of low powered, wasn't it ?"

The DR. replied coldly;

" Well, I didn't think it was..the guide didn't think it was..Oh yes !.. and the moose didn't think it was..!"

Something to keep in mind...

bubba · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2005, 02:04:19 PM »

TSCOTT I have one of those old model 99's in 300. It was my dads that he bought in the 50s in a hardware store. He has been passed now for 11 years and I still hunt with it opening day and last day of season. It is as capable as any caliber I agree with you totally. When I am not hunting with it I use my 257 roberts ackley improved on my encore frame. It is also a sweet deer caliber

ironglow · « **Reply #7 on:** September 23, 2005, 12:25:28 AM »

Right on Bubba; those old 99s are really a nice piece, and as a teenager in the 50s, I can recall how "in demand" they were.
Sometimes I wonder why Savage doesn't make some of their great old guns anymore.
I have a 219L Savage single shot in 22 hornet...they used to make them in 30/30 also.
One would think that with the popularity of the NEFs and Rossi rifles, Savage would be quick to take up the gauntlet.
I suppose the 99 would be too costly to produce; there was a lot of machine work on those rifles...

Tom H. · « **Reply #8 on:** September 25, 2005, 09:18:18 AM »

My go-to rifle has been a Ruger 250-3000 for about the past 20 years.
Just a small bit of recoil and except for 2 deer that were hit a bit far back, the other dozen or so I took with it just fell right there. Those two deer didn't go too far either.
Only once did I feel that I wasn't outfitted properly. The deer were about 300 yds out, the weather was terrible, and I felt one was a buck but I couldn't see any horn through the 2-7x!
Well, I solved the problem by stalking up to them (they bedded in some thick cover in the middle of the field) and I shot the 5pt at 20yds.
He didn't go anywhere either but that doe he was with was very surprised.

Airedale From NY · « **Reply #9 on:** September 25, 2005, 11:21:09 AM »

I have an old Savage 99 30-30 that was made in Utica, it was handed down to me from my Dad who worked in the Utica plant. It is in nice shape but I have never used it. I have been mainly using a Husqvarna bolt action 280 Remington for the past 25 yrs. One of these years I will break out that old Savage and get the barrel hot.

Bryan Elderkin · « **Reply #10 on:** September 28, 2005, 11:17:57 AM »

I am using a marlin .35 Rem. Most of where I hunt, the farthest shot is 80 to 100 yards.

Bryan

PA-Joe · « **Reply #11 on:** September 28, 2005, 11:33:41 AM »

All you need for eastern hunting is a Rem Model 7 in 7mm08! Light and good to 300 yards.

218Bee · « **Reply #12 on:** September 29, 2005, 05:00:29 PM »

I'll be using my 6.5X55 Swede, dressed out in her new stock.

Wicked shooter, 140 SP at a medium velocity, I expect she'll do fine.

Rick

oldhunter · « **Reply #13 on:** October 01, 2005, 03:20:57 PM »

Marlin 30-30 with 4x scope. Good out to 150+ yards which is farther than I normally ever see deer where I hunt.

oldhunter

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #14 on:** October 05, 2005, 11:12:53 AM »

I do like the looks of a nice lever action 30-30...I can see one in my future...But, I can see a lot of guns in my future...I don't think my wife can see them though... :-D

ironglow · « **Reply #15 on:** October 17, 2005, 05:29:36 PM »

...Now for a special situation..deep woods, say hemlocks, where ranges are usually very close and rarely exceed 100 yds..150 at most..

Those little 96/44 levers by Ruger or those .44 mag autos , also by Ruger look mighty interesting...

Daks · « **Reply #16 on:** December 17, 2005, 03:09:08 PM »

I hunt in the mountains (Adirondacks) and there isn't much of a difference between a 30-06 or a 30-30 or a 308 or a 270 or a 35 Rem when it comes to putting the deer down. They are all used, they all take mucho deer. Some of the more exotic guns don't show up much, such as the 7mm's or the 6.5's. Most every country store carries 30-06's in 180 grains or 30-30 shells up here.

I have two bolts (270 and 30-06) and one pumper (.35 Whelen). The Whelen is new to me, not many people up here have heard of it. Most guns up here are bolts or lever actions. My dad hunts with a 450 Marlin - says he doesn't like to have to track a deer and from what I've seen, he's got the gun for the job.

I'd say the 30-06/308/30-30's are the most common up by me.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 17, 2005, 03:30:29 PM »

If it were me I would use a 45/70 guide gun, but I own lots of rifles to choose from. You will probably be best served with a Rem 7600 or 7400 in 30/06. My uncle has a 742 in 06 that he has used for years. THe 06 just plain works, period.

wink_man · « **Reply #18 on:** December 17, 2005, 03:37:16 PM »

If I had to put a rifle/scope setup together today, I'd pick exactly the same as I did in 1980 to hunt New York, and have been using successfully ever since, a Remington 760 carbine in 30-06 with a Leupod 1.5X5 scope mounted in low rings. In all honesty, I am picking a rifle, more than a caliber, if you wanted a carbine in the 760, you were pretty much limited to an 06 or 308 when I bought mine. The gun handles like a shotgun in tight quarters and mostly having hunted balsam & cedar swamps and mountain laurel, a short barreled fast handling gun is where it's at as far as I am concerned. An old man I knew up New York state many years ago, once said to me that 'big pieces of red meat drop on the spot when hit in the right place with a 40 grain bullet', so I'll not argue calibers with anyone. The key is a rifle that handles, and shot placement, not the caliber.
Sincerely,
Garry

woodsdweller · « **Reply #19 on:** December 18, 2005, 02:40:38 PM »

i am a 7mm fan and love my 7mm mag. i have a rem 700 ss in a lam stock with a 3.5 x 10 and it has never failed me. i am short 5' 5" and it is one of the only out of the box rifle that has ever fix me to a T. it is one of many firearms in the rack but the only one that sees the deer woods. just won a weatherby 300 wsm and traded it in for a new rabbit gun, seamed like the only thing to do it would have only collected dust. for the most part if i can see it i can harvest it with the 7mm mag.

and i have plenty of friends who hunt with 308 and 30-60 who put a lot of bigger holes in them then the 7 does.

Qtip · « **Reply #20 on:** December 25, 2005, 01:44:56 AM »

Qtip · « **Reply #21 on:** December 25, 2005, 01:46:26 AM »

wink_man,

You have to do something about that avatar. It looks like the countless mugshots I took when I was a cop. Just kidding old friend! :lol: :lol:

My situation is a little unique. I live in the new rifle zone, but the large tract of property I have a permit to hunt won't allow rifles so I needed a slug gun. I also just got into an Adirondack club so I would need a rifle also, and I don't have money to throw around. I went out an got an Encore 20 ga. rifled slug gun and put my 2x7 Bushnell 3200 on it. It shoots great. Next I'll get a .308, 30/06, or .270 barrel for it and either a 2x7 or 3x9 3200 for that barrel. I'll have a carbine length gun using the same action and trigger pull; I'll just be limited to single shot although they do reload quite quickly. I just love this Encore and wish I had gotten one years ago. But if I just hunted up north I'd have a 30/30 Mod 94 or a Marlin .35 Rem. and I'd be good to go.

Qtip
Soli Deo Gloria!

wink_man · « **Reply #22 on:** December 26, 2005, 06:03:49 AM »

Qtip,
It's hard to make a decent avitar when they only allow you a 95 X 95 pixel file, and you're taking your pictures with a 3.2 mega pixel camera, so it will have to do. Anyways, back to the subject at hand. I, like you, am in the unusual situation, where I hunt Jersey, and can only use a slug gun, and I hunt New York, and can use rifle or shotgun. Now you, probably know better than anyone here, that my first gun was a 12 gauge Ithaca 37 pump. I can still distinctly remember that first day we went hunting together, MANY years ago, when your father drove us up to West Milford and dropped us off for the day to hunt. Anyways, I shot my first 'everything' with that gun, and pumps seem to come naturally to me because of it. I am fortunate to have a wide variety of guns, but have always found a pumpgun with a short barrel the fastest handling thing that could possibly be in my hands, so for the last 25 years, whenever I go deer hunting in NJ or NY(rifle/shotgun season), I reach for one of the 2 following guns:
http://www.hunt101.com/?p=358245&c=500&z=1" title="Hosted Free at MyFishingPictures.com" target="_blank">

http://www.hunt101.com/img/358245.JPG" border="0">
A Remington 760 carbine in 06, with a 1.5X5 Leupold Vari X III, or a Remington 870 Wingmaster 12 gauge with a 20 inch slug barrel, and a Bushnell Banner 1.5X4.5 Variable. Again, I'm not arguing calibers(or gauges) with anyone, far as I am concerned a gun that handles quickly in tight quarters and shot placement, is where it's at, not the caliber. I am also a firm believer in a very low powered variable scope in the east, and have never cranked either scope above the 1.5 setting to shoot a deer in the last 25 years. As I explained earlier, I do hunt pretty thick stuff. A 1.5 setting allows very fast target acquisition in close quarters, and the longest shot I've ever had at a whitetail was 75 yards, most, I have taken within bow range with these guns. I've set the 2 guns up, so that they are basically identical, and there is no adjustment going from one to the other. While I like using a rifle in NY(because I can't use it in Jersey), I don't like ANY rifle bullet when hunting in mountain laurel, and have used the slug gun in deference to the rifle in such situations, and never felt uncomfortable, or at any kind of disadvantage. I have always viewed a slug gun as a short range rifle anyways, and in the areas I hunt, it's kind of a moot point. Just my personal thoughts and opinions.
Sincerely,
Garry

JDenis · « **Reply #23 on:** January 10, 2006, 01:10:13 PM »

I voted for the .270. First buck I shot was with a Ruger No.1-A in the 270 winchester. This year I switched to a .270 WSM and like it just fine. Although where we hunt in the Adirondacks the 35 Remington would really be the cats behind. I bought a 336SC for 150 bucks at the end of season this year so next year it will probably see some use.

ironglow · « **Reply #24 on:** January 19, 2006, 05:47:40 PM »

...I relished the coming of rifle season in my county...I'm one of those weird ones that doesn't like shotguns. I enjoy the precision of the rifle..
Thus, I don't hunt turkey, geese, ducks or anything else where a shotgun is required...if I can't hunt it with a rifle..I don't hunt it !..LOL

I had a new 30-30 in a 336 Marlin this year...but here comes that old "perfectionist" thing again..

I honestly like the single shot rifles..simple, compact package and quite sporting ...

So, I recently acquired another NEF..with a 20" bull barrel in .223..that's for song dogs...but may well be good for deer, taking only shots that I can place well...
I am considering more barrels..but for deer,since the NEF offers so many, there is a great range of choice. Starting at what is probably my first choice for deer:
1) .243
2) 30-30
3) .357
4) 25-06
5) .308
6) .270
7) 7.62X39

30/06
9) .450 Marlin

I already have a H&R "Shikari" in .44 mag..

...Ah, so many choices...so little deer season!

kenscot · « **Reply #25 on:** January 20, 2006, 12:32:43 PM »

Last year I picked up a Browning micro hunter in 7mm-08 . I love the short 20" barrel, shorter stock and weighs only 6 lbs 4 ozs. Very accurate to boot. Seemed perfect for for the area I hunt where you are mostly in dense hardwoods with a few open field shots. A joy to carry all day, to bad my season ended just after 45 minutes of shooting light with a 5 pointer :wink:

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #26 on:** January 21, 2006, 03:01:34 AM »

I purchased my H&R 7-08 barrel for my Ultra Varmint rifle months ago but I have yet to shoot it...No time to do so...I can't wait to get out with it though...Should be a good shooter...I have it all set up with a Mueller 2-7x32 scope...

Inthewoods · « **Reply #27 on:** January 30, 2006, 02:20:08 PM »

I have hunted whitetails extensively over the past 29 years, as well as black bears, in three states...NY, PA and Virginia. I have killed them with all types of weapons, handgun, bows, shotguns, muzzleloaders and rifles.

Personally I'm spoiled for accuracy....Yes the shot may be only 75 yards BUT can that projectile make it through that itty bitty hole in the branches to connect with the vitals? My point is a lot of "hunters" settle for less than the best using a scenario like limited ranges or such to account for a less than perfect hunting rifle. EVERYWHERE I hunt in the East has a limited range say 100 yards or less. BUT that can be extended to a far greater distance if a precision rifle, cartridge and scope is used to "pick your way" to a good shot. I've made some very long range shots over the years in limited range area.

On the other side of this coin is bullet construction....that requires a sensible choice to prevent the loss of an animal. Much of the bullet selection choice is related to caliber choice. The best caliber in the world won't perform well if an inaprropriate bullet is used.

My advice to the question posed is choose a rifle/caliber that the shooter can properly shoot. Take into account recoil, accuracy and cost. CAN you practice with it a LOT during the off season. Can you call yourself a really good shot with that rifle. Can you shoot it from something other than a benchrest? We owe that to our hunting heritage.

My caliber choices in center fire?

.270 win.--- Ammo is everywhere....reloading is a snap, no worries about killing a deer or a bear and that's from a lot of experience.

25-06--- It is a death ray from my Ruger #1, flat out scary accurate....Ammo is easily found, not pricey either. Reloading is no problem. A 115 or 120 grain bullet puts plenty of smack on even a BIG whitetail. I'd run it through a bear too if given the chance.

The rest of your list will also do just fine.

WNY_Whitetailer · « **Reply #28 on:** January 31, 2006, 10:37:30 AM »

Yup...I can see a 25-06 in my future...In an H&R rifle of course...

K.K. · « **Reply #29 on:** February 04, 2006, 02:01:21 PM »

I typically hunt with these

1. Remington 700 BDL in .270

2. Marlin Guide Gun in .405 Marlin

3. Savage bolt in 300 WSM

4. T/C Encore in .308 pistol, 50 muzzleloader

Poll

What caliber rifle would you buy or use in NYS?

Author Topic: What Rifle to Buy or Use Poll (Read 2412 times)