Author Topic: Poll - Eastern Deer Rifles (Read 45147 times)

Rick Teal · « **on:** July 19, 2004, 02:59:02 PM »

I've asked this type of question before, but that doesn't deter me from asking it again.

Assume:

1) You do not have a deer rifle.
2) You have enough money to buy just one rifle for hunting in the east.
3) What type and cartridge class would you pick?

I know I'm going to miss someone's favourites, so post separately if your choice doesn't fit one of my categories.

For these Purposes:

Small Bore is less than .270
Large Bore is more than .375
Medium Bore is everything between.

A shotgun is not a Rifle (I know some of you will enter it :twisted: )

I tried to enter more options, but the software wouldn't let me.

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2004, 04:43:27 PM »

Boy Rick those assumptions are quite a stretch for me. :-D

I'd probably pick just what I use the most. My Remington Model 700 LSS Mtn. Rifle in 7-08. Mine wears a Bushnell Elite 3200 2-7 scope and I shoot only Hornady Light Magnum loads with the 139 grain BTSP in it. I've been using a 7-08 for over 25 years and one of them has been used by me, my oldest son and my wife. It is now her rifle. In all of that time I've never missed a deer with a 7-08 rifle or needed a second shot for any reason. Pretty good record.

GB

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2004, 12:38:32 AM »

Wanna guess where I fit in Rick ?

7magWoodsman · « **Reply #3 on:** July 27, 2004, 08:22:29 PM »

I live on the Ky/Tn border so if you mean East as in east of the Mississippi River I would say...

I love my Ruger M77 7mm Rem. Mag. and the Nikon Monarch 3x-9x 40mm that sits on top of it, and have had great luck with the 150gr Remington PSP CORE-LOKT(although a lot of people dog-talk em) I have never lost an animal using one or needed a second shot. So I would stick with it.

I agree with Greybeard though...you just can't beat the 7mm08 the 700series remingtons, Hornady ammo, or the Bushnell Elite series(3200 or 4200)

Double D · « **Reply #4 on:** July 27, 2004, 08:35:05 PM »

Martini Henry sporter in .375 2 1/2 flanged NE. .275 gr. Hornady SP at 2000fps.

Rick Teal · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2004, 06:23:17 AM »

52% bolt actions?!!!! :roll:

That's the last thing I expected to see from eastern hunters. :eek:

If things don't improve on this poll, it may mark the demise of a great hunting tradition. :cry: :twisted:

crazyjjk · « **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2004, 07:04:13 AM »

Rick, The problem is the way this poll is worded. If I could only have one gun I would choose a medium bore bolt action. Not because I only hunt with one now, but because if I could only have one I would want something that is least likely to have problems with and easiest to take care of. In my eyes that would be a bolt. Easiest to clean, take down, work on ect. In the real world where I can have more than one :-D my 45-70 Ruger #1 usually gets the nod.>John

Rmouleart · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2004, 07:24:15 AM »

Hey there is a lot of lever guys out here in the eastcoast, I prefer a 30 cal scoped Leupold 1x4 vari 300 Savage model 99 1950's , using Hornady 150gr Interlock FB on top of 33gr RE19 CCImag primers, Lee factory crimp, 2750fps. Shoots clover leaf all day, moderate recoil, nice and light to carry, Good Whitetail medicine LOL. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

DeerMeadowFarm · « **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2004, 11:01:59 AM »

I use a Remington 7600 in .280. I've killed a dozen deer with it, a bear, and 2 caribou; it works for me! I go to Maine every November and the guys I hang out with/hunt with use the following:
Dick - .300 BAR, 7400 Remington in .280, and his old standby: 740 Remington in 30.06
Dad - 740 Remington, 30.06
Rudy - Savage bolt, 30-30
Randy - 7400 Remington 30.06
Kris - 740 Remington 30.06; 8mm Mauser
Kerry - 740 Remington (when his brother in law Kris isn't using it!)
Gene - 740 Remington .280
Todd - 7400 Remington .270
Mike - BAR I think in .270
Sis - Winchester model 94 in 30-30 (over 80 and she still gets out there!)

7magWoodsman · « **Reply #9 on:** July 28, 2004, 08:23:46 PM »

It must be all your buddies I hear opening morning sounding off like WWII, is it possible to miss the same deer 5 times with an auto loader and have time to reload and shoot 3 more times, or do you shoot at every deer in the herd? :-) :grin: :lol: :-D

Im just kidding, I know a lot of people here in the east that use auto loaders, and are very proficient with them, but I prefer a good bolt-action myself as do most people I know, the non bolt crew tends to use lever-rifles.

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #10 on:** July 29, 2004, 01:38:04 AM »

99.9% of my deer hunting has been with a lever gun, and will continue to be.
Hard to pin down a favorite, but, my old '94 in 30-30 is a go to, dependable performer for me.
I also use an 1886 in 45-70, a 99 Savage in 308, a BLR in 308, and a couple of vintage 1894 30-30's.
Just to bug Rick, I'm working on an 1892 in 44-40 for this year.
It's a cobled together gun, and full of bugs, but I'm getting there.

Cur Dog · « **Reply #11 on:** August 31, 2004, 07:12:10 AM »

for deer i use a marlin 336 c in the 35 rem
and moose i use a marlin in a 45-70
i hunt near port lorning :shock:

Rick Teal · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2004, 11:24:45 AM »

Cur-dog:

I hunt north of Dunchurch in zone 47 - we're practically neighbours. :twisted:

My deer gun is a BLR in .358 Winchester, and this year my back-up may just be a Winchester 94 in .356 Win. For moose I shoot a Remington 7600 in .35 Whelen.

Rick

bigbore442001 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 19, 2004, 01:38:07 PM »

In southern New England, the only state that you can hunt with a center fire rifle for deer is Connecticut. In addition, that is on private land and the landowner has to authorize a centerfire rifle.

So, most of the hunting here for me is with a TC .50 caliber muzzleloader. But if I were in the same catagory as stipulated by this post and were to hunt northern New England, I would go with a Remington autoloader in 30-06.

cam69conv · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2004, 11:33:48 AM »

Me likesums ma 336 marlin .444 lever...Tack driver the first 4 to 5 shots with 1/8 inch groups at 100 then it opens up a little on a hot barrel...Tried my new 265 grain hornady light mags the other day...It shoots them GREAT BUT DAAAMMMMNNNNNNN does it pack a wollup with dem buggers...10 shots and I was in PAIN...Imma use the 240 rems for deer and the 265's fer da elk hunt this year...Gotta love tha big bores...Dont have ta worry bout them lil piddly ole limbs...saplings...LMAO TREES...

Ifn it dont knock YOU down it sure does a nice # on a deer :-D

Critter · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2004, 06:34:57 AM »

Lots of us boys east of the Miss are stuck using a shotgun or a muzzleloader. My favorite shotgun has got to be my Rem 11-87 with a 21" fully rifled barrel and a Leopold 4x scope on top. Shooting Remington Copper Solids or Winchester Platinum Tips it's a 150 yard gun. The Platinum Tips seems to do a little better on game.

gwhilikerz · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2004, 02:07:06 PM »

Guess I am just old fashioned but if I could have only one rifle it would be the Win. 94 in 30-30. I have my old faithful resting in the safe for now tho. Since my grandson became big enough to go hunting with me we have started using a 243 youth and a 20 ga pardner smoothbore. When he gets older maybe he will want to try grampa's old deer buster. But for now we are having a ball with these (inexpensive, I refuse to call them cheap) NEFs. btw he has taken 6 deer with the 243 and I have 6 with the 20 ga in the 3 years we have been hunting together.

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #17 on:** December 22, 2004, 12:20:15 AM »

Take the young lad out to the local sand pit with a few tin cans and the 30-30. He'll be a lever gun nut for good.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2004, 12:27:48 AM »

Being from a Shotgun only State I would have to use my Remington 1100 with Remington copper solids. But any place else that would allow rifles, I would chose my Encore. Caliber would depend on the area.

tscott · « **Reply #19 on:** December 25, 2004, 04:48:31 PM »

The savage 99 in .300 Savage, seemed to be the most talked about gun in the 50's & 60's, in my neck of the woods, The Hudson Valley.
Shot my first deer on my 13th birthday in 1959, with a 1955 99f .300.
I use 180's. I have a number of deer rifles, but my go to gun is the classy 99f. Shot my must recent deer with it last Thursday. It has migrated to
North Carolina, but spends a few days a year shooting deer on a nice white oak promontory 45 miles up the river from Manhattan!

rebAL · « **Reply #20 on:** January 03, 2005, 02:03:03 PM »

The reason I bought my 760 carbine 35 years ago in 30-06 was to have 1 gun for all my big game hunting in N/E wilderness including moose, bear, caribou. This is still my first choice today if I could only have 1 gun. I, too can't understand the bolt action preferance. Only explanation I can think of is the number of tv shows showing the only method of hunting from platform perched over food plots. I think "HUNTING" has changed thanks to tv and new generation of hunters who have not learned the ways of the woods. I would only choose my bolt action for long range spot & stalk type hunting.

anthony passero · « **Reply #21 on:** January 05, 2005, 09:54:47 AM »

If only one rifle I would pick a 270 or 280 in a mauser 98 or a model 70 topped off with a 4x scope. Flat shooting for the open spaces, with a enough power to drop em where you shoot them so you don't have to worry about someone else putting a tag on your deer. Sad to say but it happens in NY at least. the camp I hunt at in the Catskills is divided about evenly between bolt action 3006s and marlins in 35 remington. one guy uses a 300 savage, another 30/30 glenfield another an old 30/30 savage bolt. Anthony

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #22 on:** January 05, 2005, 01:13:47 PM »

Meadow, I just noticed. Your gang has quite a bunch of Remingtons in that mix. Partial to Remington are we?

:-D . I have a .243 as of now and that's what I'll use until I get a bigger rifle (like a .270) but even then I'll still probably use it. But if I didn't have a gun and had the funding to get any gun I desired, I'd go for the .270. Prolly a Remington 700 CDL or a Remington pump.

glock29 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 10, 2005, 07:30:52 AM »

How come no LARGE bore bolt category ?
Next year I fully intend to take my CZ550 Safari Magnum 458 Lott into the deer woods of Michigan....and of course with FULL POWER loads (as if there should be any other load) !
I have used everything from a little 30-30 all the way up to a full-load 375 H&H Model 70 Bolt gun for eastern whitetail hunting.

Ron T. · « **Reply #24 on:** February 14, 2005, 08:49:44 AM »

My eastern deer rifle is a pristine 1953 Model 99 Savage in .300 Savage caliber. With my handloads... a 150 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet @ 2680 fps... the rifle consistently shoots 3-shot, 3/4-inch groups at 100 yards.

IMHO, this combination is "THE" classic eastern whitetail rifle/cartridge combination. :-)

Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #25 on:** February 16, 2005, 12:05:07 AM »

Well Ron T, my old '94 Winchester shot a 3/4" 3 shot group once. (I had a witness too! ) Probably the best group it will ever shoot. So it won't compare to your Savage 99 in that department. On the other hand, I'm not afraid to scratch the living crap out of it sliding down a steep embankment or whatever, so it will continue to be my rifle of choice for deer and black bear in the east. I'll take my 99 Savage in 308 for moose hunting though.

MIKE THE BEAR · « **Reply #26 on:** February 16, 2005, 01:22:32 AM »

My choice, given that the "East" covers a lot of territory, would be a Remington Stainless/Synthetic in .280. Come to think of it, I just happen to have one of those! :lol:
crazyjjk has it right about how the question is worded. If you were to ask Eastern deep woods hunters what their favorite gun/caliber combination was, you might still end up with a lot of medium bore bolt actions, but you'd have a lot more lever guns and automatics in the mix.

High Brass · « **Reply #27 on:** April 28, 2005, 06:36:07 AM »

Me:Remington 760 in 30-06 topped with Leupold VariX-III 2.5-8 (used to be "Dave in WV's")

Dad (Dave in WV): Remington 7600 7MM-08 topped with Leupold VX-II 1-4 with German #4 reticle

We both have other rifles (bolt guns) but these feel more like they belong in the WV hills. I bought the 760 from him a few years ago and figured that since he's been such a good sport about it, I got him the 7600 in 7MM-08 :grin: . He's quite happy with it.

Snowman366 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 02, 2005, 08:44:43 PM »

Iron-sighted (Williams 5-D rear) .30-30 Marlin M336 for me. It's never failed when I did my part. Ranges are never long and the 150-grain Remington Cor-Lokt's do just as well nowadays as they did 40+ years ago when I was a teen.

A few times I've used a rifle my dad owned. He moved here from Finland right after WW2 and either brought, or purchased from a friend already here, a Finnish Army M-91 with the Mosin-Nagant action. It fires the 7.62x54r cartridge and was the type of rifle he was issued during the war. I've only used it on one deer and it did impressively well. Just not as "handy" as a lever-action .30-30 carbine.

while99 · « **Reply #29 on:** July 03, 2005, 08:47:14 PM »

I sometimes hunt deer at a camp in Clinton County, Pennsylvania. The mix of firearms is as follows:

2 pre-64 Model 70s in .30/06
2 Mauser 98 8mms
1 Remington 760 .30/06
1 Savage 99 .300 Savage
1 Winchester 88 .308
1 Weatherby .30/06
1 Tikka 7mm Remington mag
1 post-64 Model 70 featherweight in .257 Roberts
2 .243s, one is a Remington model 7, not sure of the other make/model
1 Remington Model 30 in .35 Remington

I generally carry one of the pre-64 Model 70s in .30/06 but I also sometimes carry a Remington 7600 in .280 that I have rigged up with a peep rear site and a fiber optic front.

I think this mix of firearms is representative of most of the camps in the area. 40 years ago you would have seen a lot more lever actions and more sporterized military rifles.

Poll

What Rifle Type and Cartridge Class Would You Pick For Deer Hunting in the East?

Author Topic: Poll - Eastern Deer Rifles (Read 45147 times)