Deer gun

[Dave105]

I am wanting to know what is the best gun for deer hunting ?

[keith meador]

that depends on where you are hunting. if you are hunting in the brush, remember this, there is no such thing as a brush gun that will shoot thru the brush.....a bullet out of any gun will deflect off of limbs. a true brush gun is one that is small and lightweight and handles well for fast shots, again not for shooting thru the brush.

as for deer hunting, just about any centerfire weapon will work, but i would stay away from the 22 caliber rounds. just not enough bullet weight. a .243 will work fine with a well placed shot, and a .300 magnum will work very well with the same well placed shot.

everyone on this forum has a pet round. i like the 7mm mag, but also have a 300 rem ultra mag. the latter probably being way too much for deer sized game, but dead is dead, which is the desired result in deer hunting. i would look at felt recoil, if i were recoil sensitive, capable range of the round, i like to use the 1000ft lb rule, if it gets below that number, that is the effective range for that bullet.

now for the best gun for deer hunting, i would say one you are familiar with, have practiced with quite a bit, one you understand the capabilities and limitations of and one you can afford.

[Dave105]

I am hunting in eastern Kentucky.

[GSP]

Keith had great advice,
now for the best gun for deer hunting, i would say one you are familiar with, have practiced with quite a bit, one you understand the capabilities and limitations of and one you can afford.

Don't take it wrong, but I'm guessing you are new to the sport, for that I would suggest you stray away from the smaller end (.243s) and go with the mid/heavys.
.270, 30-06 or.308
You can find ammo in any country store for them, they will kill a deer dead, in his tracks!
A 30-30 is a good gun, but the ones listed above pack a little better range and punch.

[beaver396]

no to offend anyone on here but stay away from 30-06 and 308, dont get me wrong endless people use them and kill with them but if you are going to buy a gun then get a 270 or 7mm. if someone in your family has a spare 30-06 then use it but dont buy one. my first gun was a hand me down from my grandpaw who retired from hunting it was a browning bar 7mm, 30 yr old gun im perfect shape, i killed my first deer with it. really good gun but it weighs a ton. i would strongley recomend a remongton model 700 bdl in 270 or 7mm.

[gwhilikerz]

Why would you want to stay away from the 30-06 and the 308? Yes the 270 is a great deer gun, almost has as many uses as the 30-06. Both the 270 and the 308 are descendants of the 30-06, you could say chips off the old block. I like all the calibers mentioned except the magnums. I have never seen a need to use a 7mm mag or 300 just to shoot a deer. (and that is what the poster wanted-a deer gun).
For the past few years I have used the 243 or a 20 ga. with good results. But neither is the perfect deer gun. I would suggest that if you can tolerate the recoil then a 30-06 is great. If you don't want to take the pounding then a 30-30 will take any deer that ever walked and do it out to about 200 yds with no holdover or lack of energy. ( are you really going to shoot more than 200 yds where you hunt?) my opinion.:)

[SixPack07]

I have not used many rifles in my day, but I would recommend the 30-06. I personally do not think it has a lot of recoil, and besides, do you really think about the recoil in the excitement of the hunt? I agree 100% that you need a gun that is comfortable. Make sure it fits you well and that the weight and sights and everything are right for you. I used a 7mm for a while that had the worst sights on it ever. I think that is why I went away from that gun and bought my own. I knew the 30-06 was more of an all-purpose type gun. Your brush-busting/long-range shooting gun. Like others have said, no gun is going to shoot through heavy brush, and no gun is going to hit an animal at a long distance if you can't make the shot in the first place. I used my 30-06 in Wyoming hunting mulies and made a shot at over 200 yards on one, and took a whitetail further away then that last year, so I know it has the range, plus the power. Good luck with the search and let us know what you decide on.

[kycurhunter]

30-06. no brainer.

[Dave105]

Thank you all for give Me somthing to think on.

[WATERDOG]

There is going to be alot of gun bashing in this subject, but to be honest every gun that has been listed above will do the job. I would suggest if you were going to be doing some long range shots I might omit the 30-30. I've used a .270 to bring down all of my deer. To be honest though, I have never taken a deer at a range that a 30-30 wouldnt have done the job.

What's nice about your higher powered guns is that you can adjust the bullet grain to suffice your range of shot. I use a 130 grain bullet, but I hunt some open fields alot, so If I need to I can make the long range shot & not loose too much in drop. If I hunted timber all the time I would probably use a hevier grain bullet to get the better expansion & knock down power.

(I would like to add that the 7mm mag is an excellent long range gun)

[keith meador]

as i stated in my post, you will get many different answers on the actual caliber to use. i dont know where you hunt, or even how you hunt, but i do know this. shoot several types of bullet thru your new gun. educate yourself on the type of bullet the ammo manufacturer is using. the actual bullet can do way more than the caliber it is being shot from. i like a controlled expansion bullet. some of the lighter weight bullets will tend to explode on impact, and will not create a sufficient wound channel. they may kill the deer, but many deer are wounded every year by a hunter who can shoot dime sized groups at 100 yards, and have a bullet that does not perform well in the field. i would sacrafice a little shootability over bullet performance. a rifle that will shoot 1 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards is acceptable, and with handloading that can be improved upon, but at longer ranges that 1 1/2 inch group grows with distance. knowing bullet drift, along with ballistic coeficients will help with longer shots.

another thing i would suggest is a laser range finder. know the effective range of your gun, and use the rangefinder to back up your knowledge of the bullet capabilities.

as for the .30 caliber rounds, the .308 and 30-06, they are probably the most accurate rounds out there. the .30 caliber bullets are very stable, and heavy enough to shoot in just about any situation. again, you will get a lot of different opinions here on this forum, so make sure you do your homework.

some of the ruger rifles, in my opinion, seem to have a little more recoil, as well as the savage 110 models. the remington 700 in the same calibers will not have the same felt recoil. this probably has to do with stock design. im not saying the remington is better, just different.

if there is a sportsman club in your area, go there, hang out if it is allowed, and talk to the guys there. they may even let you shoot a few rounds. guns are really hard to buy if you are not familiar with them, kinda buy it and see if you like it so to speak.

if there is a gun shop around, go there and ask questions. be aware if you look at several different guns and calibers, make a mental note by the salesman, if all the calibers you look at are his favorite, he only want to sell you a gun and really doesnt have your needs and best interest in mind.

i probably wouldnt consider the 30-30 unless all of my shots were under 100 yards.

go to www.remingtonarms.com and look at the ballistics charts for the bullets. hornady may also have the same on that site. look at muzzle velocities and foot lbs of energy. this may help make your decision.

[VinVega]

Well, one thing to consider is sights. In my part of Eastern KY, and probably yours, the only places to hunt are pretty heavilly forested areas. I'd get open sights. A scope is great, but at short distances such as in the woods, you can aim the gun quicker with open sights, and still should be able to place a shot right through the lungs, which is what you want. A .270 is great for deer, so is the .30-06, and .30-30. I'd suggest you stay away from all those super manglums, they're just overkill for deer. A bullet that moves that fast just cuts through the animal, and a lot of times doesn't spread out much and therefore it doesn't bleed very fast. Even if it does spread out, the ammo prices are too high on them, and the deer doesn't end up any more dead.

[WATERDOG]

Well, one thing to consider is sights. In my part of Eastern KY, and probably yours, the only places to hunt are pretty heavilly forested areas. I'd get open sights. A scope is great, but at short distances such as in the woods, you can aim the gun quicker with open sights, and still should be able to place a shot right through the lungs, which is what you want.

I don't know about anybody else but, I have the "see thru" scope mounts on mine & I love them!!

Just another consideration.

[kycurhunter]

i agree with the above. the bullet is the key. you need good expansion AND acurracy. for instance. the .243 [which has killed many deer] when shot at an animal at close range is going so fast and it has less surface [friction] to get it slowed down that it will zip through and not have that much kenetic energy. my son hit one sun night at 20 steps and it bled very little and was found 70-80 yrds away, it was double lung hit. if i had put a 180 gr. bullet in it it would have dropped. period. when you hit one with a 30-06 they go down immediately. i have NEVER EVER had to track a deer hit with a 30-06. i saw one killed at 20-25 yards that was hit in the ham. [i said ham] it dropped in it's tracks.

for deer i use 180 gr. 30-06. if i know i am going to hunt feilds and may have a long shot i will change to 150 gr. you can get loads from 100 gr and up for it which means it will work for groundhogs to moose......

the difference is like being hit by a volkswagon or a semi. you are prolly dead both ways but you'll never make the hospital with the semi.

can we say KENETIC ENERGY????

like i said .... no brainer....

[Basswipe]

There is no one perfect deer gun. There are many good calibers to choose from. A lot of the choice depends on where you will be hunting. I have three different guns that I use for deer hunting. An SKS, a .308 and a 7mm Rem mag. Which one I take depends on where I will be hunting.

If you're hunting a thick area where the furthest shot you will get is 50 yards or less, I suggest either a 30-30 or an SKS. No scope on either. Open sights are better on short shots.

If hunting an area where you could get a 50-150 yard shot, I suggest either the 7mm-08 or the 308. They are nearly identical rounds. They have the same case, but one is necked to 7mm, the other to 30 cal.

If you think a long range shot could happen, I suggest the 7mm Rem mag. It's got plenty of long range knock down power.

When you go to put a scope on a gun, you get what you pay for. Don't buy the cheapest scope you can find.

Get good ammo as well. 125-150 gr bullets are ideal for White tail deer.

If the gun will strictly be used for hunting, I HIGHLY suggest getting something with a plain black synthetic stock and matte finish. High grade wood stocks and beautiful, high luster blueing are very pretty to look at, but also very easy to scratch in the woods. Synthetic and matte finish will also save you a lot of money on the gun purchase.

[deerhunter401]

i shoot a savage modle 10 in 7mm-08. this is by far the best deer gun i have ever owned. i have it topped with a bushnell trophy. and at 150 yards the gun will put the bullet in the same hole with a three shot group.

[Captain Mossberg]

I shoot a .270 and I have had good luck with it. I hunt in the woods so I only have short shoots usually. I have also heard a lot of good things about 7 mag's and .300s. If you are going to be hunting somewhere that you may have a long range shot a .308 is a good choice because they are pretty accurate at long distances.

[k-man]

Dave105:

A new or used deer rifle? Are you right or left handed? Your dominant eye can be a factor to consider also, at least in the action type to choose. Not as many choices for lefty's, especially in used bolt action rifles. While a lefty can use a rt. hand bolt action, it can take some getting use to. I'm very left eye dominant but also very rt. handed, it was a problem for a while. Eventualy I learned to shoot left handed, now I shoot off either shoulder. I believe most of the better known brand names in any of the popular deer cals. are good choices, that's why they are still making them. A pump, lever action, or semi-auto, can be an excelent choice for whitetail hunting, if they are to your liking. What ever action type or cal. you buy I recommend useing bullets weighing no less than 120 grains. prefering ones between 120 - 180grs. myself. While they are extremely accurate and excellent hunting cals., I would recomend avoiding the magnums as a first deer rifle, especially if you are recoil sensitive, there's no reason to punish yourself when it's unnecessary to drop a whitetail. The one exception to the magnums as a first deer rifle would be the .44mag., it is available in several different action types, has a moderate recoil and in my opinion is a very good whitetail deer cal., at close range, (less than 150yds.) the.44mag will put the venison in the freezer. Just my views on the subject, hope they are of some help.

[gwhilikerz]

This is going to come back on me for sure but anyone that says that a deer never runs when shot with their fav caliber, even if hit bad, has not shot many deer imo.

[kycurhunter]

if you are referring to me i have probably killed more deer than you have seen.....i don't hunt horns...they don't eat too well.

[Buck Hunter]

270 or 7mm Mag. Those to me are the best deer guns. :)

[Docknboatlift]

I'm a .270 man myself. It's killed em dead from 25-200 yds for me.

Ditto what the fellas said about getting a left hand gun if you are a lefty (like me!). Also ditto twice about getting a quality scope.

What the fella said about a synthetic stock is probably good advice, but I own a fancy shiney wood stocked Browning. Vanity made me get it (my last name is Browning-no relationship though) and the nicks and dings in it tell a story that only me and the gun understand. Besides, what the hell do I care what the gun is worth after I'm dead and gone?

I don't want to add fuel to the fire, but I also have a little trouble believing that any rifle or hunter can shoot many deer without having a couple go a little ways before they fall. But if a fella is a better shot with a better gun than me, I'm not gonna argue the point of who's pee pee is bigger.

One last item. Once you get your new "X" caliber "Y" brand gun with "Z" brand scope and "A" brand bullets in "B" grains weight, spend several sessions at the range putting rounds down range. The best possible gun for any hunter is the one that he/she can raise quickly, bring to aim instinctively, and fire without hesitation or doubt that what you want to happen is going to happen. If you don't trust your gun or yourself, it's gonna be a problem when it's for real.

[boonectyhunter5618]

i would have to say a .270 with an 150 grain ballistic tip bullet. i love my gun. model 760 gamemaster by remmington. hand me down. killed my first deer with it!! love it and wouldnt get rid of it for anything

[beaver396]

280 is a pretty good caliber, along with the 7mm-08 and the new thing on the market the past few years is the wsm, those are some bad ass rounds.

[EKUgrad]

I'll weigh in and say that the caliber is not as important as the man pulling the trigger. Being a consistently good shot usually comes from practice, which would dictate shooting a fair amount. Two things come to mind here -- acceptable recoil at the shooting bench and affordability. Based on these two things, there are several good calibers. Pick one that you like and learn it cold.

I also agree that anyone who says that they have never had a deer run either is kidding themself or is REALLY good. I can say from personal experience that I hunt with a .25-06 and have taken a baker's dozen with it. Each were good shots -- I have only taken broad side shots with some form of rest -- and only two of these dropped in there tracks never to move again. Most ran anywhere from 10-100 yds before stopping.

Maybe I need a bigger caliber, but I don't think so. I would like to hear what you guys think.

[30pointbuck]

i use a 25-06 & have flipped a deer at 304 yds i hit him high in the spine. i also use a 45-70 when hunting woods where there will be short shots. you have been given a lot of good advice on here, but the best is to practice a lot with whichever gun you decide to buy

[Dave105]

Thank you all for the help, I am going to go with the 30-30.

[Buck Hunter]

Do not get the 30-30. I used one and I could watch the bullet fall after shooting.:eek: You will be hunting fields and some shots will be long. Get a 270,7mm mag, 30-06, 25-06, 308 etc.... Not the 30-30, it is a brush gun. Or just buy 2.:) Ohh yeah, get a Simmons 44mag scope and you will be set with a deer gun that you will be happy with at an inexpensive price. IMHO. I am from Eastern KY also. Good Hunting!!

[deerhntr]

I think that you should just go with whatever you think would be the best choice, as long as it gets the job done is all that matters.

[buckfever]

I agree with the others that a 30/30 is probably not the most versatile gun and has severe limitations. Moreover, I believe (although I'm not sure about this) that most 30/30's in production are lever actions which creates scope mounting issues. Go to a book store and pick up a book on ballistics and you'll see that the 30/30 has limited range and energy. When I purchased my gun (7mm/.08), I also was primarily interested in a whitetail deer gun and considered several factors. Primarily I was interested in a relatively flat shooting gun that wasn't going to lay me out. I already had a .300 mag and was looking to go with something lighter that I could let kids hunt with. The 30/.06 is a good choice but can be a little heavy on the kick. It is probably the most popular deer gun in use today. A .270 or .308 are also fine choices, and neither of these will lose the trajectory that a 30/30 will at distance. I would highly recommend the 7 mm / .08, w/ a 140 grain nosler partition bullet. It has good velocity/trajectory at longer distances and has little kick. The only downside to this rifle is that you sometimes have to go to a gun shop to find the bullets. If you plan on hunting w/out a scope and your shots are less than 75 yards, then a 30/30 would be a fine choice.

[KY_Fried]

I've used a 30-06, .270, and a 30/30 and have killed deer with each of them. My personal favorite of the 3 is the 30/30. The other 2 are probably better but I just like shooting my old 30/30 for some reason. It's just a fun good to shoot IMO and isn't as loud and doesn't have the recoil the other 2 have. (call me a wuss but I like to have as little recoil as possible) I've been using my .270 this year but only because I've been hunting in an area where I might be taking some fairly long shots and I don't have a scope on my 30/30 and it's not very good for anything over 100 yards with or without a scope.
Get whatever you like but I think a 30/30 is a wise choise for a first timer. They're usually quite a bit cheaper then the others too.

[aceoky]

Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge, :D

That's really what it amounts to IMHO!

Any mentioned will kill deer DEAD!

For a first rifle, the 7mm-08 would be VERY hard to beat, it will get the job done from "right there" to over 300 yards(IF you can get 'er done) :D(my wife shoots an Encore in 7mm-08, and I LOVE it, super accurate, recoil isn't much at all, and it will kill bigger than deer if needed to be used(you never know when you'll get a chance at something other than deer?)(and with the Hornady "lite magnum" loads, it "smokes"!!(and I hear it's a real deer killer as well!)

FWIW, we have a .243, 7mm-08,.308,and 30/06, and there's NONE of these, that I'd not use for deer (and I handload all of them)
First(and probably most important) find a rifle that fits YOU, then decide on which caliber you want(a 30/30 may just not "fit" right, if that's the case, it's a very poor choice IMHO) :)

Keep in mind, IF you decide on the 30/30, it's "effective range" is about 175 yards max(sure it can kill a bit farther, but not always)(losing a deer is NOT a fun deal) IF the gun fit's you(feels "right" to you, odds are that you'll do fine with it).

Also please remember a 30/06 is at the TOP end of most people's ability to "handle recoil", so IMHO a magnum isn't a good idea, for a first or even a second rifle(and not needed at all for deer sized game IMHO) :D(that being said, many people find the /06 "too much", and that's OK, macho isn't the deal here, to kill cleanly and quickly is what it's about IMHO) :)

I don't know how much help all of this is; but I hope it helps you in your "quest" for "the deer rifle" for YOU! :D

[Rob]

Ace, as usual, hit the nail on the head. A 30-30, like all calibers, is a great choice, if used properly & within it's limitations. Ammo is affordable, too. You won't be sorry for your choice. Best of luck!

[beaver396]

he said he was hunting eastern ky, i live and hunt here in knott co 1 week out of rifle season and the other week in henry, for me i had to have something that would work with hillside hunting and feild hunting, i chose the 7mm, thats just me though. but here in the hills you could even use a 12 guage with slugs. you probably wont get a shot over 50 yrds. so a 30/30 is a good choice if you dont plan to hunt anywhere else.

[kydogduster]

I think the perfect deer rifle is what you can shoot well, and one that has the range for the area you will hunt. I have a couple of 223's that i use on coyotes. I have loaded some rounds to use on deer. I am confident that I can drop a deer with my 223 Savage, but I would not let my 16 yr. old use one. I have a NEF Handi Rifle in 270. It is a great little gun for the money. Deer out to 250 of 300 yds are in the freezer. My favorite all round is my 94 Win. 44 mag. Iron sights and deadly out to 100 yds. FWIW.

[gwhilikerz]

"Don't get a 30-30, the bullet will drop out the barrel. Don't get a 30-30, get my caliber, it is the only one that works. Don't get a 30-30 I been shooting deer for years and it won't kill a deer. Don't get a 30-30, my grandpa says that ain't no good. Don't get a 30-30 you can't put a scope on it."

Sheesh, I never heard so many "experts" with so much bull. A 30-30 will kill a deer just as dead as any other gun. Dead is dead. Just because you have the latest maximum magnum doesn't mean the old tried and true 30-30 isn't just as good as it used to be.

[Buck Hunter]

What rifle do you use? I think most of us was just saying that with experience with the 30-30 that it will kill a deer, but it does not have the range that a mid size or larger caliber will carry. The 30-30 is a good gun for brush hunting and will kill a deer. When you hit the fields and have a long range shot, a bigger caliber will be needed. The bigger caliber will shot short range and long range. He will wish he had a bigger caliber if he is hunting for deer and a shot appears over 150 yds. ;)

[gwhilikerz]

If a shot appears over 150 yds out to 225 and you have sighted your 30-30 scoped rifle in properly the deer is in trouble. Over that range and other rifles are much better. But from what he said about where he hunts and that he is a new hunter, then the 30-30 is a natural choice.
I hunt with a 243 and a 20ga. Both are NEF youth models. I bought them for my grandson who is 11. I have a Simmons 3-9 on the 243 and the Pardner shotgun is just a 22" barrel, mod. choke with a bead only. I own several very nice rifles in various calibers from 223 to 30-06. The 06 is a pre-64 Winchester mod. 70 . I have two 30-30s, one Winchester 94 and one old savage bolt action. Both have several deer to their credit. My grandson asked me to use one of "his" guns when I am hunting with him. It seemed like fun so I do that. This is the third year we have hunted together and the score is 243 = 5 deer, 20 ga = 5 deer. No misses, no lost deer.
I didn't mean fo flame anyone but for a new hunter who probably doesn't want to spend a lot of money for a rifle to start the 30-30 in a lever action is great.

[Buck Hunter]

Hey, no harm taken. The 243 is a nice versatile rifle. Varment/Deer rifle. Sounds like you have had some great success with it also deer hunting. I have owned a winchester lever action 30-30 and I still say I would go with a different caliber for deer hunting in Eastern Ky, where I live. Thats just my opinion.:)

Here is a link to some really good reading on the 30-30.

http://www.levergun.com/articles/3030_Rifle.htm :)

[VinVega]

Look at this website, he covers a handful of cartridges quite useful for killing deer. Keep in mind these are not all of the choices, but it is a good start.
http://www.wildgoose.com/article.htm

[Dennis]

Folks, i've got a lever action 30-30 its a sears ted williams also has a side mounted tasco scope. . I 've owned this gun for 20 plus yrs and it has never let me down . I have it sighted in for 100 yds but yes it will shoot farther lol...I guess i've taken 25 to 30 deer with this gun...Great shooting rifle i must say with little recoil....:) If i ever purchase another gun it will be another 30-30.....just mt .02 cents worth,,,

[Buck Hunter]

Very nice article, I guess it kind of explains it all in a nutshell. But, I do think that is what most of us are trying to say without putting it all together.;)

[love the woods]

deer fall because of shot placement, not powder or bullet weight. the tool that you choose is not as important as your ability to use it. if you are not familiar and comfortable with your gun, you will not be successful with it at any range. alot of people feel that the magnum power gives them an extra edge, and if you dont mind the recoil during practice it probably does. i am 6' 1" and weigh 240 lbs and i would rather take a punch in the mouth than bench shoot my 300 win mag. i would rather shoot what is comfortable to practice with which increases my ability. i have hunted alot of kentucky and have not lost a deer because the rifle wasnt capable, just me.

[Whitetail Nut]

I would stay away from the 243 but would go for anything from 25-06 to the 7mm. I personally hunt with a 7mm-08. Great gun for Whitetails. It is a 308 with a .284 bullet(7mm) instead of a .30 bullet(308). Hope this helps! It is really about personal choice and good shot placement.

[12 pointer]

excellent response from whitetailnut and love the woods. pop'em in the right place and it's "lights out". :eek: mike

[aceoky]

If a shot appears over 150 yds out to 225 and you have sighted your 30-30 scoped rifle in properly the deer is in trouble. Over that range and other rifles are much better. But from what he said about where he hunts and that he is a new hunter, then the 30-30 is a natural choice.
I hunt with a 243 and a 20ga. Both are NEF youth models. I bought them for my grandson who is 11. I have a Simmons 3-9 on the 243 and the Pardner shotgun is just a 22" barrel, mod. choke with a bead only. I own several very nice rifles in various calibers from 223 to 30-06. The 06 is a pre-64 Winchester mod. 70 . I have two 30-30s, one Winchester 94 and one old savage bolt action. Both have several deer to their credit. My grandson asked me to use one of "his" guns when I am hunting with him. It seemed like fun so I do that. This is the third year we have hunted together and the score is 243 = 5 deer, 20 ga = 5 deer. No misses, no lost deer.
I didn't mean fo flame anyone but for a new hunter who probably doesn't want to spend a lot of money for a rifle to start the 30-30 in a lever action is great.

With all due respect,
The only real problem with the 30/30 is that most have tube magazines,(lever actions) and therefore have to use flat/round nose bullets which DOES limit their effective range, that's physics at work(so to speak) .

To try to overcome that by sighting in differently you'll either be way too high "in close" or you'll miss longer(and add to that, the loss of speed/energy because of this at longer ranges) . Again Yes, it will kill farther, but for a new hunter to try to shoot over 150 yards isn't a "good idea" IMHO.

I've nothing whatever against the 30/30(again), it's a very good round (used within it's limits), but new hunters as a rule, aren't that good at range estimation, IF they think it's 150, and it's 200, wouldn't they be better served with a more modern round, shooting spitzer bullets, thus shooting MUCH flatter??

I'd NEVER say a 30/30 wouldn't "work" , or is a bad choice, I just personally think there are MUCH better choices especially for a new hunter....

FWIW, check the energy figures for a 30/30 @ 200-225-250+ , and you'll see how quickly it's losing speed/energy, "rainbow trajectory" is a good analogy, which makes the longer shots even harder(and that's a "bad thing" IMHO, especially for a "new hunter")

Whatever the choice is, the main thing is gun fit, and practise, IF you know YOUR limits, as well as the rifle you're using, you can easily fill your freezer with any legal firearm(well a .25 acp is tech legal, but that's the exception to the rule) :D

There is a difference in what will "work" , and what is "best"(and it's a matter of opinion at that):)

I hunt Whitley county, and most of my shots on deer have been over 200 yards!(laser ranged BTW) It does happen, my son's first buck was also killed over 200 yards, so, IMHO, having the range IF needed is a plus, and IF you don't have to worry"is he over/under 200 yards" that's one less bit of pressure on the "new hunter". :)

I've shot many 30/30 s and they are very good rifles, cheap to shoot with factory ammo, very little recoil, I honestly have nothing against them, and in fact I'm a "fan" of these(and may buy one soon in fact) , so I'm not "against them" by any means, they've probably killed more game than anything else!(including Elk,Moose,etc)...(though that may change to the 30/06 soon, since they are #1 selling ammo,reloading dies,etc)...so to "knock" the 30/30, doesn't really make sense, but to admit to it's limits does IMHO.

[Docknboatlift]

My Guide For Proper Deer Hunting Weapon Selection!

Zero to 4 feet: A well constructed bowie knife with bone or antler handle, backed up by a classic pair of Keds tennis shoes and loin cloth only. Be careful about clutching knife in teeth so that sharp edge is pointed outwards, and not in towards your tongue when you dive out of the 75 year old (preferably) sugar maple. Anything that has a trigger is for wimps. WWII era United States Marine Corp Kabar knives will suffice, but don’t let your buddies know you’re using one.

3 feet to 12 feet: Spear constructed of flint, hickory saplings, and dried sinews. Adorn tail with gathered game bird feathers to achieve ballistic stability. Keds and loincloth are also de rigueur. Purists may substitute deerskin moccasins for Keds, but only if you can convince your old lady to brain tan them and chew them to supple comfort. This is also very useful armament for dissuading car jackers. Proper length hickory shaft requires no concealed carry permit.

10 feet to 25 yards: Modern compound bow with mechanically expanding broad heads. Be sure to equip yourself with laser hologram etched Yves Saint Laurent camouflage rubber boots (knee length before Labor Day, ankle length afterwards), socks, underwear, gloves, mittens, scarf, head net, self activating chemical hand warmer packs, carbohydrate rich “energy bars,” belt, suspenders, hat, backpack, water bottle with integral bladder relief and urine transport chamber, climbing sticks, titanium tree stand, laser range finder, binoculars, electric ears, “poof” bottle of camouflage colored talcum powder for determining wind direction, bow trigger, self leveling pendulum sight, grunt tube, deer bleat can, rattling antlers, cough suppressing blow chamber, GPS unit, and fall restraint system made by the same guy who designed the seatbelt system in the ’63 Chrysler Imperial. At least half the aforementioned items should contain activated charcoal to remove any scent molecules present for a 50-yard diameter. The other half should emit some foul odor rumored to send deer into sexual frenzy. Bathe in pee using scent-absorbing soap. Remember, YOU are the only one this side of Colorado Springs that actually understands the true meaning of hunting. Everyone else on this page, or any other, has done nothing but “rurn’t” the sport of hunting forever. Be sure to transport entire kit on stinky smoke belching two-cycle four-wheel noisemaker and who needs a dang helmet anyways? Practice drawing down your bow on the wife’s cat and giggling like the madman you are, but in the name of Jesus don’t let her see you doing so.

15 yards to 35 yards: A single action revolver in .44 magnum, with a barrel length of not less than 4 inches. Weapon last cleaned by the guy at the factory who packed it up new. You may not hit em, but it sure is fun scaring hell out of em. As a last resort, the back of your pickup can be emptied of the years acquisition of former beer containment vessels and the pile blasted at random while occupying yourself with emptying even more beer containment vessels (don’t get moral with me! Who here HASN’T done this??) By all means, remember to bring bullets. Also handy for rooting skunks out from under the front porch.

25 yards to 75 yards: A fancy breach loading single shot long barrel pistol in the rifle caliber of your choice, that is nothing more or less than the same design rifle with the stock cut off. Add graphite shaft spring loaded telescoping bipod, and a fixed power scope worth at least two weeks pay (three if you cash your check at a payday advance store). Tell the old lady it’s your present to yourself. Tell your buddies it’s actually for your dream hunt in Africa or the Yukon or some other place you likely will never go.

62 yards, 2 feet, 7 and ¾ inches: Traditional flintlock muzzle loader with musket balls you make yourself melting catfish fishing weights in your wife’s brand new mail order sauté pan. Equip yourself also with a genuine coonskin hat. Tell the wife her mother borrowed the pan for some Thanksgiving Day recipe or the other. Hide pan in the fertilizer spreader you use for the food plots.

62 yards, 2 feet, 8 and ¾ inches: Modern in line muzzleloader with 209-primer system. Equip yourself with genuine coonskin hat mail ordered from Cabela’s.

62 yards, 2 feet, 9 and ¾ inches: Modern in line muzzleloader with 209-primer system and glow in the dark sights. Equip yourself with coonskin hat mail ordered from Bass Pro with safety orange fringe for tail.

62 yards, 2 feet, 10 and ¾ inches: Modern in line muzzleloader with 209-primer system and red dot holographic sight. Equip yourself with Day-Glo orange synthetic coonskin hat mail ordered from Eddie Bauer.

62 yards, 2 feet, 11 and ¾ inches: Modern in line muzzleloader with 209-primer system and 2 X fix power scope (32 mm only please). Equip yourself with custom ordered hat of Russian sable and fuzzy earmuffs in Day-Glo orange. Remember, this is a primitive weapon.

50 to 75 yards: 30-30 Winchester lever action with iron sights. If it’s good enough for John Wayne, it’s dang well good enough for you. Weapon should reside behind the seat of your pickup truck in case you ever encounter a rattlesnake while out pre-scouting the neighbors’ apple orchard, cornfield, soybean field, or stand of virgin white oak after dark. Absolutely nothing is cooler than working a lever action.

TO BE CONTINUED

[Docknboatlift]

50 to 75 meters: Any WWI or WWII bolt-action surplus military rifle manufactured in continental Europe and spec’d in millimeters. Actual range is 5 meters shorter than shown but overall length of weapon accounts for added range. Style point awarded for any weapon whose country of manufacture no longer appears on a map, and bonus point awarded for any ammunition that must be mail ordered 6 months in advance of the season of your choice.

60 to 80 yards: ANY weapon chambering a .223 caliber round. Headshots on does only please, and don’t mention this weapon on any Internet sight.

75-100 yards: Any semi-automatic weapon manufactured under communist oversight using forced labor and which has a magazine of a distinct banana shape and, until a few weeks ago, was illegal as all hell but still really cool. If the muzzle blast exceeds the effective range of weapon this is an acceptable weapon for shining at night.

75-125 yards: Any traditional center fire bolt-action rifle with a chambered round up to 30 caliber, purchased in "good usable condition." Bullet weight depends on what’s on sale at Kmart, or alternatively WalMart. This is for serious “meat hunters.” Your scope of choice should be the cheapest blister packaged one hanging on a rack available to shoplifters as opposed to locked in the glass display case (it’s bait though, DO NOT TRY TO STEAL IT! See that nice man behind the counter? He’s got LOTS of weapons, LOTS of ammo, and LOTS of the expensive optics, and he’s just hoping you’ll try to tuck one in your surplus army jacket).

75-125 yards (alternate): Any domestic semi-automatic wood stocked rifle that John Kerry, Al Gore, and/or Bill Clinton hasn’t attempted to outlaw, in any caliber BUT .223. You don’t like eating venison, and you REALLY don’t like cleaning deer. However, if you do happen to see one, you want to be able to let the whole county know it by unloading your weapon as fast as possible. Best used by near sighted retirees who can’t remember why they are trying to get away from the old lady for the weekend. Top with any available scope-it really don’t matter.

100-150 yards: Any traditional wood stocked domestic center fire rifle with a chambered round whose origin predates WWII and is still offered by at least three OEM gun manufacturers, and if never used is considered to be collector grade. Actual range is probably longer, but due to the fact that you were up all night playing poker drinking beer and doing shooters, slept in your hunting clothes, ate a nourishing breakfast of greasy smelly bacon, greasy smelly eggs, greasy smelly toast, and greasy smelly coffee, then threw-up, and are trying to kick your hangover by chewing Beechnut whole leaf tobacco and cussing your second cousin who took you for twenty bucks the night before, it is unlikely you can see any further than recommended. And the deer sure aint coming any closer. Besides, the gun looks nice, and it either belonged to your grandfather, or you have convinced the wife it is an attractive investment for your retirement and bequeathment to your grandchild. Top with a good quality 3-9 x 40 scope and maybe you will see a deer.

125-200 yards: Any synthetic stock, stainless steel, bull barrel, bolt action rifle in a chambering that does not predate the Reagan administration. One style point if it is labeled “short” or “magnum,” and three points if it is labeled with both. This is really the weapon you intend to use for elk, and whitetail deer are merely a warm up. Glass must be European in origin, and the manufacturers name must be impossible to pronounce the same way twice. Scope must be at least 50mm at object end, and be worth three house payments. If you don’t have all the items mentioned for the Compound Bow hunter, you aint worth a hoot. Add to this that your binoculars must be securely strapped to your breastbone with a $40 bungee cord arrangement for comfortable transport ($60 bungee cord arrangements are better). Be sure to video the whole affair so no one can call you a liar.

150-400 yards (might be longer if wind drift charts will allow, but switch to meters to impress your hunting buddies): Any round that will properly dispatch a Cape buffalo, Polar Bear, and African Elephant. If the boat tail bullet is bigger than your thumb and costs more than $10 per each, it is suitable for transport in your Cadillac SUV. Take weapon and ALL accoutrements mentioned above (ALL of em buddy) and truck at least three states over to the prefab hunting stand you have leased for the week at the cost of an average Bulgarian factory workers annual income. Hopefully it is larger than your college dorm room (if not, insist on a record book guarantee or the addition of an high fence exotic). If your lodge host can’t show you monthly trail cam shots of your quarry’s antler development over the past 5 years, he’s obviously a cheat. Once you have the “guide” adjust the heater, the flat screen home theatre with 5 channel Dolby surround sound, and commence to preparing lunch and mixing refreshments out of the mini bar, relax in your Barca Lounger overlooking the genetically engineered food plot. No need to fret over this one. The guide will wake you at half time (or the third yellow flag for you Southern boys) on the absolute last day of your hunt so that you may take aim and fire. Don’t worry about missing either. While you are gathering yourself up off the floor after firing your custom cannon, the guide will dispatch the game with a 100-150 yard weapon he brought along just for this occasion. Once pictures are taken, the staff will handle processing the game and next day shipping to your preferred taxidermist. This is easy if the guide shot it. If you shot it, it is even easier seeing as the meat is now on the outside and the fur on the inside. DO NOT forget the gold card, and tipping should calculated on a sliding scale of scoreable inches divided by the prime rate as published in the Wall Street Journal on the second Tuesday of every month, plus two percent.

DO NOT use any evil black weapon of combat capability on deer. What kind of whacko are you anyway? Such weapons are suitable for coons, possums, ‘dillos, squirrels, chucks, skunks, porc’s, squirrels, yotes, bobcats, crows, prairie dogs, and other stewpot vermin, but certainly not for whitetail deer. Why give the anti’s any more ammo than they already have? You Bastard!!

I hope this makes your choice easier.

[deerhunter401]

man you got way to much time on your hands.

love the last part,150-400 yard range, i haven't stopped laughing.

[Dave105]

I do thank I have open a can worms, and I still do not know what to shoot them with.

[Buck Hunter]

Any of the guns mentioned above will kill a deer. It is all about what you want and what you can afford. If you have any friends that have rifles mentioned above, ask them if you can shoot them and see what fits you best. Than try and understand the guns pros and cons and what bullet will work best for your needs. If your close to me, I will let you shot my 270, 7mm mag and 30-30. I can also get some buddies together and they will let you shot a 300 mag, 308 and 30-06. :) Let us know what you end up with..

[gwhilikerz]

LOL Dave, if you listen to all us "ex-sperts" the season will be long gone before you get your gun. Then you will have a whole year to listen to us:) . Get a centerfire rifle and go hunting. If you like the experience there will be many more guns and calibers in your future. Then you can "spert" with the rest of us.

[WATERDOG]

LOL Dave, if you listen to all us "ex-sperts" the season will be long gone before you get your gun. Then you will have a whole year to listen to us:) . Get a centerfire rifle and go hunting. If you like the experience there will be many more guns and calibers in your future. Then you can "spert" with the rest of us.

He's right, this is not rocket science here. Your only trying to shoot a deer. I will bet you will grow to love any gun you purchase. Worse case, you get a gun you dont like & you sell it and get another.