What is your best deer rifle

Either a 6.5 Creedmoor with a 140 A-Max on top of 43.5 of RL-17 or my Browning X-bolt eclipse hunter in 7mm RM with a 162 A-Max on top of 64 of RL-22.

I am onto a new generation of deer rifles now. I don't have any rifles that have taken a deer. I inherited my brothers Rem 700 BDL 30-06 and I am doing stuff to now. It's getting worked overy now. Limb saver grind on recoil pad. Then pillars and bed the stock then new optics. Looking forward to its slight make over. I am sure it's going to see a lot of action since it was my brothers. Kind of a take him with me.

I am also working on a customized sendero 7mm rem mag. It's going to be an awesome rifle.

I usually take a first year production 700 ADL in 25-06. Shooting the 110gr AB's into itty-bitty groups.
As a 'back-up' rifle, I take a Weatherby S2 243 that works well out to 500 yards w/ the 90 gr AB.
For short-range work, a 358 Win and for long range stuff (>600) the 264 WM.
Favorite is still the 25-06. No telling how many whitetails and mule deer have fallen to it. Plus, I used it to take my first two elk. It just works.

I usually take a first year production 700 ADL in 25-06. Shooting the 110gr AB's into itty-bitty groups.
As a 'back-up' rifle, I take a Weatherby S2 243 that works well out to 500 yards w/ the 90 gr AB.
For short-range work, a 358 Win and for long range stuff (>600) the 264 WM.
Favorite is still the 25-06. No telling how many whitetails and mule deer have fallen to it. Plus, I used it to take my first two elk. It just works.

My favorite all around deer rifle is my 264 win mag custom rifle. It's 10.5lbs ready to hunt so it's not to heavy for most hunting, but heavy enough to be forgiving to shoot. It has a Leupold VX-6 3-18x50 with the CDS and TMOA reticle, the big scope really brings in the light. I shoot 140gr Bergers currently and have used accubonds in the past. Both have worked very well but I might try the Hornady ELD-X bullets, it might be the perfect combo of the other two for the way I hunt. I love the long high BC 6.5 bullets for the windy conditions I usually hunt around home and on the plains of Wyoming. Looking around the living room at the mounts I always think this rifle is one hell of an interior decorator.

For long walks or steep country I have a custom 270 win that's almost ready to pick up from the gunsmith I hope will become a favorite. He sent it off to get the barrel laser engraved Friday, then it's ready to come home. I had a #3 fluted Pac-Nor barrel on a heavier Winchester M70 rifle in 270 win that shot very well and had few rounds down it. I picked up a Kimber Montana 84L that didn't shoot worth a darn. I had the gunsmith combine the two, the light Kimber action and stock now has the #3 Pac-Nor installed. I have a Leupold 4.5-14 Vari X III with the VH reticle and CDS to go on it. The barrel has always done very well with 130 or 140gr accubonds.

Antlerless season I have used a 243 or 6mm a lot as I don't usually shoot as far and won't take anything but a broadside shot so I don't need the penetration. Also while doe hunting I'll shoot a coyote if I see one which I won't do when buck hunting. The Winchester I stole the 270 barrel off of got a #4 25-06 barrel installed to replace it, so I would bet that gets to be my new doe season gun. It shoots 100gr TTSX factory loads very well, should be a good meat load and not wreck a pelt to bad if I spot a coyote while doe hunting. This rifle has a Leupold 4.5-14x with the CDS and wind reticle.

Hello Hunterjmj,

I like to use my .308 weatherby. I only shoot whitetail inside of 500 yards no more. Considering a 7rem mag or weatherby mag for longer shots here in MS.

We hunt woods/heavy brush adjacent to farmland in West Michigan (LP). My bust stand is a tower blind above a great big swamp. So I really need a "stopping" rifle that puts them down DRT. I use an old REM 700, which I had rebarreled to .35 Whelen. The new Federal Rusion ammo did a great job last fall.

Sweet Gun, I use my CVA Apex .35 Whelen with 180g Barnes VorTx when I go into the grown in woods here. Most of these areas in MS are pretty thick including wildlife Management Areas .35 real knockdown power.

many suggestions, it's difficult to say what is the best.

Kingofyesyall said:

Sweet Gun, I use my CVA Apex .35 Whelen with 180g Barnes VorTx when I go into the grown in woods here. Most of these areas in MS are pretty thick including wildlife Management Areas .35 real knockdown power.

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A friend of mine has a Rem. 760 pump in a 35 Whelen, he cut the barrel down to 20" and put a muzzle brake on it. He uses it in the woods and next to the swamp where we hunt. Man, that thing puts em down hard.

Depends on where I am Hunting, anything for the mid west, it is my custom Rem 700 in 280 AI loade with the 145 gr Barnes LRX. Have had this rifle for many years. Just recently barreled and restocked ect.

If hunting local here in CA. it is a toss up between the Remington 700s in 25 Souper or 7mm-08.

d500lnn said:

I personally love my M7 KS in 7-08. I've killed a pile of good deer with a 270 in a Beretta Mato config, and a Sako 75 FL in 300 wsm. I'm more of a 6mm 6.5mm and 7mm fan for deer these days. 6.5 is hands down my favorite round as we speak. I should have mine built in about 5-6 weeks! Can't wait to get it!

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7-08. It's killed a bunch

This is long range hunting and I shoot a long range hammer. Custom 338 Rum shooting either 300 gr Berger otm's or 300 gr Nosler Accubond's both leaving the barrel at 2800 fps and hitting hard as far as I can see.

I use a good old 270win with 130gr winchester power points. Drops em like a sack of bricks. Longest kill was at 426yds with it. Also use my custom 300wby for when i might need to do some long range shooting at 500yds plus. Shooting 200 gr accubonds @3000fps