New Gun for Hunting Season

[jdmeredith]

i'm looking to buy a new gun for deer hunting season and i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions?

[Kevin]

Guess it depends on your budget, and where you hunt. Are you in the woods every time, or are you over-looking large fields, hills and clear-cut?

30.06 is a nice all around gun. Packs a nice punch and has good range. It's what I've been shooting for several years.

Also look into a Remington 7mm mag. Shoots a little flatter, faster and is more powerful. But also more expensive.

.270 is a nice compromise on a lower budget.
I'm sure more people will have a lot more suggestions on this.

[reason]

Weatherby 300 or a Thompson center icon in a 30tc.

[timberjunky]

I like what Kevin said. The area you hunt is gonna make a big difference on what you might enjoy more in the end. If you are hunting an area that realisticly your not gonna shoot past 150 yds then a lower caliber with flatter ballistics might be better for you. If you can kill a deer at 100 yds easily with a .223 why shoot it with a 300? However if your have the chance to shoot out past 500 yds your gonna want to make sure you have enough energy to still make a good clean kill. I am a big fan of the .308 but 30-06 is a great great rifle since you can use different loads for different game. You can take 30-06 on a deer hunt then take it out on an elk trip the next week if you wanted just by shooting heavier bullets. Different strokes for differnet folks though. If your looking for a model though I am looking into the Browning X-bolt and TC Icon for lower caliber deer rifles.

[reason]

Honestly in the woods I would not shoot a small caliber. In thick cover one might have a chance at accidentally hitting a twig or limb. With a smaller caliber your bullet will fragment and even just stop. With a larger caliber you have a little forgiveness and can punch right through to ultimately kill the deer. If you are totally in the woods at all times I would also recomend a muzzleloader. Now days muzzleloaders can reach out to 200yards and may also be a little cheaper!

[Kevin]

I shoot a Weatherby 30.06 right now and just love the caliber. Won't be looking for a new gun for a good while that is for sure.

[baker14d]

I can tell you that I don't really think the bigger calibers will save you too much on limbs and twigs. Personally, I love a browning A-Bolt. Thos aren't in everyone's price range but I've used them and know a few who have and all they can say is it is the best one they have ever hunted with. I like a .270 caliber not any over kill and still big enough to get the job done. Don't know how you feel about the WSM calibers but they do give you a little more speed and knock down power. I bought one last year after I sold my old .270 and love it.

[DeerWoods26]

Also, not sure on your price range but you can find a lot of good used guns at gun shops and places like that.

[zach]

jeff the last deer you killed was with the old 30-30. i think you have graduated to an .06. it's time to make the change. do it, say yes

[Twilightstalker]

Not sure about anyone else i have carried a 30-30 for many years. Its a light weight gun which makes it easy to carry all day, good size caliber with great knock down power. I have taken many many deer with it and havent had any problems tracking em either. I used a .243 last year and regret the day i got it. shot a doe one foggy morning and had to track her for a long ways. approx. 2 miles. once i found her she was laying in creek bed with a little tiny hole just behind her shoulder. had spotty blood all teh way to her but it sure took a long time searching for her!  I recently up graded my ole model 94 to a marlin 336. very nice gun!!! this gun is also good for in the woods or on a field. If i were going to be in tight or dense woods i would probably go with a good ol 12 gauge with some 00buck shot!

[Wizard]

You can never go wrong with a .30-06.

[Kevin]

You can never go wrong with a .30-06.

Couldn't agree more. Really don't see why you would need anything else. Of course, I am living out in Wyoming now, so a gun with a little longer range has been on my mind lately.

[blindset61]

There are so many choices now-a-days that it's hard to pick one.  One thing's for sure though, you have to be sure before the money/gun crosses the sales counter because there ain't no going back.  I've owned a few different rifles over my life and sure liked some, didn't like others.  Things to consider have been already posted but cost (not only of the firearm but of the ammo too); where you plan to hunt (open, like beanfield; heavy woods, etc); even weight (mtns, walking, etc vs. like box stand) and like already talked, legal constrictions.  One good evaluation might be to take note of what other hunters are using where you hunt. Don't forget the scope-they are as important, if not more so, than the rifle and might cost even more.  I bought my two sons Walmart scoped Marlin 30-30s when they were twelve and they have killed many deer with them, but moved on to other firearms as they grew older.

I have three rifles-all bolt guns.  At this point in time, probably two more than I'll ever need.  Two are Remiongton 700s-30.06 and .280.  The third, my first rifle, is a Ruger .243.  All have Leupold scopes.