What's currently your best hunting rifle for your area?

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FairFrank
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Re: What's currently your best hunting rifle for your area?

Post by FairFrank »

jkbrea wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 2:00 am I hunt elk and antelope. I use a Tikka T3 lite 30-06 with a Leupold VX3 and a Marlin 45-70 with a quick release Leupold scout scope.
Never understood the need for magnums in heavy timber out here. I had a 7mm Rem Mag but didn't enjoy shooting it.
Out of 20+ elk, almost all were 100 yards or less. Longest was 430 yards. 30-06 worked perfectly. Going to try a 1903A3 with iron sights this year!
Hi and thanks in advance! What else scopes will be suitable for a Tikka T3 as similar to Leupold's?
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wvfarrier
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Re: What's currently your best hunting rifle for your area?

Post by wvfarrier »

Id venture a guess its a lever action 30-30
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RIHMFIRE
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Re: What's currently your best hunting rifle for your area?

Post by RIHMFIRE »

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Woodsloafer2
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Re: What's currently your best hunting rifle for your area?

Post by Woodsloafer2 »

Also from Maine where 100 yards is a long shot. I the mountains where I spend a lot of my time there are some big open hardwood ridges where you might get a longer shot. I have always been interested in deer rifles since my dad took me out before I was even legal to hunt. At 10 I got to carry his double 12 gauge but had to carry it open but with shells in the chambers. I could only close it if I saw a deer.

I have acquired a few deer rifles throughout the years but find myself using my dad's 348 more now than ever before. He had a scope added as his sight got worse. However, it really is a very quick gun to get off that first shot. Pulls up perfectly for me. It is almost a 9 pound gun but carries very easily.

The custom 54 30-06 is one I use a lot too. Light, quick, never looses zero and just carries so well.

Some others are a custom Winchester 88 in 308 with a muzzle brake. Has almost no recoil.
Winchester 95 custom maple stocked by Eno HecKanan (spelling?) in 405.

I generally cover a lot of miles as I am more interested in finding deer than shooting them. As a result I decided to put together a deer rifle that was very compact and accurate. I have two versions. Both TC encore Pro Hunters in 308. One with an 18 1/2 inch Bulberry fairly heavy barrel wearing an old Redfield 1 x 4. The other is a 20 inch Match Grade Machine barrel with their integral muzzle brake. The brake really works and the gun hardly moves when fired. It wears an older Widefield 1 3/4 - 5 Redfield. Both weigh around 7 1/2 to have enough weight for good offhand shooting. I do not shoot really light guns well.

With all these choices I still find myself going back to my dad's 348 very often.

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Bullard4075
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Re: What's currently your best hunting rifle for your area?

Post by Bullard4075 »

Here in South Central Montana (Billings) my Ruger M77 Tang Safety 30-06 would normally, and has had, the nod. When chance at heavier game like Elk and up I have more assurance with my Remington 700 Classic in 35 Whelen. Lighter game in years past (Antelope,Whitetail/Mulies) has been the 257 Improved Bob, 30-06,45-70/400 Sharps and 40/75/260 Bullard. Heavier (Elk/Moose and Buffalo) has been 257 Weatherby (1 Elk and never again), Moose (Sharps 45-70/400) and for Buffalo the 35 Whelen ( next year the Bullard). Given the RIGHT presentation and range I would shoot any of these animals with any of these rounds . Different subject, but in Alaska, my rifles are 35 Whelen and Ruger #1 375 H&H. My son's is Ruger Guide Gun in 375 Ruger. If I really had to pick one for everything it would be the 35 Whelen.
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Re: What's currently your best hunting rifle for your area?

Post by MS 9x56 »

Whichever gun is in my hands when I see my quarry. I typically rotate through my guns every season so while it may not be optimal they are all deadly and accurate. I tune my loads for whatever and wherever I will be hunting. Now for bears and boars I may alter the choices. Good hunting.
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2ndovc
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Re: What's currently your best hunting rifle for your area?

Post by 2ndovc »

I haven't hunted with the .450 Marlin in Ohio, but now that we're allowed to use straight walled cartridges I will when the opportunity presents itself. I have shot a few boar in TX and whitetail in PA.

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BigSky56
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Re: What's currently your best hunting rifle for your area?

Post by BigSky56 »

I like to use a 99 in 300 savage for deer,elk and antelope and when I worked cows on a horse I carried a 30-30 and if I get a urge to hunt North slope alder thickets I carry a 348, overall the 30-30 handles the timber and brush just fine. My longest shot on elk was 70-75 yds. If I only had one rifle it would be a 30-30 for grouse to brownies. danny
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horsesoldier03
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Re: What's currently your best hunting rifle for your area?

Post by horsesoldier03 »

I have a Mossberg Whitetail Lightning in .308 was given to me as a Christmas present years ago. They get a lot of bad press, but honestly this rifle has been awesome. I have no clue how many deer it has taken, but more importantly, it has never missed. I also have a BRNO Mauser in .270 that is growing on me. It took a while because I didnt have a good scope mount. Either will do anything I need.
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buckeyeshooter
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Re: What's currently your best hunting rifle for your area?

Post by buckeyeshooter »

For deer hunting, current favorites are a Remington 700 SENDARO 308 or a Marlin XLR in 308 Marlin Express. For bear, elk or moose, a Ruger tang safety 338Win Mag or a Turnbull Marlin Cowboy in 50 Alaskan. I sometimes sneak in a Winchester 1895 Carbine in 30-06.
Roknstevo
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Re: What's currently your best hunting rifle for your area?

Post by Roknstevo »

I only hunt hogs any more. My one and only centerfire rifle is a Rossi 92 in .357. It never fails me. I rarely shoot a hog at over 30-40 yds as I hunt river swamp areas only. I have a .22 lr that I use if squirrels or rabbit are on the menu.
jkbrea
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Re: What's currently your best hunting rifle for your area?

Post by jkbrea »

FairFrank wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 3:30 am
jkbrea wrote: Tue Jun 01, 2021 2:00 am I hunt elk and antelope. I use a Tikka T3 lite 30-06 with a Leupold VX3 and a Marlin 45-70 with a quick release Leupold scout scope.
Never understood the need for magnums in heavy timber out here. I had a 7mm Rem Mag but didn't enjoy shooting it.
Out of 20+ elk, almost all were 100 yards or less. Longest was 430 yards. 30-06 worked perfectly. Going to try a 1903A3 with iron sights this year!
Hi and thanks in advance! What else scopes will be suitable for a Tikka T3 as similar to Leupold's?
Most of my scopes are Leupold but Vortex makes great scopes and their warranty is excellent. I have noticed their cheap ones are junk but their high end scopes are great.

My Leopold is 4.5x10 but I rarely power it up past 6 due to thick terrain.
Don't go cheap on scopes. Buy a good one once rather than replace cheap ones regularly.
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