Favorite hunting rifle?

**alaskabushman** · 07-13-2014, 08:25 PM

Just curious to see what's being hunted with out there. Not interested in "308 vs 30-06" debates, just wanna hear what you personally hunt. deer, elk, bear, squirrels... Pretty much whatever your best of the best hunting rifle is and why you love it solo much.

I'll go first. I used to hunt with a Remington 740 in 30-06, but eventually decided I didn't like the meat damage on our small Sitka blacktail deer that are native to my region. Then after I got married I commandeered my wife's Ruger M77 compact in .260 rem and LOVED this gun and it's light compact size. But mostly I loved the .260 cartridge, what a sleeper! It performs way out of proportion to what is should be able.
Then last year I picked up a Remington model 7 in 7mm-08...WOW! Great gun and great cartridge, I think I may still prefer the .260, but the 7-08 is no slouch! Maybe after another hunting season or two I might be completely sold on it.

**hunter63** · 07-13-2014, 08:47 PM

Well now......
Don't hunt squirrels any more, don't eat them so don't hunt them.
Varmints....ground hogs....lately 'yotes (again) and what ever is being a PITA.......223 in several offerings from AR to Handi Rifle SS.
Deer white tail.......lately H&R Handi Rifle in .270 latest "Go To".

All other deer, white tail, mule deer, elk.........Ruger M77m in 7 mm mag......When some thing just has to die......and if you can see it, you can kill it. ( I love that rifle.....)
From 10 ft to 300+ yds confirmed kills.....Has reached "Grandpa's Magic Tack driver" Status.....with me being the Grandpa.

Don't get me wrong, those aren't the only options, but the ones I use most often.

**randyt** · 07-13-2014, 09:07 PM

I use a remington 700 in 30-06, a 788 in .223 and a mauser in 22-250. These are my old standbys. I have others that could be put into service but who hunts with a 38-40 or 38-55 or?? these days.

**hunter63** · 07-13-2014, 09:10 PM

LOL....Well some of us "Could".......LOL

**Batch** · 07-13-2014, 09:18 PM

I hunt primarily archery season for white tail and hog. I will hunt quota hunts black powder and general gun. The Wildlife Management Area dictates whether that is with a shotgun or a rifle and more often than not it seems to be shotgun only lately. I still leave the 30-06 in the safe and grab my Marlin 336.

**Highhawk1948** · 07-13-2014, 09:41 PM

My Marlin 1895 in 45-70 Government and my Marlin 1894M in .22 Magnum

**blackfinger** · 07-13-2014, 11:08 PM

I do most of my deer and moose hunting with an older Savage 99 in 300SAV. I like to carry my Winchester 94 30-30 if I'm going for a long haul in the bush as it's light and easy to carry. I also take my Savage 24 in 30-30/20ga. to camp every year. For muzzle loader its a TC Hawken .54 cal.

**alaskabushman** · 07-14-2014, 12:39 PM

I've always admired the old savage 99's, might have to pick one up someday...

**kyratshooter** · 07-14-2014, 12:43 PM

I am a very nonjudgmental and unbigoted person. All my guns are my favorite. At least they were when I was parting with my money!

Plus I do not shoot small game and large game with the same gun, except perhaps for the ,223 or the .357 with squib loads.

And about 75% of the time my favorite game gun is going to be a shotgun, not a rifle.

**Seniorman** · 07-14-2014, 01:40 PM

I'm still using my Remington Model 725 in .280 Remington, which I bought new in 1962. I've killed elk, Mule deer, Blacktail deer, antelope, and Black bear with it. Works just fine for me so guess I'll keep it.

S.M.

**alaskabushman** · 07-14-2014, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Seniorman

I'm still using my Remington Model 725 in .280 Remington, which I bought new in 1962. I've killed elk, Mule deer, Blacktail deer, antelope, and Black bear with it. Works just fine for me so guess I'll keep it.

S.M.

My best friend uses a Winchester model 70 chambered for the .280, he loves it! My grandpa still uses his old .284 Winchester model 100. Not the same but ballistic siblings anyway.

**Old Professor** · 07-14-2014, 05:36 PM

I have cut back to two rifles for big game; a Ruger Frontier in 308 for pigs, bear and anything bigger. For whitetail deer, its a Remington model 7 in .260 Remington.

**natertot** · 07-14-2014, 07:54 PM

This is the first year that rifles can be used for hunting deer, but they have to be straight walled cartridges in .357 or larger. Don't own one, but saw that Bud's in Kentucky had the SB2 Handi Rifle in 444 Marlin for $196. I'd like to pick it up but have had bad luck with them in the past.....

I use a mosin nagant on yotes...... talk about fun!

12 or 20 gauge for all small game.

**NVRDONE** · 07-14-2014, 10:39 PM

When I can afford out of state permits I bring a Winchester 94 in .30-30 if I'll be hunting in brush, open terrain my Remington 700 in .30-06. But here in NJ its good ol slugs out of the 870.

**Seniorman** · 07-14-2014, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by alaskabushman

My best friend uses a Winchester model 70 chambered for the .280, he loves it! My grandpa still uses his old .284 Winchester model 100. Not the same but ballistic siblings anyway.

I am a big fan of the .284/7mm caliber. Mine has never failed me.

That Win. 100 in .284 Win. is a fine rifle. When I owned a vacation cabin in California's Sierra Nevada, for many years, I became friends with an old rancher who ran cattle in the foothills and forested mountains of the Sequoia Nat'l. Forest. For years he carried a Win. 100 .284 Win. in his horse's saddle scabbard, or in his pickup. He killed many deer, a number of mountain lions (when it was still legal), several Black bears, coyotes, bobcats, etc. He did not abide predators killing his calves and foals.

He said it was the "best little rifle" he ever owned.

S.M.