• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

30-06 or 243 or 270

Well I have to wonder how many more steaks you can buy vs possible tag soup. lol

Ok, so your hunting close range stuff and rifles above typically are long range capable. Doesnt mean they dont work at closer distances. I bought a break action cva scout in 44 mag for my kids. Let me tell you that thing is awesome. We use the hornaday 225gr poly tip lever revolution bullets and they tear the deer up, not your shoulder. lol We have shot 4 deer with that gun with 3 of them in the 70yd range and its lights out. Fairly inexpensive gun, ammo isnt outrageous either and pretty common. I have a .270 and at the range its impressive for what I paid for it. I lost a buck with it and shot 2 caribou and realized bullet type is very important. I was shooting the thin skin game(like deer) rounds and on the caribou at 200yds I couldnt put my pinky in the entrance or exit hole. The bullet just zipped through without expanding. I bought some of the poly tips for it and it stacks holes on paper, but I havent shot anything with those rounds.
 
kenn1320 said:
Well I have to wonder how many more steaks you can buy vs possible tag soup. lol

Ok, so your hunting close range stuff and rifles above typically are long range capable. Doesnt mean they dont work at closer distances. I bought a break action cva scout in 44 mag for my kids. Let me tell you that thing is awesome. We use the hornaday 225gr poly tip lever revolution bullets and they tear the deer up, not your shoulder. lol We have shot 4 deer with that gun with 3 of them in the 70yd range and its lights out. Fairly inexpensive gun, ammo isnt outrageous either and pretty common. I have a .270 and at the range its impressive for what I paid for it. I lost a buck with it and shot 2 caribou and realized bullet type is very important. I was shooting the thin skin game(like deer) rounds and on the caribou at 200yds I couldnt put my pinky in the entrance or exit hole. The bullet just zipped through without expanding. I bought some of the poly tips for it and it stacks holes on paper, but I havent shot anything with those rounds.
Click to expand...
Those 44's are awesome guns. I forgot about those. I got a ruger auto in the 44. Based off of the 10/22 platform.
 
You have a lot of good advice here, and probably from much more knowledgeable folks than myself, but I'll give my opinion as well.
I love the 30-06. You can't go wrong with it. There's a reason it was such a popular sniper round.
I personally use a .308. I, like @EricS, prefer multi-use gear, and I like that my .308 also shoots 7.62 x 51. I can find ammo ANYWHERE. The gun I use is a Mossberg MVP Patrol. It was developed for police and military use as an "Urban Sniper Rifle". It has a 16.25" threaded barrel, so it's short. That's a good quality in a saddle rifle. I have shot it out to 300 yards with DEADLY accuracy, so the short barrel isn't a problem for distance with 99% of hunts. It has iron sights, as well. I love that in a gun, and you don't see a lot of bolt action rifles with them. If my scope takes a lick, I'll pull it off (quick detach mounts) and hunt with the iron sights. It also takes a couple different types of magazines, including standard Magpul style AR10 mags. I run a 10 round Magpul M2 and it provides a great grip while carrying. You can get a flush mount mag if you prefer.
Sorry for the long post, I just feel like I've found the perfect deer rifle for folks that aren't shooting 500 yards across corn fields or open country. I love this thing.
Whatever you get, ammo is crucial. Modern bullets can do amazing things. Find what your gun likes. Of all the stuff I've tried, and all the loads I've made myself, my rifle LOVES Winchester Deer Season XP. I've copied the load with the same bullets, and can't make them any cheaper than off the shelf. They're quite affordable, and dropped my buck last year in his tracks with no broken bones. It delivers a ton of kinetic energy.
P.S.
I was surprised by the number of responses. It seems like everyone on the forum is archery-only. There are definitely some gun lovers on here, too. :cool:
 
Last edited:
I'm a weight weenie, so I bought myself a Kimber Montana 84M in 308 8 years ago. Ultralight, little recoil, can go after most big game in NA, and puts deer down like an axe. My only regret is I didn't get one sooner. Have even taken a deer using one hand freehand just because it is so light and I wanted to prove I could.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
 
I lost one doe with a. 243 hit her in the shoulder blade. Tracked for six hours, grid searched for two hours after that and no recovery. It was a bad shot, but I've never used it again for deer. It killed many for years before that.

I've used my 3006, it's my go to saddle gun mostly because it's a cheaper savage so the care factor is low.

If I'm going on the ground I prefer my 308. But that one doesn't get hauled through brush and up trees.

If I could only own one it'd be a cheap savage. 308. Recoil isn't bad, rounds can be found anywhere.

However if I only set up for 100 yards and under I'd probably go with a muzzle loader. Reason being I could use it for normal gun season and muzzle loader. Two birds one stone.
 
Man you guys have got me thinking all over the map, I only have a .243, going rifle hunting next week I'd grab my brother's 2506 but I haven't shot that thing in forever feel like I would have to shoot it a bunch to be comfortable with it, lol

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
30-.06 sporterized WWII take home and cheap lever action .30-30. That was legacy deer rounds in my region of the PA deer woods.

Beyond that, choose something that you are comfortable and proficient with that is legal. It’s all good.
 
The most important thing is proficiency. Some of us think we don't need to practice with our rifles the way we practice our archery. Maybe you don't need as much, but it's still not just point-and-click. It's easy to get in the mindset of "it's sighted in, so I'm good", and maybe you are good, but the quarry we pursue deserves more than that. Bad shots happen with rifles, just like archery equipment. I experienced my first ever wound loss on opening day of archery season. It's a horrible feeling! I don't want to experience it again, so I practice with my bow a lot more. I have great confidence in my rifle and my ability to make an ethical kill with it. I still go to the range regularly. Would you be comfortable sighting in your bow in August, then never shooting again, except at a deer? Sounds crazy, right? Why do we do it with a rifle? At least sight in, then practice with a .22 or similar small, cheap caliber. @Nutterbuster has the right idea. Keep sharp for less.
I don't feel sorry for the hunter that misses due to a lack of practice. I do, however, feel for the deer that gets wounded or gut shot and dies a slow, painful death, and goes to waste.
 
donnieballgame said:
Man you guys have got me thinking all over the map, I only have a .243, going rifle hunting next week I'd grab my brother's 2506 but I haven't shot that thing in forever feel like I would have to shoot it a bunch to be comfortable with it, lol

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Hunt with the 243. I don't care for them, but I killed plenty of deer with mine before I got mad at it. I'd hunt with one again before I didn't hunt.
 
TonyGreenway said:
The most important thing is proficiency. Some of us think we don't need to practice with our rifles the way we practice our archery. Maybe you don't need as much, but it's still not just point-and-click. It's easy to get in the mindset of "it's sighted in, so I'm good", and maybe you are good, but the quarry we pursue deserves more than that. Bad shots happen with rifles, just like archery equipment. I experienced my first ever wound loss on opening day of archery season. It's a horrible feeling! I don't want to experience it again, so I practice with my bow a lot more. I have great confidence in my rifle and my ability to make an ethical kill with it. I still go to the range regularly. Would you be comfortable sighting in your bow in August, then never shooting again, except at a deer? Sounds crazy, right? Why do we do it with a rifle? At least sight in, then practice with a .22 or similar small, cheap caliber. @Nutterbuster has the right idea. Keep sharp for less.
I don't feel sorry for the hunter that misses due to a lack of practice. I do, however, feel for the deer that gets wounded or gut shot and dies a slow, painful death, and goes to waste.
Click to expand...

Archery is about form and consistency. Modern equipment dumbs it down a ton. Xbows and rifles require very little user input. Shooting a rifle isn't fun for me and I don't think I'm alone. If it was fun, we would shoot them all the time. I shoot a recurve all year long, it's fun and challenging. My compound can be picked up and shot for 20min and I'm as good as the last time I shot it...10months ago.
 
TheYote said:
My plan was to bow hunt the whole season but I'm not able to go as much as I'd like due to work. And I've got to have some meat. Buying steaks from the store is expensive. Many moons ago before I found an interest in bow hunting I used a rifle and had plenty of luck. Since then I sold that rifle (7mm) and am now considering purchasing a new one but having trouble deciding which caliber. I know it's about shot placement etc. I like the 3006. I've never had to shoot more than 50 yards. So I don't think I need something long range. I've been reading that the 243 is good for about 200 yards. I by no means am planning to have to shoot that far nor will I be in a situation to have to shoot that far. Any opinions for good conversation? I'm leaning towards the 06 or the 243
Click to expand...
Not sure about your state, but if you want one gun, a muzzleloader may be the way to go. In Michigan you get 3 more weeks to hunt, they are very accurate, and pretty darn cheap. If you wait till January Midwayusa has the cva wolf with a scope for $289.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
 
All this gun talk got me itching for a scope on my 30-30. I went and got the weaver mounts and rings and a 2x7 Leupold, I bore sighted it. Spent an hour on the range and Got her dialed in at 100 yds for my daughter and 12 year old. At least that is what I told my wife.


Makes a perfect a perfect saddle gun. Much easier to maneuver than a long action rifle in the woods. However the 06 will get the nod in a few cut overs I will hunt




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
TonyGreenway said:
The most important thing is proficiency. Some of us think we don't need to practice with our rifles the way we practice our archery. Maybe you don't need as much, but it's still not just point-and-click. It's easy to get in the mindset of "it's sighted in, so I'm good", and maybe you are good, but the quarry we pursue deserves more than that. Bad shots happen with rifles, just like archery equipment. I experienced my first ever wound loss on opening day of archery season. It's a horrible feeling! I don't want to experience it again, so I practice with my bow a lot more. I have great confidence in my rifle and my ability to make an ethical kill with it. I still go to the range regularly. Would you be comfortable sighting in your bow in August, then never shooting again, except at a deer? Sounds crazy, right? Why do we do it with a rifle? At least sight in, then practice with a .22 or similar small, cheap caliber. @Nutterbuster has the right idea. Keep sharp for less.
I don't feel sorry for the hunter that misses due to a lack of practice. I do, however, feel for the deer that gets wounded or gut shot and dies a slow, painful death, and goes to waste.
Click to expand...

I whole heartedly agree with you.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
swampsnyper said:
My next gun will be a dirty 30. Maybe the marlin. I just began a fetish for lever guns. Thick woods is hard to beat the 30/30. But it all depends on your objectives for the gun. If you just want one deer gun, it’s hard to beat a 270 or 30-06 for their versatility. And you know that round will be around forever in factory loads.
Click to expand...
If your thinking about a Marlin 30/30 be sure to consider the 35 Rem. Its a harder hitting round than the 30/30 and one of the best brush calibers for whitetail available IMO. I've killed many whitetail with mine and 90% of them have never moved from the point they were standing when shot.
 
I will add for the love of God and all things Holy please go buy some rings some where other than Walmart $12.99 specials. I always hear about guys checking zero the night before opener. I shoot my guns more than most typical hunters so I don’t have to check zero but mine never moves by never I mean never! I haven’t adjusted a scope in years! The only time would be a bullet type / weight change.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
aught 6 would be my choice. A little rougher on the shoulder than the 270 but you know you have all the stopping power you need.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top