well i finally need to buy a Deer rifle

[texas skeeter]

i've read all the posts i could find and thought id ask for your input. #1 which caliber and why? #2 length of barrel 20,22,24? and #3 which brand? im gonna use it for deer here in texas and probably not much else. thanks TS

 

[Texan2]

.270 is a good all around deer caliber for Texas..... a .243 will drop anything as well.
what is your budget? Savage makes a decent and VERY accurate rifle right out of the box and they are inexpensive to boot.

 

[TexasRedneck]

If you come across a decent Remington 788 in 243, grab it and run like hell. IMO, one of the best rifles ever made, and yet it was VERY inexpensive. Of course, about the time it was discontinued, it was "discovered" by all the Blue Bloods that had turn their noses up at the very plain, non-descript little gun - so they can be hard to find. I'll put it this way - I spent the better part of the past 14 years looking for another one in decent shape - and spotted 2 at Nagels the other day. One of 'em came home with me.....

Dammit, at this rate, I'm gonna need ANOTHER safe.....

 

[Bud-9]

+1 0n the .270

 

[texas skeeter]

ok then now how about barrel length?

 

[TexasRedneck]

ok then now how about barrel length?

Pretty much depends on how yer huntin' - from a vehicle or blind, the shorter barrels are easier to manuever. From a ground cover, the longer might add a tad of accuracy. Me, I tend to the shorter barrels just to maximize mah options.

 

[40Arpent]

ok then now how about barrel length?

You don't really need anything longer than 20" but there would be nothing wrong with 22". Increased barrel length doesn't necessarily translate to increased accuracy, but does increase velocity. I second the vote for .270WIN, and that caliber in a 20 or 22" length will be plenty enough for Texas deer and well beyond. The same could be said for a host of other non-mag calibers such .280, 30-06, .308, etc.

 

[smittyb]

Well, Texas is a big state, will you be in the piney woods, hill country, west texas desert, or on the plains? Around here a 12 ga has got you covered, but elsewhere, a 300 WinMag may come in handy.

 

[skinman]

.270 or 30-06 Rem 700, Ruger Mod 77, and Winchester Mod 70, and of course, the 30-30 Marlin 336

All of the above are outstanding deer rifles with proven performance and reliability in the field. I personally prefer the 30-06 caliber for its versatile short range/long range knock down power but some folks cannot handle the recoil so the .270 is an excellent compromise. While it doesn't have the long-range knock-down of the 30-06, it also doesn't have the recoil either. For short range (≈ 150) yards, it is plenty but it isn't all that great in the thick bush. That is where the 30-30 Marlin shines. It is probably the very best all around deer rifle and caliber for hunting in the East Texas thickets.

A 20-22 inch barrel is plenty. A longer barrel is a pain in the butt to carry around and use in the thick woods and don't give anything in return.

JMHO...

 

[texas skeeter]

I actually have a 30-30 lever marlin and didnt know it would work for deer. good to know. i guess then i'll build one of these in 308.

on one of these.

 

[texas skeeter]

thanks to everyone for the info. and Skinman, thanks for the heads up on the 30-30!!!! due to the fact i have so many irons in the fire right now i cant afford an actual scoped deer rifle and a sniper rifle.

 

[West Texas]

For most of my whitetail hunting, I'm using a Mini-14 with 5.56 55gr FMJ ammo....has served me well for years. I've also got a '94 Winchester in .30-.30 and a '92 Rossi in .45LC, either of which do a fine job. If I'm going somewhere after elk or mule deer or any of the larger sheep, where my shots are gonna be out past 200 yards, then I take a Remington 700 BDL in either .25-.06 or .270.

.30-.30 is an all around great whitetail deer cartridge...

 

[dobarker]

I fully agree with the suggestion on the .30-30. I've kept one in the back of my truck as a back up gun for about 6 years now and have had to use it more than once. It's not the most accurate, but what the sights get laid on and the trigger pulled, gets dead.