Choosing The Best Deer Rifle

[JEBar]

ain't nothing wrong with a 35 .... different folks have different situations and each of them need to go with what's best for them

[Vaquero]

Oh, I agree, I just rarely have a need for more.
Even in the large field where one of my hunting houses sits.
It is right at 300 yds. to the north end, but rarely see deer down there.
In the past several years I have taken quite a few deer there and the farthest shot to date is around 135 to 140 yds.
Four I believe at that distance, the rest have been more like 70-75 yds.
Heck the two I took with the MX were both around 70.
At this point I have way more than I would ever need, and don't see me hunting anywhere that would require something different than what's already here.
So even if they were to make one like I have described on here in several places, I wouldn't just run out and buy one.

RP

[BigAl52]

Id say caliber choice would depend on the area you hunt in. A 35 Remington will work here if the shot is closer but a 308 in Colorado is a better choice in my opinion

[BigAl52]

But I still like my 38-55 choice to even if it has brass on it.

[Mags]

.
Shinny brass makes it especially special

But I still like my 38-55 choice to even if it has brass on it.

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

Al has it right - your choice should match the area you hunt in as well as your style of hunting. Or have multiple rifles.

-Ed-

[Vaquero]

Yep, and tis' why I have what I have.
Have had most before Henry got into the Rifle calibers.
Mine are Mostly Marlins, a few Winchesters, one Savage and even a Remington, and Springfield in 1903's.
And really don't (Need) any more.
But as we all know, "What the heck does need have to do with it".

RP

[garyseven]

30-30 out to 200 yards, then whatever you practice with at long range. I believe if you hit your prey in the vitals at any range you will get to eat it.

[Rifletom]

.35 Rem, 30-30 Win; two very good cartridges. Gotta think tho, that .38-55 punches above it's weight.
In open country here in the West, we're talking different cartridges for the most part.

[Mags]

.
NOTHING! A strong hungry want, that's it!

... But as we all know, "What the heck does need have to do with it".

RP

[EasyEd]

Hey All,

Anybody thinking about deer season yet? If you are a bow wounder (yes I'm being facetious but I have seen a number of deer died of arrow wounds) bow season starts in a few weeks. Rifle about a month.

Any special plans? Changes in weapon of choice?

I been thinking on a number of changes - I've pretty much always hunted with my BLR in 30-06. But I admit while great in Alberta I'm finding the total weight of 10.5 lbs more than I like to carry now that I'm over 65. Thinking on a rifle Ive never owned a Marlin 30-30 compact 16.5 in barrel nice and light and as an aside -

why won't Henry offer lightweight short barrel carbines with sidegates - although I think Henry doing a sidegate was a great step forward. I think henry really needs to trim them down at least in some models - I would rather deal with recoil than weight especially when hunting carrying the rifle.

Anyway I'm also thinking on a bolt gun 308 Tikka (6.2 lbs IIRC without scope) as well as a 35 rem lever - with Buffalo bore it looks real good. I do still have my 7-08 BLR as well. I could see myself ending up with 30-30 35 rem 7-08 BLR and 308 bolt gun. Two guns for far two guns for near. Probably get 45 colt lever too at some point but really thinkin I would like lightweight short barrel carbine. Don't know what I'll end up doing but it is always fun to think about this stuff!

And it is easy to social distance in the woods and no mask needed.

-Ed-

[Team Roper]

You have some nice rifles there. I have three levers that I hunt deer with depending on how I feel the morning I open the safe to get ready to go. At 74 I have to give it a lot of thought. I have an 1895 Guide Gun 45-70 but even it gets heavy, not bad if hunting from a blind or tree stand. I have a Henry BBS in 44 mag with a 20 inch bbl. that could stand to lose a few pounds, and a 1894 in 45 Colt with 20 inch bbl. The Marlin 45 Colt is the lighter of the three. I haven't hunted the Marlin 45 Colt yet but it's going to happen this year. The 20 inch bbl is my choice over shorter bbls. cause I want all the velocity that I can muster out of the bore. Even at that, I, myself, feel that 75 yards is max for the 45 Colt because of the energy loss after 75 yards. The 44 mag has taken deer at 90 yards while the 45-70 has taken them up to 150 yards. I have a JM model Marlin 30-30 and a JM model 35 Remington collecting dust because Ohio has a straight wall cartridge law for deer hunting otherwise one of them would be my go to hunting rifle. Especially the 35 Remington.

[Greyhawk]

I've shot deer with a number of different rifles: Marlin 30-30, 7.62x39 SKS, Ruger .300 win mag, Henry 45-70, Henry .45 Colt. and many with my bow. Not sure what I'll be carrying this year. But, I agree with you that deer hunting is one of my favorite ways to social distance!

[bdbrown66]

You have some nice rifles there. I have three levers that I hunt deer with depending on how I feel the morning I open the safe to get ready to go. At 74 I have to give it a lot of thought. I have an 1895 Guide Gun 45-70 but even it gets heavy, not bad if hunting from a blind or tree stand. I have a Henry BBS in 44 mag with a 20 inch bbl. that could stand to lose a few pounds, and a 1894 in 45 Colt with 20 inch bbl. The Marlin 45 Colt is the lighter of the three. I haven't hunted the Marlin 45 Colt yet but it's going to happen this year. The 20 inch bbl is my choice over shorter bbls. cause I want all the velocity that I can muster out of the bore. Even at that, I, myself, feel that 75 yards is max for the 45 Colt because of the energy loss after 75 yards. The 44 mag has taken deer at 90 yards while the 45-70 has taken them up to 150 yards. I have a JM model Marlin 30-30 and a JM model 35 Remington collecting dust because Ohio has a straight wall cartridge law for deer hunting otherwise one of them would be my go to hunting rifle. Especially the 35 Remington.

If you reload, you can make that 45 Colt plenty strong enough for 100-125 yards, no problem. My handloads for my Henry 45 Colt have a MV of 1600-1700fps with a 250gr bullet. It's still has plenty of thump at 100 yards. Took a doe and this buck here in KY last year, and expecting to use it again this fall.

IMG_20191111_173334.jpg (216.04 KiB) Viewed 11409 times

[Vaquero]

Hey All,

Anybody thinking about deer season yet? If you are a bow wounder (yes I'm being facetious but I have seen a number of deer died of arrow wounds) bow season starts in a few weeks. Rifle about a month.

Any special plans? Changes in weapon of choice?

I been thinking on a number of changes - I've pretty much always hunted with my BLR in 30-06. But I admit while great in Alberta I'm finding the total weight of 10.5 lbs more than I like to carry now that I'm over 65. Thinking on a rifle Ive never owned a Marlin 30-30 compact 16.5 in barrel nice and light and as an aside -

why won't Henry offer lightweight short barrel carbines with sidegates - although I think Henry doing a sidegate was a great step forward. I think henry really needs to trim them down at least in some models - I would rather deal with recoil than weight especially when hunting carrying the rifle.

Anyway I'm also thinking on a bolt gun 308 Tikka (6.2 lbs IIRC without scope) as well as a 35 rem lever - with Buffalo bore it looks real good. I do still have my 7-08 BLR as well. I could see myself ending up with 30-30 35 rem 7-08 BLR and 308 bolt gun. Two guns for far two guns for near. Probably get 45 colt lever too at some point but really thinkin I would like lightweight short barrel carbine. Don't know what I'll end up doing but it is always fun to think about this stuff!

And it is easy to social distance in the woods and no mask needed.

-Ed-

One of my favorites is a '75 Marlin in 35 Rem. that a friend chopped down to 16.5".
Carries well and as a accurate as ever.

20190211_093652.jpg (172.18 KiB) Viewed 11406 times

Here it is with a another 35.

RP

[Team Roper]

You have some nice rifles there. I have three levers that I hunt deer with depending on how I feel the morning I open the safe to get ready to go. At 74 I have to give it a lot of thought. I have an 1895 Guide Gun 45-70 but even it gets heavy, not bad if hunting from a blind or tree stand. I have a Henry BBS in 44 mag with a 20 inch bbl. that could stand to lose a few pounds, and a 1894 in 45 Colt with 20 inch bbl. The Marlin 45 Colt is the lighter of the three. I haven't hunted the Marlin 45 Colt yet but it's going to happen this year. The 20 inch bbl is my choice over shorter bbls. cause I want all the velocity that I can muster out of the bore. Even at that, I, myself, feel that 75 yards is max for the 45 Colt because of the energy loss after 75 yards. The 44 mag has taken deer at 90 yards while the 45-70 has taken them up to 150 yards. I have a JM model Marlin 30-30 and a JM model 35 Remington collecting dust because Ohio has a straight wall cartridge law for deer hunting otherwise one of them would be my go to hunting rifle. Especially the 35 Remington.

If you reload, you can make that 45 Colt plenty strong enough for 100-125 yards, no problem. My handloads for my Henry 45 Colt have a MV of 1600-1700fps with a 250gr bullet. It's still has plenty of thump at 100 yards. Took a doe and this buck here in KY last year, and expecting to use it again this fall.

IMG_20191111_173334.jpg

Humm, My 45 Colt loads of 9 grains of Unique pushing my Cast 255 gr. Keith SWC is only yielding me on an average of 1140 fps which is over max as is and my 10.7 grains of HS-6 , which is also over max is giving me an average of 1150 fps.

[Vaquero]

Don't have a chrony, but I have shot quite a few 255's pushed by 10.0 grs of Unique through my Marlin Cowboy.
The load as suggested by a Henry owner and friend of mine.
Had another buddy that said he used the said load in his Henry.
I have since, backed off of that a bit, without checking my notes,
I don't recall at the moment.

RP

[bdbrown66]

You have some nice rifles there. I have three levers that I hunt deer with depending on how I feel the morning I open the safe to get ready to go. At 74 I have to give it a lot of thought. I have an 1895 Guide Gun 45-70 but even it gets heavy, not bad if hunting from a blind or tree stand. I have a Henry BBS in 44 mag with a 20 inch bbl. that could stand to lose a few pounds, and a 1894 in 45 Colt with 20 inch bbl. The Marlin 45 Colt is the lighter of the three. I haven't hunted the Marlin 45 Colt yet but it's going to happen this year. The 20 inch bbl is my choice over shorter bbls. cause I want all the velocity that I can muster out of the bore. Even at that, I, myself, feel that 75 yards is max for the 45 Colt because of the energy loss after 75 yards. The 44 mag has taken deer at 90 yards while the 45-70 has taken them up to 150 yards. I have a JM model Marlin 30-30 and a JM model 35 Remington collecting dust because Ohio has a straight wall cartridge law for deer hunting otherwise one of them would be my go to hunting rifle. Especially the 35 Remington.

If you reload, you can make that 45 Colt plenty strong enough for 100-125 yards, no problem. My handloads for my Henry 45 Colt have a MV of 1600-1700fps with a 250gr bullet. It's still has plenty of thump at 100 yards. Took a doe and this buck here in KY last year, and expecting to use it again this fall.

IMG_20191111_173334.jpg

Humm, My 45 Colt loads of 9 grains of Unique pushing my Cast 255 gr. Keith SWC is only yielding me on an average of 1140 fps which is over max as is and my 10.7 grains of HS-6 , which is also over max is giving me an average of 1150 fps.

You need a better recipe. Check the Western Powder load data for "30k PSI" 45 Colt loads. Your Henry will handle them just fine, as will a Marlin 1894, Ruger Blackhawk, etc. But not to be used in the older/weaker actions.

I'm using Accurate #9 powder, about a grain below the listed max for 250gr bullets. It is quite a bit warmer than your Unique load. Puts you right on par with a 44 mag. Again, only in newer/stronger actions.

[Team Roper]

If you reload, you can make that 45 Colt plenty strong enough for 100-125 yards, no problem. My handloads for my Henry 45 Colt have a MV of 1600-1700fps with a 250gr bullet. It's still has plenty of thump at 100 yards. Took a doe and this buck here in KY last year, and expecting to use it again this fall.

IMG_20191111_173334.jpg

Humm, My 45 Colt loads of 9 grains of Unique pushing my Cast 255 gr. Keith SWC is only yielding me on an average of 1140 fps which is over max as is and my 10.7 grains of HS-6 , which is also over max is giving me an average of 1150 fps.

You need a better recipe. Check the Western Powder load data for "30k PSI" 45 Colt loads. Your Henry will handle them just fine, as will a Marlin 1894, Ruger Blackhawk, etc. But not to be used in the older/weaker actions.

I'm using Accurate #9 powder, about a grain below the listed max for 250gr bullets. It is quite a bit warmer than your Unique load. Puts you right on par with a 44 mag. Again, only in newer/stronger actions.

One more thing also. I have to keep my velocities somewhat at bay because I am shooting plain base bullets and not gas checks.

[bdbrown66]

Humm, My 45 Colt loads of 9 grains of Unique pushing my Cast 255 gr. Keith SWC is only yielding me on an average of 1140 fps which is over max as is and my 10.7 grains of HS-6 , which is also over max is giving me an average of 1150 fps.

You need a better recipe. Check the Western Powder load data for "30k PSI" 45 Colt loads. Your Henry will handle them just fine, as will a Marlin 1894, Ruger Blackhawk, etc. But not to be used in the older/weaker actions.

I'm using Accurate #9 powder, about a grain below the listed max for 250gr bullets. It is quite a bit warmer than your Unique load. Puts you right on par with a 44 mag. Again, only in newer/stronger actions.

One more thing also. I have to keep my velocities somewhat at bay because I am shooting plain base bullets and not gas checks.

That's definitely a consideration. Can't push plain lead bullets that fast. I'm using JHP's. Gas check bullets would work, too.