Posted on 06/04/2012 4:54:22 AM PDT by marktwain
Deer hunting has been a Pennsylvania tradition for many years, and each man and woman who goes afield has a favorite deer rifle.
Hunting conditions and technology have affected choices, but there are those models and designs that stand head and shoulders over the others.
I thought just for fun - and controversy - I would name what I think are the best deer rifles produced since 1900.
I decided to concentrate on sporting designs and ignore rifles what were simply military designs used for deer hunting. A good example of those would be the 30-40 Krag. Before and after World War II, the Krag was very popular among deer hunters and downed a large share of the state's deer.
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Current rating: NaN The top 10 I'm listing are the finest deer rifles there are or have been. I consider popularity now or in the past, while also adding suitability for the job as a criteria.
There is also, of course, a little bias involved.
My No. 10 is the 19th Century designed 1873 Winchester. This was the first successful center-fire rifle, and in the 38-40 and 44-40, it downed many Pennsylvania deer. It's creation dates back to 1873, but it was still being produced in the 20th Century and was Winchester's all-time No. 2 seller.
No. 10 was perhaps my toughest decision because there were so many good designs omitted.
At No. 9 is the John Browning-designed and Winchester-built - just to compete with the big single shots - 1886 Winchester.
I would also include the model 71 Winchester in this category since it is nothing more than an updated 86 with better steel. Both rifles handle large, hard-kicking rounds, and both actions are the epitome of smooth lever actions. Both are also highly collectable.
My No. 8 rifle is Remington's old slide-action rifles, the model 14 and 141. Winchester made lever actions, but it was Remington that dominated the pump-action design. In my youth, this was the rifle of choice of some of the best deer hunters in the state.
At No. 7, why not stay with another Remington pump, the model 760 and 7600?
While the 14 was well made, it couldn't handle modern cartridges like the .30-06 and .270. Thus, with the 760, Remington still made a pump but a more modern one with updated chamberings. At one time, this was a top-selling deer rifle.
My favorite, the model 70 Winchester, comes in at No. 6. If this category was expanded from deer to all big game, this rifle would place higher. Many deer hunters just couldn't afford to buy this outstanding bolt-action rifle. Nonetheless, it is one of the top rifles in the deer woods, especially in the featherweight version.
Decisions get a little more difficult as I get to No. 5, but I will choose the Ruger 77 here. Ruger has offered a quality bolt-action rifle for many years at a reasonable price. Produced in a variety of calibers and versions, the 77 has become one of the industries' top sellers. The idea of offering scope mounts with the rifle was a unique, but good, idea.
Ruger has also always offered a good product and smartly filled some unique voids in the gun market.
No. 4 is a design that dates back to the 1800s, the 99 Savage. From the late 1800s until now, the 99 as been considered at or near the top of the lever-action rifle field. The rotary magazine meant it could use pointed bullets, and its strength allowed the use of modern high-pressure rounds. It adapted to modern pressures well.
Coming in at No. 3 is the 336 Marlin, a rifle that has been sold in high numbers. Its solid receiver allowed the scope sight to be placed where it belonged, on top of the receiver. It also had the advantage of being chambered for the 35 Remington cartridge. Its only drawback when compared to the Winchester rifles was one of weight. It is a tad heavier than the Winchesters.
At No. 2 is what is probably the greatest-selling bolt-action rifle, the model 700 Remington. Actually, the model 700 began manufacture in the 1940s as the 721 and 722 series of guns. From deer to varmints and elephants, there is a 700 that will get the job done.
Many bench-rest shooters have built rifles on 700 actions, and many deer hunters have downed a trophy with the same action. It is safe to say that the 700 is the most successful bolt-action ever made.
My top deer rifle is, of course, the model 94 Winchester. There isn't much I can say about it that hasn't already been said. This rifle and its clones have been around longer than any of us. The 94 and the .30-30 cartridge are mentioned in the same breath. To some, they even mean the same thing.
It was this rifle with which the old timers began hunting deer, and is the same rifle that many of us started out with. It has to be No. 1.
George H. Block writes a Sunday Outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter
I see your logic, but think it a stretch to say that all rifles are of military origin because all firearms derive, at some point, from firearms that were designed for military use.
Clearly, some firearms are designed specifically for hunting and not for military use, even if they can be used militarily.
Sure, the early matchlocks and hand cannons were first designed for military usage, and all modern designs derive to some extent from them.
But it is rather like saying that all knives are military derivatives.
I think we can make a useful distinction about rifles that were designed for military usage, and those that were not. Many were designed with both purposes in mind. For a lot of designers, the military market was the brass ring to aim for.
On the other hand, I cannot think of a single double rifle manufacturer that tried to get military contracts for their rifles.
Nothing like a top 10 gun thread to get the whole room yakking.
The important characteristic is the ability to penetrate blue helmets.
Interesting choices for sure. But if we’re not talking about just mass-produced rifles, we should add sporters based on military rifles. The Swedish Mauser in 6.5 x 55 is supposed to be an excellent, low recoil, high-penetrating and accurate deer/elk slayer. I personnaly have a customized FN-built Yugo Mauser action mated to a step-down 308 barrel and sporter stock, custom safety and bolt job—just a sweet rifle with an interesting history.
Silly article.
It’s 99% hunter, and 1% rifle (assuming any of the wide range of appropriate cartridges). The rifles are all fine.
Silly article.
It’s 99% hunter, and 1% rifle (assuming any of the wide range of appropriate cartridges). The rifles are all fine.
There are a lot of avid hunters that are union member Democrats that hate the 2nd amendment and would be thrilled if we could ban all "military weapons", including pistols, as long as they can shoot some ducks/doves/deer whatever. We need to fight against the sporting purposes rationale whenever we can while reminding these Fuds that their toys are going to be banned next.
I’m with you. Those suppository guns are for shooting terrorists, not deer!! :)
Something not quite right about that.
Sort of like a missle launcher on a square-rigger or a steam whistle on a bullet train.
Strange looking contraption!
Now you done and got me thinkin’.
I think it is fair to say I actually “love” my Ruger M77 30-06 in Stainless and Composite - Nitrogen Swift scope glass just a millimeter from the barrel - just a wonderful, stable, enormously accurate, confidence-building weapon. I have NEVER had to track a deer.
I totally agree with everything you pointed out
Thread is nearly useless without gun ‘pron’.
The Browning BAR in .308 or .30-06 is a great hunting rifle. Accurate and lower recoil than bolt actions.
I have the Sav. 99 covered in .250-300 and .300; 92 Win mod for .45 Colt, the 700 Rem in .25-06, M 70 in .30-06, m95 Win in .30-40, several Marlins in .30-30, .35Rem and .38-55 plus a bunch of others which may have been lost in the floods last year. All of them were deer capable. Am a bit light on the pump and auto rifles. Which one is a favorite? The one that is in my hand at the moment.
Never had a problem making ready for a second shot with any of the above BUT if i am doing my job, won't need a second shot.
I have a Remington 7600, chambered in 30-06. Wonderful all around rifle. Composite stocks ain’t purty but won’t crack or warp. With the std 3 round removable box magazine it is perfect for Deer hunting. And, with the optional 10 round box magazines it works very well for target rich gangsta / urban terrorist hunting . . .
I'll never give mine up. I have a Winchester 70 Featherweight in 30-06 (pre 64 style extractor) with a B&L 3x9 scope which is plenty accurate but almost unnecessary around these parts so I usually just tote the '94 with iron sights. Over the last hundred years the woods have grown back so thickly and the deer have become so abundant that there's little opportunity or need for that matter to shoot anything more than 50 yards away anyway.
Last season I just used a Browning bow.
I might just use a ball peen hammer this year. Just walk up to the and clock them on the head around my gardens - the population has gotten that out of control.
I have a Remington 700 BDL with a left-hand action, from around 1972. How would you classify it? I am interested in selling it, but want to know how much I should ask.
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