Big Game Hunting
Gun you use for Deer Hunting
Remington 700 CDL 35 Whelen shooting 250 grain Remington Core-Lokt. The enormous doe I shot this season went approximately 0.125 inches after being shot. Most deer literally drop right on the spot.
If it's raining out I'll take the old beater Remington 700 BDL shooting 165 grain Remington Core-Lokt. Not quite the knock-down power of the 35, but quite adequate for whitetail.
Leupold scopes on both.
Winchester Model 70 325SM sitting in the gun cabinet waiting to shoot its first deer.
Maybe next year.
Remington 700 ADL Laminate chambered in .270 Win. topped with a Styrka S5 3-9x40 scope. A few years ago I switched to DNZ Game Reaper one piece scope mounts after having POI shifts with Leupold mounts. I will never look back! The rifle is an absolute tack driver with Hornady American Whitetail 140 gr. Interlocks. Shot this buck opening morning at 250 yards. Only ran about 40 yards before expiring.
Late season I hunted with my CVA Optima w/ Bushnell 2-7x36 scope, but let my buddy shoot a doe out of the group that came past us since he hadn't gotten anything all season.
I have two guns I use deer hunting depending on where I'm hunting. I have a 12 gauge rifled barrel Mossberg 500, open sights that shoots sabot slugs. That gun is fun to shoot! I usually use it on public land where I'm doing a lot more walking. About twelve years ago I got a Savage .270 for Christmas. I had difficulties sighting it in for some reason. I aimed for the head of a deer once and shot it in the heart and aimed for the heart once and shot a deer in the head! Tried sighting it in every year but it was never dialed in. Found out the problem was a cheap scope on it. 3 years ago I put a Vortex 3-9 power on it and have had much better luck with it. Shot a buck and a doe this year. Aimed for the neck, hit them in the neck. Two shots fired, two deer down instantly. Two hundred dollar gun, 250 dollar scope, go figure!
I finally bought a deer rifle this year. I have a fused neck from falling out of a deer stand so I needed a light kicking gun. I went with a Bergara B-14 Hunter in 6.5 CM, I shoot Hornady Precision Hunter 143 grain. I love it! After one box I zeroed it at a 100 yards and my rounds were touching. I have a Vortex Diamondback 4X12 on it with the BDC reticle. My first hash is 1.5 MOA and hits at 187 yards. Very flat. Trigger is great too. Shot two deer this year with it, one dropped on the spot and the other went 40 yards.
Just picked up a rifle for my boy for future seasons. He’ll be hunting second weekend with me, but not carrying a gun yet. He’s 10 but I’m easing him into hunting.
Anyway, Savage Axis in 6.5 mm creedmoor. Factory mounted Weever 3-9 x 40. Scope actually seems serviceable, but we will see once I get it on paper.
Got it at Dick’s. On sale and Savage is offering a $75 mail in rebate, bringing final price to $230.