What is the Best Whitetail Deer Hunting Rifle
83Why this survey?
After searching all sorts of information on the internet and everywhere else, I’ve finally come to a conclusion as to the question of what is the best rifle for hunting whitetail deer. The best rifle to use is what ever rifle the person you asked the question of owns at the time. Yep, there is no precise answer. There are so many debates on the internet about this one subject and the discussions get rather heated at times, so much so that not much is decided on the subject.
One reason this happens is the different hunting circumstances American whitetail deer hunters experience. Down here in southern Georgia we have swamps and river bottoms with thick undergrowth to contend with in many instances. Sure, the pick-up truck hunters can still sit around the many corn or peanut fields and get a shot at a trophy buck, but the true hunters will venture into the deep woods and swamps because the monsters bucks haunt these areas of difficult terrain. There also seems to be something more honorable in doing it this way but perhaps this is just my opinion.
But in other places around the country there are less woodlands and more open areas which entails making a longer shot more important to the whitetail deer hunter. There are other reasons for choosing a particular rifle for whitetail deer hunting. Tradition is something many whitetail deer hunters honor almost as much as the sport itself. As young hunters they learned to hunt whitetail deer with their fathers or sometimes grandfathers and usually with the particular rifle their teachers used.
What do you think?
I want your opinion
The purpose of the article is to take a survey of as many whitetail deer hunters as possible to try and put some perspective on this very controversial subject. You get a chance to give your reasons why you made the choice you made about “The best all around Whitetail Deer hunting rifle.” Thanks for any input you may have. If your choice is not in the poll capsule please add to the comment capsule. The results will be included in the final count.
Make a personal choice
What is the Best Whitetail Deer hunting Rifle
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Huskvarna? That's a type of motorcycle isn't it Gus? Actually there is no information I can find about this rifle when googled. There is a Husqvarna which I suppose you meant. But I'll add it into the mix. Dang Gus, did you do this on purpose?LOL
Thumbs up! I voted for the .308! Definitely my fave when I was hunting. No kick, flat trajectory, long range, plenty of cheap practice ammo.
What, no 7mm-.308? These are really gaining popularity.
Hope your hub does as well as mine on this subject has done!
Thanks Holle. There are too many rifle calibers so I just listed the ones most talked about. But if enough people comment on an unlisted rifle I will add it to the results. Thanks for voting.
We aren't allowed rifles here in Ohio for deer harvesting. Must use shotguns. Lot of deer though and lots of beans for them. We do have a primitive weapons season for muzzle loaders plus the archery season.
What? No deer rifles in Ohio, I did not know that Ralwus. How did this come about? This is surprising to me! Thanks for the info.
The 30:06 is a hard to beat rifle for just about anything in North America. A wee bit of a recoil though, so I am buying my wife a .308. I've popped um with my 30:06, .300 Win. Mag., 50 Cal muzzle loader and my favorite swamp gun the 45:70. In the swamp for those up close and brushy conditions, the 45:70 will plow it's way through the thickest bullet deflecting brush and deliver a buck stopping hit on target with plenty of power to spare. If I encounter an ugly hog in there, well he's in trouble too. Now I have to admit it's no .500 Nitro Express, but even I have limits. Bottom line, it depends on distances and type of terrain, but if I was to get an all around gun at home in the Florid swamp or in Idaho for elk, I'd recommend the .308 for all around performance. The way I see it, if the .308 is's good eneugh for the US Snipers, it's good eneugh for any red blooded american. ( Unless you can afford a .500 Nitro Express of course.)
Thank you for your opinion Will, I agree with your logic and I too have used several different rifles for different terrain. At this point, the .308 is doing well in the poll and it will be interesting to see the results when enough have voted to see the trend. Feel free to comment again.
Yeah I might have to trade in my .270 after reading this hub.
I know MelodyRuto, my hunting buddy Russ is also agonizing about the results so far. But the polling has just begun, so check back from time to time. Thanks for reading!
I voted .308. Best all around caliber ,and easy to practice accuracy with availability of cheaper milsurp ammo. 30-06 is a close second, but I prefer the lower recoil and short action .308 rifles. As soon as there is some extra money in the budget, I'll be going after a new bolt action rifle in this caliber. The new Savages with the AccuTrigger are supposed to be the bees knees.
The .308 seems to be gaining in popularity these days as you have shown. The results at the end of the deer season will be close I'm sure. I appreciate your time and comments Jeffrey>
Trade in your .270?!! Sacrilege! The .270 embodies almost all the preferred traits of the other rifles combined. It shoots flat, it is capable of heavy bullet performance with the right loads (yes, some are available commercially), exceptionally accurate, can be built in a light weight rifle that is quick to handle in thick stuff, recoil is less than most in it's class, can reach out right along side the '06 and shoots flatter. It is a might light for heavy game like big bears, but has consistently been used with success on elk moose, caribou, and black bear. A Winchester or a Marlin lever action might make a better brush gun because of their size, but then they are limited to that nitch. The .270 is all around useful.
Speaking of .270's, Russ bagged another beautiful 8 point this morning .270. Weighed 250+. He loves his .270!
.270 to me is the best cause its flat and i have killed deer long distance off also
Perhaps you are right, Jesse. The .270 has many fans it seems. Thanks for the input!
I have shot an 06 for 15 years now. I just picked up a rem 788 .308 and it is a tackdriver. 200 yds I can shoot 2 inch groups. I live in North East PA and we are known for the biggest black bears on earth. I will be trying it out on a keystone bruin hopefully this year
I wish you luck getting that bear Nick. We don't have many bears around here but we make up for them with gators and wild hogs. Hogzilla was killed in this area. There is no doubt the .308 is a fine rifle. Thank you for commenting and let me know about that bear.
It all depends on where you are hunting, but my choice would be a 30.06 when in open fields or used on a path, but a 30-30 when in brush areas. Thanks for the poll!
Thanks for taking the poll and for the input, everyday living. I'm a fan of both rifles, especially the 30-30 at short range. Welcome to Hubpages!
GusTheRedneck says:
6 weeks ago
Randy - How about a beautiful Huskvarna 25-06? Gus