Good Rifle For Deer

[djl02]

My first choice for years has been a T/c omega.Hard to beat a good ML.Good for 2 seasons too. You only need one shot anyway.
Though Icouldnt resist picking upa .458 socom this year. But I'll still be using the omega most of the time.

 

[djl02]

Also xbows are legal this year,that would make an excellent weapon.I case you hadnt heard.

 

[rimfire_crazed]

50-70 government isn't legal for deer in Indiana. Case is too long.

http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/fw-Deer_Hunting_Equipment.pdf

50-70 has a 1.75" case length, with fits into the updated 1.8" max. You have old data.

 

[indyjoe]

Best bang for the buck (no pun intended) is a Handi-Rifle in .357 or .44. .357 or .44 Level gun is fun. Pistol caliber carbines allow you to practice with them, without breaking the bank. Shooting a bunch of hunting slugs for a shotgun gets expensive really fast.

 

[RHorn]

Sorry I had not seen the update. Do you have a link to it? That might open up more options for me but it isn't likely I will give up my Winchester lever gun.

 

[Hookeye]

This year's rig is this TC in .35 Remington (need to trim cases slightly to be legal length)

Next yr I hope to have a Ruger #1 rebarreled for .35 Rem and will convert the TC to .22 rf

 

[rimfire_crazed]

This year's rig is this TC in .35 Remington (need to trim cases slightly to be legal length)

Next yr I hope to have a Ruger #1 rebarreled for .35 Rem and will convert the TC to .22 rf

That's either a semi-spendy tax stamp or a prepaid ticket for ten years of federal lockup.

 

[Bapak2ja]

I would suggest a used Marlin lever action .357. That way you can use it as a range gun, and shoot cheaper.38 rounds. Plus .357 is cheaper than .44 or anything larger. You can deer hunt with .357 revolver or rifle.

Excellent plan. Just beware of the new Remington-made Marlins. Better to find a used one made by Marlin before Remington bought them out. Look for the "JM" stamp on the barrel (left side near the action).

Many threads on here with the details.

 

[kludge]

As mentioned, a muzzleloader is legal during firearms season, and can also be used during muzzleloader season, so it's a good dual purpose rifle.

During firearms season, the rifle cartridge must have a case length of 1.16" (.44 Special) to 1.8" (.460 S&W Mag), and the bullet mush have a minimum diameter of 0.357".

Popular Standard Cartridges (not an exhaustive list)
.357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, 44 Magnum, .45 Colt, .454 Casull, .460 S&W Magnum, .450 Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM, .480 Ruger, .500 S&W Magnum

Popular "Wildcat" Cartriges
.358 Gremlin, .35 Remington 1.8", .358 Hoosier, .358 WSSM (.358 BFG, .350 Indy, 358/.25 WSSM), .358 WSM 1.8" (.358 BFG 1.8")

If you have a depredation permit, the seasons and cartridge restrictions don't apply.

 

[Fixer]

Lever action 44 mag is a great choice as stated. Can do double duty as a plinker with 44 special also. Loads of fun to shoot. I personally use a 45 colt in a 92 replica lever gun and love it. Not recommended unless you reload as ammo is not redily available.

 

[indyjoe]

This year's rig is this TC in .35 Remington (need to trim cases slightly to be legal length)

Next yr I hope to have a Ruger #1 rebarreled for .35 Rem and will convert the TC to .22 rf

Might need to extend the barrel slightly for legal length too. Doesn't quite look like 16".

 

[bmgreen13]

Try and find an older Marlin 1894 in 44 mag. You'll be glad you did.

 

[dnurk]

How about a slug gun that performs like a rifle?

A couple of years ago I purchased a Savage 220 to be my rainy weather deer gun. I had been using 50 cal muzzleloaders for decades.

At this point, it is my primary firearms season weapon. Light, durable, incredibly accurate at 200 yards (which is about as far as I could ever see a deer where we hunt). And the 20 gauge sabot slugs like the Remington Accutip are extremely effective.

I have recommended this weapon to every single friend I hunt with. Wonderful deer gun.

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/220F/

 

[RGriff69]

A couple of years ago I purchased a Savage 220 to be my rainy weather deer gun. I had been using 50 cal muzzleloaders for decades.

At this point, it is my primary firearms season weapon. Light, durable, incredibly accurate at 200 yards (which is about as far as I could ever see a deer where we hunt). And the 20 gauge sabot slugs like the Remington Accutip are extremely effective.

I have recommended this weapon to every single friend I hunt with. Wonderful deer gun.

Savage Arms

Great recommendation! I have one and my 9 year old son has one. Both of ours prefer the Federal with the Barnes Expanders. Super accurate shotguns!

 

[boomtastic]

I use an H&R single shot 500 S&W. Fun gun, but really you cant go wrong with a good shotgun outfitted with a rifled slug barrel and optic.

Browning bps 12 gauge hornaday shells and reach out to 150 Max but perfect for deer hunting in a stand blind or walking

 

[GLOCK1982]

Maybe an Encore pistol in a good caliber would be nice. Right now I shoot a 12 ga. Lyman pellet slug molded by my buddy scrubber. Pure lead makes large holes!

 

[dnurk]

Great recommendation! I have one and my 9 year old son has one. Both of ours prefer the Federal with the Barnes Expanders. Super accurate shotguns!

They are fantastic guns. My son is only 6 and not old enough to go yet but that will definitely be his first deer gun. The Remington Accutip 3in loads seem to pattern best out of mine. My deer camp friends could not believe the 100 yard groupings out of a "little 20 ga". Glad to hear you're having good results with yours as well.

 

[abraham743]

I would suggest a used Marlin lever action .357. That way you can use it as a range gun, and shoot cheaper.38 rounds. Plus .357 is cheaper than .44 or anything larger. You can deer hunt with .357 revolver or rifle.

What he said

 

[Hookeye]

Might need to extend the barrel slightly for legal length too. Doesn't quite look like 16".

Don't need to do diddly, legal to hunt with a SBR.

BTW, the bbl is 16.25".

 

[INcountryboy]

H&R Handi Rifle in 44 mag has never let me down