| Deer season is one of those magical times of years | | | | may wish to consider. Also, for a cartridge like the |
| for those of us who enjoy it as a marker of one of | | | | 30-30, every sporting goods store in every small town |
| the seasons of the year. There are hundreds of gear | | | | will likely have a ready supply. This is not true for some |
| options you can consider, but one that every deer | | | | of the less often used calibers. |
| hunter will have to obtain is a firearm or bow. In this | | | | Another consideration when choosing your rifle is the |
| article, we will look at how to choose a firearm, and | | | | rifle's action. We will discuss four of the most common |
| more specifically a rifle to meet your personal deer | | | | actions available. Most likely, the most popular action |
| hunting needs. | | | | for deer rifles is the bolt action. Bolt action rifles are |
| When you begin this process, first you will need to be | | | | easy to maintain and offer some nice safety features |
| honest with yourself about three things. One is what | | | | for deer hunters. Bolt action rifles are easy to clean |
| the rifle will be used for. I know we are talking about | | | | and are easy to bore site at the range. For hunters |
| deer hunting here, but the reality is that a lot of hunters | | | | that hunt from a tree stand, they add a degree of |
| will need their rifle to serve multiple purposes. For | | | | safety in that you know when that bolt is open or out |
| example, they might use their rifle for hunting whitetail | | | | of the gun, the rifle will not operate. Bolt action rifles are |
| deer and also for hunting elk. Of course one rifle will | | | | much easier to safely raise via rope to a deer stand |
| not serve every need of every hunter. A deer rifle will | | | | when you are in the woods by yourself. The next |
| not likely be the same rifle you use when you hunt | | | | most popular perhaps is the lever action, most often in |
| turkeys or squirrels. The second thing you should be | | | | the 30-30 caliber. These rifles made primarily by two |
| honest with yourself on is your ability or desire to fire a | | | | manufacturers (Marlin and Winchester), have killed a |
| heavy caliber rifle if you are considering one rifle say | | | | tremendous number of deer. While they do offer a |
| for hunting deer and moose. Finally, cost is a limiting | | | | very fast reloading action, they also have drawbacks. |
| factor for many of us. You do not need to spend an | | | | They are harder to clean, have some safety |
| excessive amount of money on a deer rifle, but you | | | | disadvantages, and sometimes are harder to scope to |
| can if you wish. Having said all of this, let's go through | | | | name a few. Having said all of this, we have one and I |
| the factors that will go into your decision. | | | | love it. It's short barrel and maneuverability in the dense |
| The caliber of your rifle will take care of a couple of | | | | woods of Missouri is hard to beat. Given that most of |
| issues. First and foremost, the caliber needs to be | | | | the shots here are 50 yards and in, the typically short |
| suitable for hunting deer. Generally, the 243 caliber is | | | | barrel length is not much of a factor for aim. With a |
| considered to be the smallest caliber rifle commonly | | | | scope it is even less an issue. Semi-automatic actions |
| used for deer hunting. I do not want to imply here that | | | | are also used some by hunters. Some hunters would |
| the 243 is too small. It will handle the job just fine with | | | | question the need for the ability to fire off rounds in |
| plenty of muzzle velocity and knock-down power with | | | | quick succession when deer hunting. Other hunters |
| a properly placed shot. What the 243 will not be very | | | | question the reliability of some of the semi-auto actions |
| good at is hunting larger big game species. An option | | | | on the market. Maintenance is also a bit more labor |
| that is nice for those who want to mix in some elk | | | | intensive. Finally, some hunting purists believe strongly in |
| hunting, or at least have the potential to do so, is the | | | | the single shot action. Some excellent hunters use |
| 270 caliber. It really does not add in much in the way | | | | these rifles, and develop excellent marksmanship skills |
| of recoil, and it does offer significantly more knock | | | | so as to make sure there first and likely only shot |
| down power than the 243. If you will be hunting moose | | | | counts. |
| or bear (especially brown bear or grizzly), I would | | | | Maintenance of your rifle is also important. We have |
| suggest minimally looking at a 30-06. These great | | | | discussed many issues regarding this already as they |
| all-purpose rifles offer such a wide range of factory | | | | relate to the rifle's action. One other point I would urge |
| ammunition that you really can hunt about anything with | | | | the reader to consider is the stock material. Of course |
| them. Unless you are of the lightest of frames, the | | | | maintenance is not the only factor that relates to stock |
| recoil is not so severe. The final caliber I will discuss is | | | | material selection. But I would say that if you are a |
| the 7mm magnum. This rifle will certainly do the job for | | | | hunter like me who will not go out of his way to |
| deer and is also noted for its flat trajectory due to a | | | | protect a fine and expensive stock, why spend the |
| high muzzle velocity. The trade-off is that the recoil is | | | | money for it? One option is a synthetic stock. |
| sharp and its knock down power is marginal for the | | | | When you start your search, you will have lots of |
| largest of the North American big game species. It has | | | | buying options. Consider sporting goods stores at the |
| been one of the stand-bys for those hunting species | | | | local level as opposed to the just the larger national |
| where very long shots are required (such as mountain | | | | chains. You may receive better service over the long |
| goat hunting). In recent years some other caliber rifles | | | | haul and not much extra cost. If you know you can do |
| have begun to supplant the popularity of the 7mm | | | | it all on your own, there are a few online auction sites |
| magnum. | | | | that cater specifically to firearm purchases. There are |
| Another issue associated with the caliber and rifle you | | | | some hoops to jump through such as shipping from |
| choose is ammunition cost. As an example, if you go | | | | and to a federally licensed firearms dealer. The cost |
| to your local sporting goods dealer and compare 150 | | | | savings however can be great. |
| grain deer cartridges from caliber to caliber, you will | | | | We hope this information serves you well as you |
| see an enormous spread in cost. It really comes down | | | | begin the process of buying a deer rifle. Make sure |
| primarily to which calibers are very popular and which | | | | you don't wait until the last second so you will have |
| are less so. For example, 7mm magnum ammunition | | | | plenty of time to get familiar with your rifle and get it |
| will be much more costly than 30-30 ammunition. If you | | | | sighted in. |
| will not be reloading ammunition, this is a factor you | | | | |