Readers Respond: What's Your Favorite Bolt Action Deer/Big Game Rifle, and Why do You Like it?

Responses: 65

By Russ Chastain, About.com Guide

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My Weatherby 257 was my grandfather's gun and he gave it to me before he passed away. The action is so smooth and tight compared to my other rifles and those that my buddies use. I have basically retired it from action because it is such a prized possession. I just wish Weatherby would lower their ammo prices!
—Guest Jim T

I have had Savage, Weatherby, and Remington. Savage is my favorite. I have hunted with with all kinds of cartridges, and my favorite is the 30-06. I am a firm believer in getting a reasonable gun and putting a nice scope on it. The 30-06 is enough to take down anything that I have come in contact with. I have shot deer at 400 yards and piled it up. The recoil is okay and you can find ammo anywhere. I also have a 300 wsm and love it, but the recoil is very heavy. What it comes down to for me is there are so many calibers that are more than acceptable for deer. All you need to do is find the right ammunition for what you are going to hunt.
—Guest Grae

Comparing different rifles and argue which one is best is absurd. I really like my Blaser R8, however I can shoot nearly as good with my Marlin XY7. Which cartridge is better is also rather absurd debate. 308 is cheap and has tolerable recoil and kills about everything you need at all practical distances. 30-06 is just about same. 300 mag is great but has stronger kick. In Europe people are using different calibers and they are also okay. Enjoy it all, try it all and measure to your financial capacity.
—Guest Mike

I really like my Kimber, controlled round feed, great stock, sub-1" groups with 180 grain Accubonds, and hits to same point of aim at 100 yds with 180 grain FailSafes. Surpurb rifle/cartridge combo for here in Montana where I live. My back-up rifle is an old 280 rem. marked 7mm Express Remington that is the most accurate rifle I have ever owned. 140 triple shocks and 150 Partitions are my choice in that one.
—Guest Doug

I like the 8x68S. This is a caliber with attitude; a long-range killer of all game up to thick-skinned. With RWS ammo it is a real killer. I have shot eland up to 200 yards with a 187 grain H mantle, one shot kill. The rifle I use is a Heym custom safari, a fine rifle. This combination of good rifle and cartridge gives a hunter the confidence to take on any shot. [Editor's note: The 8x68mmS RWS cartridge was introduced in the late 1930s, and is comparable with the 338 Winchester Magnum - though the bullet is slightly smaller and lighter. It is a very good all-around cartridge, popular in Europe but less so in the USA. - RC]
—Guest pondoro

I have several Ruger M77s, 70-xxxxx range that are flat tack-drivers with my reload of Win LR mag primers, 56.5 grains Hodgon H4831(both cuts) and Speer bullet #1408.
—Guest rollie r hogue 111

I have used a model 600 in 308 with a Leupold 1.5-4.5 scope for years and dozens of deer. It`s very short and light, which is handy for the woods where I hunt. The 308 has plenty of power for the large northern deer in Manitoba, and when needed it`s accurate enough for reasonably long range shots. My longest was about 300 yards. It`s not a target rifle but will shoot 1.5" at a hundred yds with good reloads. If Remington still made the model 600 I would by another one for my son.
—Guest ray

I hunt with a Winchester 300 mag with 155-grain ballistic tip bullets, It gets the job done. I took a nice 8-point at 350 yards, which dropped in its tracks.
—Guest jp

I have a 98 Mauser in 7x57mm for a couple of decades. It was a WWI Mauser, converted in Austria by Voere. It will put 3 rounds touching at 100 yards if I do my part, has a Running Boar profile with the flip-up Express Sights that are dead on. I have taken several game animals with it and the recoil is light and a 139- or 145-grain slug makes them DRT. It has a nice, plain piece of walnut, side safety, and single-stage trigger. What is not to love? I really like this rifle, I guess it is a tie for my Favorite, but I carry the 270 a lot more... because the Black Shadow does not get scratched up in the woods and shoots a little flatter/harder. Glad I don't have to settle for just one!
—Douglas2712

I bought a Winchester Model 70 black shadow in .270 in 2000 and have taken a couple of deer with it. The farther-est any critter has run after being hit in the right spot is 40 yards. It shoots flat, hit hard and doesn't mess up too much meat. What more could a hunter ask?!?
—Douglas2712

I have killed 27 deer in Kansas with my Rem Model 722 300 Savage with 41 gr 3031 powder and Hornady 130 gr SP bullets.
—Guest louis

Savage 10FP with heavy barrel & Leupold VX1. I've shot the bullseye out of targets at a hundred yards with sand bags on the hood of my truck. I reload for it and I would put it up against any gun here. The recoil is very light and I can shoot it all day.
—Guest eric

If I can't have a Model 70 Winchester, I will take a Mauser 98K over everything else.
—Guest jimbo

This bolt action was originally a Wehrmact standard bolt action, it was stripped and "sporterized" it even had the eagle on it, the real deal. It was not mine, it was many years ago, but my cousin said it was an 8mm Mauser. I think now it was a crime to do that to such a historic weapon. I fired it at the range, and the recoil was much harder than my Marlin 30-30 lever.
—Guest BamBam

Russ Chastain
Hunting / Shooting Guide

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