atctimmy

For $700 hundred or less you can pick from ANY of the major brands. Remington, Browning, Winchester, Savage, Weatherby (vanguard), Tikka, Marlin and Ruger are all in your price range, and they all make fine rifles. So here is what you should do: Go to a large gun store ( or more than one) and fondle as many of the above brand name rifles you can. Work the actions to feel how smooth they are. Shoulder the rifle to feel how they fit you. After looking at at least five brand names pick the one you like best. They all feel and fit a little different so no one can tell you what is best for you.


With that said look at the 30-06 .270 or .308 for any large game in North America except the big bears. These three are the top selling hunting calibers for the last 25 years or so because they work great and won't break your shoulder.

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ccw9mm

The CZ 550 rifle might be an option. A friend has a 550 FS Mannlicher in 9.3x62mm. It has the best balance and ergonomics of any "factory" bolt-action rifle I have held. Available in a variety of calibers, it can certainly cover deer to serious game.

Attached Images

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jdivence

Rem 700 in .270 win

farronwolf

Where are you going to be hunting these deer? I assume your not going to be doing any hunting in Houston. Depending on what part of Texas your going to be hunting in there really isn't a single answer.

Up here in the Piney Woods region and where we hunt a lever gun, that will run out to about 150 yds or so is all you really need. I choose a Marlin in .35 Rem or .32 Win Special. Basically the same ballistics as the 30-30, I just didn't want the 30-30 because everyone else has one.

If your going to be hunting in central or west Texas where you can take shots out to however far you can see, well a lever gun ain't going to cut it. I would choose a 30.06 mine is a Husqvarna or a .270 wife's is a Savage. .308 is fine also. Any of these calibers will allow you to pick different grain bullets depending on the terrain. You can pick a lighter grain for distance shots, or a really heavy one for brushy hunting.

One thing you do want to do is pick a caliber that you can purchase bullets for easily. Unless your going to reload or have a really good place to buy off calibers, stay away from those exotic calibers that you can't go down to walmart and buy ammo for.

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Just remember that shot placement is much more important with what you carry than how big a bang you get with each trigger pull.

Ram Rod

That's awesome! Do you reload for it? Actually mine is the lightest bolt action I have for hunting. It was my first cartridge to reload for. Mine is a Kimber sporterized with synthetic stock. The 6.5x55 is a very flat shooting cartridge, and I don't guess I need to tell about it's history overseas for taking large game. I believe it's anything I'll ever need in a medium profile rifle.

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P7fanatic

Here's mine. Got it from my dad (or took it) about 30 years ago. It looks the same as it did when he had it done up like this over 40 yrs ago. It's got a 16.5 in. barrel and a Weaver 4x scope. I know, such a short barrel but I love it cause it's so handy, super action, solid and of course, because it's from my dad. The synthetic I bought a few years back just to have another.
It's all I've ever needed in Texas. If I ever have a chance to hunt Elk or Moose back in Alaska, I'll probably get another rifle. This'll do for now.

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Ram Rod

Beautiful wood stock on that one! Second looks a lot like mine but yours retains the open sights? Wow! Mine was cut to 22" and re-crowned. Thanks for the pics. (Didn't mean to hijack the thread folks)

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sgtD

My next deer rifle is going to be one of these in 7.62x39.
Remington Model 799™ Specifications

It's built on the Mauser action. Maybe the OP can buy one and let me know how it works out? It would be a nice addition to my battery, since I already have plenty of ammo in stock. It would also be nice to hand down to my daughter due to the low recoil of the round.


They had them on sale for $499 at either Dick's or Cabelas last year - can't remember which. I should have bought one then, but I didn't want to spend the money at the time. I don't have the money now :-(

Of course, I already have four perfectly good deer rifles/carbines. A Marlin 30/30, a scoped Savage model 10 in .308, a Winchester 94 in .357, and an SKS. It's not like I need another deer rifle, I just want it....ya know? So I'm reccomending it for the OP,, because if I want one he should too. :-)

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mousehunter

Just my humble opinion, but avoid the 94 in .357. The 94 is a very compact lever action rifle (it is not an strong action, but perfectly suited for 30 WCF (30/30) and 38/55 cartridges). There are other actions equally as compact that were designed for carbines and function much smoother when handling carbine/pistol ammo. The Winchester 92 (clones are still made) and the Marlin are far better carbine actions.

pmaenner

I'd vote for the mosin-nagant 91/30....$69.95!