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Short, light rifle for little deer

OP, do you have an AR-15? If you do, build a 6.8 SPC upper. That's what I did a few years ago. AR Performance 16" light barrel, Clark Custom carbon fiber forearm. Vortex 1-4x with illuminated reticle.
The sling can be single point at the buffer tube nut, or 2-point by moving one end to the front of the forearm.
Light, maneuverable, easy to carry.
A lever gun is a great choice also as mentioned by several people already.
 
My son now has a Remington Mountain Rifle in 7mm-08 with a Leupold 2-8X32 scope, that I purchased shortly after Remington introduced that model (maybe 25 years ago). Many, many, many Michigan whitetails have succumbed to the rifle over the intervening years. I found a Sierra 165gr hollow point GameKing to be extremely effective.


Jip, 7-08 or the Ackley version if your feeling the need for something a little different
 
Lots of great suggestions in this thread. I’ve had a few of the rifles mentioned mostly for my seven kids as they grew up. The Remington 600/660 rifles handle so well, they typically shoot small and I love that goofy bolt handle, can’t go wrong with one in your caliber of choice, 243 would be mine In that rifle. I also had one of the Ruger 77 RLs in 257 Roberts which shot really well and handled well. Kimber Montana is Another good choice or just the Kimber 84 with a wood stock, some of those were light and handy, not all of them. My wife is currently shooting a Tikka in the loved or hated 6.5 creedmoor with a 20inch barrel, it’s a CTR so it’s not a pencil barrel but it’s doesn’t pack the weight of a full on varminter, it’s accurate and is very versatile. I know you said your not a lever fan but I use my Marlin 30-30 and 35 Remington when hunting the cedars where the shots are inside 150. So many good choices. We’re spoiled.
 
The newest 6.8 and .257 heavy bullets makes those caliber cartridges a little more interesting. Two other options in various cartridges.
 
OP, do you have an AR-15? If you do, build a 6.8 SPC upper. That's what I did a few years ago. AR Performance 16" light barrel, Clark Custom carbon fiber forearm. Vortex 1-4x with illuminated reticle.
The sling can be single point at the buffer tube nut, or 2-point by moving one end to the front of the forearm.
Light, maneuverable, easy to carry.
A lever gun is a great choice also as mentioned by several people already.

I have 3 6.8spc ARs but they are all 24" full match rifles weighing in around 15-16lbs. Even the lowers are a bit much for building another upper just for hunting.

I'll keep an eye on the classifieds and see whats available when I replenish the fun money account.

Thanks for all the suggestions!
 
I say go with a revolver, this one happens to be a 475 linebaugh. I know its a bit much for blacktails, but it worked....

tzpLc7l.jpg
 
Get any temp stable powder varget-ish or faster on burn rate chart

put into:

6.5 creed under 123 and lighter bullets

7mm-08 under 150 and lighter

308 168 and lighter bullets.

All of these will have good case fill and achieve a complete burn with a very short barrel ensuring good velocity spreads and consistent performance and will have tolerable recoil with a light gun and all will be well within mag length and will be flat shooting.

Perfect deer bolt guns.
 
I thought about taking my scoped Smith Mod57 with 8-3/8" barrel with me. I may do that next year.
That would do just fine! I like the revolver in the brush. Don't care all that much for lever guns so I take the revolver when I know it'll be thick. Shot my moose this year with it too. Felt like it was the perfect weapon choice when I was in the sea of devils club.
 
This little Winchester Featherweight in 7-08 has killed 2-3 deer a season for the last 30 years. It's down right spooky how it knocks them down with Nosler 140 BT's.
 

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I have shot deer with a 300 blackout. Killed them well with those Barnes 110. I would use it up to 150 or 200 yards. Low recoil accurate little round. Works good if you reload.
 
I have a Ruger .257 Roberts light weight that I had restocked to synthetic. Absolute joy to carry and with the new lead-free Barnes Bullets - the .257 will provide the punch with lighter bullets that used to take an "extreme" load with the heaviest 120 grain bullets. Will flatten those black tail deer nicely.
 
Well short and light my timber rifle is a Rossi 45 Colt 16 inch lever gun topped with a scout scope setup. Shoots into 2 inches at a hundred with a warm load of H110 and a 240 gr. Hornady Mag XTP.

I did a Rossi 92 in .44 for a season. The old eyes are too bad for factory irons, so I went with a Ruger 77/44 with a 1.5-4 Leupold. Shoots 2" with Blue Dot & 240 XTPs. Taken 16 deer in the past 4 years.
 
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I built this 6x47 Lapua for my wife for deer hunting. Kelbly Atlas action, Manners EH8 stock, 24" Proof barrel, and a Vortex LHT scope. Rifle weighs 8-1/2 lbs. scoped without the bi-pod. Shoots 105 Berger's @ 3000 fps. and so far has put down one mule deer at 300 yards. The wife enjoys shooting it as the recoil is hardly noticeable.


20200430_183045.jpg
 
I got a Howa 1500 Mini in 7.62X39 for light carry on deer hunts. Mine weighs 6 lbs. 5 oz. with scope and rings
 
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