Short, light rifle for little deer

[Capt. Oblivious]

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

 

[nakneker]

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.

 

[284winner]

The newest 6.8 and .257 heavy bullets makes those caliber cartridges a little more interesting. Two other options in various cartridges.

 

[Fast14riot]

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!

 

[rickiesrevenge]

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....

 

[darkangel_r2]

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.

 

[Fast14riot]

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....

I thought about taking my scoped Smith Mod57 with 8-3/8" barrel with me. I may do that next year.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

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.

 

[rickt300]

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.

 

[Topwater]

My daughters used 788 Rems. In 6mm. They worked well.

 

[Downeast]

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.

 

[Albany Mountain]

I bought a Remington Model 7 in 243 winchester for about the same reasons. Been a fantastic gun, shot well, killed well, served my wife well, and now my daughter. 2-7x leupold

 

[iukamedic]

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.

 

[searcher]

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.

 

[Treerat-sniper]

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.

 

[Tommie]

My gun’s the coolest

 

[Tucker65]

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.

 

[Bc'z]

My gun’s the coolest

Pips's 260 is way more cooler with its lacey paint job.

 

[DGP4]

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

 

[moorepower]

You can get a Howa mini with a CF stock in 6.5 Grendel that weighs around 4.5 lbs