Selecting your deer hunting rifle
is one of the most significant hunting decisions you can make.
Make sure you choose one that will be compatible with what you’re trying to hunt, where you’re hunting, and what kind of hunter you are – the action, ballistics, and size are all important factors. Whether or not you make the kill is largely reliant on whether or not your deer hunting rifle matches up best with the criteria above.
Where Will You Be Hunting?
There are two predominant types of deer hunting environments ; deep wood/ dense brush country and open range country. Some locations are a combination of both environments. Each environment requires different shooting styles and different rifle characteristics .
Deep Woods/Dense Brush Deer Hunting Rifles
Deer hunting rifles for a hunting area of woods and brush should perform best in close to medium range shooting. Typically, you’ll be shooting anything from 25 to 200 yards at deer in this environment, so this range is important. You should avoid a deer hunting rifle that’s too heavy; it shouldn’t be more than nine pounds, and don’t get a barrel that’s longer than twenty-two inches – it’s gotta be short and light to get you to move quickly. Maneuverability is important when hunting in dense brush. You may also want to consider rifles that have automatic functions and are easy to reload. It’s fairly common, when deer hunting in rough country, that you end up needing to take multiple shots in quick succession in order to make your kill. I would recommend using heavy bullet cartridges, .270 caliber or greater, with at least a 120 grain bullet, in order to penetrate any brush that might be in the way of your intended target. Calibers or cartridges which exceed 2200 feet per second velocity are not suggested as bullet deflection by the brush must be at a minimum. Scopes of four power or variable scopes which go down to 3X are recommended, and if your hunting terrain only permits shots of fifty yards or less then you might prefer open sights. Experiment at the rifle range to see whether open sit shooting agrees with you.
Open Range Hunting Deer Hunting Rifles
If you’re planning on hunting in a more open area, get a deer hunting rifle that can shoot accurately at least three hundred yards. In this situation, mobility is less important than being able to shoot accurately, and the ability to make long distance shots. That said, most open range deer hunting rifles are heavier than their deep woods counterparts, and have a longer barrel. You need cartridges and calibers that are high velocity and shoot flat. You’ll do fine with 100 grain bullets and 6MM caliber rifles, so look for something around that line or heavier. Generally, the larger the caliber is, the heavier the bullet will need to be for the best ballistic accuracy. Scopes with a 6 X 9 variable power are what most shooters will need at the very least.
Find What You Want
When you start looking for the best deer hunting rifle for you, you want to make sure that you keep the above considerations in mind. Make sure that you are comfortable with the way that you’re shooting, and how you shoot when using a high caliber or magnum caliber rifle. How willing are you to lug around ten to twelve pounds long rifle across your hunting terrain.
Go to a local hunting rifle dealer and try many different models, types, sizes, and manufacturers of deer hunting rifles for feel. You may also want to consider asking any successful hunters that you’re friends with what kinds of rifles they use, and their reasons for using them. Ask friends to let you hold and handle their rifles if you are interested in their type of firearm, and ask them what they like and dislike about their rifle.
You can learn a lot more about deer hunting rifles and other advanced deer hunting tips by visiting our website here Deer Hunting Tips.
And I also invite you to learn about deer calls and grunts here: Deer-HuntingTips.com/deer-grunts-and-calls.
To your Success!!!
John Eaglesmith
Deer-HuntingTips.com