Many consider hunting big game as a part of the tradition, culture, and heritage in America. There are over 11.4 million deer hunters in the US as of fall 2020. Over 9.4 million of these people hunt deer with a bow and a gun.
Each hunter has their hunting style and preference. Many hunters sit out on trees and wait for the game for hours on end. Others hunt deer on the move.
Whichever way you choose to hunt deer, you need the right tool for the job or the best deer rifle. Read on to discover some great tips for choosing deer hunting rifles.
What Is the Best Deer Rifle?
Every deer hunter has a preference for choosing the best deer rifle. There is a large variety of rifles with differing calibers, actions, and configurations. There are also many rifle designs ranging from pump guns, lever actions, semi-autos, and more!
There is a wide range to choose from when selecting the best deer hunting rifle. Each variety has its benefits and is all effective for hunting whitetail deers. Consider the following when choosing the best deer hunting rifle for the season.
Deer Rifle Action
Rifle action pertains to the mechanic operation of a rifle. Each rifle has a set of certain parts, including the bolt, chamber, barrel, and firing pin. But how these parts operate is what determines a rifle’s action type.
Traditional Bolt Action Deer Hunting Rifle
Bolt action rifles are the most common and traditional rifles for deer hunting. A rifle with a bolt action design is simple with minimal moving parts. Bolt action rifles gain their renown for their accuracy and reliability.
Depending on the stock materials, barrel size, and barrel length, a bolt action rifle can either be light or heavy. With bolt action rifles, you can learn to do follow up shots with little practice. All bolt action guns generally have only 3 to 5 rounds in magazine capacity.
The simple design of bolt action deer rifles allows you to chamber a wide variety of calibers. When you choose a good bolt action rifle with the appropriate caliber, you can take out deer from over 400 yards away. Here are some great choices for bolt action deer rifles.
Consider the Remington Model Seven. It features a light and compact bolt action rifle with a 20-inch barrel. It has a shorter receiver than the full-size model 700 SA.
Its shorter barrel reduces weight and makes it ideal for hunting in thick brushes. The stainless synthetic model is durable against harsh rains and weather. This rifle is available in .308 Win. and .300 WSM.
The Winchester XPR is another great rifle with .30-06 caliber. It’s available in 11 more calibers from lightweight .243 Winchester to .338 Winchester Magnum. The XPR features some modifications to the first Winchester Model 70.
Recoil is easy to manage with its heavy-duty leather butt pad. The bolts are easy to remove for cleaning. You can find the gun safety on the right side of the gun.
Lever Action Deer Hunting Rifle
Lever action deer hunting rifles are ideal for hunting deer in 200 yards. These guns are traditionally chambered with heavy bullets and lower velocity rounds. Lever action hunting rifles are easy to point and handle.
Many lever-action hunting rifles have shorter barrels than bolt action guns. This makes them lighter and faster to shoulder. Although the tubular magazine may disagree with ballistic tip ammunition, it allows the rifle to hold more ammo.
Here are some of our choices for lever-action deer hunting rifles. The Browning BLR is far from a traditional lever-action rifle. It features a series of gears and pinions.
You can find a Browning BLR at .358 Winchester or .450 Marlin. The Browning BLR feeds from a box magazine. It is also chambered for high-velocity cartridges.
The Browning BLR is a smooth and fast gun with its ratchet system. Instead of mounting a scope on the BLR’s receiver, you can put a long-eye-relief model on its barrel. This allows you to avoid and point-of-impact shift when you reassemble.
Semi-Automatic Action Deer Hunting Rifle
Semi-automatic action hunting rifles are new to the deer hunting landscape. The AR 15 trigger and AR 10 platform prototype were only made available to the public in 1964. Now, these are the most common platforms for semi-automatic action deer hunting.
Semi-automatic rifles are slowly climbing in popularity for the deer hunting landscape. These rifles can come in a variety of chamberings and detachable magazines. Many say that semi-autos can rival the accuracy the bolt guns provide.
We recommend the Browning BAR. The Browning BAR offers an aluminum receiver that weighs under 7 pounds. The BAR is available in all traditional deer cartridges and even some magnum thumpers.
This semi-auto rifle has an almost flawless record of form and functionality. It features a 22-inch barrel and 43 inches of length. This gas-operated rifle also comes with a detachable box magazine.
Enjoy great accuracy and fast follow up shots with this semi-auto rifle. The Browning BAR is one of the most versatile cartridges on the market. Try this when you’re looking for a semi-auto deer hunting rifle.
Best Rifle Caliber For Deer Hunting
The best caliber for your deer hunting rifle depends on preference, experience, and situation. Some states specify a minimum size of caliber. Other states allow any centerfire rifle for deer hunting.
Before you start choosing caliber, check with your state’s laws. Other factors to consider include a bullet’s size, weight, and accuracy. You must also consider its velocity, kinetic energy, and recoil.
Rifle Calibers in the Twenties
The smallest deer rifle calibers start with .22 calibers. In most cases, .22 calibers are the least requirement in states. Smaller calibers like .243 may still offer light recoil and high velocity.
These calibers are the most ideal for deer hunting. They offer large casing and high velocities. The calibers also offer more kinetic energy and longer ranges.
Rifle Calibers in the Thirties
Many deer hunters claim that thirty calibers are more effective than any other caliber. The 30-06 and 30-30 are the most popular and favorite among hunters. The 30-06 and 30-30 calibers were originally designed for military service.
These thirty calibers offer little recoil. Despite the 160 grain bullets, many consider these thirty calibers as close range.
Bullet Design
Bullet design is a critical factor when choosing the right equipment for deer hunting. A bullet’s design can determine its accuracy and overall lethal effectiveness. Your bullet is the only part of the rifle that acts on the deer but the proper one can determine your hunt’s success.
Lighter deer hunting bullets can carry over from flat-shooting to extended ranges. These bullets offer high velocities but also carry less kinetic energy. Your bullet can get affected by light winds.
Heavy bullets can offer the most lethal effectiveness. However, bullet curves drop off quickly. We do not recommend using heavy bullets for long ranges.
You may need to experiment when looking for the best bullet design. Other factors like velocity, barrel length, and twist rate can affect your bullet. Try shooting different rounds to find the best bullet for your hunting session.
Optics For Deer Hunting Rifle
Having the best deer hunting rifle optics can help you take down deer over long ranges. Choose the best scope to match with your rifle action and caliber. When choosing optics for your deer hunting rifle, consider magnification, lens aperture, size, and weight.
Scope Magnification For Deer Hunting Rifle
Choosing the right magnification is essential to choosing your deer hunting rifle’s scope. Finding your target may be difficult if your scope has too much zoom. Too little zoom may make it difficult to make a long shot.
A classic deer hunting rifle scope is a 3X9. When choosing a scope, consider the shot distance and base magnification for near and long-distance shots. Be aware that choosing higher magnification may make your rifle heavier to carry.
Scope Lens Aperture For Deer Hunting Rifle
Lens aperture refers to the part of the scope lens closest to the muzzle. Your scope’s lens is in charge of gathering light. Larger lenses offer more light and allow you to see a brighter image in your scope.
Deer hunting rifle scope apertures range from 30mm, 40mm, and 50mm lenses. A larger lens can help you hunt better in situations with low light conditions. If you often hunt at dawn or dusk, consider choosing a larger lens.
Get the Best Deer Rifle
The best deer hunting rifle depends on its user’s preference and skill. When looking for a gun, you must consider the rifle action, caliber, and also your bullets. Knowing your rifle’s capabilities and limitations, you can become a pro hunter with little practice.
But why stop here when we have more gun tips for you to peruse? Feel free to go over our other lists right here to get all the gun advice you need! Learn more about the rifles available in the market and how to use them right here!
Bullet design is a critical factor when choosing the right equipment for deer hunting. A bullet’s design can determine its accuracy and overall lethal effectiveness. Your bullet is the only part of the rifle that acts on the deer but the proper one can determine your hunt’s success.
Lighter deer hunting bullets can carry over from flat-shooting to extended ranges. These bullets offer high velocities but also carry less kinetic energy. Your bullet can get affected by light winds.
Heavy bullets can offer the most lethal effectiveness. However, bullet curves drop off quickly. We do not recommend using heavy bullets for long ranges.
You may need to experiment when looking for the best bullet design. Other factors like velocity, barrel length, and twist rate can affect your bullet. Try shooting different rounds to find the best bullet for your hunting session.
Optics For Deer Hunting Rifle
Having the best deer hunting rifle optics can help you take down deer over long ranges. Choose the best scope to match with your rifle action and caliber. When choosing optics for your deer hunting rifle, consider magnification, lens aperture, size, and weight.
Scope Magnification For Deer Hunting Rifle
Choosing the right magnification is essential to choosing your deer hunting rifle’s scope. Finding your target may be difficult if your scope has too much zoom. Too little zoom may make it difficult to make a long shot.
A classic deer hunting rifle scope is a 3X9. When choosing a scope, consider the shot distance and base magnification for near and long-distance shots. Be aware that choosing higher magnification may make your rifle heavier to carry.
Scope Lens Aperture For Deer Hunting Rifle
Lens aperture refers to the part of the scope lens closest to the muzzle. Your scope’s lens is in charge of gathering light. Larger lenses offer more light and allow you to see a brighter image in your scope.
Deer hunting rifle scope apertures range from 30mm, 40mm, and 50mm lenses. A larger lens can help you hunt better in situations with low light conditions. If you often hunt at dawn or dusk, consider choosing a larger lens.
Get the Best Deer Rifle
The best deer hunting rifle depends on its user’s preference and skill. When looking for a gun, you must consider the rifle action, caliber, and also your bullets. Knowing your rifle’s capabilities and limitations, you can become a pro hunter with little practice.
But why stop here when we have more gun tips for you to peruse? Feel free to go over our other lists right here to get all the gun advice you need! Learn more about the rifles available in the market and how to use them right here!
