Rifle for shooting Deer (anything considered)

stevoman

Hi im looking to buy a rifle for deer hunting next season. Anything considered and i will also swap my shotgun in against it if the seller so wishes. (pic attached).

Im not too well up on shooting deer so im not too sure what the minimum calibre is, but im sure people can point me in the right direction.

It wasn't me!

Was in Griffin-Hawe in Athy at the weekend. They've a lovely stock of some great second-hand stuff and are very helpful. I'd give them a shout and see what they'd do for you. Their prices are respectable enough too. Personally I'd say look for a nice .308 sporter, probably a Tikka, which you'll get new for about a grand, then find a good scope second-hand either here, the UK or the continent, like a Schmidt and bender or a Swarovski 8x56, try get that for about €500 or less, add good quality mounts, and definitely don't skimp here or you'll be buying a second set within a week, and you're good to go. I'd also recommend you talk to John Lambert in Camolin, who has a good stock and some stuff definitely worth checking out, had some very nice scopes second-hand last time I was down, and he'd sort you out nicely. Good luck with it in any case, afraid I don't know of anything privately for sale at the moment, but the above guys would be able to help you anyway.

ivanthehunter

The min cal is .22 with 55grain bullet and delivering at least 1700ft/lbs at the muzzle according to Irish law.
So min is a Swift but some argue that is a 22-250- everyone is happy that a 22-250 is defo licensable yet some argue that its not suitable.

All depends on your shooting distance TBH. A deer wont know the difference between a swift and .270 in a normal sized field but up on the Moor a swift or a 22-250 would be laughable. Here heavy bullets are needed for larger distances and better down range energy retention.. 243, .270, .308, 30-06 300wsm are all for longer range stuff but dont forget you'll have to walk in to retrieve all kills- Walking in is fine but its the hiking out that'll kill'ye

Swift ammo in 55 grain can be hard to get!;)

Really advisable to check out ammo costs and availability in your area before you choose a deer gun..

It wasn't me!

I wouldn't argue for the smaller calibres to be honest. Anyone who knows their way around a 12 bore will be able to comfortably handle a .270 or a .308, and I'd consider both of those perfect for Irish deer. You'll never be short of ammo for a .308 either. Cracking round, and not marginal on the biggest deer species like a .243 is considered by many (while the .22 centrefires are just considered unsuitable, outright).

ivanthehunter

It wasn't me! wrote: »

(while the .22 centrefires are just considered unsuitable, outright).

Again thats you opinion! it seems that your leaders think otherwise!
And I stand by what i have said.. Heavy cal for open work and 22 centerfires are perfect for field work! IMO.

I would say that one should buy something thats an all-rounder and worthy of there target species but its just madness to dismiss a 22 centerfire outright!! There are plenty of situations where these are more that enough!!

TBH I'd go with a 300wssm and be done with it but i wouldn't tell someone that their CF22 was outright unsuitable!! That not the truth.. It might be want you perceive to be good a proper advice but again its unfounded..

"Deer cant count" nor can they tell a 220 from a 308 at standard field distances.. Seeing is believing!!;)

It wasn't me!

ivanthehunter wrote: »

Again thats you opinion! it seems that your leaders think otherwise!
And I stand by what i have said.. Heavy cal for open work and 22 centerfires are perfect for field work! IMO.

I would say that one should buy something thats an all-rounder and worthy of there target species but its just madness to dismiss a 22 centerfire outright!! There are plenty of situations where these are more that enough!!

TBH I'd go with a 300wssm and be done with it but i wouldn't tell someone that their CF22 was outright unsuitable!! That not the truth.. It might be want you perceive to be good a proper advice but again its unfounded..

"Deer cant count" nor can they tell a 220 from a 308 at standard field distances.. Seeing is believing!!;)

Yes, and thousands of deer have been shot and cleanly killed over the years with a .22LR as well. Does that make it a good deer-hunting round? .22 Centrefires, with some very, very limited exceptions (5.6x57 and 5.6x61 VHSE come to mind) are not designed for killing deer-sized game. The intention of the designers is the telling factor.

Deise Musashi

I've a Steyr in .270 I'm considering getting rid of as I don't get out with it at all lately and it seems a waste to have it in the locker doing nothing.

She's a full stock Luxus model with the spooned bolt handle and single set trigger, steyr scope mounts, twist barrel and a bouncy sling that saves your neck on longer stalks.




I'm based in Co. Waterford, drop me a PM if interested lad.

rowa

i wouldn't mess about , go straight for a .308 win , you'll never regret it , lovely round and short too which makes for a handier rifle , every rifle manufacturer makes them .
though that steyr of deise musashi is a cracking rifle,

jwshooter

why would you want to under arm yourself .

if i was lamping deer and not stalking them a swift or a 22.250 would do fine .
head shooting them off a wing mirror at close range in the wee hours of the morning a hornet will do.

when looking for a stalking rifle you may try cover all bases ,hill, forest .muntjac to red to boar.
that excludes the .22s even the 6mms .

availability of ammo ,brands, grain weights etc,may be looked at.

look at the 6.5x55 limited availability of ammo, unless your loading for it.

25,06 in some parts of the country impossible to get ammo also can be limited stocks.the likes of norway will not let you hunt caribou with it ,boar is also out.
308 you cant go wrong .270 cant go wrong 30,06 cant go wrong .

france have a thing about 308 .

if we lived on the contented a 7mm would be number one choice .

that does leave you with the 270 or 30,06 .

the 30,06 will do every thing the 270 can , but the 270 will not do every thing the 30,06 can .

in short you can travel the world with a 30,06.

but in ireland every gun shop will have a few different types of 270 ammo to try.

bang2

Deise Musashi wrote: »

I've a Steyr in .270 I'm considering getting rid of as I don't get out with it at all lately and it seems a waste to have it in the locker doing nothing.

She's a full stock Luxus model with the spooned bolt handle and single set trigger, steyr scope mounts, twist barrel and a bouncy sling that saves your neck on longer stalks.




I'm based in Co. Waterford, drop me a PM if interested lad.

lovely Gun, if it was .308 I'd have it

patsat

i'm on the lookout for a deer rifle also.
Ideally i would want a second hand .270 with a mod on it.

havent found any around my area even without a mod?

Can anybody point me in the right direction? i'm in the Limerick area

Also i'm left handed so would take a left handed gun if one came up but have no problem using right handed guns!

Any advice?

It wasn't me!

patsat wrote: »

i'm on the lookout for a deer rifle also.
Ideally i would want a second hand .270 with a mod on it.

havent found any around my area even without a mod?

Can anybody point me in the right direction? i'm in the Limerick area

Also i'm left handed so would take a left handed gun if one came up but have no problem using right handed guns!

Any advice?

If you're not dead set on a .270, Griffin Hawe have a lovely second hand Sauer 202 left-handed in .308 for about €1500 in good nick, which is a decent deal. It was screw-cut too as I recall. There are a couple of left-handed Sako 75s in .270 in England if you want to put the time into the import work. It's well worth it.

ejg

I'd have a Remmy stainless sporter in 243 1 year old. Fitted either with the original sps stock or a PSE high - end custom carbon stock weighing 750 grams. I can bed the rifle if wanted.
Rifle is threaded and has a very quiet A-tec moderator.
also has a Roedale 20MOA aluminium rail.
with or without scope
Not more than 250 rounds fired.
edi

poulo6.5

ivanthehunter wrote: »

The min cal is .22 with 55grain bullet and delivering at least 1700ft/lbs at the muzzle according to Irish law.
So min is a Swift but some argue that is a 22-250- everyone is happy that a 22-250 is defo licensable yet some argue that its not suitable.

All depends on your shooting distance TBH. A deer wont know the difference between a swift and .270 in a normal sized field but up on the Moor a swift or a 22-250 would be laughable. Here heavy bullets are needed for larger distances and better down range energy retention.. 243, .270, .308, 30-06 300wsm are all for longer range stuff but dont forget you'll have to walk in to retrieve all kills- Walking in is fine but its the hiking out that'll kill'ye

Swift ammo in 55 grain can be hard to get!;)

Really advisable to check out ammo costs and availability in your area before you choose a deer gun..

do you use a swift for shooting deer???

centre

theres a couple of savage model 3 in .270's and i think a remington 700 .270 in knocknagoshel .Also a .270 remington 700 in landers

patsat

Thnks for that i'm headin down to landers in the morning for a look! He has a second hand Tikka Hunter .270 on hold for me!

deerlad

hi stevo,iv got a Sako 22-.250 with Zeiss Scope and Wildcat Sound Moderator,very nice rifle,very accurate,clean n well cared rifle.i used shoot red hinds n av shot red stags aswell wit her,get bk 2 me if interested,thanks