Howdy all. I'm looking for some input on purchasing a new deer rifle for the conditions I experience hunting in Pennsylvania. Since I started hunting, I've been using a 35 Remington with good success. The 35 is a great rifle and I've always considered it to be a 'brush gun' suited for the moderately well stocked woodlands I hunt. That being said, I'm looking for something that has a bit more accuracy and can really reach out there if need be. Like I said, the 35 Remington is great but the ammo is getting difficult to find. At the moment, my biggest contender is the Thompson / Center Icon in .308 or the Smith & Wesson iBolt in 30-06. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Best deer rifle for Pennsylvania?
- Thread starter RedtailForester
- Start date
Yeah, my 35 Rem is a lever action.
Yea I second the 30-06 as well as the 30-30. 30-06 is bolt and the 30-30 is lever. I have only hunted in NJ once. The rest of my life I have hunted in PA. I have family there.
Up to how many yards?
I got rid of most all my silly fancy big deer guns and scopes and now hunt deer with a .30-.30 lever-action almost exclusively. I've always said..."If it was good enough for The Duke, it's good enough for me!" LOL
The .30-.30 is fine for the occasional shot up to 150 yards, assuming you're used to the gun and know "where it shoots".
If you're thinking you want to throw lead farther than that, well, I'd probably go with the .308 or .30-06, especially if your going to also be woods hunting.....I personally prefer lever action to bolt action for deer...but bolt is the only way to go for a varmint gun.
BTW: I'm a Tioga County native....live there part of the time.
~Dig
I got rid of most all my silly fancy big deer guns and scopes and now hunt deer with a .30-.30 lever-action almost exclusively. I've always said..."If it was good enough for The Duke, it's good enough for me!" LOL
The .30-.30 is fine for the occasional shot up to 150 yards, assuming you're used to the gun and know "where it shoots".
If you're thinking you want to throw lead farther than that, well, I'd probably go with the .308 or .30-06, especially if your going to also be woods hunting.....I personally prefer lever action to bolt action for deer...but bolt is the only way to go for a varmint gun.
BTW: I'm a Tioga County native....live there part of the time.
~Dig
Thanks Dig! I used to work out of Addison, NY for Two Rivers Timber Company so I'm very familiar with your 'neck of the woods.' My normal deer kill is below 100 yards BUT I would like to have the ability to extend beyond that. I hunt several of my client's properties as well as my cousins farm here in central PA. The conditions vary from 200+ yard shots across fields to close-up jump shooting...
Addison, NY?
Wow!!!
You know my stompin' grounds then!!
I lived outside Lawrenceville, PA for many years....I'm still in the same general area...just spend most of my time in Chemung County, NY for the time being.
~Dig
The bullet dia is the same in "308, 30 – 06 & 300 Win Mag" as you go up in cartridge size the trajectory flattens out. I know this because I own them all at one time. One of my old favorites I would have to admit was my 270…400 yds was no problem, very flat shooting. If you're having ammo problems with your 35 Rem you could always reload.
Ask Beagle if you dought me...that Remington Model 700 .308 I told you about will shoot .5"-.75" MOA straight out of the box. Put a Timney trigger in it, free float it, maybe spend the money on a better stock, and put some match grade ammo in it, and you'll be looking at half that. Some TacOps rifles regularly see .25" MOA or better.
I grew up hunting in PA, and my favorite was my Remington 700 .270 cal, just as good as an 06, but its got a flatter trajectory, for denser brush areas I used a 30-30 but I recommend the .270 or 30-06 if your only buying 1 rifle
Not sure if this is what you are looking for, but the Tikka Whitetail Hunter .270 (now T3) has worked well for me in the brush and long range. It is a bit heavy, but a straight shooter. Sweet trigger.
30.06 is a great choice although my .375 H&H will not only kill the animal but field dress it and dig a hole for the gut pile.
DAN I HAVE TO SAY
3006 SPRINGFIELD W/ 180 GR BULLET OF YOUR CHOICE BOLT OF COURSE
I GREW UP USING ONE AND MY SECOND IS A MOSIN NAGANT CARBINE IN 7.62X54R AND ITS IS JUST ABOUT IDENTICAL TO THE 3006 IN BALLISTICS WITH MY RELOADS
THE 3006 IS A BRUSH GET OUT OF MY WAY DEER KILLIN, MEAT GETTIN WINNER THAT'S TRULY HARD BEAT!!
I SPEAK MORE ABOUT THE CARTRIDGE THAN THE RIFLE BECAUSE THAT IS A MATTER OF PREFERENCE, IT DOSE MAKE A DIFFERENCE SECONDARILY
THERE ARE FEW CARTRIDGES THAT HAVE A REPUTATION FOR RELIABILITY LIKE THE 3006, CALIBERS COME AND GO BUT FEW HAVE ENDURED THE TEST OF TIME AND THE HEAT OF BATTLE QUITE LIKE IT
NUF SAID 3006 SHOULD BE YOUR CHOICE NOT TOO EXPENSIVE TO SHOOT LIKE SOME OF THE MAGNUMS AND HAS THE SUFFICIENT POWER TO PUT UM DOWN AND KEEP UM DOWN, THE 308 AND 3030 ARE OK BUT GIVE MY 30 OT!!
ITS MY FAVORITE AND I RELOAD FOR IT
HOPE THIS HELPS THANKS YOUR FRIEND JOE
3006 SPRINGFIELD W/ 180 GR BULLET OF YOUR CHOICE BOLT OF COURSE
I GREW UP USING ONE AND MY SECOND IS A MOSIN NAGANT CARBINE IN 7.62X54R AND ITS IS JUST ABOUT IDENTICAL TO THE 3006 IN BALLISTICS WITH MY RELOADS
THE 3006 IS A BRUSH GET OUT OF MY WAY DEER KILLIN, MEAT GETTIN WINNER THAT'S TRULY HARD BEAT!!
I SPEAK MORE ABOUT THE CARTRIDGE THAN THE RIFLE BECAUSE THAT IS A MATTER OF PREFERENCE, IT DOSE MAKE A DIFFERENCE SECONDARILY
THERE ARE FEW CARTRIDGES THAT HAVE A REPUTATION FOR RELIABILITY LIKE THE 3006, CALIBERS COME AND GO BUT FEW HAVE ENDURED THE TEST OF TIME AND THE HEAT OF BATTLE QUITE LIKE IT
NUF SAID 3006 SHOULD BE YOUR CHOICE NOT TOO EXPENSIVE TO SHOOT LIKE SOME OF THE MAGNUMS AND HAS THE SUFFICIENT POWER TO PUT UM DOWN AND KEEP UM DOWN, THE 308 AND 3030 ARE OK BUT GIVE MY 30 OT!!
ITS MY FAVORITE AND I RELOAD FOR IT
HOPE THIS HELPS THANKS YOUR FRIEND JOE
Thanks for all the input (and laughs). I'm starting to lean more towards the .30-06 just due to the availability and ballistics.
Accuracy get the 308.
30-06 most versatile. bullets in a plethora of grains up into 200+ grains
Most swat and military sniper teams use the 308.
I love my 30-30. Its just plain works.
i dont take shots more than 100 yds though.
At least I havnt yet. 308's next on my list
30-06 most versatile. bullets in a plethora of grains up into 200+ grains
Most swat and military sniper teams use the 308.
I love my 30-30. Its just plain works.
i dont take shots more than 100 yds though.
At least I havnt yet. 308's next on my list
You can hunt everything in the US, But snipe with either one.
I knew a guy who would hunt turkeys with his 30-06
neck shot lol and by by head.
And i wouldnt go dove hunting with it though. haha
I knew a guy who would hunt turkeys with his 30-06
neck shot lol and by by head.
And i wouldnt go dove hunting with it though. haha
I use a 7mm Mouser most of the time and my dad used to use a Winchester 7mm Magnum. I just got a 7.62x54r Mosin Nagant M44 that has iron sights that i used last year and loved it. not only can you reach out pretty far accurately but since it is considered a carbine it is pretty short. not to mention but deer tend to not run after you hit them with it due to the stopping power of a .312 caliber bullet. the most awesome part about it was i got the gun at a pawn shop when i was stationed in Arizona for $160, you can't beat that anywhere.
