Right now I use the family gun that has been past down from my pap to my uncle to my dad then to me......I have been using the 30-06 Remington game master 760 but bc none of the above are with me any longer I want to retire it to keep in nice shape for my son. I have a 270 but I do not like that gun at all. Thoughts of what to buy next.
Opinions on new Pa deer rifle
- Thread starter Chris76
- Start date
VikingsGuy
Well-known member
Budget? Typical shooting distances? Type of game? Do you like your stocks wood or synthetic? Are you recoil shy? Do you have long arms? All will help steer you to the right gun for you. But with no other information provided, a simple, reasonably priced, reliable, smooth gun in a low recoil "do all cartridge" is the Tikka T3x Lite Stainless in 7mm08. With answers to be beginning questions myself (and many more qualified HTers than me) can help you dial in on good options.
Not recoil shy I like wood stocks but really doesn’t matter if it’s not wood. Would like to stay around a grand with scope around 1200. For white tail deer in Pa. the longest shot would be 150 yards bc will be hunting in the woods not field.
stealthy_bowman
Well-known member
The Tikka t3x superlite in .308. Good for pa deer and pretty much everything else. I like the Cabela’s exclusive camo version. The Hamburg PA store has it.
NEWHunter
Well-known member
What the guys above said. Tikka in (pick your caliber) with a Leupold 3-9x scope.
3855WIN
Well-known member
.358 WIN or .308 WIN in Browning BLR
Goosebrooke
Member
Similar story as op. I’ve got a handed down wood master 742 in 30-06. I’ve taken some deer with it but I’ve retired mine (not the most accurate rifle ever created). I ended up with a tikka on sale with a vortex $350 scope. If I just wanted to hunt pa, I might have looked for an old marlin 30-30.
MJE2083
Well-known member
Go to a gun shop and handle many different rifles. There is a TON of rifles out there that will do the job on PA whitetail. The decision is which one YOU like best. A lot of guys like Tikka(I'm not a huge fan personally). I really like the Browning Xbolt. I don't think you need to spend a grand on the rifle if you're going to put a $200 scope on it. Personally, I would be looking for a rifle in the $600-$800 price range and putting a $400-$500 scope on it.
VikingsGuy
Well-known member
If you like wood I would pick between the Bergara B-14 Woodsman, the Tikka T3x Hunter Stainless or the Tikka T3x Hunter. I would get it in .243Win, 6.5 creedmoor, or 7mm08Rem. I would put a Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm scope on it (from schmalts on HT - his prices are unbeatable).
www.bergara.online
www.tikka.fi
www.tikka.fi
www.leupold.com
B-14 Woodsman Rifle - Bergara USA
The B-14 Woodsman rifle features a walnut stock in a sleek American classic shape with a straight comb and no cheek piece. As with the entire B-14 Series, the Woodsman brings Bergara Barrel accuracy to a line of hunting rifles that is affordable to serious big-game hunters.
www.bergara.online
Tikka T3x - The ultimate tool for accuracy
Tikka T3x rifles are built with long-standing gunsmith expertise based on tradition and innovation, allowing you to choose between different models for the given hunting or training purpose.
www.tikka.fi
Tikka T3x - The ultimate tool for accuracy
Tikka T3x rifles are built with long-standing gunsmith expertise based on tradition and innovation, allowing you to choose between different models for the given hunting or training purpose.
www.tikka.fi
VX-3i 3.5-10x40 Duplex
There's a reason the VX®-3i 3.5-10x40mm has been one of the most popular models for decades; it just plain works in almost any hunting environment. Tight brush and long-range shots are no problem with this extremely versatile magnification range.
www.leupold.com
elkhnter
Well-known member
This in 7mm-08 with a Leupold.
R
rwc101
Guest
When I read "PA deer rifle" I immediately thought of a Remington pump-action rifle. Classic PA rifle.
D
Deleted member 38069
Guest
I use a .444 Marlin for brush busting. There is no such thing as a clear shot where I hunt in Northern Minnesota.
Exact setup I used my first four years of hunting!
Brian in Montana
Well-known member
Look no further than the Tikka T3X Forest rifle in .308. I recommend the Forest because you like wood stocks.
Srsly. Give this rifle a look.
Srsly. Give this rifle a look.
Don Fischer
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2017
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So, who picked out your wife for you?
Hilljackoutlaw
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2019
- Messages
- 6,038
I grew up in PA and was partial to the .30-30 for that country and still use it sometimes when I make it back for deer season. @rwc101 my dad has one of those remington .270s. That thing has killed a lot of deer! Classic PA deer rifle for sure.
Ajax2744
Well-known member
I own a marlin 1895guide gun in 45-70. It has a fixed 4x scope. Its my timber gun and would be great for a eastern deer hunt.
std7mag
Well-known member
Living/hunting in PA, i'll share my experiences.
Savage 110 in 30-06. Wood stocked. Loved 165gr Ballistic Tips. Kicked like a mule!
Till i put a brake on it that is. After that, was more a shove straight back. I could watch the bullet impacts. No tracking involved.
Stevens 200 (Savage 10) in 7mm-08.
Light recoiling. Good accuracy. Use 120-150 gr Ballistic Tips, or Berger VLD Hunting.
Ruger 77 MKII in 280 Rem. Low recoil. Hits hard! Again, 120-150gr bullets.
All my rifles were bought used. Except for the Forbes 24B, most i paid for my rifles was $400.
The $169 Vortex Crossfire II in 4-12X42 is one of the most useful scopes for PA.
I'll add on Sightron SIH 3-9X40.
Both clear glass with good visibility at low light.
Savage 110 in 30-06. Wood stocked. Loved 165gr Ballistic Tips. Kicked like a mule!
Till i put a brake on it that is. After that, was more a shove straight back. I could watch the bullet impacts. No tracking involved.
Stevens 200 (Savage 10) in 7mm-08.
Light recoiling. Good accuracy. Use 120-150 gr Ballistic Tips, or Berger VLD Hunting.
Ruger 77 MKII in 280 Rem. Low recoil. Hits hard! Again, 120-150gr bullets.
All my rifles were bought used. Except for the Forbes 24B, most i paid for my rifles was $400.
The $169 Vortex Crossfire II in 4-12X42 is one of the most useful scopes for PA.
I'll add on Sightron SIH 3-9X40.
Both clear glass with good visibility at low light.
GlockZ
Well-known member
I hunt the NE section of PA, shots are never more than 150 yards if your lucky enough, most are around 25-50 yards. I use either a 243 or Marlin 336 in 35 Remington. Anyways, as others have suggested, I'd go to your local gun shop and see what you like. I can tell you my 243 loaded with either an 80gr Hornady GMX or Barnes TTSX bullet puts down deer fast!
