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I bought the 200 for christmas for the wife. for only $10 less. Works well though when you type in GPS info for Ice fishing. to
Thanks for the input. The 200 is a very nice unit too, just a little less screen. 
With firearm deer season just a few weeks away I thought it would be kind of fun to find out what firearm all of you choose to use and why. Please give the model, Caliber, and reason why you choose it. Also say what you next gun purchase will be and why. I will start with mine. I currently own and use 3 guns. The first is a Marlin 336 lever action in 375 Winchester (AKA the pumpkin plunker) I have owned this gun for 27 years now. I bought it with my first student loan check ( best use of that money by far ) I bought it because at the time most of the hunting I was doing was in thick cover and deer drives, and thought it would be a excellent gun for that. I have had great success with this gun over the years. It is not the most accurate gun past 100 or so yards (I think a cannon is more accurate) but it does an excellent job on anything hit with it. I have never lost a deer or bear that has been shot with it. Up until this year I hade a Banner 1.5 – 6 light sight scope on it. It fogged up last season and I replaced it with a Redfield 2-7 this year. My second gun is a Browning A-Bolt in 270 WSM. I have now owned it for 4 years. I got the gun as a gift from my dad. I really like it so far. I have a 3-9 Nikon on it. It shots some super close groups. I am going to try out a few different loads for it this weekend (Not happy with the Ballistic silvertips that I have been using) My third and final gun is a Thompson Center Omega in 50 Cal. I really enjoy the muzzleloader deer season and have a lot of fun shooting it. I have shot a fair amount of other Muzzleloaders and this by far it the best feeling and shooting one out there. As far as my next purchase goes, I am going to buy a deer rifle for my 7 year out daughter. I am thinking it will be either a Remington model 7 or 700 Mountain Rifle in 7MM-08. Well that is all for mine. Lets here yours
When I’m on stand, I shoot a .300 Win Mag, as I like the knockdown power it has. 
If I am hunting an area that is very thick, doing some still hunting or drives, I switch to a 12 Gauge Slug Gun with a red dot scope. Not having to find a deer in the crosshairs and simply pulling your gun up and placing the red dot saves alot of time when split seconds matter.
I have a Browning A-bolt 30-06
A Remington 30-06 semiauto my Dad gave me he bought in 1965
A Remington Bolt action 270 I just got and haven’t shot
And a CVA Buckhorn muzzleloader
I think then 30-06 is one of the best all around guns
Something new would be a 22-250 or .223 for those damn yotes 
But my weapon of choice is still my Mathews bow
I’ve been sporting a Remington 700 Mountain Rifle in 30-06 for the past 8 or 9 years. I do a lot of still hunting, so the light weight of this thing is really appreciated. The ’06 is a great all-around caliber, and I couldn’t be happier with this rifle.
One of the other selling features that compelled me to go with the Remington was the safety selector – it was simplier/quiter than others – though I like the tang safety found on the Brownings. (I felt that “MADE IN THE USA” should be on the barrel of my deer rifle though.)
For open areas such as a field edge, my go-to is a Remington 700LSS in 30.06, with a Leopold VXIII mounted to it. 30.06 is a flat shooting round with plenty of knockdown power down range and large enough to take an elk down with if I ever have the opportunity to make it out west on a hunt.
I also have a bolt action Reminton 700 .243 with open sights and bought it for its flat shooting characteristics, low recoil (the 30.06 packs a wallop!) and the occasional coyote hunt. I’ll generally take this with if I am sitting in the woods where I know I won’t be taking any long range shots. A well placed bullet from this gun will kill any deer just as dead the 30.06
For Still Hunting and deer drives, I shoot slugs out of a Remington 1187 with a single beaded 26 inch bird barrel. To be honest, I bought this gun for birds and deer (thinking I could put a slug barrel on it) but Remington doesn’t make a slug barrel for the lefty 1187 . I’ve grown to really like the single bead for quick target acquisition but realize I am very limited in range. Regardless, I have taken a lot of deer with it.
I’ve become partial to Remington over the years for no good reason other than they seem to have lefty models a little more readily available than any other brand. At least where I shop…
I’d like to get into hand gunning, so my next purchase will be some sort of pistol.
Depends on the job at hand.
Thick woods, short shots (< 125 yards), or still hunting. Ruger #1 in 45-70. I home load 300 Grain Hornady bullets moving along at 1800 ft/sec. Another pumpkin slinger. Knocks them dead in very short order.
Another weapon for the scenario above. Taurus .44 Magnum with a Leupold 4X on top.
Mid Range shots (<250 yards) brushy/woodys country. Remington Model 700 in .243. Home loaded with 100 grain soft point boat tails.
Long Range shooting (>300 yards). Depending on game size. Ruger M77 in 280. Winchester Model 70 in 8MM Magnum, Winchester Model 70 in 7MM STW.
Something new,.,.,.,.,..,..,.,.,.,.,. hmmm. Probably a Kimber Montana in 25-06, 270 WSM or 270.
All rifles have Leupold VX-III or Nikon Monarch Gold on them. I would love for them to have Swarovski on them, but that’s a pricey upgrade.
When on stand I shoot a Ruger M77 left hand bolt in 300 win mag. Mostly because the safety is in an ideal spot for me. Because later in the season I am doing a combo of driving and sitting, I usually switch to a Tikka lite in 308. It’s light, composite, and I has a shorter/ smoother action. I have a few other guns chambered in 270 and 30-06 that don’t see much time in the woods. They are mainly backups now. For muzzy season, I carry a Knight KRB7. I LOVE the rolling block and the gun is a tack driver. I can’t see myself “upgrading” any time soon. My next purchase in a “deer” will be 264 or a 7x57mauser. Purely because I want both. 
I don’t hunt much with the RIfle but when I do I have a Winchester Model 70 in 7MM Magnum with a Burrris Fullfield II scope with the Ballistic Reticle.
i hunt with a 7mm 110 savage for the last 14 years. just havn’t found anything else that i like.
I consider my Ruger M-77 MK II 30-06 with a 2-7 Leupold the ideal midwest gun in any cover from 0-200 yds. Sometimes I take the old family 30-30 Win out for old-time-sake but havent shot a deer with it in a long time.
For sitting in the stand I have a Remington 7400 in 30-06 with a 3×9 Nikon Monarch. It’s just the old stand-by for an auto loader…my old man has a Remington 742 that he’s had for almost 50 years with no problems, and I’ve had the 7400 for almost 20, it shoots tight groups and hasn’t let me down yet.
For the rare walks and drives we do, I have an old Marlin 30-30 (not sure of the exact model). It was my first hunting rifle. I took the scope off of it, it shoots great with the iron sights under 100 yards….perfect little brush gun.
My next purchase will be something a little smaller and flatter shooting, maybe a .243 or 25-06?
I shoot a Winchester Model 70 with Burris optics as well, most of the time. 7MM WSM with Burris Black Diamond 2.5-10. Its my gun of choice for my favorate stand where there is potential for some long shooting. I was was impressed by the Burris scope my dad has, so I got my own. I’m very impressed by the clarity and the eye relief is exceptional. I like the bolt on the Winchester compared to the Remington, and the short mag makes for a bit shorter draw on the bolt. Thats just a personal preference though. 
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For the rare walks and drives we do, I have an old Marlin 30-30 (not sure of the exact model). It was my first hunting rifle. I took the scope off of it, it shoots great with the iron sights under 100 yards….perfect little brush gun.
I want one of those!
My next deer gun will be a Remington Modle 700 in 7MM08, here is a good artical on this very topic.
The Perfect Deer Rifle
By Mike Moen
There is something about human nature that makes people appreciate perfection. A Major League pitcher captures the headlines when he pitches a perfect game. A first grader who answers all of her math questions correctly is rewarded with a big star on top of her test. Even the local bartender is sometimes held in high regards for producing the perfect martini. Why should it be any different when it comes to deer rifles? Through the years gallons of ink have been spilled by writers discussing this matter. Some followed the lead of Jack O’Connor who favored smaller calibers that tossed bullets at breakneck speeds. Others found themselves in the Elmer Keith camp favoring large calibers with heavy bullets and large wound channels. With the vast experience that these two men had, it is obvious that both knew what they were talking about, and both were right. In fact, there are very few poor deer rifles. If someone really wanted to, they could spend their entire hunting career shooting at mulies and whitetails with a 375 H+H and probably never be disappointed. The same could be said for a 243 Winchester, which lies on the other end of the spectrum. However, not many people would view either of these guns as “perfect” for deer.
The first step in building the perfect rifle is to decide what the gun will look like. While levers, pumps, and semi-auto loaders have their place, few would disagree that the bolt action is king. Overall the bolt action is more accurate, and is available in more factory rifles than all the others combined. Where I hunt in northern Minnesota, the lever action 30-30 has always been one of the most popular choices for folks heading to their deer stands. With most shots held under 100 yards by the thick vegetation, a lever gun shooting flat nosed bullets is plenty good for dropping deer in their tracks. That same gun, however, might feel a little outmatched trying to reach across 300 yards of Wyoming prairie after a distant mule deer. A bolt action rifle would be at home under both conditions.
Barrel length is also something that needs to be considered. A short barrel tends to be more maneuverable and can result in a quicker shot in heavy brush at running game. Short barreled guns are also usually lighter, which can be a blessing if hunting in rugged or steep country. The payoff, though, is a loss of velocity and stability. A lighter gun can make it harder to hold the cross hairs steady, and the difference in velocity for some guns can be over 50 feet/second for each inch of barrel lost. A rifle wearing a 26″ spout will generally give out higher velocities, but may make snap offhand shooting a chore. When talking about deer rifles, I feel that a 22″ barrel is a good compromise. A barrel of this length will utilize most of the ballistic potential of any of the popular deer rifle chambering, and will still slide nicely through the trees.
So let’s see, so far we have a bolt action wearing a 22″ barrel. The next step is to figure out what round our perfect deer rifle will be chambered for. This is probably the topic that gets the most attention, and has sparked the most campfire arguments. Personal favorites can run the spectrum from the light 250 Savage or 243 Winchester, all the way up to the various supercharged 30 caliber magnums and beyond. Across the country the 30-06 is probably still the most commonly used round for harvesting deer, and there is little doubt that it is a very effective deer round, but I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I don’t think it’s the perfect chambering for a deer rifle. It’s just a little more punch than what’s needed. Why should someone put up with useless recoil when there are other rounds that will get the job done with less punishment to our shoulders? Staying in the 30 caliber family and taking a step down is the 308 Winchester which is an excellent choice for deer. Mated with a 165 grain bullet and a muzzle velocity around 2700 feet/sec, it is a great choice for any deer hunting out to most sane distances. It also has the benefit of numerous factory loadings, and finding a load that shoots well is usually not a problem.
An argument can also be made for going smaller by looking at a couple of 25 caliber rounds. The 25-06, which is a former wildcat based on the 30-06 case and made legit by Remington, has gained a reputation as the perfect antelope round, but the characteristics that make it great for pronghorn also make it great for deer hunting. With a 100 or 115 grain bullet flying along a string tight trajectory, it produces deadly results out to long ranges, but has very mild recoil when compared to larger calibers. It is also a fairly popular round so is offered in quite a few factory loadings. The other 25 caliber is the antique 257 Roberts. Even though this round has been with us for many years, it has consistently proven itself a deer slayer. Jack O’Connor was a fan of the Bob, and in the gun world, there is no larger endorsement than that. While the 257 Roberts doesn’t have the speed of some of the other rounds, it still carries plenty of punch for deer out to at least 250 yards, and does so with pleasant recoil. The drawback to this round is that finding rifles chambered for it can be tough. There are only a few factory rifles available now that carry the Roberts, and factory ammo is limited, but if you can find a gun chambered for the Bob and especially if you hand load, the 257 Roberts would be a great choice.
For my perfect deer rifle though, I would probably choose a 7mm-08 Remington. This round came about by necking down a 308 Winchester case to accept 7mm bullets. When it comes to deer hunting, this round offers everything a person needs. The trajectory is flat enough to be effective for long range shooting out west, and with a 140 grain bullet is still carrying around 1500 ft/lbs at 300 yards, which is more than enough to take care of any deer. At the same time, it’s not too overpowering up close at woods ranges like some of the larger 7’s and 30 calibers tend to be. It does everything that some of the more powerful rounds can do, but with its mild recoil in most guns, it won’t kick you like a mule. With the popularity of this round, finding a rifle chambered for it is not a problem, and there is a good variety of factory ammunition to choose from if you’re not hand loading. Now if you are a 270 Winchester fan, you’re probably shaking your head and wondering how I could ever pick another round over Jack O’Connor’s favorite. Well, I will admit that the 270 is a great round but when only talking about deer hunting, I stand by my choice of the 7mm-08. To me it just seems perfect.
So there we have it, a bolt action rifle with a 22″ barrel chambered for the 7mm-08 Remington. My version of the perfect deer rifle for hunting across the country. With this rifle a person could chase deer from the depths of a south Georgia swamp all the way to the peaks of a Montana mountain range and never skip a beat. Sure, there are a lot of other guns that could do the same thing, but in my opinion, they wouldn’t be perfect.
I have a Browning A-Bolt .243 WSSM. 5 years? I don’t know, when did they come out? I have yet to fire the thing twice at my intended target (other than sighting in.)
Prior to that I used a Remington 30.06 BAR.
My next gun will probably be a 30.06 when I decide to go elk hunting.
Matthews Switchback is used for archery.
My dad and I share the rifles at our house. We have a Remmington 7MM, we use for both deer and elk. We also have a 30/30 he bought 25+ years ago. It’s a fun little weapon I can’t wait to see one of my daughters use for their first deer.
Our next purchase will either be a 22-250 or 25.06. Both great flat land hunting deer rifles. Also double well for varmints. Likely look at the Tica brand for the next gun.
Remington model six pump 30-06.
Why? because that is the gun my parents bought me when I got my college degree in 1986
Still shoots like a dream and have never had to adjust the scope or iron sights. 
My brush gun for up North is a Springfield .30-.30 carbine in bolt action. Bought that when I was 12 with lawn mowing money.
I also carry a Browning A-Bolt in .270.
My out west gun is a .264 Win Mag.
I may be taking 3 of them along with me this year.
First gun is a (1980’s) M77 Ruger .270, Bushnell Banner 1.75-4. It was my fathers gun that was handed down to me about 15 years ago. I hasn’t taken a deer in over 5 years but has a lot of history and has taken over 30 deer between my father and me. It is my good luck charm and back-up which I haven’t need yet…knock on wood.
Second is Browning A-bolt 7MM Stainless Stalker, Zeiss 3.5-10×44. I have used this gun exclusively for the past 6 or 7 years. Bought this to replace a Browning White Gold 7mm that I just couldn’t bring myself to use any longer as it was almost too pretty to hunt with.
Lastly…if it doesn’t sell before hunting season begins I am going to be tempted to take the Cooper Model 52 .270, Leupold 4.5-14X40 that I traded for last spring. Was looking to sell this before the deer season and posted it in the classified section on idofishing.com. Just haven’t found the right home for it and if no one takes it I am not going to let it be a safe-queen.
Those will be the 3 weapons of choice for rifle season. Once muzzleloading rolls around the CVA Accura will be making its 2nd annual appearance.
Good luck to all….less than 3 weeks!
Forgot to mention that after last years deer season before leaving the farm my uncle gave me a 30-30 thompson center pistol I will be playing with this season. I have many close encounters with deer in my brushpile stand. 
I have a savage model 99 .243 that my grandpa gave me, haven’t shot anything with it in a few years but it’s been one heck of a shooter within 100 yards due to open sights.
Been shooting a rem 700 bdl .270 for the last few years, it’s a little more gun than I really care for but it knocks them down.
Just bought a weatherby vanguard .243 through a internet auction. Haven’t got it yet but I’m excited to run some shells through it. If I get it dialed in before rifle season I’ll be using this gun this fall.
I have 3, but my go to is a Remington 700 in 30-06, with A Nikon Buckmaster 3×9 on top I also have 2 Rem 7400’s , one in 30-06 and the other .270
Remington 722 in .257 Robert with Leopold Vx III 4-12x. Tackdriver that is easy on the shoulder. Bigger game with a Thompson Encore .300 Win Mag and Bushnell 3-9X.
Hunting in WI Metro zone, same Encore with .50 muzzeloader with red dot.
ruger m77 25-06 with 115 barnes
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