After giving my trusty Remington 7600 to my youngest boy, I’m in the market for a new deer rifle! 
I’m leaning towards a bolt action and in a 30.06 for sure. I’ve been looking at the Browning A-Bolt and the Ruger MK77. Any thoughts on these 2 guns or something I should look at? 
We have the Ruger, and it is a very nice gun. Would buy another one. For the cost these day a guy can get a weatherby prety close to the same cost. May want to look at the 7mm a little flatter long range gun if ever looking at going out west.
JMO,
Steve
Hi Brian,
I think both the guns you mentioned are very good and either will serve you well. My experience between the two is only with the Ruger. We have three of them so that should answer the question of how I like them, lol. The A-Bolt may have a smoother bolt action but I’ve never been bogged down or noticed anything bad from my Rugers. The A-Bolts seem to be a bit more of a fancy gun that the M77 and I’ve seen that bother some hunters and know it would me. What I mean by that is the nice and shiny finish found on many of the Brownings actually makes the carrier less apt to go into the thick stuff at times for fear of scratching it. My go to gun is a Ruger M77 Mark II and I find myself being over protective of it at times. So something to think about depending on your personality.
Other options I’d consider would be the Thompson Center Icon. Hands down the finest rifle in the working mans price range IMO. Another would be a Winchester Model 70, the older the better. Excellent guns and a true classic. Truth be told not many new guns really catch my fancy these days. Haven’t seen the new Model 70 yet but Jim Carmichael from Outdoor Life gave it his approval so it must be excellent. Good luck!
My partner and I go through rifles like crazy…we reload and compete off the bench…
Best accuracy out of the box (bolt action)…$650-$850
Remington CDL
Browning A-Bolt
$650 and under
Tikka T3
Weatherby Vanguard ( both will gaurantee 1″ groups or better)
I wouldn’t discount a Ruger ( The Ruger R77s have really stiff triggers IMHO)or a Savage 14 but have no experience with them. After a few rocky years Remington has really come back with excellent rifles. The CDL has a new Mark X trigger, recessed crown, super action , and a supercell, recoil absorbing butt pad. I agree on the Thompson Icon. I have one in .308 but you are talking over $900.
In that price range I would look hard ar a Sako AV-7… Sakos (made in Finland) are some of the finest rifles in the world.
I just ordered this new Rem Model 7 Anniversary Model…
I will second the Remington vote 
I have a 7400 in 30-06 and .270, both great guns. I picked up a 700 bolt action 2 years ago. I have taken a doe at 244 yards with it, I love it !!!
The price is right too, under $900 with a Nikon Buckmaster scope mounted to her 
700 Bolt
big G 
i have a browning a-bolt 30-06 with a simmons aetec scope and love it but then again i shot a remington semi-auto 30-06 my dad got in 1965 so anything woulda been a upgrade 
I also have been in the market for a deer rifle for a few years now and I think I am finally ready to take the plunge. I have never owned a deer rifle so I have been asking Tom allot of questions he has been a great resource along with others here on the site. I have the rifle I want narrowed down to two the Remington Model 700™ Mountain LSS or the TC Encore Endeavor Pro Hunter . I did finally decide on what caliber to go with, I also was thinking about going with the 30.06 but after talking with Tom and doing some research I decided on the 7mm08. I originally wanted a rifle for deer hunting and other big game but I decided to go with just a deer rifle as that is what I hunt the most. Here is a good article that I found that helped me make up my mind.
Before I found this article Tom had also told me that IHO the 7mm08 would be a “dream” deer rifle.
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 think the most important thing in selecting a rifle is matching it to your hunting area and your hunting style. There’s too many calibers that flat put deer in the freezer and too many offerings that are plenty accurate and dependable. My suggestion is to not get in any hurry and do some shopping around. Give yourself a chance to look at the products out there and see what fits you well and has a weight you like.
If I were to choose a new rifle today, I’d be picking up a new Thompson Center Icon in 30 T/C. Ballistically nose to nose with .30-06 performance an a round very close to a .308. I saw one “used” at a Gander Mtn in Columbus, OH a couple months back for $650.00. My only beef with the TC Icon is if there’s much walking and stalking involved, they’re a little heavy. But what a rifle!!!
If you hunt short shot/brushy areas, I’d strongly consider going with something smaller than an .30-06. They blow up so much meat at closer ranges and the truth of the matter is that the newer 30-30’s are reaching 200yds with plenty of accuracy and energy. They’re light, shells are cheap, and they’re good in the brush too.
Out to 300yds, even a .270 is plenty to knock the snot out of a whitetail. .30-06’s are a great versatile rifle but I got rid of mine decades ago because of excessive damage to my deer.
Overall, I’ve been happiest with .308 win. But I’m like Tom…. I need to experiment and sometimes just try something different for a giggle. That’s why I used a .41 mag rifle this year. No shots over 100yds with that baby so I’d better be up on my skills! No practicality…..just something different that won’t blow the smack out of my deer.
If you’re set on caliber, that’s still cool. I still think you should just be patient and go shopping. See what feels good and gives you purchasing confidence. You know where you hunt and the style you hunt so look for a good fit. If there’s something you want to change or try, have fun with it.
Happy Gun Hunting!
I disagree with the 30 06 damaging too much meat. Sure if you shoot a 180 grain balistic tip its going to destory both front quarters, its all about bullet selection. If i only had to own one rifle it would be a 30 06, there are so many factory loads, you can hunt coyotes all the way up to elk/moose. The past two years i have been shooting the Federal Premium Vital shock barnes bullets in 180 gr. These are copper bullets and boy am i impressed. they dont shatter into a pieces, and bounce around inside, they mushroom back, and keep punching through. I shot two deer this year with it and the first one i hit the shoulder, which with the same 180 gr bullet but with a bonded tip would have exploded and ruined both shoulders, the barnes bullet just put a inch hole through both of them.
I own both the M77 and the A-Bolt and they all have scopes. I am partial to Browning but own several Rugers. After looking at both I would say that the A-Bolt may be a touch lighter. The one thing I like about the A-Bolt is that when you open the chamber, the lever on the bolt stays flat giving you more clearance between the scope and lever, and also making faster reloads. I also think that the Browning is a nicer looking gun. Would like to hear if anyone has any experience with e new X-Bolt.
Welcome to IDO Stealthy
big G
Welcome to In-Depth Outdoors Stealthy!!!
Opinions on rifle calibers and broadheads will never end…some great points brought up here. If one does not shoot much off season a 30.06 is more recoil than many can handle…( and I believe the 06 a terrific all round hunting caliber 
) I am a Range Instructor and have worked with dozens of guys with shooting problems… Many guys here on this forum are seasoned Vets and handle 30.06, 7 Mags,etc…w/o a hitch. But those of you that either are fairly new to rifles or not comfortable with you skills yet, look at some very effective lesser recoil options like the .243 Win .250 Savage .257 Roberts, 25.06, .260 Rem, 6.5X55 Swede, 7mm08 and .308. If an Elk or Mule deer hunt may be part of the plan, then .270 Win, .280 Rem, 30.06. The 7MM Rem Mag and above calibers get into some progressively heavier recoil. I have had all calibers named and more (up to .300 Wby Mag). While all of them can kill whitetails, most once a year deer hunters will be better served by the milder recoiling calibers.
Good point Tom! the 30 calibers do tend to punish the shooter a tad bit more.
i got a little of course with my love for the 30 06, i have a remington 700 cdl and love it, in 30 06 caliber. i shoot 4-5 boxes of shells through it a year and always have great results. im not a A bolt fan at all gun doesnt feel right in my hands
Very good points Tom. I had a trick I used to play on my kids at the range. For the first shoot, I would do all the loading of the gun and place it in front of them. I had boys shooting 30-30’s and 303 British Enfields at the time. Even those would get the youngsters to flinching. They would deny they were preparing for the recoil. 
So Dad would slip and empty in every once in a while… 
and when they would pull the trigger on an empty chamber and just about fall off the table, I would laugh my 
off. Now I am using .243’s and .223’s to get them used to shooting, and now my 14 year old uses the .243 for deer with no flinching issues at all.
Actually what Tuck is describing is a very good method for curing a flinch. I used it with my son, and still will from time to time, and it worked wonders. I read about it in Outdoor Life from Carmichaels.
Tom is right the debate over what caliber will never end. Fact is these are deer we’re talking about, not army tanks! A well placed shot is a well placed shot regardless of caliber. People often say more deer were killed with a 30-30 than any other caliber. I disagree. I bet more have been killed with a .22 than any other single caliber. But either way my point is if you can’t hit a bull in the face with a hand full of salt you ain’t gonna kill a deer any better with a .50 BMG than you are with a Buick or anything else.
And believe me when I say it isn’t just a .30 caliber capable of knocking the heck out of meat. Small, fast, calibers are notorious for doing just that. The fast the bullet is traveling the better the chance it will fragment and go all over. This year I must have ended up using some old 55 grain shells (found a stash in a cup at cabin) in my .243. These little sons of guns will travel nearly 3900 FPS upon leaving the barrel and do they ever cause havoc on deer. Little shards will dang near reverse direction upon impact. After realizing this I opened a new box of 100 grain rounds that don’t do that.
I personally don’t prefer hunting deer with a .30 caliber. Never been a fan of the 30-06 but am slightly warming up to it. No valid reason, just the way I am.
Brian whatever you choose I hope you can share us the gun porn that goes with it. I never tire of seeing gun pictures and often find myself staring in my safe with no specific task in mind. 
Thanks for the replies fellas! I’ve had a Remington 7600 pump since I started hunting 21 years ago. It’s a solid performer, as accurate as I needed it to be and I really liked the pump. I probably wouldn’t be looking if I hadn’t handed it down to the youngest member of camp. The only thing I didn’t like was the pump was quite noisy at times. This year I shot my brothers 700 CDL and liked it a lot, shooting tacks out to 200yds.
Being 33 now, I have done 100% of my hunting in some pretty thick stuff in northern Mn and a little Wisconsin action. That being said, I highly doubt that I will be venturing out west, my shots have all been under 100yds and usually in some pretty nasty stuff. I don’t see myself needing anything other than an odd six. I’ve tried a lot of different ammo, and have settled on the 180 grain Core Lok from Remington. I like this cartridge because it can punch through some brush and still do the job nicely. I’ve never had a problem with the recoil and have never had any “excess” damage to the deer I have shot. I thought of going to a smaller caliber, but I like to bear hunt once in awhile too, so having the power is nice. For me, the 30.06 is the “perfect” caliber for me.
I would like this gun to last me a very long time so I’m not gonna skrimp on quality regardless of price. I’ve already committed myself to paying upwards of a 1000 dollars if necassary for a quality rifle.
My list is going to start like this.
1. Browning A-Bolt
2. Ruger MK77
3. Wetherby Vanguard
4. Thompson Icon
5. Remington 700
I want to shoot each gun and find what works, I’ll keep everyone updated on what I find. Thanks again for the replies.
Tom, you mentioined a .257 Roberts. I shot that gun for my first buck harvest with a rifle out in Montana. I was using some hopped up reload cartridge, but man was that gun smooth shooting. Di dI mention Flat shooting as well.
I will probably be looking in getting Stacie a Rifle here and if I could find that gun, I would most likely buy one. WOW that thing was nice.
I’m with Tom on the Tikka T3. Very nice economical rifle.
I would take a good long look at the Tikka T3 in a 7mm-08 caliber…
Brian, I have a Remington Model 700 ADL in .270 that is a tack driver as well. You are welcome to shoot that if you want to get the feel of a 700.
Thanks Chris!
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I’m with Tom on the Tikka T3. Very nice economical rifle.
My Tikka is a tack driver with no effort and factory ammo. 3 shot groups covered by a quarter at 100 yards, and 3 shot groups at 200 all in the 2 inch colored circle. It is a .270 Win, I am shooting 140 grain Federal Premium Nosler Accubond loads.
Not the prettiest rifle, definitely not the fanciest, but a great Sako barrel, shorter 70 degree bolt throw, and just the right weight, light to carry but not so light as reciol will kill you.
As for caliber, it is an endless debate, but there is no deer walking in America that a .270/7mm standard caliber with a well constructed bullet won’t kill with any halfway decent shot. And my .270 kicks noticably less than my 30-06 did, so does my dad’s .280. And it’s not that I can’t handle the kick, but any avoidance of unconscious flinch WILL make you a better shooter. I wouldn’t buy a 30 or above unless elk, mosse, bear etc. were in the future, JMO. In fact, if I were hunting open areas exclusively, I would probaly own a 25-06.
After being a lifelong Remington owner I received a Browing A-bolt in 270 WSM caliber for a gift. I really did not think I would like either the gun or the caliber. Well to make a long story short it has become my favorite deer gun. I would take a look at the ballistic charts on both the 270WSM and the 30-06. The 270WSM has higher velocity, more energy, and a flatter trajectory from 0-500 yards. I would never have believed this until I compaired both chart side by side. The extra energy and flatter trajectory may come in handy if you want to head out west someday. I know I’m 4 for 4 on deer the last 2 years and none of them went more than a few yards. I would give a double thumbs to both the A-bolt and the 270WSM
With similar thinking to Buck Wackers thinking, this was the exact reason I got a 7mm Magnum instead of the traditional 30.06. Believe me the flat trajectory sure came in handy out West last November when I dumped my Muley Buck @ 450 yards. With it sighted on @ 200 yards, I can pretty much can hold dead on anyhthing at 300 yards or less. Takes a lot of the guessing out.
There are times I hunt in MN I wish I had a 30-30 lever action for those tight spaces, but I love my 7mm Magnum.
WOW, another post with some people telling you, you are picking the wrong caliber or something or other. I have a Ruger M77 MKII and love it, it is not in .30-06 but that does not matter. It is plenty accurrate to 250 yards. I have take coyotes beyond that. If you are looking for accurracy do check out the Tikka’s and the Savages. Good guns. If you want a really accurrate utility rifle check out the Stevens 200 series. Same barrels as the Savage but without the “Accutrigger” and comes with a synthetic stock, not the prettiest. This is a no frills gun, but more accurrate than most. If I were in the market for another bolt gun in a caliber I do not have it would be the Savage 200. The trigger is the only con, (and if you do not know the differnence it will not matter) it can easily be worked by a gunsmith or youself if you are inclined. It is the same trigger used on the pre “accutrigger Savages”. Out of the box price is about $220-. Sorry about the slight rant about people telling you you do not want what you want, but this happens on this site too often IMO. I am not sponsored by or receive any breaks from anyone in the hunting industry. Just a blue collar guy that believes in value for the buck and answering the question asked.
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WOW, another post with some people telling you, you are picking the wrong caliber or something or other. I have a Ruger M77 MKII and love it, it is not in .30-06 but that does not matter. It is plenty accurrate to 250 yards. I have take coyotes beyond that. If you are looking for accurracy do check out the Tikka’s and the Savages. Good guns. If you want a really accurrate utility rifle check out the Stevens 200 series. Same barrels as the Savage but without the “Accutrigger” and comes with a synthetic stock, not the prettiest. This is a no frills gun, but more accurrate than most. If I were in the market for another bolt gun in a caliber I do not have it would be the Savage 200. The trigger is the only con, (and if you do not know the differnence it will not matter) it can easily be worked by a gunsmith or youself if you are inclined. It is the same trigger used on the pre “accutrigger Savages”. Out of the box price is about $220-. Sorry about the slight rant about people telling you you do not want what you want, but this happens on this site too often IMO. I am not sponsored by or receive any breaks from anyone in the hunting industry. Just a blue collar guy that believes in value for the buck and answering the question asked.
This post made me go back and look at every post…and it left me with one question:
Huh? 
I was impressed how each person offered personal experience with each rifle and calibre. No one said “You are stupid if you don’t go with…” The only post I saw that even insinuated this was yours.
I urge you to show where you see someone telling you or anyone what to think.
I for one just recently bought a muzzleloader for the first time, and I cannot thank the IDO faithful enough for guiding me towards the right choice.
Thanks!
That new Browning x bolt sure looks good on paper.
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WOW, another post with some people telling you, you are picking the wrong caliber or something or other. I have a Ruger M77 MKII and love it, it is not in .30-06 but that does not matter. It is plenty accurrate to 250 yards. I have take coyotes beyond that. If you are looking for accurracy do check out the Tikka’s and the Savages. Good guns. If you want a really accurrate utility rifle check out the Stevens 200 series. Same barrels as the Savage but without the “Accutrigger” and comes with a synthetic stock, not the prettiest. This is a no frills gun, but more accurrate than most. If I were in the market for another bolt gun in a caliber I do not have it would be the Savage 200. The trigger is the only con, (and if you do not know the differnence it will not matter) it can easily be worked by a gunsmith or youself if you are inclined. It is the same trigger used on the pre “accutrigger Savages”. Out of the box price is about $220-. Sorry about the slight rant about people telling you you do not want what you want, but this happens on this site too often IMO. I am not sponsored by or receive any breaks from anyone in the hunting industry. Just a blue collar guy that believes in value for the buck and answering the question asked.
This post made me go back and look at every post…and it left me with one question:
Huh?
I was impressed how each person offered personal experience with each rifle and calibre.
I urge you to show where you see someone telling you or anyone what to think.
I for one just recently bought a muzzleloader for the first time, and I cannot thank the IDO faithful enough for guiding me towards the right choice.
Thanks!
No doubt about this post……. I pay for my guns, is my opinion OK ??? If not, sorry. 
big G
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I disagree with the 30 06 damaging too much meat. Sure if you shoot a 180 grain balistic tip its going to destory both front quarters, its all about bullet selection. If i only had to own one rifle it would be a 30 06, there are so many factory loads, you can hunt coyotes all the way up to elk/moose. The past two years i have been shooting the Federal Premium Vital shock barnes bullets in 180 gr. These are copper bullets and boy am i impressed. they dont shatter into a pieces, and bounce around inside, they mushroom back, and keep punching through. I shot two deer this year with it and the first one i hit the shoulder, which with the same 180 gr bullet but with a bonded tip would have exploded and ruined both shoulders, the barnes bullet just put a inch hole through both of them.
I can’t argue bullet choice……I’m just a poor boy raised by father who almost never misses and never loses a deer he hits…..on cheap ammo….know what I mean? So all my experience comes from “budget” ammo and therefore, I’ve seen ….. lesser than desireable traits, in close range, from both .30-06 and .270. Not being an expert, I’m guessing it would also suggest something to do with the shot. Comparing the damage, by dressing and processing our own meat, it was agreed by both my father and I that our .308’s were effecting less area than my .06. Bullet choice and shot placement??? I would have to say,……absolutely. I’m just now starting to get into trying some of the “improved” ammo, but at the same time, I still have multiple boxes of older stuff that appeals to the thrifty side of me. In fact, I’ve probably got enough to die and never run out! 
BUT….I’m intrigued by the things I’ve read in the last couple years and I should give one of these bonded selections a try. I liked what you said about the hole-in, hole-out, no fragmentation result. Anything that reduces damage and drops the deer in it’s tracks ranks high with my interest. Thx for sharing!
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