[Dutch]

Originally Posted by Pistol City GunDawgs

Here in Indiana this will be the first year we are allowed to hunt with a rifle, and only if they are chambered in a legal pistol caliber, 357, 44, 45LC, to name a few. So from my neck of the woods Id have to say historically speaking anything that will propell a sabot.

Man, that's strange. Is the population density that great in indiana?

[1984cj]

The best deer Hunting rifle is the one that you can shoot accurately and is legal for your game.
I like a 45-70 Lever action or a Falling block .45-70 for woods hunting or shots less than 150 yards. I like a .30-06 for longer open shots. There seems to be a plethora of ammunition varieties available for the .30-06.
This year I am going to try out a 7x30 Waters (.30-30 brass necked down to take a 7mm bullet)

[Gearguy10]

I've hunted deer with a 12ga. 3" slug, .30-30, .270, and .30-06. Hands down I prefer the .30-06. The .30-06 is the only one that seems to drop them on the spot. (the 3" slug will too, but not at the distances the .30-06 will reach.

I love my Browning BAR Safari .30-06 and wouldn't trade it for anything.

[jeepejeep]

Whatever YOU shoot best and feels best in your hands. I love my Remington 7600 pump in 30-06. The next guy might hate it. My son's Savage 110 in 30-06 is nice too but I prefer my Rem. Very personal thing, I guess.

[yellolab94]

My first deer I shot was with a swiss k-31, 7.5x55 (.307), not bad for a WW2 rifle!

[wagonwheel]

the 30-30 is a great gun. i love my Win. model 94. it is a great brush gun for stalking. but i would use a .270 for any North American big game. call me crazy, but i have that much faith in my .270.

[gunsandoptics.com]

My number one choice would be .308 Win using 150 grain Win PP. My Savage weather warrior is a tack driver with that load, easy to carry, quick to point, hits hard.

Other good choices would be 30:06, .270 Win, 7M-08, .35 Rem in a lever action or TC Encore handgun, .270 WSM, 7MM Mag, 7X57, .280 Rem, .260, to name a few. Dan

[McNabb11b]

My first deer rifle was a .243. It is a good kids gun and will likley drop a deer with no problem. Anymore I usually carry the 06 but have been entertaining the idea of using a .44 Mag. handgun. Try something new.

[Mitya Karamazov]

Man , all those are great deer guns , but I like what jeepejeep said , whatever feels best and you can shoot confidently is the right choice { long as it's legal} ,, the last 5 seasons I have harvested deer with my Marlin 1894 .44 mag , quite happily , though I have an old H&R Topper 158 in .30-.30 that my bro-in-law found for me that I have been thinkin about tryin pretty hard.

[reyflete]

mauser k98 custom in 30-06 will kill anything that roams the earth I love this gun one shot one kill I dont need no super short fatty magnum just a good ol'
-06 I can even buy ammo at kmart for it!!

now let the bashing begin!!!