Choose Your Perfect Deer Hunting Rifle

Choosing and setting up your deer rifle is one ofrecommended, and if your hunting terrain only
the most important hunting decisions you canpermits shots of fifty yards or less then you
make. Picking a firearm that has the ballistics,might prefer open sights. Experiment at the rifle
style, action, sighting and size to match yourrange to see whether open sit shooting agrees
hunting terrain and personal abilities is the key towith you.
completing your mission once a suitable prey inOpen Range Deer Hunting Rifles
hunted and found. Your final success is dependentDeer rifles that work well in open areas are
on having a deer hunting rifle that matches alloptimized for longer range shooting, up to three
these criteria.hundred yards (or farther!). Rifle portability is of
The Importance of Where You Will Be Huntingless importance than accuracy and velocity in long
There are two predominant types of deer huntingshot environments, rifles tend to be heavier and
environments; deep wood/ dense brush countryof longer barrel length than deep woods rifles. Flat
and open range country. Some areas contain ashooting high velocity rifle calibers and cartridges
mixture of both environments. Each environmentare required here. Calibers in the 6MM (.243)
requires different shooting styles and differentcaliber range or higher will be OK, and bullets from
rifle characteristics.100 grain and heavier will work. Typically the larger
Deep Woods/Dense Brush Deer Hunting Riflesthe caliber the heavier the bullet you need to use
Good woods and brush hunting rifles should excelfor optimum ballistic accuracy. Scopes with a 6 x
in short to medium range shooting. The average9 variable power are the minimum requirement
distance you will be shooting in this environmentfor most shooters.
runs from twenty-five to two hundred yards. It isPersonal Preferences
to your advantage that your deep woods deerWhen choosing a deer hunting rifle take the
hunting rifle be relatively light (less than ninerecommendations above as they apply best to
pounds with the scope), and be relatively short inyour hunting environment and then Consider your
length with a barrel length of twenty two inchesability to maintain a comfortable shooting manner
or shorter. Portability is important when moving inwhen shooting high caliber or magnum caliber
dense brush. Deer hunting rifles that offer therifles. How willing are you to lug around ten to
ability to reload quickly, such as automatics andtwelve pounds long rifle across your hunting
lever actions are recommended in rough countryterrain.
deer hunting as quick follow shots are oftenGo to a local hunting rifle dealer and try many
required. Heavy bulleted cartridges to penetratedifferent models, types, sizes, and manufacturers
brush are required, I recommend.270 or largerof deer hunting rifles for feel. Whenever you can
caliber and at least a 120 grain bullet. Calibersask a successful hunters what type of rifle they
cartridges that travel at over 2200 feet peruse and why. Ask friends to let you hold and
second are not recommended to minimize bullethandle their rifles if you are interested in their
deflection by the brush. Scopes of four power ortype of firearm, and ask them what they like and
variable scopes which go down to 3X aredislike about their rifle.