One of the most important decisions for you to make in your hunting career is what deer rifle you should purchase. The keys to achieving your deer hunting goals come in the form of the best firearm for you. When you go to pick out a firearm, you want the one with the best style, action, sighting, size, and ballistics for your hunting area and physical capabilities. Whether or not you make the kill is largely reliant on whether or not your deer hunting rifle matches up best with the criteria above.
Where Will You Be Hunting?
There are two main kinds of deer hunting environments, deep woods or dense brush country and open range country. Some locations are a combination of both environments. Each environment commands its own unique shooting style and rifle traits.
Deer Hunting Rifles for Deep Woods or Dense Brush
Deer hunting rifles that work best in the woods are rifles made for medium or short range shooting. Most of the time, you'll only be shooting from a distance of twenty-five to two hundred yards. So, having a deer hunting rifle that's relatively light (nine pounds or less, including the scope) with a short barrel length (twenty two inches or less) is best. It's important to be able to move quickly and easily through densely wooded areas. You may also want to consider rifles that have automatic functions and are easy to reload. It's fairly common, when deer hunting in rough country, that you end up needing to take multiple shots in quick succession in order to make your kill. I would recommend using heavy bullet cartridges, .270 caliber or greater, with at least a 120 grain bullet, in order to penetrate any brush that might be in the way of your intended target. Any cartridges that travel more than 2200 feet per second have a higher chance of being deflected by the brush, and are therefore not well suited to densely wooded terrain. If your hunting terrain only allows shots to be taken within 50 yards or less of the intended target, you may want to consider using an open sight. If not, I would recommend a scope with four power, or a variable scope that can get down to 3X. You may want to conduct a few experiments at your local rifle range to figure out whether or not open site shooting suits your hunting style.
Deer Hunting Rifles for the Open Range
Deer hunting rifles which are good performers in open areas are those designed for longer range shooting, up to three hundred yards or farther. Rifle portability is not as important as accuracy and velocity in long shot situations and the rifles will be heavier and with longer barrel lengths than deep woods rifles. In open range shooting, high velocity rifle calibers and cartridges are needed. Calibers in the 6MM (.243) range or higher will be satisfactory and bullets from 100 grain up will perform well. Generally, the larger the caliber is, the heavier the bullet will need to be for the best ballistic accuracy. Scopes with a 6 X 9 variable power are what most shooters will need at the very least.
Personal Preferences
When you start looking for the best deer hunting rifle for you, you want to make sure that you keep the above considerations in mind. Make sure that you are comfortable with the way that you're shooting, and how you shoot when using a high caliber or magnum caliber rifle. Do you really want to lug ten or twelve pounds of long rifle with you around your deer hunting terrain?
Visit a nearby hunting rifle dealer and test out various models, kinds, and sizes from different makers of deer hunting rifles to see what feels good. Whenever you have the chance, ask successful hunters what they use and why. Ask friends to permit you to hold and handle their rifles and find out what you like and dislike about it. - 31499
Where Will You Be Hunting?
There are two main kinds of deer hunting environments, deep woods or dense brush country and open range country. Some locations are a combination of both environments. Each environment commands its own unique shooting style and rifle traits.
Deer Hunting Rifles for Deep Woods or Dense Brush
Deer hunting rifles that work best in the woods are rifles made for medium or short range shooting. Most of the time, you'll only be shooting from a distance of twenty-five to two hundred yards. So, having a deer hunting rifle that's relatively light (nine pounds or less, including the scope) with a short barrel length (twenty two inches or less) is best. It's important to be able to move quickly and easily through densely wooded areas. You may also want to consider rifles that have automatic functions and are easy to reload. It's fairly common, when deer hunting in rough country, that you end up needing to take multiple shots in quick succession in order to make your kill. I would recommend using heavy bullet cartridges, .270 caliber or greater, with at least a 120 grain bullet, in order to penetrate any brush that might be in the way of your intended target. Any cartridges that travel more than 2200 feet per second have a higher chance of being deflected by the brush, and are therefore not well suited to densely wooded terrain. If your hunting terrain only allows shots to be taken within 50 yards or less of the intended target, you may want to consider using an open sight. If not, I would recommend a scope with four power, or a variable scope that can get down to 3X. You may want to conduct a few experiments at your local rifle range to figure out whether or not open site shooting suits your hunting style.
Deer Hunting Rifles for the Open Range
Deer hunting rifles which are good performers in open areas are those designed for longer range shooting, up to three hundred yards or farther. Rifle portability is not as important as accuracy and velocity in long shot situations and the rifles will be heavier and with longer barrel lengths than deep woods rifles. In open range shooting, high velocity rifle calibers and cartridges are needed. Calibers in the 6MM (.243) range or higher will be satisfactory and bullets from 100 grain up will perform well. Generally, the larger the caliber is, the heavier the bullet will need to be for the best ballistic accuracy. Scopes with a 6 X 9 variable power are what most shooters will need at the very least.
Personal Preferences
When you start looking for the best deer hunting rifle for you, you want to make sure that you keep the above considerations in mind. Make sure that you are comfortable with the way that you're shooting, and how you shoot when using a high caliber or magnum caliber rifle. Do you really want to lug ten or twelve pounds of long rifle with you around your deer hunting terrain?
Visit a nearby hunting rifle dealer and test out various models, kinds, and sizes from different makers of deer hunting rifles to see what feels good. Whenever you have the chance, ask successful hunters what they use and why. Ask friends to permit you to hold and handle their rifles and find out what you like and dislike about it. - 31499
About the Author:
You can learn a lot more about deer hunting rifles and other advanced deer hunting tips by visiting our website here Deer Hunting. And you can learn about choosing the best deer hunting rifle here: Deer Hunting Rifle.
