Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

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MWWTH
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Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby MWWTH » Mon Nov 27, 2017 9:19 am

have done that vast majority of my deer hunting using muzzleloader in the past, but now have moved states and am looking to get into the rifle game. I currently do not own anything for rifles, but am looking at getting something that will give me decades of satisfaction without completely breaking the bank. I've been doing some searching around the internet and its seems like these are some of the guns I've seen have some good reviews from websites and forums:

tikka T3 (lite or hunter)
browning x-bolt (pro, eclipse, hells canyon speed)
weatherby vanguard 2 or stainless synthetic
winchester XPR or model 70 featherweight
howa kuiu
Sako A7 or finnlight
savage 11/111

I have decided that I will be going the 7mm-08 route as its seems like an extremely capable cartridge for deer, but also allows some availability for my wife and children to use as they grow older. I do also hope to maybe expand my boundaries and hunt some bigger and/or smaller game. It also seems like I can hunt either a larger game including elk or moose, or something smaller like pronghorn without having too much or too little with the 7mm-08.

my question is what have you shot/owned in the past and what would you recommend? I am out in south dakota so the chance of some longer range shots is possible, but I would probably not pull the trigger on anything more than 400 yards, at least until i build up some confidence and familiarity with the gun.


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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby mspaci » Mon Nov 27, 2017 10:52 am

Im a model 70 fan
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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby BA-IV » Mon Nov 27, 2017 11:24 am

I love my Winchester Model 70 Sporter in 30-06!

You can kill deer with anything, personally though the best all around round in my opinion is a 308. I have my 8 year old shooting one with managed recoil rounds and that rifle can go all over North America.
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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby Emrah » Mon Nov 27, 2017 11:26 am

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brancher147
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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby brancher147 » Mon Nov 27, 2017 11:37 am

I like my tikka in 7mm-08 better than any other rifle I have or have ever used. Really boils down to what fits you and your style of hunting the best. They are all good.
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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby flinginairos » Mon Nov 27, 2017 12:57 pm

Add the Bergara B14 to your list as well! I love mine!!
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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby Kokes » Mon Nov 27, 2017 2:17 pm

All great guns...I'd get whichever one shoulders best for you...
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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby SamPotter » Mon Nov 27, 2017 2:27 pm

I can't see you going wrong with any of those rifles listed. There will be a little variation in price though. I have no experience with the 7mm-08, but have heard good things. It might be a little light for moose and possibly elk, but deer will be dead as a door nail.
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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby chas3r » Mon Nov 27, 2017 2:32 pm

brancher147 wrote:I like my tikka in 7mm-08 better than any other rifle I have or have ever used. Really boils down to what fits you and your style of hunting the best. They are all good.


X2 I have a 22-250, 243, and a 7mm in the t3 and can't say enough about them
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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby jwilkstn » Mon Nov 27, 2017 3:16 pm

There are prettier rifles out there, but none in your price range that will consistently out shoot a Tikka T3. And to be fair, I own a couple others in your list.
Be sure to invest as much in a high quality scope with repeatable adjustments. Otherwise, skimp on the rifle and invest the savings in the glass.
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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby Threekgt » Mon Nov 27, 2017 3:39 pm

I would add the Thompson Center Venture to your list. It's cheaper than nearly all the rifles on your list and shoots as good or better than every one of them. Comes with a 1" moa guarantee and can be found in the $450 range. It may be the best rifle for the money out there right now. I bought one in 7mm-08 for my son and can honestly say it's shoots as well as my rifle, which unfortunately cost significantly more than $450.
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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby Rich M » Tue Nov 28, 2017 12:55 am

You need to see what guns fit you before you buy. I had my wife out looking for a rifle once and we went thru about 6 or 7 before she found one that fit her - it was a $1,300 X-bolt! LOL!

Get what feels right to you, not what brand is hot right now.
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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby Jonny » Tue Nov 28, 2017 1:08 am

Rich M wrote:You need to see what guns fit you before you buy. I had my wife out looking for a rifle once and we went thru about 6 or 7 before she found one that fit her - it was a $1,300 X-bolt! LOL!

Get what feels right to you, not what brand is hot right now.


X2

The rifle that best fit me is a super cheap single shot rifle. Cost me $50 but I have zero desire to switch. If I ever have kids, I’ll give it to them as a starter gun.

My family has lots of the big name rifles cause that’s the cool thing to do. I can shoot just as well as any of them.

What matters is the scope. A good scope is worth every penny. If I ever got a new gun, I will say one requirement is iron sights
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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby Whitetailaddict » Tue Nov 28, 2017 1:20 am

I've heard good things about tikka and Sako as well as Bergara. I purchased a weatherby vanguard s2 last spring. I had to send it back twice because it would not fire (this was a brand new gun). After getting the issues fixed it seems to be a great gun but given the issues I had and what I felt was a poor service job I don't know if I'd purchase another from them. I like the 6.5 creedmoor round for whitetail as well as youth/women. Minimal recoil and flat shooting. Very similar to another great whitetail round (.308). I would also say the 7mm-08 may be a little to small for moose or for taking long shots at elk. I'd go up to at least a 30-06 for that size of game but i know people have taken them with smaller calibers.
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Re: Best choice of deer rifle (T3, A7, x-bolt, 11/111, vanguard, etc)

Unread postby Rich M » Tue Nov 28, 2017 1:32 am

Johnny - you just got me going with the scope comment...

I'm gonna take it further - DO NOT BUY A CHEAP SCOPE! If you can spend $600-$1000+ on a rifle, don't cheap out on a scope as the rifle is only as good as the glass you put on it.

Leupold VX-3 IMO is the bottom line hunting scope - starts at $400 range, I just saw 2.5-10x50 for $329 and had to fight myself not to buy it.
Vortex Viper or better lines - the diamondback isn't really a good scope
Meopta MeoStar or MeoPro (Cabelas European brand is made by Meopta)

These would be my 3 economical picks. Meoptas are better than the VX-3 and Viper. They also cost more, so there would likely be comparable Leopold or Vortex scopes in the price bracket.

The Viper has a thin reticle cause they have the ballistic stuff - try to get a heavier reticle to aid in low light. Last thing you ever want is for a shooting opportunity and not being able to take it.

Same thing for the scope - look thru a few before you decide which one to get.


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