Deer Rifles

[Klenchblaize]

interesting thread,personally I have never seen the point of having a large number of guns (unless your a collector) I feel that using say 2 rifles (1 vermin 1 deer) makes the user a better shot.
as I see it using that 1 rifle for the purpose intended means you come very confident with the equipment used.
also I find the more guns people have the quality of the guns go down and that's not to mention the glass on top.
I think having a cabinet full of different rifles is just bragging rights,just dont see the point.
as its already been said "beware of the man with 1 gun"

To be correct that should have read: "Beware the man who owns but one rifle - he likely knows how to use a .22 Hornet"!!

 

[6pt-sika]

Muir, 6pt-sika, you forgot species like feral hogs, which kind of enjoy the same status as some deer in UK (considered vermin) and can be hunted/shot all year w/ no tags, use any equipment you like including night vision etc.

On the other hand, US is a substantial chunk of land, given the current regulations (Schengen, European firearms passport) the comparation should be made between US and EU, not US and UK. There's plenty of opportunities, even low budget ones if you're only after hunting opportunities and not medal quality trophies.

Most countries have something special, I'd say take benefit of it, if you start being jealous there's no end to it.

We have feral hogs in my state and actually on the fringes of my county . Some of my friends hunt them . I've been to Arkansas for them a year or two ago . But most states as far as I know do not consider them "game" animals and rather vermin . Although California may call them "game animals" I'm not sure about them or Hawaii for that matter .
Also if I'm not mistaken one is required to have a hunting license for piggies same as if he were hunting groundhogs (woodchucks) or crows !
While it's easy to drive around our rather large country with rifles and shotguns cased in your car I dare say it's not the same going from Spain to France to whereever in Europe . I would suspect each time you enter another country papers permuts etc etc etc are required . Where as here we can travel pretty freely with cased guns in the car and not need to inform anyone while in transit .

 

[murrayb]

So you have 3 x .303's all Conditioned for deer?

I'm only asking because it's a struggle to get even two rifles of an identical calibre Conditioned for the same quarry (I know not why).

Is it? I didn't know that. Maybe I was lucky ... but they wouldn't let me have 300wm for deer as well Not quite sure how that is more gun than a 308 or indeed a .243 at the distances I will comfortably shoot at a live target....

 

[6pt-sika]

interesting thread,personally I have never seen the point of having a large number of guns (unless your a collector) I feel that using say 2 rifles (1 vermin 1 deer) makes the user a better shot.
as I see it using that 1 rifle for the purpose intended means you come very confident with the equipment used.
also I find the more guns people have the quality of the guns go down and that's not to mention the glass on top.
I think having a cabinet full of different rifles is just bragging rights,just dont see the point.
as its already been said "beware of the man with 1 gun"

Quite frankly unless you're the one paying the bill it matters not whether you see the point or not !

Now some folks say they "need" a rifle shotgun or whatever to hunt whatever . And that statments not totally true either !

We passed the actual "need" to hunt many years ago . The vast majority of the hunting population does it because they choose to not beacuse they need or have to .

As to the quality thing for the firearm or the glass . Thats pretty much a crock of shyte . I don't actually buy a different scope for each rifle , but they do get moved around a good bit .

While you may harp on the one gun thing , I prefer to harp on the phrase "expensive does not always mean QUALITY or that it's any better ".

 

[ferretmanabu]

Restrictive?
And in the UK you have how much public lands?? Not to be snarky but if I remember my geography, all of the UK will fit inside of Texas with some room to spare. After that, we have 49 other states, most of which have hunting seasons, most of which allow non resident shooters. We have deer, elk, bear, mountain sheep, mountain goat, caribou, pronghorn antelope, wild bison, moose and some exotics. All of which can be hunted on public land if you have the time and resources to buy the tag and take the time to hunt. And lets not forget the different seasons: Archery, rifle, black powder: all within an individual state. (I hunt rifle and muzzleloader in South Dakota) Some states have handgun seasons. Some states allow you to hunt in special regions by special permit; even if you have gone through a general hunting season. All it takes is money and time.

Does this really sound restrictive? I think not. Add this to the slant: We are not allowed to sell venison. What we shoot we must take for our own consumption or given away. I shot four large deer last year. It's all I can eat in a year. I saw upwards of 200 mule deer per hunting day last season. How many do you think I want to shoot? Can't sell them. Can't eat them all.... I cherry picked my deer for condition and size and killed them cleanly. (Had some seared whitetail last night. Heaven.)

I hunt Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota for a total of six possible deer for rifle and two deer with muzzleloading rifle. I'll take one or two in Montana with a handgun, maybe. Four in South Dakota: two with rifle and try for two with muzzleloader. I don't know if I'll hunt Wyoming this year due to time constraints. I mean, how many more deer could I shoot?? Lots. Six Pt Sika hunts depredation permits. I could do the same, shooting upwards to 20 deer if I wanted at no charge, but they would go to waste and I don't hunt deer simply to kill them.

I don't know where some of you guys get the notion that hunting in the US is restrictive. We can hunt anywhere our money and free time will take us and pretty much year round. ~Muir

PS: The fees we pay for tags pays for the upkeep of these vast public lands we have. It's a small price to pay.
PPS: Lets not even get started on upland game hunting! Or waterfowling!

Fair enough. Can't really argue with that. The option to hunt public land is very appealing.

 

[see it shoot it]

Quite frankly unless you're the one paying the bill it matters not whether you see the point or not !

Now some folks say they "need" a rifle shotgun or whatever to hunt whatever . And that statments not totally true either !

We passed the actual "need" to hunt many years ago . The vast majority of the hunting population does it because they choose to not beacuse they need or have to .

As to the quality thing for the firearm or the glass . Thats pretty much a crock of shyte . I don't actually buy a different scope for each rifle , but they do get moved around a good bit .

While you may harp on the one gun thing , I prefer to harp on the phrase "expensive does not always mean QUALITY or that it's any better ".

well it seems we have a difference of opinion and "needs" you obvious need to own lots of guns whilst I have the need to own specific rifles which perform perfectly when used and fills me with the confidence to be able to use them under any conditions of circumstances.
as I said I don't see the point.
as to paying the bill,your right I don't have to but again Ive never been one to scrimp on my hobby,the best is only good enough,hence why I only own 3 rifles and 3 scopes.
how ever I would one day like to own a double rifle but not just to say I own one,it would be used for intended purpose.

 

[jthyttin]

While it's easy to drive around our rather large country with rifles and shotguns cased in your car I dare say it's not the same going from Spain to France to whereever in Europe . I would suspect each time you enter another country papers permuts etc etc etc are required . Where as here we can travel pretty freely with cased guns in the car and not need to inform anyone while in transit .

In EU if you have a license for firearm in your home country, you can apply for European firearms passport and have the guns you choose to be marked in it. It's just a document that's recognised in all EU countries and is automatically given if you apply for it.

With the European firearms passport you can freely travel with guns provided you have a invitation or some such that proves you need the gun for hunting event, competition etc. There's no need to inform authorities, of course if you're flying commercial you have to declare the guns and most of the time authorities (customs) would thus be informed.

Of course there's some stupid restrictions but so there is in US, like possesing a moderator in other ("non-friendly") state, even in transit.

 

[6pt-sika]

Of course there's some stupid restrictions but so there is in US, like possesing a moderator in other ("non-friendly") state, even in transit.

Not exactly !

We get a Federally regulated license for suppressors from the ATF and as long as we have our permit with us we can legally transport it and use it within reason .And you may ask me how I know this , the shop I'm connected with has a Class III weapons and maunufacturing license . Hence we actually MAKE suppressors sometimes and are whom some of the local folk get there suppressors from !

And in case you were unaware "Class III" pretty much covers suppressors , fully automotic firearms and guns with barrels shorter then 16" for a rifle and 18" for a shotgun !

 

[see it shoot it]

is this Muir or 6pt-sika going out hunting ???

 

[6pt-sika]

well it seems we have a difference of opinion and "needs" you obvious need to own lots of guns whilst I have the need to own specific rifles which perform perfectly when used and fills me with the confidence to be able to use them under any conditions of circumstances.
as I said I don't see the point.
as to paying the bill,your right I don't have to but again Ive never been one to scrimp on my hobby,the best is only good enough,hence why I only own 3 rifles and 3 scopes.
how ever I would one day like to own a double rifle but not just to say I own one,it would be used for intended purpose.

As soon as you use the word "hobby", need can no longer be used !

In todays society in the "practical sense" there is NO NEED to hunt atleast as far as the "Joe Average Hunter" is concerned . Now we can use another word I like alot "WANT" . You and I both WANT to hunt , but we do not need to do so to survive which would open the door back up to that NEED word !

The bottom line is this , you and I and many others on this forum and many others "want to hunt" . And the majority of the same folks do not "need" to hunt to survive they can readily go to the grocery store or market or whatever and get what they need foodwise to sustain their life .

So don't tell me you "need" this or that and then say you don't scrimp on your HOBBY . If It's a hobby you DO NOT need it to survive period . Now I will go along with it making a general mundain life a hell of a lot more livable !

So with all that rubbish being said if I care to take MY HOBBY to more on extreme then yourself or anyone else thats my buisness , personally I do not care if you have one firearm or 12 million . And it's my right in my country to have what I have . Do not let numbers of firearms lead you to believe those that have them are not quailfied to use them ALL in a very profficient manner . After all I don't go to the rifle range and or skeet/trap fields damn near every week for my health !

Oh yeah , the double rifle thing has evaded me for awhile !

I'm with you on that one I wouldn't mind having a nice double rifle or three . I had a very nice Rigby 275 H&H , a Jeffery in 333 Jeffery and another Rigby 450 Rigby I believe in my hands recently . A customer friend had purchased an english sporting collection from a fellow in California and these three were in the group and he'd had them shipped to our shop !

Personally I would have like to have the 275 the most but something in the 375 line and or the 416 line I wouldn't turn my nose at !

 

[6pt-sika]

I'm not much on military type stuff !

Although I have had a few rifles in my lifetime built on 98 Mauser actions . And I did fire an M-16 last week for the first time in my 52 years of existance . I might add if I ever come into a VERY LARGE amount of money I will get a couple licensed M-16's and about 100,000 rounds of PMC 62 grain Green Tip factory ammo !

That thing was a blast literally and "if" doomsday ever comes I sure can sure lay down groundfire with the two of them !

Of course I'd also get about two dozen Shilen mil spec drop in barrels and the tools to do the change myself !

 

[jthyttin]

Not exactly !

We get a Federally regulated license for suppressors from the ATF and as long as we have our permit with us we can legally transport it and use it within reason.

My bad, interstate approvals seem only concern SBRs and such. Even then, all states are not suppressor friendly (e.g. you can own but not use).

This is also problem in Europe, say in Estonia I can use my suppressors on range but not while hunting.

 

[Apache]

can you explain "the right tool for the right job" apart from being legal that is,

I'd have thought it was quite obvious.

I have shot deer with a .22RF. They had been slowed by other means first, but it is more than capable if you put the bullet in the right place.

If I was choosing a gun for muntjack from a highseat I'd pick something very different than if I was climbing a mountain to shoot a red stag.

 

[Muir]

is this Muir or 6pt-sika going out hunting ???

LMAO! Not me, must be 6-Pt!~Muir

 

[Muir]

Fair enough. Can't really argue with that. The option to hunt public land is very appealing.

I think many American's take public lands for granted. The part that is really irritating is that license fees pay for non hunting public lands as well. You know, the places the Anti's picnic and camp overnight. And the deer and elk and other game they love photographing? Maintained/ managed by hunter's fees. I read about you guys getting a new piece of land, or vying for a new piece of land, and I find it a little sad. I can sling my rifle, walk a half mile, and be free to take the first deer I see on public land - and we have thousands of deer in my locale. I wasn't joking when I said we see up to 200 mule deer a day. I have seen 90 - 100 in a group. (unusual, but it happened.) I watch and wait. I have gotten pretty good at finding the does that are in their prime.

Back to the OP: I have usually one deer rifle, one muzzle loader, and one handgun per season. When I decide I am going to use a particular rifle I verify or work up loads, get it zeroed, and practice with it all year -along with the usual .22LR off hand practice. Likewise all the other weapons I will be using that fall get the same treatment. I start after the season ends in December and have it pretty ironed out by the following October when the Montana season starts. This year is easy as I'm using the 6.5x55 again in South Dakota and maybe my iron sighted 8x57 Husqvarna if it snows: I need to get in some time on that rifle before my eyes go and I'm forced to retire it's elegant efficiency. Handgun in Montana if the conditions are right, 6.5x55 if not. Maybe one with each. Muzzle loading season will be a .58 cal double rifle this year.~Muir

 

[greenhillstairs]

I think many American's take public lands for granted. The part that is really irritating is that license fees pay for non hunting public lands as well. You know, the places the Anti's picnic and camp overnight. And the deer and elk and other game they love photographing? Maintained/ managed by hunter's fees. I read about you guys getting a new piece of land, or vying for a new piece of land, and I find it a little sad. I can sling my rifle, walk a half mile, and be free to take the first deer I see on public land - and we have thousands of deer in my locale. I wasn't joking when I said we see up to 200 mule deer a day. I have seen 90 - 100 in a group. (unusual, but it happened.) I watch and wait. I have gotten pretty good at finding the does that are in their prime.

Back to the OP: I have usually one deer rifle, one muzzle loader, and one handgun per season. When I decide I am going to use a particular rifle I verify or work up loads, get it zeroed, and practice with it all year -along with the usual .22LR off hand practice. Likewise all the other weapons I will be using that fall get the same treatment. I start after the season ends in December and have it pretty ironed out by the following October when the Montana season starts. This year is easy as I'm using the 6.5x55 again in South Dakota and maybe my iron sighted 8x57 Husqvarna if it snows: I need to get in some time on that rifle before my eyes go and I'm forced to retire it's elegant efficiency. Handgun in Montana if the conditions are right, 6.5x55 if not. Maybe one with each. Muzzle loading season will be a .58 cal double rifle this year.~Muir

Just read most of this thread with interest, wished maybe i had read a few days earlier, perhaps i could have bought you a few beers Muir!! I must have passed your neck of the woods, been on a two week RV trip, up from Denver, through wyoming and into the stunning black hills of south dakota, went to Rushmore and stayed a few days in the Custer and Windcave national park area, this before heading back into wyoming, Cody, yellowstone and jackson hole. Every cafe and restaurant as a fabulous collection of local taxidermy. Hunting i guess is not just a past time, its almost a religion. Would love to come back in season and hunt here, indeed i plan to look into just that once back in the Uk. Last leg of the journey tomorrow, dropping the RV back off at Denver, but not before i call in the new Cabelas store at Thornton colorado!

 

[cervus]

Great response! To develop the thread,who lives in a Police Force area that restricts the number of deer rifles held ?

 

[scrumbag]

Must admit, I prefer the Swiss system to the UK system. "No good reason not to own firearms? Then off you go" (Full Autos are a bit tougher though).

Still, having said that I only have a 7x64 and a 9.3x62. (I do however have 6 .22lrs in various forms).

Next on the list: .222 or maybe .22-250 and perhaps a .404 Jeff.

KR,

Scrummy

 

[Muir]

Just read most of this thread with interest, wished maybe i had read a few days earlier, perhaps i could have bought you a few beers Muir!! I must have passed your neck of the woods, been on a two week RV trip, up from Denver, through wyoming and into the stunning black hills of south dakota, went to Rushmore and stayed a few days in the Custer and Windcave national park area, this before heading back into wyoming, Cody, yellowstone and jackson hole. Every cafe and restaurant as a fabulous collection of local taxidermy. Hunting i guess is not just a past time, its almost a religion. Would love to come back in season and hunt here, indeed i plan to look into just that once back in the Uk. Last leg of the journey tomorrow, dropping the RV back off at Denver, but not before i call in the new Cabelas store at Thornton colorado!

That would have been great... but make mine bourbon. I quit drinking beer a few decades back! But even so, that drink would have taken you a couple of hundred miles to further north and west than the route you traveled. There is a lot to see in that Denver, Rapid City, Cody, Yellowstone circuit, isn't there? Did you see the Winchester museum. perchance?? In any event, sounds like you had a great trip.~Muir

 

[6pt-sika]

Next on the list: perhaps a .404 Jeff.

Ah yes I've wanted one of those ever since I read an article Elgin Gates wrote in Gun World Magazine back around 1974 about using borrowed rifles on safari (seems all his were lost or misplaced on his flight to deepest darkest Africa)in 375 H&H , 404 Jeffery and 505 Gibbs .

Done the 375 and 505 as well as a 416 . So why not a 404