25 Greatest Deer Rifles Ever
Here are our picks for the greatest deer rifles ever made. Let the arguments begin.
Winchester Model 76
Though the model '76 sold fewer copies than either of its predecessors (Models 1866 and 1873), it was the first to deliver Winchester's promise of a truly high-powered hunting rifle. Whereas the Models 66 and 73 had been chambered for what was essentially rimfire and centerfire handgun cartridges, the M-76 was available in the more powerful calibers, making it a truly legitimate deer rifle, even by today's performance standards, and paving the way for Winchester's coming successes with Winchester's lever-action big-game rifles. Teddy Roosevelt had three M-76s, and Buffalo Bill Cody liked them too. Fast Fact: The Model 1876 was also known as the Centennial Model, since its introduction coincided with the U.S. Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia in 1876. Photo by Outdoor Life Online Editor AdvertisementRelated PhotosSUBMIT YOUR PHOTOSADVERTISEMENTAdvertisement |
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Comments (63)
Man, I stopped looking around picture #8. Wow, this is obviously one man's choice of "his" top 25.....I definitely didn't go to a vote.lol
Wow very dissapointed this article. The Browning A-Bolt has no comparison. low maintainence simple and so accurate.
My sporterized 1917 Enfield 30-06 beats this monstrosity every time. I used it startling at age 12 and although I cannot hunt anymore at age 65, it served me well for many many years (using peep sights only).
The best deer rifle is my Tikka stainless lite in 308 followed by my BAR in 308.
I hunted with remington,winchester,savage,ruger,
bolts,pumps,levers,etc...
THe best gun I hunted with is blaser 93 luxus
soon as I picked the gun up,I fell in love with it
It's by far the most steady gun to shoot with out a rest. its balanced perfect.very good accuracy,
the bolt system is faster than lever or a pump
(just pulls strait back do not have to open it)
the safe is very easy to work,even with big gloves on.and besides all that you can change calibers
just by getting a new barrel,and you can change from right to left hand.
This by far the best Hunting rifle you can buy.
the downside is they are pricey,but the barrels
are priced descent.so instead of buying a whole new
gun you just buy what ever calaber you need.
Proud to see both the Ruger M77 and the Winchester Model 64 listed. The good ol' 64 was my first deer rifle, given to me by my great grandpa as a reward for passing the Hunter's Safety Course, and continues to be my favorite gun in my collection. The M77 is my most recent purchase, a 7mm Rem Mag, built in '74 and unfired (til I got my mitts on it). Both BEAUTIFUL rifles, and truly functional pieces of art.
Interesting post.Its so interesting. I know lot of things from this site. So i want to know some other details about this article. Thanks.
saving energy
I owned a Remington Model 740 but wore it out. I own two Remington Model 742s. One must keep these automatic rifles clean or they will jam.
I am fortunate to have a Savage 99 in .303 Savage...plus eight or ten boxes of new ammo (with reloading dies, I am good for a couple lifetimes). I use it to hunt coastal blacktails on the salal choked BC coastal islands...phenomenal firearm!
I think they are all great guns and very hard to say which is better I own 5 of the guns on the list Rem.742,Mannlicher-Schoenauer, marlin 336,Ruger 77, Win 94. But each gun has its purpose, and as long as it hits the bullseye, that is all that matters.I did wear out my Remington 742, and even though it would not cycle the rounds it still hit dead center.
Great picks on the rifles but no model 88? They are everywhere and still bringing good $$$$.
I grew up shooting the 30/40 krag and have always enjoyed the gun. However my compared to the picture is a little different as it is a lever action. I have never seen one with bolt action but would love to won one.
I done most of my deer hunting in the Mid-West, and I own two guns for any occassion in the areas I've hunted. One is an 870 LC Wingmaster 12Ga, with and aftermarket cantilever slug barrel and a Bushnell Banner scope, and the other is a Model 94 30/30 with a Simmons Whitetail Classic scope. They've both served me exceedingly well, and with today's upgraded ballistics with the slugs and 30/30 shells, I believe that I am good to go for another 35 years in the woods. Freezer full, enough said.
great lineup guys! who doesn't need one of these guns?
Hello McFly -- Weatherby Vanguard! Did someone forget this inexpesive but very accurate and very well-built rifle?
I think the best all round deer rifle is the model 336c Marlin in 30:30. I also love the Browning BAR in 308. Then there is the beloved 45/70 Marlin Guide Gun. I have this same question on my web site huntingandguns.com
Why no Weatherby models?
I also have owned several of these over my 70 years. My all time favorite was the Mannlicher Schoenauer. I have narrowed my deer rifles down to two, a Rem. 700 in .280 and a Ruger 44RS carbine.The Remington is amazingly accurate in the.280 and the Ruger is just fun to carry and effective. It is rare that a deer takes more than one step when hit with either gun.
I've always used an M1903 Smith Corona 30.06. It was my grandfathers, who was a very avid hunter. He left it to me when he died. I honor his memory by continuing to use it.
Coming from the Catskill Mountains of NY, another nice brush gun is the Ruger .44 Magnum semi-auto. The Winchester 94 in 32 Special was another old timer.
the best all around deer rifle is the 30 06 or 338 mag.
I have to say the Marlin 336c in 35 rem. is the best deer/ black bear rifle I ever owned. My gun was manufactured in 1960 and I bought it new out of box in 1970. Never had any problem in any conditions. Proper cleaning and tlc, I still use it today.
While I own (or have owned) many of the rifles listed and like them all, I must confess a strong bond with the Savage 99s. I still own two and they are my most prolific deer getters. Besides being the most attractive of the lot, they exude an aura of fields and mountains and deep woods. Holding one is reminiscent of studying a painting that captures the soul. Makes me remember sitting at home on a rainy day reading an old Outdoor Life magazine.
I love the Remington Model Seven. I know it's basically the same as a Remington 700 but I love how they are shorter and lighter weight and I tend to prefer the short action cartridges. Shot my first deer with one in 7mm-08. I traded that rife in on new Model Seven in 300 WSM. Great gun. It's short and light and easy to carry in the thicker brush. To me nothing has the feel and balance of a good bolt gun.
gotta go with model 70 .300 win mag
you forgot a couple, the win m71 and rem 788.
this is still one of the greatest guns ever. my granpa has one and everytime i go over there i have to beg him to let me borrow it.
I own #18!
For my 14th birthday my dad gave me a win. model 70. I almost died when i opened that gun case. I have always thought that the model 70 is the best riflemans gun ever to be made. Just look at how many custom gun shops replicate the model 70.
I like my 30-30. It works great in PA woods and i don't feel the need to go to a higher caliber
The rifle pictured as number 8 of 26 is not a Mauser Model 98. It appears to be a Yugoslav Model 48, 48A or 48B. This may be confusing to readers that are unfamiliar with military surplus rifles. I suggest a few minutes spent with "Small Arms of the World" to obtain clarity. All the best...
Gil
Got to love the old lever actions. How the west was won.
I totally agree with scout,my Marlin 336 30/30 has never failed me after approx 30 yrs of service.I remember using pumpkin balls the first time I ever deer hunted,missed a doe and came home blaming it on the gun(yea right hard to hit the target with the eyes closed)my mom took out and bought me my first deer rifle.Paid around $146 approx 30yrs ago and it has never failed to fire or bring down what it was pointed at and the new Hornady's are outstanding.I use it here in Ky every year.
What have you guys got against browning? I think the A-bolt deserves aspot on this list,
Well, let's see. The M700, 740, M70, M77, M94, Marlin levers, Savage 99; I've owned (& own) these and others. No complaints at all. Though I now hunt exclusively with flintlocks, I have to say the Savage 99 is my favorite. I've two, .250/3000 & .308. They have taken more deer than I could ever count, especially my .250. There are a few I would add but can't really argue with this great list.
Good selection for short list. I must have good taste and judgement as many of my favourite guns of my too big collection are listed. Reminds me that I need to dig some out of long term storage and shoot them again for old times sake. Have started handing some down to beginners, no use collecting dust and I only use a handful now.
i deer hunt in Pa and everyone who comes to our camp has a remington model 700 and i am posative that everyone love's them. This was the greatest deer gun every made.
i own or have shot most of these rifles man ill take them all.
The Savage 99 is easily the best-looking lever-action. With all those seductive curves, it is a 2-seat Jaguar among utilitarian station wagons. My son now has my Dad's 300 Savage. It has a custom Monte Carlo stock and a Zeiss sniper scope. Both were installed by my gunsmithing uncle, who had also been a sniper and who liberated that very scope personally.
I like SKS...cause it is quick handling and more than enough knockdown juice without overdoing it.
Like seeing all the lever guns represented. I enjoy hunting with my Marlin 336 and have had great success with it on whitetail. The new Hornady LEVERevolution have brought the performance of lever guns to a whole new level.
My vote goes to the Winchester Model 70. It has an unfair advantage over the competition as it is chambered to many different calibers. I believe its bolt to be superior to the other bolt actions rifle in particular its mauser like extractor claw. Yes, the Ruger 77 has a good bolt of similar design but not the same quality barrel. While some may argue, I would say with confidence that it is a more consistently accurate rifle then most of the competition - I'm talking about comparing hundreds of guns in this model against accuracy of hundreds in other makes .. that would tell the story of accuracy overall. It's three position safety was miles ahead of the competition and its trigger good. Apart from these consideration, it is a beautiful looking rifle with fine lines- not that the deer care but it brings a smile to the guy who appreciates such things.
i personally like the winchester model 94 for deer and cougars and the remington modeal 721. i also have a sporterized .303 british which is alright.
I've never shot any deer with my .303, but it sure has flattened plenty of black bears.
My vote goes to savage, however I do enjoy the remington pump rifle
love the 300. savage great gun, just saw one at a pawn shop go for 800$!!!
Great to see the old boy,s again but no win 88,100, savage mod 170.BACK in 1964 just out of army I paid 125.00 for the win,mod 100, cal.243 and acouple of years later I picked up a savage mod. 170,pump cal.30-30 two great gun,s still got-em. GOOD HUNTING TO ALL
Great to see the old lever guns represented here though most of us have never or will never use one in the woods. I would be a fun to seek out each of the guns listed at your local range and fire each of them. Most of us have experience with the military guns - the 06 Springfield , the Mauser 98 in 7 and 8mm, the .303 British and maybe the old 30-40 Krag as starter rifles. They were often cheap though of good quality. Some with deeper pockets may have custom rifles using the Mauser action from one of these old war horses. Every kind of action from bolt, to pump, to lever and auto were represented in the top 25 which is as it should be. Good stuff!
THIS WAS AWSOM!!!!! I LOVE LEVER RIFELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like the Remington 7400 carbine for the thick Maine woods...got to keep it clean, but its fast shooting and accurate!
my dad has an bar very accurate gun
impersonally think the win. odel 95 is a awesome gun for a backup on any hunt or as a due all deer season rifle out to 1oo yards iron sighted
i drropewd my first deer and elk with this gun i had rechambered to 308 wincheste
The MARLIN 81 has to be the best for me. it is sofisticated, looks and feels great and above all ON THE MARK!
The Savage 99 is probably one of the most favorite hunting guns in the Great South.
Have not owned one myself, but know many that do!
What an "antique" looking gun! One to OWN.
A great addition to the Sportsman's collection.
Great choice.
good gun
I am glad to see that the Remington 721,(page 19)is mentioned. I bought one many years ago, still it was used, that if I pay attention, I can put 3 holes under a nickel at 100 yds. Killed a bunch of deer with that gun. Gotta love it.
I gave this gallery a thumbs-up because of the fun facts and the well written micro-descriptions of each model. HOWEVER where is the Remington model 725? That was a ground breaking rifle with calibers like the .280 and .244 Remington and the predecessor to the great model 700.
Just looking at these pic's makes my hunting fever rise greatly. All my life cept out west in Oregon -used a rem 270---I used 2 lever guns a 94 w/o scope and scoped 336 marlin 30-30 w/4xscope. In over 20+yrs never had a malfunction missed several times fm hurried shots but guns performed 100%! I have tried to pass this tradition of rifles to the g/kid's with great gusto. Carry ON!! YOC
I have never had a problem with my Ruger M77. Started out using one and don't plan on changing. Very smooth bolt,reliable, and throws pretty good groups.
The Winchester Model 86M on slide 3 is my all time favorite. It's sturdy, reliable and it's beautiful.
I agree. This is a hard gun to beat in the thick PA woods. At one point in time I had a streak of 11 shots fired with one of these (in .35 Rem) during consecutive deer seasons resulting in 11 dead deer. I still use it a lot.
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Like seeing all the lever guns represented. I enjoy hunting with my Marlin 336 and have had great success with it on whitetail. The new Hornady LEVERevolution have brought the performance of lever guns to a whole new level.
Just looking at these pic's makes my hunting fever rise greatly. All my life cept out west in Oregon -used a rem 270---I used 2 lever guns a 94 w/o scope and scoped 336 marlin 30-30 w/4xscope. In over 20+yrs never had a malfunction missed several times fm hurried shots but guns performed 100%! I have tried to pass this tradition of rifles to the g/kid's with great gusto. Carry ON!! YOC
Good selection for short list. I must have good taste and judgement as many of my favourite guns of my too big collection are listed. Reminds me that I need to dig some out of long term storage and shoot them again for old times sake. Have started handing some down to beginners, no use collecting dust and I only use a handful now.
I totally agree with scout,my Marlin 336 30/30 has never failed me after approx 30 yrs of service.I remember using pumpkin balls the first time I ever deer hunted,missed a doe and came home blaming it on the gun(yea right hard to hit the target with the eyes closed)my mom took out and bought me my first deer rifle.Paid around $146 approx 30yrs ago and it has never failed to fire or bring down what it was pointed at and the new Hornady's are outstanding.I use it here in Ky every year.
For my 14th birthday my dad gave me a win. model 70. I almost died when i opened that gun case. I have always thought that the model 70 is the best riflemans gun ever to be made. Just look at how many custom gun shops replicate the model 70.
I love the Remington Model Seven. I know it's basically the same as a Remington 700 but I love how they are shorter and lighter weight and I tend to prefer the short action cartridges. Shot my first deer with one in 7mm-08. I traded that rife in on new Model Seven in 300 WSM. Great gun. It's short and light and easy to carry in the thicker brush. To me nothing has the feel and balance of a good bolt gun.
I also have owned several of these over my 70 years. My all time favorite was the Mannlicher Schoenauer. I have narrowed my deer rifles down to two, a Rem. 700 in .280 and a Ruger 44RS carbine.The Remington is amazingly accurate in the.280 and the Ruger is just fun to carry and effective. It is rare that a deer takes more than one step when hit with either gun.
Why no Weatherby models?
I gave this gallery a thumbs-up because of the fun facts and the well written micro-descriptions of each model. HOWEVER where is the Remington model 725? That was a ground breaking rifle with calibers like the .280 and .244 Remington and the predecessor to the great model 700.
What an "antique" looking gun! One to OWN.
A great addition to the Sportsman's collection.
Great choice.
THIS WAS AWSOM!!!!! I LOVE LEVER RIFELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love the 300. savage great gun, just saw one at a pawn shop go for 800$!!!
What have you guys got against browning? I think the A-bolt deserves aspot on this list,
I own #18!
this is still one of the greatest guns ever. my granpa has one and everytime i go over there i have to beg him to let me borrow it.
you forgot a couple, the win m71 and rem 788.
While I own (or have owned) many of the rifles listed and like them all, I must confess a strong bond with the Savage 99s. I still own two and they are my most prolific deer getters. Besides being the most attractive of the lot, they exude an aura of fields and mountains and deep woods. Holding one is reminiscent of studying a painting that captures the soul. Makes me remember sitting at home on a rainy day reading an old Outdoor Life magazine.
I have to say the Marlin 336c in 35 rem. is the best deer/ black bear rifle I ever owned. My gun was manufactured in 1960 and I bought it new out of box in 1970. Never had any problem in any conditions. Proper cleaning and tlc, I still use it today.
the best all around deer rifle is the 30 06 or 338 mag.
Coming from the Catskill Mountains of NY, another nice brush gun is the Ruger .44 Magnum semi-auto. The Winchester 94 in 32 Special was another old timer.
I have never had a problem with my Ruger M77. Started out using one and don't plan on changing. Very smooth bolt,reliable, and throws pretty good groups.
i drropewd my first deer and elk with this gun i had rechambered to 308 wincheste
I like the Remington 7400 carbine for the thick Maine woods...got to keep it clean, but its fast shooting and accurate!
i personally like the winchester model 94 for deer and cougars and the remington modeal 721. i also have a sporterized .303 british which is alright.
gotta go with model 70 .300 win mag
I think the best all round deer rifle is the model 336c Marlin in 30:30. I also love the Browning BAR in 308. Then there is the beloved 45/70 Marlin Guide Gun. I have this same question on my web site huntingandguns.com
I done most of my deer hunting in the Mid-West, and I own two guns for any occassion in the areas I've hunted. One is an 870 LC Wingmaster 12Ga, with and aftermarket cantilever slug barrel and a Bushnell Banner scope, and the other is a Model 94 30/30 with a Simmons Whitetail Classic scope. They've both served me exceedingly well, and with today's upgraded ballistics with the slugs and 30/30 shells, I believe that I am good to go for another 35 years in the woods. Freezer full, enough said.
I grew up shooting the 30/40 krag and have always enjoyed the gun. However my compared to the picture is a little different as it is a lever action. I have never seen one with bolt action but would love to won one.
Wow very dissapointed this article. The Browning A-Bolt has no comparison. low maintainence simple and so accurate.
I agree. This is a hard gun to beat in the thick PA woods. At one point in time I had a streak of 11 shots fired with one of these (in .35 Rem) during consecutive deer seasons resulting in 11 dead deer. I still use it a lot.
The Winchester Model 86M on slide 3 is my all time favorite. It's sturdy, reliable and it's beautiful.
The MARLIN 81 has to be the best for me. it is sofisticated, looks and feels great and above all ON THE MARK!
Great to see the old boy,s again but no win 88,100, savage mod 170.BACK in 1964 just out of army I paid 125.00 for the win,mod 100, cal.243 and acouple of years later I picked up a savage mod. 170,pump cal.30-30 two great gun,s still got-em. GOOD HUNTING TO ALL
The Savage 99 is easily the best-looking lever-action. With all those seductive curves, it is a 2-seat Jaguar among utilitarian station wagons. My son now has my Dad's 300 Savage. It has a custom Monte Carlo stock and a Zeiss sniper scope. Both were installed by my gunsmithing uncle, who had also been a sniper and who liberated that very scope personally.
i own or have shot most of these rifles man ill take them all.
Well, let's see. The M700, 740, M70, M77, M94, Marlin levers, Savage 99; I've owned (& own) these and others. No complaints at all. Though I now hunt exclusively with flintlocks, I have to say the Savage 99 is my favorite. I've two, .250/3000 & .308. They have taken more deer than I could ever count, especially my .250. There are a few I would add but can't really argue with this great list.
Got to love the old lever actions. How the west was won.
The rifle pictured as number 8 of 26 is not a Mauser Model 98. It appears to be a Yugoslav Model 48, 48A or 48B. This may be confusing to readers that are unfamiliar with military surplus rifles. I suggest a few minutes spent with "Small Arms of the World" to obtain clarity. All the best...
Gil
I like my 30-30. It works great in PA woods and i don't feel the need to go to a higher caliber
I've always used an M1903 Smith Corona 30.06. It was my grandfathers, who was a very avid hunter. He left it to me when he died. I honor his memory by continuing to use it.
I think they are all great guns and very hard to say which is better I own 5 of the guns on the list Rem.742,Mannlicher-Schoenauer, marlin 336,Ruger 77, Win 94. But each gun has its purpose, and as long as it hits the bullseye, that is all that matters.I did wear out my Remington 742, and even though it would not cycle the rounds it still hit dead center.
I am fortunate to have a Savage 99 in .303 Savage...plus eight or ten boxes of new ammo (with reloading dies, I am good for a couple lifetimes). I use it to hunt coastal blacktails on the salal choked BC coastal islands...phenomenal firearm!
I owned a Remington Model 740 but wore it out. I own two Remington Model 742s. One must keep these automatic rifles clean or they will jam.
Interesting post.Its so interesting. I know lot of things from this site. So i want to know some other details about this article. Thanks.
saving energy
Proud to see both the Ruger M77 and the Winchester Model 64 listed. The good ol' 64 was my first deer rifle, given to me by my great grandpa as a reward for passing the Hunter's Safety Course, and continues to be my favorite gun in my collection. The M77 is my most recent purchase, a 7mm Rem Mag, built in '74 and unfired (til I got my mitts on it). Both BEAUTIFUL rifles, and truly functional pieces of art.
I am glad to see that the Remington 721,(page 19)is mentioned. I bought one many years ago, still it was used, that if I pay attention, I can put 3 holes under a nickel at 100 yds. Killed a bunch of deer with that gun. Gotta love it.
good gun
The Savage 99 is probably one of the most favorite hunting guns in the Great South.
Have not owned one myself, but know many that do!
impersonally think the win. odel 95 is a awesome gun for a backup on any hunt or as a due all deer season rifle out to 1oo yards iron sighted
my dad has an bar very accurate gun
Great to see the old lever guns represented here though most of us have never or will never use one in the woods. I would be a fun to seek out each of the guns listed at your local range and fire each of them. Most of us have experience with the military guns - the 06 Springfield , the Mauser 98 in 7 and 8mm, the .303 British and maybe the old 30-40 Krag as starter rifles. They were often cheap though of good quality. Some with deeper pockets may have custom rifles using the Mauser action from one of these old war horses. Every kind of action from bolt, to pump, to lever and auto were represented in the top 25 which is as it should be. Good stuff!
My vote goes to savage, however I do enjoy the remington pump rifle
I've never shot any deer with my .303, but it sure has flattened plenty of black bears.
My vote goes to the Winchester Model 70. It has an unfair advantage over the competition as it is chambered to many different calibers. I believe its bolt to be superior to the other bolt actions rifle in particular its mauser like extractor claw. Yes, the Ruger 77 has a good bolt of similar design but not the same quality barrel. While some may argue, I would say with confidence that it is a more consistently accurate rifle then most of the competition - I'm talking about comparing hundreds of guns in this model against accuracy of hundreds in other makes .. that would tell the story of accuracy overall. It's three position safety was miles ahead of the competition and its trigger good. Apart from these consideration, it is a beautiful looking rifle with fine lines- not that the deer care but it brings a smile to the guy who appreciates such things.
I like SKS...cause it is quick handling and more than enough knockdown juice without overdoing it.
i deer hunt in Pa and everyone who comes to our camp has a remington model 700 and i am posative that everyone love's them. This was the greatest deer gun every made.
Hello McFly -- Weatherby Vanguard! Did someone forget this inexpesive but very accurate and very well-built rifle?
great lineup guys! who doesn't need one of these guns?
Great picks on the rifles but no model 88? They are everywhere and still bringing good $$$$.
Man, I stopped looking around picture #8. Wow, this is obviously one man's choice of "his" top 25.....I definitely didn't go to a vote.lol
I hunted with remington,winchester,savage,ruger,
bolts,pumps,levers,etc...
THe best gun I hunted with is blaser 93 luxus
soon as I picked the gun up,I fell in love with it
It's by far the most steady gun to shoot with out a rest. its balanced perfect.very good accuracy,
the bolt system is faster than lever or a pump
(just pulls strait back do not have to open it)
the safe is very easy to work,even with big gloves on.and besides all that you can change calibers
just by getting a new barrel,and you can change from right to left hand.
This by far the best Hunting rifle you can buy.
the downside is they are pricey,but the barrels
are priced descent.so instead of buying a whole new
gun you just buy what ever calaber you need.
The best deer rifle is my Tikka stainless lite in 308 followed by my BAR in 308.
My sporterized 1917 Enfield 30-06 beats this monstrosity every time. I used it startling at age 12 and although I cannot hunt anymore at age 65, it served me well for many many years (using peep sights only).
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