What's your gun and ammo for deer season??

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  • SPOOK331945

    Sharpshooter
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    Feb 7, 2018
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    Southern IN
    I always use my trusty Auto-5. Bought it when I was 15, been hunting with it ever since. Hunted with different guns in-between but aint nothing like the knock down of a 12ga slug, cant bring myself to use anything else now.

    What do you all use for firearm season gun and ammo wise?

    DIzBvSY.jpg


    this one is for you Indiucky... Haven't shot a buck with anything else... Apple didn't fall far from the old man...

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    Lt Scott 14

    Plinker
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    Mar 18, 2018
    139
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    Porter County
    Mossberg 500, 18 1/2 in bbl. 12 ga Regular Slugs. (Federal or Winchester). Home or field does it all. Have a longer barrel for quail or dove. 1 minute change out if needed.
     

    T.Lex

    Grandmaster
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    Mar 30, 2011
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    Basically the only deer hunting we've done the last few years has been in Texas. We use:
    - .308 150 gr.
    - .270 (any weight you want)
    - .223 75 or 77 gr. (yep, it'll get the job done)

    We simultaneously hunt hogs, though, and the distances can be more than slug range. (We've talked about trying slugs in some of the stands that tend to draw them in closer.)
     

    Hawkeye7br

    Expert
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    Jul 9, 2015
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    Terre Haute
    With new regs, I enjoy hunting with a variety of guns. My woods gun is now a Ruger Ranch in 300 Blackout. 135 bullet got the job done last year on a doe at 50 & a coyote at 165.

    My open field gun was a 308 last year. This year I have a 700 in 6br and a RPR in 6.5 Creedmoor. I plan to hunt with both, loads to be determined.

    I love having the options, makes hunting so much more fun.
     

    Mgderf

    Grandmaster
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    May 30, 2009
    17,879
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    Lafayette
    With new regs, I enjoy hunting with a variety of guns.

    I love having the options, makes hunting so much more fun.

    When I first started hunting whitetail in Indiana, the only firearm allowed was a slug from a shotgun.
    Several years later they opened handguns, and still later PCR's.
    Then, a couple of years ago, when they started allowing high power rifles on private land, I was all over it.

    My choices will vary this season.
    Last year I used a Marlin 336 in .35Remington and a Rossi M92 in .454Casull.
    I was drawn for a state park hunt this year so I'll likely use the Rossi for that.
    I have access to private land in Tippecanoe county so I might go with the ,35Remington again. Small property that does not really offer a long shot.

    I also just acquired 50 acres in Fountain county, and this property WILL allow for a longer shot.
    For this property I plan to use a new Howa 1500 action in an A.B.A. chassis in 6.5 Creedmoor.

    I would like to try several others I have, but I need more time behind the trigger on those, and they may just not be the best choices, but...

    I would like to try,
    1945 Lithgow British Enfield in .303Brit
    Type 99 Arisaka in 7.7Jap
    Savage Striker pistol (16" barrel) in .308Winchester
    Marlin 1895 in .45-70Gvt
    Ar15 Frankengun in .300BLK
    AR15 Frankengun in 7.62x39
    AR15 Frankengun in 6.5 Grendel
    Mossberg Patriot in .30-06
    Thompson Center Compass in .243Winchester
    Henry Big Boy in .327 Federal magnum
    Hi-Point carbine in 10mm
    so many choices, so little time...
     

    Hohn

    Master
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    Jul 5, 2012
    4,444
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    USA
    Phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range..

    All kidding aside, I've never hunted Deer, as my Dad is about the only one in my extended family who failed to pass this on to his boys. I'm hoping to rectify that with my own son, so I'll need to learn.


    I don't presently own anything deer legal except an old Mathews Solocam that my shoulder problems rule out. I'll be looking into deer-worthy hardware soon (not for this year).


    IMO, deer seem like pretty easy animals to kill, since they are thin-skinned and have pretty light bone structure compared to hogs, elk etc. I view them as halfway between a varmint and an elk. Which makes sense to me, since you'll see guys taking deer with the 223/243 22-250 end of things as well as the 7 Rem Mag/ 30-06 which are honestly a bit more than necessary for deer. (7 rem mag was designed to have at least 1600lb-ft at 500y for elk if I'm recalling Randy Selby's telling correctly, making a shorter range shot on deer a bit less demanding).

    I'll be watching what you each post as your preferred tools, as I'm open to suggestions.
     
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    SPOOK331945

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    Feb 7, 2018
    410
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    Southern IN
    Took a couple does with my .44 Super redhawk a couple years ago haven't really used much else. The new laws I'd really like to use my 45-70, 30-30 and 30-06.

    The .35 Remington is pretty close to a 30-30 isn't it? Would love to fine one of the old model 8s in .35 Rem and take it.

    Where I hunt I'm surrounded by mostly gov. land so I tend to stick with my auto-5 to stay safe legally. I do a lot of ground hunting and walking around so hard to say where exactly I am sometimes haha.

    I've recently built a .458 socom AR may give that a try this year, got to get a Eotech for it yet. Aint felt like spending the money on one though.. :spend:
     

    two70

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    Feb 5, 2016
    3,725
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    Johnson
    I will be doing most of my hunting with my stainless Tikka T3 in .260 Rem loaded with 120 grn E-tip handloads. If I end up doing any hunting on or near public land this year, I will use my .358 WSSM with 225 grn GameKings.
     

    jy951

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    Feb 18, 2009
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    I see the 327 fed meets the qualifications, but I don't see the 10mm out of a rifle as meeting them.
     

    den57

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    Jul 28, 2009
    346
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    Franklin, In
    Private land: Remington 783 in .243 shooting 95 grain Federal Fusions

    Public land: CVA Hunter in .35 Remington (short) shooting 180 grain Hornady SSP
     

    Leadeye

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    Jan 19, 2009
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    Marlin 1894 44mag, been hunting a long time with it and it's handy in a stand. The old Knight muzzle loader does well also.
     

    bstewrat3

    Master
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    Apr 26, 2009
    1,524
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    Beech Grove
    I took my first deer with a 480 Ruger fired from a 12" T/C Encore pistol and have used a T/C product for every deer since then. In the appropriate firearm type, I have also used the following cartridges: 260 Remington, 6.5 JDJ, 6.5 TCU, 500 S&W, 460 S&W, 45 Colt and for the last few years I have been using a wildcat 35-30/40 Krag Short Improved fired from a 16" MGM barreled T/C Contender with a folding Choate stock.
     
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