I grew up in SE Okla with a Ruger 22, a Rem 870, and a Rem 700 30-06. These three have done everything I have ever needed. Several years ago, I bought an H&R .243 that is my favorite gun for deer or coyotes as it is very short and light. I have since purchased a plain jane S&W M&P .223 which basically sits in the safe (I know I want to change out the plastic forgrip to something else).
Twenty seven years ago, I moved to the city and continued hunting every year back home. Then marriage, then kids, then money being spent in other places, family moved from SE Oklahoma and lost my bedroom down there, then the lack or ease of finding places to hunt around the city. Next thing I know, I look up and over the last 10 years, I have not been hunting nor shooting, hardly at all. As I near retirement, my resolution is to find places and get my boys out camping, hunting and shooting again.
Now to my question, I would like to purchase a rifle that is a big enough caliber for deer but that is small enough to be fun to shoot. My 30.06 kills deer but is too big to play and plink.
My scattered thoughts are:
I used to like the Remington AR platform but they sure seem too expensive.
I love shooting the .223, low recoil and fun, cheap ammo and easily available.
Been reading about the 6.5 Grendel and wonder if it is a decent round for deer, how expensive is ammo, how hard to get? Can I run a 6.5 upper on a .223 lower? I read this round is about half the recoil of the .308, is that true?
I have shot a coyote and a deer from 180 to 200 yard mark only twice in my life. Most of my kills have been within 100 yards. I would like to be able to shoot further if one of you ever invite me to western Oklahoma wheat fields and not the pine trees back home.
I am not opposed to a bolt action rifle in the smaller caliber also. Really thought about a .223 but think its a little small for deer hunting. I like the thought of a Savage with the adjustable trigger, seemed to be a reasonable priced rifle. What else do you recommend in the bolt action?
Do they make a scope that has a lighted reticule that is reasonable priced? The scopes I have are the ones in the $150 to $200 range which have been all I need for what I have used them for. I think they are lower end Leopold and Bushnell. They have been very accurate for what I have been doing with them.
Where do you CONSISTANTLY find the best prices on the accessories you buy, online or local? Where do you buy from more than others? I am a shopper and my OCD makes me check several places before I purchase.
I'm sure I will have more comments, but this is a start. Any opinions are welcome, thanks in advance.
Twenty seven years ago, I moved to the city and continued hunting every year back home. Then marriage, then kids, then money being spent in other places, family moved from SE Oklahoma and lost my bedroom down there, then the lack or ease of finding places to hunt around the city. Next thing I know, I look up and over the last 10 years, I have not been hunting nor shooting, hardly at all. As I near retirement, my resolution is to find places and get my boys out camping, hunting and shooting again.
Now to my question, I would like to purchase a rifle that is a big enough caliber for deer but that is small enough to be fun to shoot. My 30.06 kills deer but is too big to play and plink.
My scattered thoughts are:
I used to like the Remington AR platform but they sure seem too expensive.
I love shooting the .223, low recoil and fun, cheap ammo and easily available.
Been reading about the 6.5 Grendel and wonder if it is a decent round for deer, how expensive is ammo, how hard to get? Can I run a 6.5 upper on a .223 lower? I read this round is about half the recoil of the .308, is that true?
I have shot a coyote and a deer from 180 to 200 yard mark only twice in my life. Most of my kills have been within 100 yards. I would like to be able to shoot further if one of you ever invite me to western Oklahoma wheat fields and not the pine trees back home.
I am not opposed to a bolt action rifle in the smaller caliber also. Really thought about a .223 but think its a little small for deer hunting. I like the thought of a Savage with the adjustable trigger, seemed to be a reasonable priced rifle. What else do you recommend in the bolt action?
Do they make a scope that has a lighted reticule that is reasonable priced? The scopes I have are the ones in the $150 to $200 range which have been all I need for what I have used them for. I think they are lower end Leopold and Bushnell. They have been very accurate for what I have been doing with them.
Where do you CONSISTANTLY find the best prices on the accessories you buy, online or local? Where do you buy from more than others? I am a shopper and my OCD makes me check several places before I purchase.
I'm sure I will have more comments, but this is a start. Any opinions are welcome, thanks in advance.
