Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

I've been looking at the Remington Model 700 but the .243 or 7mm/08 which are best for deer are not good "battle rifles" for SHTF situations.

Any recommendations appreciated!

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Your local laws may vary but most of them are legal for hunting when used with a five round magazine. 7.62x39 is comparable to the venerable .30-30 and chambered by both AR's and AK's. Mosins and Mausers are two old bolt action military rifles that will take deer. The .308 through an M1A or FAL will work just fine too. I hear some states don't want you hunting the king's deer with anything less than a .30cal bore.

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Look around for a good deal on an M1A rifle.

Expensive, but it does a whole lot. As far as hunting goes, your state probably regulates the magazine capacity for hunting with semi-auto rifles (in MI it's 5, unless it's a .22).

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

CONCUR WITH REFS B AND C

:yes:

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Semi-automatics are not allowed to be used here.

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Ruger

Mini 14 :ok:

223

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

760 Remington pump in 308 or 30-06. Ten round mags available pretty cheap as a BR option[around 15$] As fast or FASTER for aimmed fire in trained hands than a semi-auto.{pumping the action pulls the rifle back on target faster than most hi-power autos that have high mussle rise} Only weighs about 6 3/4 pounds without scope.


Available for $250-$300 used in a pawn shop if you look long enough

Legal for deer hunting in all states that allow rifles, with the standard 5 round mag


Shitty shot-gun type trigger and it's hard to find one that will shoot better than 3 MOA but the guns very very rarely break


Rem now makeing a cali tacti-kool model with black plastick stock that takes M16 mags in 223 for about $800

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

AK, FAL, M1A, SKS, etc.

Also, there are ARs in various calibers suitable for deer.

Oh, so you are looking for a bolt gun. Usually battle rifle refers to magazine fed semi-automatic or select-fire rifles such as those listed above, although it is not exclusive.

For a bolt gun, there are the Mosin Nagants (7.62x54R), yugo mausers (8mm), czech mausers, other nationality mausers, swiss K31 (7.5x55), enfield rifles (303), and others that I can't think of at this moment.

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Do you mind if I ask what state? I didn't know there were many that banned semi auto for hunting. If you want to keep your personal info personal I understand completely.

In that case I'd go with a Mosin or Mauser. Commercial hunting and target rifles, even ones that have become popular sniper platforms, just aren't the same thing as a real military bolt action designed for combat reliability, use with stripper clips, etc. Heck, if my battle rifle was bolt action and only held 5 shots I'd demand a Mosin or Mauser or similar just for the bayonet!

If you want to go the other way, with a modern commercial type rifle, then I'd lean towards a "sniper" build on a 700 in .308 or similar. You can shoot a zombie with anything, I just think the idea of "sniper" will keep you out of more trouble with such a long arm than the idea of "battle rifle" will.

Whatever way you choose to go a deer with never know the difference between a 7.62x39, 7.62x54, 8mm, .308 or a more traditional sportsman's deer cartridge.

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Wait... so this pump action rifle has a box magazine, meaning it's safe to use with spitzer points? That's interesting.

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

I got me a DPMS-308L for that purpose this summer .....i never got around to getting the barrel lapped in and everything setup before deer season this year, i bought it mostly for the following reasons

Hunting and Battle rifle
mine came with a extra 4rnd magazine just for hunting
ar-style platform
308 ammo easy to find and versatile
comes with a compensator
comes with a adjustable trigger
very light weight for a AR package

I cant review the rifle yet because i havent gone through the break-in process yet but i hope it will save me some gun safe and ammo cabinet space
in the future

here is a generic link to a description http://www.webarms.com/Gun%20Supplie...s%20LR308L.htm

below is a pic (its the top one with the scope mtd)

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

It also depends on your age. If you are my age you need a scope. Military rifles were made for kids that still can see.
You can put a scope on anything if you are determined enough, but it's a much better idea to put one on a rifle that was designed for a scope. Ruger and Sako and a few others make bolt rifles that were designed for scopes and have "integral bases" to which the scope rings attach directly. The next best choice would be any other modern bolt rifle like Remington or Savage. Unfortunately those have afterthought tapped little holes to mount bases to which the scope rings attach instead of integral bases. In spite of this shortcoming the Savage and Remingtons are usually more accurate than the Rugers.

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

If semiautos are legal Id go with a M1 Garand, adjustable gas plug, and a 5 round clip or two. A much better buy for the money than a M1a, even if you dont get it from the CMP.
If you cant use a semiauto, Id go with a bolt action in a common caliber, probally either in 30-06 or .308. Dont skimp on a scope, a cheap one will let you down.:thumpdown:fan:

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Then you're pretty limited to only a battle rifle caliber. Look for a Mauser in .308 or 8mm Turk or a 700 in .308 or Winchester .300 magnum. These platforms will easily allow you to reach out and touch a deer at 600m.

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Pick a good rifle with good sights and then do that which is most important - train!

Continue the heritage of American marksmanship that brought liberty to the people and fear to tyrants.

Can you hit a man sized target at 500 yards?

If not, you have some work to do!

Find the nearest Appleseed event and sign up for a weekend. Learn the events of April 19, 1775 and continue the tradition of American marksmanship.

http://www.appleseedinfo.org/

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Appleseed practice is great. It has improved my marksmanship.
Also try some shoot and move(carbine) courses.

Remington Model R-25
 

Nice hunting rifles in a AR-15 platform. Comes with 5 round mag but is compatible with after market AR mags. Also has accessory rails.

Small calibers
http://www.remington.com/products/fi...l_R-15_VTR.asp

Large calibers
http://www.remington.com/products/fi...Model_R-25.asp


Just joined and this is my very first post.

Re: Remington Model R-25
 

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

The AR15 flattop is probably the best suited military type rifle for mounting a scope....but...

The AR15 is designed for
1) Long range
2) Known ranges

It is not designed for hunting at ranges of 25 yards, then 75 yards, then 200 yards and then 50 yards.

A major flaw of the AR design, at least in terms of hunting smaller game at varying ranges is the buffer tube. It's directly in line with the bore thus preventing you from placing your skull so that your eye is directly above the line of bore.

Depending on the shape of your skull, 2 1/2 " is about as close to the line of bore that you can get the line of sight, and it's a strain at that.

So the difference between line of bore and line of sight is such that the point of impact at 20 yards is a great distance form the point of impact at 40, 60, 85 or 150 yards.

In hunting situations you don't have time to use a range finder, let alone remember which distances to hold high or low.
But for AR's in larger calibers used on larger game the difference in point of impact is not great enough to matter.

When I bought my first AR and took it to the 100 yard indoor range the first time, although it was very accurate, I was very dissappointed about the line of bore-line of sight issue and left it in the closet for years before I shot it again.

I had spent hours on ar15.com studying before buying and was really pissed that no one had warned me about this.

Anyway, I still like Ar15's. But the thread is about hunting with military rifles...they weren't made for it.

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

.223 / AR-15 is not enough gun for deer....it will work in a pinch - but to make that as a choice up front is foolish.

A 7.62 x 39 with a hunting type bullet would make a fair dear gun. Energy would be about 1500 ft-lbs as is the case with either the 125 - 150 grain military ball ammo.....I do not know if factory hunting loads exist for the 7.62x39 but assume that do because of the popularity of the round.....a hunting load in 125 - 150 grain weight and 1500 ft-lbs is fine for deer on shots that are not too long.....you need minimun of 1000 ft-lbs for good deer kills with a rifle....the 1500 enegry is at muzzle.

If I were to go 7.62x39 - I'd look at the civilian production Rugar Mini-30. You use an AK or SKS or the like....

To really get the job done - step up to 308 or 30.06......M1A or M1 Garand. They are over 10 pound battle rifles.....but they are very effective. No tracking on good shots...the deer just fall over dead. A 308 or 30.06 can kill anything up to big bears but are fine for deer.

The classic 30-30 winchester is plenty good for deer on reasonable shots.....the 308/30.06 is even better....and very long shot capable.

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Winchester makes a hunting load in 7.62x39.
http://www.2ndamendmentshootingsupply.com/product/10060
Hornady makes one as well, using the Vmax bullet (also in 5.45x39) http://www.hornady.com/store/7.62X39-123-gr-V-MAX/
The Win is brass cased, the Hornady loads are steel cased, berdan primed. I have heard that Hornady exports the bullets to a Russian ammo plant, and they assemble the loads. I think the Hornady x39 load uses a .310 bullet, and the Win a .308 bullet.
I would avoid the Ruger Mini 30. This is a good design on paper, but turned out to be only so-so in reality. High cap mags are iffy at best, expensive, and difficult to find. Accuracy is no better then an AK or SKS, which are cheaper, have cheap, plentiful, and flawless in function mags.
I also agree that .308 or 30-06 is best. I would look into the Saiga in .308. AK action, hard hitting round, and high cap mags are available (though not cheap, nor super easy to find). Lots of mods for Saigas, and they will feed and fire probably any ammo you load into them. I like the M1A, but this is not a best bang for the buck rifle. It will set you back some serious bucks, but super nice if you can afford it. Like the M1 Garand as well, but this rifle does not have the ammo versatility of the other two. It would likely need to be modded for non M2 ammo, or handloaded. I do not own an M1 though. Ruprick is the man here in that regard.

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

I had an M4 style Rock River Arms AR-15 in 5.56 that I was happy with. I've used .223 to hunt deer before but out of a highly accurate scope bolt action and using precise neck shots. I wasn't willing to go that way with an AR. So I got a new upper built with WO parts. 18.5" barrel in 6.8 with the new SPC II chamber. I've been carrying it out in the woods this season and I'm quite happy with the whole thing so far. Certainly kills a deer with no problem.

It is true that AR's tend to end up with a scope that is quite high above their bore line. (Like most other semi-autos whether you are talking FAL or AK or whatever.) For hunting on my property where 100 yards is a long and seldom seen range, I generally sight in for dead on at 100 yards. For anything 50-125 yards, dead on aim is all you need. Now if a deer walks right under the stand and you are talking about a 10 yard shot, then it helps to just visualize the difference between the middle of the scope and the middle of the barrel. That's how low the bullet is going to hit right off the muzzle. As the bullet moves away, it will move closer and closer to the line of sight. So if you have to shoot right up close, hold high about the same difference as the height of your scope. Has worked for me for years and it's the same thing with a bolt action with a scope. Maybe an inch less in hold but I can work with that.

Gregg

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Look at post #5

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

I second this one http://www.remingtonle.com/rifles/7600.htm (but I think he said Rem 760) I do not know if you can by this LE version where you live; but Rem makes a longer version of it too http://www.remington.com/products/fi...model_7600.asp

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

From your original post + the post you said semi-auto not an option (not legal) and what you seem to be asking, (was there a question there?), I assume you want a battle rifle caliber chambered in a legal bolt gun for deer hunting. Depending on the location, it'd be hard to go wrong with the .308 as several manufactures for reliable bolt guns are available in that caliber. .308 is up to the job for just about any big game you'll come in contact with in the lower 48.

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

I had missed the part about it being illegal to use a semi-auto


since semi-auto is out of the mix

if your planning short range deer hunting you might consider a slug/shotgun combo.......as it will give you some flexibility for home defense and easy to find ammo for but you will sacrifice range i wouldnt consider a shotgun fully viable over 75yds

as bolt rifles go its hard to beat a remminton 700 in a 308 or 30-06 or as subjested earlier something with a box magazine that would allow for quick reloads. i think reloads would be a key in a tactial battle as most hunting rifles are slow to reload....so that might lead you twards Rupricks advice

its good to understand as a general rule battle rifles will be substancially heavier than hunting rifles so its a good thing to consider if your planning on doing a lot of walking/climbing with the rifle

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Yup, that's the rifle I would get;[earlier one's were the Remington 760 series]

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Thanks to all for the information!

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Mini14 in 6.8 caliber rocks:s9: good for deer too

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

I've heard some states do not allow hunting deer with less than a .30 cal rifle. So that would outlaw using .25-06, .243 Win/6mm Rem and .270? Wow, I always thought these were fine deer guns. I agree with brother Ruprick that .223 is NOT enough gun for deer, although there is a substantial number of hunters that use them.
Does anyone have a list of these sub .30 cal states?

Re: Best battle rifle that is also legal for deer hunting
 

Hunting is about accuracy and put down power, Put the AKs and ARs away boys, Using a rattlebox for hunting isnt necessary at all. IMHO, the best MILITARY rifles for deer are built on the Mauser platform period, K98,Argentine, Turkish, and of course the Springfield in 30-06.Very accurate, lots of punch and very reliable. the smaller 6.5 mm Swedes and 7mm Spanish versions also work just as well. If you MUST use a semi auto a M-1 garand or M1A1 wil do the job but no better except cost a hell of a lot more.