What is the best rifle for deer hunting around 200yd.

I'm out!

This is about to get interesting....

I will start with .243 and bigger caliber. You need to pick the one that you can accurately shoot.
I would experiment with different calibers and find the one that fits you the best.

Any centerfire rifle between a .243 and a 300 win mag is perfectly acceptable for Texas whitetail hunting.

head shot with 22.




But really there are many rifles that will work for that and we argue about this atleast once a week. Scroll through the threads a little and you will found this topic beat to death.

My favorite is the 243 for anything that moves in Texas and most of the lower 48

Walter

http://www.gunsamerica.com/954663194/Merkel-Safari-Double-Rifle-cal-375-H-H.htm

Anything else is a pop gun..

A .375 H&H would be a minimum. This is much better and will take down anything in Texas:
http://www.gunsamerica.com/996200401/Merkel-140-1-Color-Case-Double-Rifle-500-Nitro-Express.htm

I like my Tikkas. One in .30-06, one in 7mm-08.

I like my Browning X Bolt White Gold Medallion and Winchester Model 70 Super Grade both in .270 Win.



Ok, broken record mode off.

Those small rifles, go big or go home

http://www.anzioironworks.com/anzio-50.htm
or if not walking to the stand
http://www.anzioironworks.com/Anzio-20-50.html

Seriously there isn't a best rifle, there are many rifles that will get the job done but different shooters in different hunting conditions dictate different needs. Some will cover all of whitetail and mule deer hunting but are a compromise for some hunts in some locations.

Mostly I use a Remington 788 in 7mm08, Cooper in 6.5-284, Marlin 1894 357mag. With those I have whitetails and mulies covered from close range setups to longer than I need to be shooting. Of course the long range guns will work at short range but are not as handy in some close range hunting situations.

The best rifle is one that fits YOU, is in a caliber that is not only legal but you can handle the recoil, and, is accurate out to 200 yards.

To quote kmon1, there are many that will get the job done but just like there isn't one bullet in a caliber that is 'best' in all rifles of that caliber, there isn't one gun either.
Many have listed some major manufacturer's firearms and all will do the job provide:

A. it fits YOU - it's not too long, not too heavy and not to short
B. it's in a caliber that will legitimately take any whitetail you MIGHT hunt in your life out to 200 yards and in a legal caliber in that state.
C. you actually search for the store-bought ammo that is most accurate in YOUR SPECIFIC rifle and finally,
D. That you actually practice with it more than just the week before opening day.

I've guided too many hunters that brought guns that they had shot only the week before when they bought it. Please, do yourself and the game a favor and practice then practice some more.

If this place has taught me anything, it's that the only acceptable answer is a double rifle with .30-06 and .257 Weatherby barrels.

For real though -- a bullet between .243 (6mm) and .338 (8.58mm if I can math) in a case that's based on the .308, .30-06, .375 H&H (or a Weatherby if you hate your shoulder) will be great.

They're not armor plated and there's no magic caliber.

Get yourself some decent glass and rings too. People forget about this and it results in bad shots. You cannot hit anything with precision if your POI is not knowable from your POA. I think same Tikka's come with decent rings attached these days?

I will say the same comment I always do for this question...

Assuming you don't have other rifles, I highly suggest to people to stick with wally world calibers, i.e. calibers that almost any small town walmart is likely to carry. No one plans on forgetting their ammo, but I've seen it happen many times.

Did that one time, now at the beginning of season I fill up one of the Allen Cartridge holders and it stays on the but stock of any rifle I plan to use znd there is a box of ammo for said rifles put in the truck for the season.

And the .270 and its close cousin the 30-06 fall in the middle of that group.

Best Deer Rifle,

One that you can afford
Offered in a caliber/configuration that is legal for the given purpose
The chosen caliber will allow you to buy or make ammo and actually practice with it
One that leaves room in the budget for good optics and mounting hardware

Any rifle MFG/Design that you like and meets the above criteria...

my point exactly. I've seen everyone from life long hunters to total beginners forget their ammo at home. I've done it too, but luckily it was my 700 30-06. Along the same mindset, I've range tested and know what a 180gr Core-lok or winchester silver box does in my setup just in case of these instances. Paid off that day.

^^^^^^^^^^^
Had the pistol to hunt with and got a deer with it, just changed my plans on where I would hunt that time out. Wind was better for the bow stand anyway so it worked out fine. But did teach me a lesson.

mine! Remington 700 BDL .30-06. has worked for many many years.

+1

Main reason I have used my '06s for so long and I too keep a log of me offsets from zero for various OTC cartridges.

That said, I have to say my son's Tikka in 7-08 is really impressing me both on the bench and in the field. My firearm priority list may get shuffled soon to purchase another.

-ww