I've been asked to put together a rifle for an up coming raffle. It's going to be at the chili supper before deer season. Looking for input on the best caliber that would appeal to the every day deer hunter. I shoot mostly expensive oddball calibers but I don't think something like that would do good in a raffle around here. Probably going to be a Tikka SS with a Vortex, or a Remington 700 cdl with a Leopold, depending on caliber.

I'd stay with the normal calibers to appeal to more. I'd probably go 308 for that reason

.270 or 308

That or maybe a 7-08.

Both those rifles will be just fine, I lean toward the Tikka.

6.5 Creedmoor
260 Rem
7mm-08
308 Win
270
30-06

Of course the .308 and .30-06 are the old classics. But if it were my rifle, to raffle, I'd pick the 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 Rem, or 7mm-08, 7mm-08 being top of the list for ammo availability. And yes I have experience with every one of them, save the .270, having killed whitetail with all.

I have been charged with getting raffle guns quite a bit. Not sure why but have always been surprised at lack of interest in rifles versus shotguns especially a decent over and under. Auction or raffle they raise more money it seems.
Now last Fall in an Auction we did get 8700.00 for a Horizon custom rifle no scope just gun.

I would go with a CDL in 243. Might get more prospects since it can lean towards men, woman children

Great point.

I would go very common caliber as well. To many people have never heard of a 6.5 creedmoor or similar.

.243 is probably a great pick. 270 and 308 would probably be very popular as well.

This. I lean toward the .270 Win. and 7mm -08 Rem. The 7mm-08 would make a great option for a small person, woman or child hunter.

Tikka 30-06 would be my choice

Just a thought.... If you're going to spend that kind of money on a rifle/scope, why not get 2-3 Ruger American rifles? 3X the number of chances to win and you could spread out on the calibers....22, .243 and 7mm/08.

A program in Maine that awards a free hunt to a veteran every year, and then gives the rifle to the vet afterward in a ceremony has had good luck with the Weatherby Vanguard II with the synthetic stock in .308 Winchester.

Couple ideas I've seen tht were sucessful

The rifle needs to be a fancier than normal something that most folks would not step up and buy for themselves...Wby Mk V, SAKO Deluxe yadda yadda in a step up from area's average caliber...7RMg/300WMg/ 300WbyMg when most folks are shooting a 270/'06.

A young adult or a wife sized and mebbe pink oriented Package of scope/rings/gun case a& rifle in a 243 or 7/08 etc in a RP 700 BDL/Wby VG SS/syn - or Wby VG deluxe price point etc

neat idea of a youth sized Shotgun & Deer rifle pkg in 20 guage & 243-7/08 w/scope Young Hunter starter package yadda yadda

or what'd get my entry fee $'s would a caliber/model of my choice in a high dollar semi custom something that I would never buy for myself.
Ron

That is a good point about the shotguns. I've been to quite a few raffles and auctions and it does seem that most people, including myself, are more interested in the higher end shotguns than the rifles. I only pull the shotguns out for 1 or 2 days during dove season and 1 day during Spring turkey season. But I always find myself wanting to win the nice shotguns rather than the rifles.

That t'weren't no tight _ _ _ Lutherans. Congratulations on that though. Our annual church charity/wildgame dinner is dying a very slow death.

Our fire department has a raffle with our yearly fundraiser and we have had good luck with pink shotguns and and AR styled rim fire rifles,but this year we are thinking about shotguns and a top of the line crossbow.There seems to be a lot of interest in crossbows this year.

As stated earlier - something that the 'average Joe/Jane' wouldn't be able to afford is one choice.

I've found that multiple winners of multiple firearms can draw more folks. Pick a rifle, handgun and a shotgun of some sort, total cost to the group around $1500-$1750. 350 tickets @ $20 each = $5250-$5500 net. If you make it a 'reload raffle' - where every ticket is in for each drawing, you increase a person's odds per ticket of winning SOMEthing!

Another one that raises good funds is to do 5 gun raffle. Mix of rifles, handguns and shotguns. Total cost around $2-3000. 500 tickets @ $20 each. Guns given out in a set order so no delay waiting for someone to make up their mind what they want. Potential there is to make some really nice $$.

The raffle size will depend on how many ACTIVE sellers you have, how long from the start of the selling until the draw and the quality of the prizes.

I've done 2 raffles myself. First one a store donated a Remington VSSF 220 Swift with a Vortex PST on top. Second time he donated a Browning Predator 243 with a Leupold VX6 on it. Sold a ton of tickets for both. This was at a predator contest though so the Swift was a big hit.

I have done several gun raffles. Basic Remington 700s and Remington Express 870s in common calibers/12 gauge always work the best around here. Most are just common folks and the guns they are familiar with work best. YMMV depending on location....

I'd think to select a common caliber suited for men or women, young or old -- maybe avoid the magnums or oddball, hard-to-find calibers. .308, .243, .270, .30-06, .25-06 etc...all good choices. I would suggest outfitting it with optics or going for a combo setup. An unscoped rifle would only require the recipient to spend $$ on optics to make it useful to them. For budget contious situatios, there are a lot of good choices without taking out a loan from the bank. Ruger, Savage, Winchester and such make great rifles for a reasonable price. Just my .02

A Ruger #1B ought to do it!

Ruger Gunsite, Mossberg MVP Patrol, Savage Hog Hunter...all have iron sites, and come in 223 and 308.
Or go with some good looking .22 rifles.

Ruger American .243

I agree with these callibers. I would consider a Cz 550 if I was wanting a high end gun.
When I bought mine the Cz had better wood than a super grade Winchester.
Do a search on gun broker to look at these guns.
A chance to win lower priced to will sell more tickets and high quality gun for the same money.

Do this! Do it in a gift card scenario and let the winner pick a caliber.......