Here's another vote for the Browning A-bolt 270. Mine has the BOSS, so besides being a tack driver, it kicks less than a 243.

(do get the Conventional Recoil replacement cartridge for the BOSS unless you plan to always wear hearing protection)

You can feel the quality in the gun every time you cycle the bolt, and in 12 years of use I have only had to change the scope setting 2 clicks. Big every time I sight it in.

tikka .270wsm is a great rifle imo

A very good choice...

I wish they made the Steyr SSG 69 in 25-06 or the prohunter with a longer barrel.. Would Be my next rifle, might still get the prohunter in 7-08 though

I had an SSG-II in 308, let it get away... would like another someday... it might be the in between compromise rifle of all time...

Right now I am stuck with the 750 Carbine from Remington in close and the Savage 10FP out in the open, both are functioning flawlessly in those roles, and hard to argue with results.

But in response to the original posters question... a short compact 30 cal in Red River county is awesome...

Any doubts on long range effectiveness and incomperable accuracy of the Steyr .308 I may have had can be summed up in 2 hunts this year. Mule deer Montana 387 yards DRT. Hog on my place in Stephens County 507 yards DRT. 150 grain Hornady SST's in light magnum.

Mostly all is strictly opinion. It is whatever fits your own personal needs.

I'm not convinced

Browning a - bolt 270 left hand

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the beat-up old 30-30 lever action that is always behind the seat in the pickup.

For blind hunting Styer in .308 or 7mm-08 (5-400yds)

For scouting and stalking my Remington 700 Scout in .243 (5-150yd)

And yes it will beat your savage every time in every catagory, I'm sorry I have never been a fan of savage there fit and finish is piss poor IMO.

The ole Marlin 30-30 is probally responsible for more deer harvested than all others combined.

I know I've killed my share of deer with it. But I have moved on to the Weatherby Vanguard in .30-06. I just need to upgrade the scope.

The Marlin 336 in .30-30 has been my favorite for 40 years. Is it the "best?" It is for me, 'cuz it's what I'm most familiar with. If I was just starting out hunting, I'd probably choose something different, like a Savage bolt action in .308.

Then again, I do have kind of a woodie for the Marlin in .45-70... understandable, given my personal liking for leverguns.

Remington 700P LTR in .308

Winchester model 70, .308.

Ok. What are you not convinced about? Have you shot the 30 TC? Go to this page are click on the 30 TC link and see the comparison data for yourself. They compare the ballistics of a 150 gr SST in 30 TC, 30-06 and 308. The 30 TC wins and has less recoil. It's also available in 165 gr and that cartridge has better ballistics than a 165 gr 30-06.

The 30 TC

I have LOTS of guns and have shoot LOTS of guns.

Last year I bought my First Savage. I was always under the impression they were
"cheap...and not name brand like a Remington"

BOY WAS I WRONG! Out of the box accurate!
I agree with a comment on here however...the are a bit ugly...but Savage puts money in the barrel and trigger. Thats what matters most anyways!

All I buy now is Savage!

.243 was my favorite until most recently it has become 25-06. You don't need all those big calibers. Never had any problems on losing a deer with the .243.

.270 WSM

What ever feels good to you is the best. It also depends where you hunt. Heavy cover? Wide open long shots? For heavy cover I'd go with Mod 94 Winchester 30-30. I also like my Browning A-Bolt 270 and my Ruger 270. I have dropped them at 200+ yards shooting 130 and 150 grain rounds.

Weatherby or CZ whichever one is in the front of the safe at the time.

My hunting rifle is a Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker in .308. I have a Zeiss 3.5-10x50 on it with leupold mounts, and it shoots CONSISTENT sub-moa from a bench... for deer, that'll do.


When shooting hogs, I use a MSAR with a Bushnell 3200 Elite with firefly reticle, and a 42 round mag full of Hornady red tip. Hogs are vermin, and a 5.56 carbine is ideal for them in large numbers

My "go to" rifle is my Browning A-Bolt Composite Stalker .300 WSM topped with a Zeiss Conquest 3-12x56mm scope (30mm tube). I like to shoot Federal Premium 180 gr. Barnes TSX ammo, but mine likes pretty much any ammo I put in it. It consistently shoots sub-moa groups. I've also got a replacement trigger spring in it that drops the trigger pull to 1.5 lbs.

Anything that shoots flat and straight preferably 264 Win Mag.