mcmillan stocks, 2lb trigger, light, good glass, and a stretchy sling.

Browning A-Bolt stainless stalker is my optimal weapon

Stainless everything with a polymer/fiberglass stock.... Zeiss optics and neoprene padded sling.

trigger set at 2.5#

It depends on my mood, and where I'm hunting. I believe that each of my rifles has it's own personality, and I love them for what they are...

I have a sporterized 1917 30.06 that has a walnut monte carlo stock on it, and open sights (which I'll never change) that I can carry in many situations. Natural color wood, leather army type sling and blue barrel and action.

I also have my AR, which is light, and easy to carry (not really for deer, more for varmints and pigs). It is painted.

My trusty old lever gun, the Marlin 336 in .35 Remington. It's very old school, with a 1957 build date. It's blue metal and natural wood, also with a army type sling. The scope presently on it is an old TV screen Redfield 2-7x, but I'll have to take it off soon, Pop wants it back. so I'm leaning toward a Leupold VX II 3-9x40 in gloss finish to match the metal. Something classic to complement the rest of the rifle.


I have plans to build a carbine type bolt rifle with a nice piece of glass in .308. Something along the lines of a Savage Precision Carbine, a FN Patrol Bolt Rifle or a Remington 700 SPS Tactical with a nice 4-14x50 glass on it. I want something that will reach further out, not be too taxing to carry all day, and still not feel guilty about it getting wet or scratched in the field.

I like all mine just like this: Glassed,floated and a 3 # trigger job.All mine are like that w/ a 4.5x14 LR Leupold.

The only plastic one I own is on a Sendero.

Composite stock, heavy bull barrel, good optics, bipod, in .270 or .308.

I wish Remington did make a wood stock with a 26 inch bull barrel.I would love to have a Sendero with a 700 wood stock on it and a 26 inch pipe.

Synthetic stock. stainless or blued barrel, doesnt matter. love my thumbhole stock on my browning, but not a priority.

Wood is prettier, but for a hunting rifle, i care more about performance.

The browning white gold medallion is the prettiest factory gun IMO, but it wouldnt do me any good sitting in the safe.

How do I like MY deer rifle?

Loaded, round in the chamber, cross hairs leveled on 150 class 10 pt, cool crisp morning after watching the ten kick the crap out of a 130 class 8pt...

that is how I like my deer rifle.

Dave

Thats like asking how I like my women, answer would be preferably alive. LOL
short, heavy , skinny, tall, thick, blonde, brunette doesnt matter. Sexy is sexy, period.

Seemed appropriate to post in this thread rather than start a new one - soooooooo:

I've never been deer hunting before, nor do I have any real experience with scoped long range rifles. I've done quite a bit of research, but I just wanted to get your opinions on a bipod - should I get a bipod for the deer rifle, or go without a bidpod?

If I get one, the obvious answer is a Harris - but how tall? 6" - 9" is great for prone shooting, I hear. But I won't really be doing much prone shooting, will I? Would the 9" to 13" model be more appropriate?

I've found them to be unnecessary weight unless they extend to 24-36"

Remington 700 SPS dropped into an HS-Precission stock; .270. Topped w Bushnell 4200 Elite; great glass for the money. Trigger job set at 2.5 lbs.

Can't imagine anything better.

CB

.270 Sako 85 trigger at 3.0lbs, Leupold scope, bipod !

I have both wood and synthetic, blued and stainless. My favorite is high gloss wood (700 BDL), high gloss bluing with a high gloss scope. One turn off for me is the popular matt scope on a glossy blued barrel. Gloss scopes are becoming more and more rare but I like them. Matt scopes on stainless or synthetic look ok though.

Oh ya, leather sling. I really like the Montana Sling.

If you primarily hunt out of a blind then a bipod is unnecessary.

The higher you raise the bipod, the less stable it is.

Consider shooting sticks if you want more height. They don't add weight to rifle and are easily and quickly deployed.

If shooting from a prone position on open ground, then a bipod is a handy tool to have. Otherwise it can be heavy, bulky and cumbersome.

I agree.