Deer Rifle for this Year

[filmjunkie4ever]

I am torn fellas, I drew a buck tag for the sumpter unit this year which is mostly wooded with occasional clearings, shots will be in your face to 200 yards maximum.

I have two rifles I haven't shot anything with for a while, they are both up for the job. They are both Savage 99's. One is a .300 and the other a .308 WCF. They both have 4x scopes and the 300 has a 24" tube while the 308 has a 22" tube. They both will put 3 of he Speer 150 grain Hot-Cor's on top of each other @ 100 yards. They are both heirlooms too. Below is a pic of the last animal I took with the 300 Savage back in 2004, the last time I had a doe tag.

I shot a cow elk with the 308 since then (2004) but I have never shot a deer with it. Hell, maybe I should just take both and flip a coin. :wink:

 

[DrMike]

You couldn't go wrong with either of those 99s under those conditions. There is something wonderful about using an older rifle to take game. Sounds like venison for your freezer this fall.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Youre right as rain, as usual Doc.

That doe in the pic was taken at nearly 300 yards. I had the 300 Savage there pictured sighted to hit about 1" high at 100 yards. I shot her out of an old dry farming field of a family friend. The first shot was a miss as I thought she was closer than she was. It hit way low so i raised over her back about 8-10 inches and the second shot connected and dropped her dead with a shot in the ribs.

That is the farthest shot I have ever made with that old gun.

It will get the job done for sure.

 

[BK]

A .300 Savage is much cooler than a .308. Doesn't matter if they are the same model gun or not.

 

[jmad_81]

+1 with BK

 

[SJB358]

A .300 Savage is much cooler than a .308. Doesn't matter if they are the same model gun or not.

+2 to or 3! The 300 Savage is way cooler than any 308! Scotty

 

[JD338]

Both are great rounds for deer hunting. I think I would lead towards the 300 Savage just because I think it is cool. Try some 150 gr BT's, they will work perfectly in the 300 Savage.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

Flip a coin.

 

[Idriflenut]

Flip a coin is right! You have the choice between two of the best deer calibers around and in my personal favorite gun the Savage 99.

I have a Sav 99 in .308 that I have used on western mule deer for 25+ years. I can't even remember how many bucks, and does that I have taken with that gun at least upwards of 15. My longest shot was about 300 yards and the shortest was 20 yards with a average of about 100 yards. I also use the 150 gr Speer Hot Cor. This gun has never let me down. (only my poor shooting has).

My uncle that I used to hunt with all the time had a 99 in .300 Sav. He was deadly with that gun. You only heard him shoot once and he had a deer down. I think the longest shot he ever took was 150 Yards, but he got his deer every year. He was since past away and my cousin inherited the 300 Sav. Great Gun.

I just flipped a coin and it landed heads. I guess I would take the .308

Good Luck

 

[Guy Miner]

I'd love to hunt deer with a Savage 99 someday. Dad still has one, but it's chambered for the .22 Savage Hi-Power, and I'm not that keen on using it on deer. Illegal to hunt deer with it in Washington anyway.

If I had one in .250 Savage, .300 Savage or .308, I'd hunt with it in a heartbeat. Especially the .300 Savage. That rifle/cartridge combo just oozes "cool."

Enjoy your hunt! The photo posted is great!

Regards, Guy

 

[nomosendero]

You couldn't go wrong with either of those 99s under those conditions. There is something wonderful about using an older rifle to take game. Sounds like venison for your freezer this fall.

Yep!!

 

[cloverleaf]

either one...maybe both. You know, the 300 one day the 308 the next. Too bad you dont have a 250 Sav. That would make the decision easy CL

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Dad has the 250-3000 and soon a 22-250 in Savage 99...

My oldest sister has a 284 and a 308...

My cousin Mike has a 22 High Power...

My Grandfather has a 25-35...

We have a few of these Savages around that is for sure. I love them, the 300 pictured above was my first rifle. I have taken several deer and coyotes with it and a couple of cow elk.

I was really leaning towards the 308 as I have yet to shoot a deer with it. And it has the better scope too a 70's vintage Leupy M8-4x.

Hmm....guess I will have to just take both and flip a coin when I get there this fall.

 

[SJB358]

Man, that is one awesome collection of M99's! I am more than a little envious of you. Scotty

 

[Polaris]

My friend has been killing deer with the 300 sav round for many years. I've taken a couple with Grandpa's 99 in the same caliber that I inherited. GREAT classic deer round. The only thing I'd change is your optics. There's nothing wrong with a 4x fixed (I'm still looking for a vintage K-4 for mine) but you might be better served with a 2X7 given your engagement ranges.

I like that 150 speer hot-cor in that bullet weight also. Killed a lot of deer for me and my friend.

 

[efw]

A .300 Savage is much cooler than a .308. Doesn't matter if they are the same model gun or not.

+1.

No diss to the NATO round, but gravitas would rule out if it were me and I'd go w/ the (one of the 2- can't forget the 250-3000!) quintesential Model 99 round!

 

[taylorce1]

I understand your dilemma since my deer hunt includes elk this year I'm having a hard time deciding. I have two rifles at the front of the pack right now.

My .300 H&H

or my .358 Win.

I haven't bloodied either rifle yet but I want to get them both out there.

 

[DrMike]

Either rifle will work well, but if you're hunting elk out west where the shots can be a little farther than the deer woods back east, I'd go with the 300 H & H. I've taken game with the .358, and certainly I've used it to take some big animals. However, the shots were well under 200 yards. When you are elk hunting, you often need a cartridge with legs.

 

[SJB358]

Wow, what a pick of rifles! Man, that Savage in 358 Win is a dream rifle as well as the H&H. Maybe you need to look at a gun bearer.. You know, that way you can have both with you, just in case! Scotty

 

[BK]

Tough call. I really like the .358, but the .300 H&H is my all time favorite. Maybe not such a tough call, after all!