Deer Jihad!!!

[Pk14]

Grrrr....$7200 / 2 weeks and counting, probably another $1500 once the exterior stuff is pulled away. :mad:

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q43/Pk14_photos/DSC02876.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q43/Pk14_photos/DSC02877.jpg

Wife gave green light to joining the Deer Management Society and I am looking for advice on recommended gear. 5.56 hunting in Virginia is a no-go for these pests, so I need a bigger caliber. I have a Leopold MR/T 1.5 x 5 SPR on the way for my Noveske N4 FSR (thanks for the tire-kicking, GotM4!) which would be useful for expected ranges (max 300 yds), although a dedicated deer scope isn't out of the question.

I saw the 6.8 vs 308 thread (https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=22312)

My initial thought was a 6.5 Grendel upper, however, skimming these threads, its pretty clear that there are a lot of choices. Would a Remington 700 SPS Tactical in .308 (~$600) be a better choice for annual outings?

Thanks for the advice and Happy Thanksgiving to all,
Pk

[NoBody]

Deleted.

[Dan Goodwin]

I'm in danger of becoming known as the "Pawn Shop Guy", but you can find Rem 700 Youth/or Model Seven in .243/.308/7-08/'06 pretty cheap around here. In the 700 youth gun you get matte finish, 20-in bbl, 13-in LOP syn. stock. You can dicker them under $300 usually.

Put that 1.5-5x Leupold on one and inside 300 yards any deer you shoot will die thinking it was shot with a AI/AW.

If you want CRF, look for a Ruger 77 Mark II

IMHO a Remington 700/Seven/Ruger 77 in any .308-based round with a 4X or low-powered variable is a "McRifle" that can handle just about any chore (thru elk, & including human defense) except thick skinned dangerous game.

We've got a Ruger 77 Compact (16-in. LW bbl) stainless/laminate in .260 Remington that is death on a cracker for deer and coyotes with 120 gr. BTs.

[Pk14]

I'm glad to see no body was hurt in the accident (well, not counting the deer). You were very fortunate!

Have to agree - had just dropped off daughter to a birthday party and was heading home (after a 2 week out of town det) - country road, open field on right with a 4' fence - didn't see it leap into the road until the last second, 45 mph vs a 200 lb doe - died instantly - another 2' left and it would have been in the driver's compartment.

I did get lucky, however, percentage chance of it happening are going up. Population is out of control. Insurance adjuster had 7 in last two days and interestingly, half of them had deer whistles.

Time to get pro-active.

Pk

[Pk14]

I'm in danger of becoming known as the "Pawn Shop Guy", but you can find Rem 700 Youth/or Model Seven in .243/.308/7-08/'06 pretty cheap around here. In the 700 youth gun you get matte finish, 20-in bbl, 13-in LOP syn. stock. You can dicker them under $300 usually.

Put that 1.5-5x Leupold on one and inside 300 yards any deer you shoot will die thinking it was shot with a AI/AW.

If you want CRF, look for a Ruger 77 Mark II

IMHO a Remington 700/Seven/Ruger 77 in any .308-based round with a 4X or low-powered variable is a "McRifle" that can handle just about any chore (thru elk, & including human defense) except thick skinned dangerous game.

We've got a Ruger 77 Compact (16-in. LW bbl) stainless/laminate in .260 Remington that is death on a cracker for deer and coyotes with 120 gr. BTs.

Thanks, Dan - my Black Friday will probably start at VA Arms to see what they've got -

Cheers,
Pk

[Buck]

They dont call these the Model 37 Deer Slayers for nothing... ;)

1603

B

[TOrrock]

Again, glad no one was hurt.

What part of VA are you in?

Pretty much anything east of I 95 is shotgun only, west is usually open to rifles.

[sholling]

I'm just glad you guys are ok!

If rifles are legal to take deer with then realistically about your best choice is a bolt action rifle. By the time you get though the waiting lists for a 6.8 SPC upper it could be mid summer. If you have $500 for a rifle and $200 for a scope it's hard to beat a Tikka T3 Lite in 30-06 (http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/80566) sporting a Nikon Team Primos (http://www.swfa.com/pc-9244-2119-nikon-3-9x40-team-primos-riflescope.aspx) scope. The Tikka is extremely accurate (sub MOA), very light weight (6.3lbs), handles like a dream, and has a great trigger. The Team Primos is a rebadged Nikon Monarch UCC - an excellent scope.

If money is too tight for the Tikka/Nikon setup then look at a Howa/Hogue/Nikko-Stirling bundle for about $520ish. Howas are heavy but rock solid and accurate, and the Nikko-Stirling they come with is about equal to a Bushnell Banner. Good enough to get you a few deer before you upgrade the optics. If you have kids they make a youth model with both youth and adult size stocks and a shortened barrel for about $50 more.

[Pk14]

Again, glad no one was hurt.

What part of VA are you in?

Pretty much anything east of I 95 is shotgun only, west is usually open to rifles.

West of Manassas - I have a Mossy 590 Mariner 9 shot with a SF forearm, GRS, and a Knoxx stock - I'd have no issues using it out to 100 yds the way it is currently set up with Ranger 1 oz. slugs (have to get a dowel in the mag tube to get to 4 round capacity).

Since I don't have a hunting rifle yet, a free chit from the wife had me looking towards a rifle. I like the idea of a larger round in an AR-15 compatible upper, however, even after adding a pic rail length to a 700 SPS Tactical in order to bolt on the MR/T 1.5 x 5 would set me back around $650 instead of ~ $1000 for a good AA upper in 6.5 Grendel or a similar 6.8 SPC.

Thanks for the suggestion, Sholling - I'll look into the Tikka T3 as well.

Cheers,
Pk

[Robb Jensen]

West of Manassas - I have a Mossy 590 Mariner 9 shot with a SF forearm, GRS, and a Knoxx stock - I'd have no issues using it out to 100 yds the way it is currently set up with Ranger 1 oz. slugs (have to get a dowel in the mag tube to get to 4 round capacity).

Since I don't have a hunting rifle yet, a free chit from the wife had me looking towards a rifle. I like the idea of a larger round in an AR-15 compatible upper, however, even after adding a pic rail length to a 700 SPS Tactical in order to bolt on the MR/T 1.5 x 5 would set me back around $650 instead of ~ $1000 for a good AA upper in 6.5 Grendel or a similar 6.8 SPC.

Thanks for the suggestion, Sholling - I'll look into the Tikka T3 as well.

Cheers,
Pk

Pk,
VA now only requires a plug in a shotgun if you're hunting migratory game birds...

[Pk14]

Thanks for the heads up, Robb - even better! See you tomorrow at the shop if you're in.

I've got some more reading to do on the local hunting rules...

[Nathan_Bell]

Neighbor of mine who has been hunting deer with rifles in WVA for as long as I can recall, loves .257 Roberts with a good controlled expansion bullet. His is a Model 7 with a 2-7 burris on it. Another runs almost the same setup, but in .308 shooting 150 gr Ballistic tips and a 3-9 Leupy.

If you are in a shotgun only area, and the laws are close to what Ohio's are, go with a fully rifled 870 Rem or 500/590 Mossy and see if the Hornady sabot slugs will shoot well out of it. Two friends run 11/87s with those slugs and have taken deer out past 150. 300 gr bullet @2000fps is a respectable Bambi whomper.
https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=843f0cf6ca08576de1b5992c769718a0&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=d27c0a040bea71ad74e3d35d6bc0ec9e

[FLGator]

Neighbor of mine who has been hunting deer with rifles in WVA for as long as I can recall, loves .257 Roberts with a good controlled expansion bullet. His is a Model 7 with a 2-7 burris on it. Another runs almost the same setup, but in .308 shooting 150 gr Ballistic tips and a 3-9 Leupy.

If you are in a shotgun only area, and the laws are close to what Ohio's are, go with a fully rifled 870 Rem or 500/590 Mossy and see if the Hornady sabot slugs will shoot well out of it. Two friends run 11/87s with those slugs and have taken deer out past 150. 300 gr bullet @2000fps is a respectable Bambi whomper.
https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=843f0cf6ca08576de1b5992c769718a0&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=d27c0a040bea71ad74e3d35d6bc0ec9e

+1 on the Remington 870 with Hornady slugs. Make sure you get the 870 with the cantilever scope mount and a rifled barrel. Top it off with a $100 scope and you have a great deer "rifle".

[30 cal slut]

in my neck of the woods ('bout an hour outside of NYC), we don't call it "deer hunting."

we prefer to call it "saving BMW's" (or Volvos :p ).

seriously, glad to see no injuries.

as an aside, we have a generous season that starts early in September and ends in January. and in certain zones we are encouraged to use bait (!). and, even if we fill up our five tag limit, we get issued bonus doe tags at the weigh-in stations!

[RD62]

Not to talk you out of an ass-kicking 6.8spc or other AR, I have used a Rem 700 in .308 for years to hunt deer and it has been fantastic. I would whole heartedly endorse one! Good luck in your erradication mission!

-RD62

[03humpalot]

If you have your heart set on a 6.8 SPC upper it will certainly get the job done.
My Muley this year field dressed at 263 pounds, 6.8 110gr SMK floored his ass. My Dad whacked his buck with a 7mm Rem mag and floored him but he was still alive and we had a good walk over to him so i put a 6.8 through his skull to put him out of his misery.

Nothing wrong with a good bolt gun though.
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/8560/cimg0028vb7.jpg
My Buck, (pic was taken back at the ranch after the guns were put up, dont want to get anyones "Ethical/drinking while hunting" panties in a bunch)
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/7665/l68073d2a170c4f17b539ddfr2.jpg
Dads Buck
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/8734/dscn0007zs4.jpg

[03humpalot]

Forgot to add, after driving through a herd of around 60 Elk @70mph(no time to slow/stop)missing 2 bull moose/2 Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep and more deer than i can count i got rid of my Jeep Wrangler and got my Dodge properly setup, i laugh at deer now;)
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/9318/cimg0087vh0.jpg

[bkb0000]

My Buck, (pic was taken back at the ranch after the guns were put up, dont want to get anyones "Ethical/drinking while hunting" panties in a bunch)


not mine. hunting without liquor is like ****ing without poon

[gyp_c2]

...nice one...;) You might try puttin a couple of those deer whistles on yer' vehicle...They're cheap, who knows, can't really hurt...unless you whistle the wrong tune...;(
Driving through Wyoming and Montana at night, you can see splotches of pink mist all up and down the road...The trucks based there all have cow-catchers on the front to prevent down-time...
There are literally herds of animals on the roads at night. Especially after they salt the roads.
...there's so many friggin' pest deer around here it drives me nuts...They crap all over the place, rattle their horns up and down the side of the house, and camp out in the yard like a buncha' damn cows...It's ridiculous...I'm hopin' one will slip down on the ice in front of me and I'll have to put him out of his misery...
LOL...just saw a blurb on local news about someone a few blocks southwest of me that tried to do one with a bow...He missed the sweet spot and the damn thing walked around the neighborhood bleedin' to death.
Now the crimestoppers and DOW are advertising for citizens to come forward and provide information on anyone with a suspicious bow or haystacks in the back yard...
Just a warm-up...wait'll a gun is involved...The phone lines will melt...
http://emoticons4u.com/smoking/rauch06.gif

[adh]

Glad all are OK.

There are deer all over our neighborhood. Frustrating to go to the ranch hunting, see barely a thing, come home to the hood and see over 20 deer from the time I leave I10 until I reach my house:mad:. I've heard that the little deer whistles work well and they are cheap and very unobtrusive depending on where you shose to mount them. I wont mount them to my jeep because I drive it out at the ranch and don't want to scare the deer off there.


If you have your heart set on a 6.8 SPC upper it will certainly get the job done.
My Muley this year field dressed at 263 pounds, 6.8 110gr SMK floored his ass. My Dad whacked his buck with a 7mm Rem mag and floored him but he was still alive and we had a good walk over to him so i put a 6.8 through his skull to put him out of his misery.

Nothing wrong with a good bolt gun though.
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/8560/cimg0028vb7.jpg
My Buck, (pic was taken back at the ranch after the guns were put up, dont want to get anyones "Ethical/drinking while hunting" panties in a bunch)
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/7665/l68073d2a170c4f17b539ddfr2.jpg
Dads Buck
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/8734/dscn0007zs4.jpg

Where ya'll at? I LOVE hunting for Mule deer? Was on a lease in west Texas for a LONG time and we lost it 4 years ago. I can't aford anything we've found since, unfortunately. Really hard to pay over $1k per gun when the majority would not even take a buck. I for one wont shoot a buck (white tail or muley) unless I feel it's shoulder mount quality.

Anyway looks like it was a good time.

[03humpalot]

Im a meat hunter (cant eat antlers;)), we hunted around Craig Colorado this year. It was my first deer season in the last 4 years due to being overseas.

1 Muley in CO and i killed a little Whitetail in MT, as soon as i got back to the house a Buck about 3 times bigger than the one i shot walked through my yard...go figure.q

Elk hunting was horrible in both States this season. I think we saw 7 Elk total in CO (we normally see thousands in that area) and i saw 1 legal bull in MT. Chased his ass on foot from 5200 ft to 8000 and never got a shot at him. Im planning on ambushing his arse next year;)

[Pk14]

Well, car is supposed to be out of the shop tomorrow evening. Total bill: $10,344.00

Grrrrr....

Since I've had the better part of three weeks of driving the rental around, I've had plenty of time to research and look at a few of the excellent options shared here and in other threads. Thanks to Robb and Bernie at VA Arms, I've picked up my Deer Adjuster / early Christmas present:

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q43/Pk14_photos/Deeradjuster.jpg

Remington 700 SPS Tactical in .308

Still thinking through the scope option, however, I am one step closer to getting even!

The rifle joins the other critter control devices in the stable:

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q43/Pk14_photos/3amigos.jpg

(L-R) Mossy 590, Remmy 700, and Noveske N4FSR.

Saw a couple of comments on deer whistles - they don't work. Several university studies to confirm observed behavior. The brush guard helps, but it looks kind of funky on the family wagon!

Thanks again for the help in picking up the new rifle. I may still get a big(ger) bore upper, however, I just picked up this:

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q43/Pk14_photos/P1010115-1.jpg

and I have an SBR project to keep me busy into the New Year. :D

Grant - I'll take one of your LPKs whenever they're ready!

Cheers,
Pk