Best Rifle for Deer Hunting: A Buyer’s Guide for Every Budget and Terrain
By Zac K. •
What makes the best rifle for deer hunting? If you’re looking for some help buying the right gun for deer season, read on for advice based on different hunting scenarios—the best rifle for whitetail deer hunting in the thick softwoods of Maine is a lot different from a deer rifle that works well in the wide open fields of Texas.
The best rifle for deer hunting for you will depend what type of terrain and cover are in the area you’re hunting, and how far you’ll be shooting. Your budget is an obvious constraint, and so are local laws. A rifle that’s legal in New York might not be legal in Pennsylvania, right next door.
Check the rulebook! In some areas, rifles are totally banned for deer hunting, and you’ve got to use a shotgun instead. [Zac K.]Having said that, there are some general standards across the country. Most experienced hunters will recommend a bolt-action rifle in a caliber that is time-proven to work on whitetails; bolt-actions are available at any price range, they typically have a good reputation for accuracy, and they are easy to clean and repair.
One exception: For still-hunting on foot or tracking in heavy snow (a favorite trick in the northeast), many hunters prefer a rifle that can cycle rounds more quickly than a bolt gun. The Benoit family, once the best-known deer hunters in the U.S., preferred a pump-action rifle for these scenarios, and so does well-known Maine guide Hal Blood to this day, and others like him.
Despite some hold-outs in the northeast, and in Pennsylvania (where semi-autos are illegal for big-game hunting), the pump-action deer gun is an oddity of the past. [Zac K.]And if you’re in an area with straight-wall cartridge laws, you need to factor that into your rifle choice. No matter how bad you might want a .30-06, you’ll need to use something like a 350 Legend or 450 Bushmaster or whatever else is allowed in your jurisdiction. Again, you need to know your local laws.
The Best Bolt-Action Deer Rifles by Budget
You can spend as much as you want here, but since everyone’s wallet isn’t the same, here’s an idea of what rifles to look at depending on your budget. Remember, most experienced hunters will recommend a bolt gun as a no-nonsense best rifle for deer hunting beginners, and very few hunters will step away from this pattern once they’re more experienced. Bolt-action rifles are easy to shoot, easy to maintain, and for the most part, they just plain work.
Under $600
Not that long ago, the only value-priced deer guns worth looking at were the single-shots from NEF/H&R, or military surplus rifles. Now, there are several solid bolt-action options at the $600 mark or under. If you’re a novice deer hunter, you might want to spend more on a new gun, but if you buy something in this price range instead, you can spend the savings on your optic or practice ammo.
For a long time, hunters looking to save money would start their career with a military surplus rifle, sporterized for use in the woods. This isn’t cost-effective anymore. A Savage Axis or 334 will cost you less than most sporterized milsurps, and be more accurate to boot. [Zac K.]Savage is the first stop on this list; their second-generation Axis rifle sells right around the $500 mark, and is one of the easiest rifles to find in a scoped package deal. The Axis is available in just about any common deer cartridge from .243 to .30-06, with several straight-wall options. It’s also available in compact or left-handed configuration. And if funds are tight, check out the Stevens 334, imported by Savage from Turkey. Some shooters will prefer the feel of the 334’s wooden stock, and its reputation so far has been good. It’s not available in straight-wall cartridges, but it’s available in common deer calibers like .270 and .308.
Like the Savage Axis, the Mossberg Patriot can cost you over $600 for some configurations, but it’s well under that mark for other versions of the gun. It’s also available in straight-wall, long-action and short-action chamberings, and magnum calibers as well. Buy the Bantam configuration if you want a short-barreled carbine at a bargain price.
The Ruger American Gen II is still quite affordable when it’s marked-down, and definitely one of the more popular rifles with lower-tiered pricing. It’s available in a wide range of configurations (seen here in Ranch Rifle layout). [Sam S.]You’ll have to watch for a sale to find the Ruger American Gen 2 for under $600, but it is doable. Fresh off a recent redesign, Ruger now offers this rifle in left-handed configuration as well; a spiral fluted barrel keeps weight down while not sacrificing accuracy, and like the Savage Axis, the American is available in all common long-action, short-action and straight-wall chamberings.
Another rifle you shouldn’t sleep on: the Howa Mini. These come chambered for a narrow range of lighter calibers (6MM ARC, .223 Rem., 6.5 Grendel, 7.62×39, 350 Legend), some of which are best-suited for closer-range work (150 yards or less). But these rifles are very light and handy, with a good reputation for accuracy. Think of them as the natural evolution of the old “brush gun” concept updated for the 21st century.
$600–$1,200
In this price range, you can find a rifle with excellent performance without breaking the bank—great value for money, bang for buck, whatever you want to call it. The Ruger American Gen II (recently announced in a left-handed version) and the updated Savage 110 are probably the two easiest-to-find rifles in this category, with the CVA Cascade and Bergara B-14 series rifles being a bit less common, but also offering excellent value.
The CVA Cascade (seen here in 350 Legend, a popular straight-wall cartridge) is an excellent choice for a hunter looking for mid-range pricing. [Sam S.]Many Remington 700-series rifles are in this price range, keeping them a popular choice for hunters of all ages. Although Big Green has fallen on hard times in recent years, the 700 has long been the standard that all other American bolt-actions have been judged by, and there is almost always a version that suits your needs, no matter what environment you’re hunting in. Another solid choice is the Browning AB3 series.
For years, Savage rifles like the Model 116 here have been great bang-for-buck leaders. [Zac K.]Just about any quality rifle will be available in at least one magnum cartridge, in short-action favorites .243 and .308, and typically .30-06 and .270. Most manufacturers will also offer newer choices like 6.5 Creedmoor and 7mm PRC. In this price range, straight-wall calibers are still available for many models.
$1,200-$2,500
For this kind of money, you can get something that isn’t just a good starter rifle; it should last you for the rest of your life. You’re spending big bucks here, so you should be fussy. Get a rifle with a reputation for accuracy, mechanical reliability and a quality finish that will last in foul weather. You want a quality trigger that breaks cleanly, and you want a stock that shoulders quickly and fits you well. Tikka’s higher-end T3X and T1X rifles are in this price range, as are Sako’s S20 Hunter and S90 Adventure (synthetic, all-weather finish) and S90 Hunter (traditional wood-and-blued-steel rifle). If you want something ultra-futuristic, the SIG Sauer Cross series offers Buck Rogers looks along with an accuracy-optimized chassis. Some of Savage’s high-end Model 110 rifles will also bump you into this price category, if you want ultralight construction. The same is true of the CZ 600 series.
The latest-production lever-action rifles from Marlin (actually Ruger) and Smith & Wesson will easily push you into this price range as well, which is part of the reason that lever guns have lost sales share to bolt-actions. [Luke C.]Winchester’s Model 70 also comes in several sub-models in this range. It is never a wrong choice; it has been one of North America’s best-selling bolt guns for generations because of its rugged build and its accuracy.
In this price category, you are less likely to find straight-wall calibers available, since those are aimed at the American market only, and more-expensive bolt guns are often made in and for Europeans primarily. As well, straight-wall cartridges are optimized for closer ranges than the rifles in this list are intended to reach out to.
$2,500 and up
You get two different kinds of bolt-actions here—the ultra-classic walnut-and-steel models like Mauser’s offerings, or high-end techno-rifles that are made of the most modern materials, with adjustable stocks, skeletonized fore-ends and typically ultralight construction for mountain hunting. If you want something in-between, not too modernized but not too far-out, check out Browning’s offerings. They have several X-Bolt rifles in this price range that come loaded with high-end features, but still don’t look like an alien-blasting ray gun.
Many of the most expensive deer rifles come with a chassis instead of a traditional stock. [Luke C.]And of course, you’re mainly dealing with the short-action classics like .243/.308, the long-action standards of .270 and .30-06 and the established magnums like .300 Win Mag and 7mm Remington Magnum here. But you might also find these rifles available in much newer cartridges optimized for long-range shooting—just remember that if you buy something too radical, ammo supply may be tricky.
Best Deer Rifle Calibers
Everyone has an opinion here, and there’s no point in trying to outsmart the experience and work of generations of deer hunters and shooters. One of the most popular starting choices is .308, because it gets the job done with a little less recoil. The other super-common choice is .30-06, because it works in a wide range of scenarios, and can be found in a wide range of bullet weights to tackle any game in North America. The .270 is slightly less popular, but in the real world it gives up nothing to the .30-caliber rounds and shoots slightly flatter.
The .243 was the king of low-recoil deer hunting for decades, but the 6.5 Creedmoor is taking that spot now. [Zac K.]Traditionally, many recoil-sensitive shooters went with .243 or 7mm-08 as a starting point, but 6.5 Creedmoor gets a lot of that attention, and is an excellent all-round choice. One point to note: If you’re buying a deer rifle with a shorter stock and barrel, or lower weight, for younger hunters, these rifles almost always come in light-recoiling short-action calibers like .243.
If you’re hunting in tight woods with shots under 100 yards, the hard-hitting .308 and .30-06 are always a good bet, but many hunters prefer traditional lever-actions in .30-30 or .35 Remington. If you’re shooting a .30-30, probably the best choice for a lever-action with open sights, 170-grain loads often give an edge over 150-grain loads. The .35 Remington offers even heavier bullets for bigger game.
If you buy a rifle in an oddball caliber, as seen here, you can expect to pay a lot more for ammo. That’s also often true in the pricing of magnum shells vs. standard short-action or long-action cartridges. [Zac K.]And if you’re out west, shooting hundreds of yards across the prairie? Newer loads like 6.5 PRC and 7mm PRC are developing a fanbase, although the classic long-action .270 and .30-06 are all that’s needed here.
Obviously, deer rifles are like fishing rods—one tool doesn’t do all jobs well. But if you’re looking to own only one deer rifle, and you want to use it across North America, a .270 will shoot like a laser beam across the Western spaces, lay a smack-down in up-close deer in the east, and still have minimal recoil and excellent sectional density (for optimized penetration) in 130-grain loads. If you ever need or want to upgrade, the .270 is a great loaner gun for your friends or kids, with more recoil than the .243 but a lot less than a .30-caliber.
Two true do-it-all cartridges: .30-06 and .300 Win Mag can take care of anything in North America. Not just deer; we mean *anything*. [Zac K.]But it’s pretty hard to argue with .308 or .30-06 too, for an all-round gun. They’ve been laying deer in the dirt for generations, and ammo is available in any small town across North America. The same goes for .30-30, if you’re woods hunting.
Best Deer Rifle for Straight-Wall Cartridge States
Straight-wall cartridges are rifle cartridges without a bottlenecked casing; some hunting jurisdictions restrict rifle hunters to using these cartridges because authorities believe they are less dangerous at longer ranges, and therefore safer to use around more populated areas. There are three main categories here:
Most modern bolt-actions with low-to-mid-range pricing will have a few options for straight-wall cartridges. [Sam S.]Straight-wall bolt-actions or single-shots
A lot of modern bolt-action platforms like the Savage Axis and 110 or the Mossberg Patriot come in modern straight-wall cartridges such as 400 Legend—these are both all solid choices, with adjustable trigger and free-floating barrels in synthetic stocks, with much more accuracy potential than older lever-actions.
Factor in single-shots like the Thompson/Center Encore rifles, and you also have choices like .45-70 (of course many classic falling-block reproductions are also available in this caliber).
One often-forgotten option is Ruger’s excellent 77-series rifles, available in .44 Magnum and .357 Magnum. These will cost you more, but are a very time-tested and reliable platform, and ammo for these pistol-caliber rifles should be widely available and highly affordable—and in the longer rifle barrels, they still pack enough energy to put down a deer at sensible ranges. Ruger’s 77/44 with synthetic stock and stainless-finish metal might be the most under-appreciated whitetail gun on the market, as long as your shots are 150 yards or less—which is indeed where the vast majority of deer are shot at. Be prepared to re-work the trigger if you buy one, though.
The 77-series Ruger rifles are sometimes overlooked, but they come in older straight-wall cartridges like .357 magnum or .44 magnum. [Zac K.] Your best bet is to find out which straight-wall calibers are legal in your jurisdiction, then find the rifle style that suits you with this chambering.
A lot of modern ARs can be easily rechambered to a straight-wall cartridge, too. [Patrick O.]AR-platform rifles
Many modern straight-wall cartridges were specifically designed to fit into an AR-pattern rifle—think .450 Bushmaster or 350 Legend and so on. Swap out a few components on the AR rifle that you already own, and you can be in business. Not for everyone, but definitely an affordable way to get out deer hunting, and with a modern rifle.
Lever-action rifles: The traditionalist’s best rifle for deer hunting
In North America, lever-actions reigned supreme for deer hunting before World War II, and even today, they’re favored by many for their traditional feel and fast handling. Don’t be fooled by their John Wayne looks; lever-actions make as much sense today as they ever did, because they’re fast-shooting in close-up woods hunting, and modern lever-actions are more accurate than ever. Modern lever-actions are mostly designed to easily mount a scope, which helps; this wasn’t generally the case before the 1970/1980s.
More than 150 years since the original Henry and Winchester rifles hit the civilian markets, used and new lever-actions are still preferred by many traditionalist deer hunters. [Zac K.]Everyone knows the Winchester 94 and Marlin 336 are the most popular lever guns for whitetails, but what if you want to go after larger game? The best rifle for deer and elk hunting might be a Henry H14 Long Ranger in .308, if you’re stuck on a lever gun (also available in .243 and 6.5 Creedmoor). Browning’s BLR has been around a very long time and also has a good reputation—and it comes in magnum and long-action cartridges too. Both of those rifles use box magazines, so they aren’t restricted to cartridges with round-nosed bullets—that’s a big drawback for lever-actions with tubular magazines.
The Browning BLR offers everything from light-recoiling .243 to hard-hitting magnum cartridges, all in a fast-handling lever-action format. [Zac K.]Still, a lever-gun in .30-30 or .35 Remington will take down an elk or moose at closer ranges, as long as you’re a good shot and you have careful bullet selection. If you want more power, Henry, Winchester and Marlin all have traditional-style rifles available in .45-70, which can down anything in North America. If you’re using a more classic lever-action, take note that manufacturers like Buffalo Bore can sell you cartridges that are optimized for higher performance in modern rifles.
With millions upon millions of lever-actions sold in North America for the past 150-plus years, a used Winchester 94 or Marlin 336 is a very affordable way to get into the deer woods with a gun that was optimized for whitetail hunting from its invention more than a century ago.
A Savage 99 offers moose-mashing power in a very traditional package. In production for nearly 100 years, Savage execs are probably sick-and-tired of hearing calls for its reintroduction since being canceled nearly three decades back.
The other used deer rifle you absolutely need to consider is the Savage 99. If it was still in production, this classic rifle might be still be considered the top lever-action deer gun. With a rotary magazine, the Savage 99 is available in rounds like .243 and .308 as well as several other cartridges with pointed bullets, since it doesn’t use a tube mag. But beware! Some of those rounds, like .303 Savage, .22 Hi-Power or .250-3000, are practically unobtanium, or are so prohibitively expensive that you’ll have to handload. The .300 Savage is still an excellent deer-blaster, and readily available, but it sells for higher prices than other common .30-caliber deer rounds.
Choosing the Right Rifle for Your Terrain
Much of the question of which rifle is right for you comes down to this: Where are you hunting?
If you’re in the woods (think the northeast’s mixed softwood and hardwood, or the big timber of the South), then you can expect shots under 100 yards in the thick cover. The ability to get a shot off quickly is more important than sub-MOA accuracy. A lower-powered scope—think 1.5-4.5x, or 2-7x—is better in these conditions, and a short-barreled bolt-action in .308 or a lever-action in .30-30 or .35 Remington might be the perfect blend of hitting power and quick handling.
On this forest trail, a 4x scope and lower-powered cartridge helps you get on target quickly, and stay there. [Zac K.]In the farm fields of the Midwest, or in a food plot, you’ve got more space—maybe. You can still have close-in shots of 50 yards or even less, depending how your stand is set up or how you hunt on foot. But you should be able to reach out to 250 yards if possible. In the Midwest, it is particularly important to know your rules and regulations, because the best rifle for deer hunting in Ohio might be considerably different from the best rifle for deer hunting in Iowa, due to straight-wall cartridge laws. Even these laws differ from state to state, so do your homework. But generally speaking, a standard bolt-action design with a 3-9x scope will easily cover all your needs.
When you get to the wide-open spaces of the West, a setup built for long-range accuracy and hitting power is much more important. [Luke C.]If you’re out west? You need to be able to make a much longer shot; think 300 yards or even more. You’ll want a bolt-action rifle that’s optimized for this kind of shooting, maybe with a heavier barrel or a purpose-built chassis, and you obviously want a high-velocity cartridge. No .30-30, no .45-70; a 7mm Magnum or .300 Winchester Magnum is where many would start, although older standbys like the .270, .308 or .30-06 are certainly very capable at these ranges. Truthfully, the real trick here is to find an optic that works for these conditions, and to put in lots of practice time. Even a lot of the lower-priced rifles on the market have the accuracy for these conditions, but cheap glass will let you down.
What should you budget for a deer rifle setup (rifle, scope, etc.)?
How much should you spend? The easy answer is “Whatever you want.” The snob’s answer is “As much as you can.” The real answer is probably something like “Whatever you need to.”
For a long time, budget-conscious hunters went for military surplus rifles, like the Lee Enfield seen here. Now, that makes less sense, at least from the financial angle. [Zac K.]Some basic factors to think about: Unless you’re hunting in tight woods, you’re almost certainly going to want a scope on your gun (and even in the woods, a scope gives you advantages). You also need scope mounts to attach the optic to your gun, and all this stuff costs money.
Most manufacturers offer package deals, with scope and mounts pre-installed for you; if you catch an early-season sale, this can get you out on the hunt for maybe $500—and you can very much kill a buck of a lifetime with something from this price range. But if you’re willing to pay a bit more, you can generally get a better optic, something like a Vortex (with lifetime warranty). Sometimes a dealer will offer pre-assembled deals like this, if a manufacturer doesn’t. If you spend around $700, you can typically get an entry-level bolt-action with budget-friendly but good-quality glass (3-9x or 4-12x, with a 1-inch or 30mm tube and a duplex or BDC reticle—keep it simple).
In the late 2020s, we should also factor in the cost of a suppressor, if planning to add one. [Eugene L.]If you want a better-quality rifle, chances are you’ll spend between $1,000 and $1,500 to get a mid-range rifle and a quality hunting scope (don’t buy a target scope!). In this price range, you’ll likely buy optic and rifle separately. If you buy a rifle with heavy recoil (not a good idea for a beginner), make sure the scope will handle the kick. Don’t put a rimfire scope on a .30-06.
A package deal, including a scope, is increasingly common on low-to-mid-range rifles, even lever-actions. If they bore-site that scope for you at installation, that makes your zero-in time easier (and less expensive, too). [Luke C.]Although many hunters don’t realize the value of good optics, you’re actually better-off going to a quality optic if you’re spending this kind of money, and buying a quality-but-budget-friendly rifle. The good news is that you don’t have to spend insane money for a good, basic scope with a solid warranty. Check out Vortex, or Bushnell’s higher-end offerings, or Burris for starters.
No matter what you pick, you’ll need practice to build you shooting skills. If you want the reward of a successful hunt, the foundation is laid with careful preparation. [Zac K.]If you’re feeling really spendy and want to drop a couple grand, or more: The sky is the limit here, especially when you get into high-end optics. European glass, in particular, can cost a lot of money, and if you’re putting that glass on a Euro rifle to boot, well—best make sure you’ve got room on the Visa. But if you spend big money, you can have a rifle that works anywhere. Lightweight enough for the mountains. Weather-resistant for the damp, late-fall cranberry bogs along salt marshes on the coast. Tough enough to survive the cold, sub-freezing temperatures as you hunt late-season Saskatchewan smashers. To get a truly good all-round rifle, not just a “good-enough” gun, you’ll spend more. Expect something with lots of carbon-fiber or other synthetic materials, and expect to pay top dollar for a scope made to survive globetrotting hunting trips in all terrain and environment. It’ll cost you $2,000 for a setup like this and realistically, a whole lot more.
