My pop died when I was youn leaving me a Savage Model 99 in .308 and my Uncle recently had surgery leaving him unable to shoot shouldered firearms (he's now using a pistol, of course) letting me buy a few of his guns, including a Remington 760 in .300 sav. a few months ago. Then I get the Dec/Jan issue of F&S and on page 94 are these 2 at #1 and #4 respectively. Guess those old farts knew a thing or 2 on choosing Whitetail rifles. Thanks for the article.

guys,everyone has what i call the gun they were raised on.that usually is your gun of guns.the f&s list is that editors personal picks.my list is based on the guns that i still think are worth owning on a middle class budget.1)remington 760.2)winchester model 70.3)winchester 94.4)marlin 336.5)savage 99.6)remington 700.7)ruger m77.8)tc icon.9)browning bar.10)just for you guy from ohio 870 remington rifle slud.and that is only my personal picks

Hard to beat a lever gun in the deer woods, Savage 99 or other wise. I lament all the 99's I let slip by over the years. Most all were bargains at the time, especially a .358 Winchester with a rotary magazine whose owner couldn't find ammo for it and complained about recoil. There was also a great little .250 Savage...

A good list over all, I would have liked to have seen the Remington model 700 listed in the top 10. Some of the guns are a little out there in price but over all not bad.

Oh boy, here goes the old spoon stirring the crap again. If you want to get a hunter fired up, don't include his favorite gun in the article writer's top ten list.
I really wonder just how many of the guns on his list he's actually shot. It appears to me that he plagerized a list out of a 1955 Outdoor Life article.
With the recent past 15 years of bullet and powder developement, why would one continue on stating the top ten are only the ones that Great Grandpa shot?
I will say again, and hold to it, that the best gun a hunter can kill an animal with expediently is the one he shoots well. The shot placement and the ability of the firearm and shooter to put it in the vitals is the most important factor over anyone's top ten list.
Also, I agree with many of you responding to this article. There are definately some very exceptional guns missing from this list.

The Springfield 30-06 03-A3, the forgotten one!

Let's not forget the Ruger Model 77 (.308) or the good old 45/70 Trapdoor. How many whitetails were harvested for subsistance during the 1800's to the 1930's?
Cheers

I would have to agree about the model 94 winchester but I'm disapointed that the model 70 didn''t make the list

YOu guys no what is a good deer gun 700 ultra bolt that is a good deer gun it kicks hard though

The country I come from, doesnt allow any kind of "self defence weapons", The government has PC'ed their backbone out!....they will only allow hunting weapons IF you observe very strict rules, and in fact will only let you do a class for your firearm licence IF you pass various state security tests (much like those imposed on possible terrorists entering the country from abroad)
...so I can only comment very vaguely based on my limited experience.... But am an avid big game fisherman/and would be hunter... I think the pics are great. but wonder if the guns are a little dated??... surely there are more modern/efficient weapons available that may not yet have had time enough to be proven to joe public based on historical reputation???..."I cant know without the comments of experience from blokes like you"
I have had the absolute pleasure to visit a bloody beautiful part of the world known as northern California, and while there, was able to shoot almost any kind of rifle I could think of,at almost anything I cared to... some dating all the way back to the "Sharps" era right up to fairly modern rifles/handguns... The opinion I have, is that though the older types of guns are about the most fun you can have in the vertical position...."that is without commenting on the fact that they are by far the most elegant of their kind to look at and handle"... but just as with cars, the more modern.... surely has to be the most efficient?...and if not?.... "in the respect of accuracy"... the most satisfying to work with??... I am just not in it to shoot a whitetail at 1400 yards, much like I am with fishing, "I would rather catch and release"... for me, its all about tecnique... "If I know I can bag it, thats enough for me" (unless I am looking at sharks or coyotes.)... Deep Shit. ... he he

i really like this article but i see no point in a blaze orange gun

What about the Ruger "DeerField" 44mag? You can't beat that for a brushgun. Or the Reamington 700 or The Ruger M77 or the Winchester M70. All were GREAT deer rifles.

This is more a list of somebody's favorites. For best production rifles you need to include the Winchester 70 and Remington 700 in 270 or 30-06.
Those close range guns mentioned can be fine in thick forest or brush but not in the open areas in the west. The rifles I mentioned can handle both and do so.

I believe many of us can recall the rifles we should NEVER have sold, and I can generate a list of my own. Among them, a Savage 99 in .250 Savage, sold in lean times to address other priorities. I don't disagree with any of the choices illustrated, though I'd generate a different list based on other preferences, but I won't disagree with any of these.

the winchester model 94 is probably the most versitle rifle in the bunch. at close range a 30.30 will take down most everything in north america and the winchester action is very relaible one rifle that i can not believe didn`t make the cut is the remington model 700

there is a 3 generation model 1899 in .300 savage sitting in my safe, calling to me every night. when it finally lets me sleep, i dream about flattening a lion with a 7600 in .35 whelen. speaking of africa, that 660 in .350 would be pretty handy-dandy there.

I think that you should have mentioned the marlin 1894 44 magnum. I don't think it would be worth the light-loading to hunt deer with a 45/70.

i really like this article but i see no point in a blaze orange gun

i love that savage

the win. model 100 should be on there

SELDOM DO I RESPOND TO THE SO-CALLED EXPERTS OPINIONS ON HUNTING OR EQUIPMENT FOR I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE PAID TO WRITE AND SOMTIMES THERE ARTICLES ARE DICTATED BY A HIGHER SOURCE. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE ARTICLE ENTILED " BEST 10 DEER RIFLES EVER PRODUCED " GIVE ME A BREAK GUYS , YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID " BEST 10 OF YESTERYEAR " TODAYS OFFERING OF RIFLES LEAVES MOST OF YOUR PICKS IN THE DUST . DONT GET ME WRONG , YOUR PICKS WERE ABSOLUTELY SOME OF THE BEST FOR YOUR FATHER OR PERHAPS YOUR GRANDFATHER BUT MODERNERZATION HAS PRODUCED WAY YONDER BETTER EQUIPMENT FOR TODAYS HUNTERS. AND THATS THE WAY IT IS AND SHOULD BE . KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK .

AN OLD TIMER

I think Petzal wrote this article to demonstrate that people actually read his work! The responses will be used to justify a pay increase!

All of them are great guns

You can't have a best list not including the Winchester M70 or the Remington 700.

This must be a list that was compiled over a three martini lunch!

My Gram left me her 99/.300, a salesman that had to have my business sold me a 600/6.5RM for a song, and I picked up a 336/.35Rem that had a butcher worked trigger(looks like BROCKMANS may get some work). I still kick myself over not picking a 94/30-30 carbine that was offered 'cause it wasn't a Marlin and a beautiful Mannlicher in 06 W/set triggers because I shoot lefty.
THUNDARR SAV99/7-08 are out there.
OVr60 12yrs before I hit 60, the real good stuff is the old stuff, they have improved some of it and some they just charge us more for.
One other missed gem was a 99/358WIN wanted the fellas boat but he wanted to sell the rifle ?

I agree with SOME of these guns, but I must say you didnt put a (now guys and girls dont yell at me) winchester 270 on there. That is my everything, go-to gun.

I recieved a Model 99 from my uncle that belomged to his son who died from cancer at age 21. Before his death, he hunted and fished in the hilss of New Hampshire taking 9 deer with the "99" I had just bought a Winchester 94 the day before getting the 99. After sighting in both at our rifle range,(Grafton Cty F&G Club) the 94 was sold and the 99 went hunting with me. Chambered in Sav..303 it was easy to get ammo in N.H. but not many other NE States. My son has the rifle now and it will be passed down to his son as that was the "agreement" for it to stay in the family. Thanks for the article.

I grew up with this gun in the pre-sixtyfour format, but I have to agree with Mr. Wallen above that the post sixtyfour version still makes this a mighty fine rifle for the average man or American boy whitetail deer or other fairly large game within moderate range. I still use mine and wouldn't think of giving it up.

This is the MOST interesting rifle I own...a Model 71.the fitted parts are exceptional, and the wood is very good....I handload so the rifle is at its optimum for power. it swings like a dream, points as natural as a traditonal bow...and will kill anything on the NA Continent..a true keepsake of a by-gone era in the good old USA..and mine has the factory peep, and sling..

Very nice list.

never seen a tar-hunt or mannlicher in the maine northwoods. winchester 64's, 70's, 88's & 94's; savage 99's, remington 740's, 742's & 760's were the norm. occasionally you'd see a mongrel winchester '71 or 1895, marlin 336, smle .303 or ruger 44 or 77. i think you missed the mark by not including the fast handling, light carrying, near or long shooting little remington model 7. teamed with the 7mm-08 round, it is the ultimate modern deer hunting rifle.