We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more
One of the things I like best about deer hunting is that you can use just about any rifle you want. For half a century, a 30-30 lever-action was the definition of a deer gun. Pumps and semi-autos had their day—and still have their fans. Today, with the long-range craze going strong, bolt-actions have become the dominate deer hunting rifles across America. They all work just fine for deer hunters.
The question is, which rifle is best for you, and your style of hunting? Over the past several years, I've tested just about every new hunting rifle made, and so I've drawn from that experience to choose the best deer rifles below. Many are new for this year, but some are current models from a few years back that are so good, I couldn't leave them off the list. Deer rifles are as diverse as those who use them, and it’s a guarantee your buddy thinks his is better than yours. You might not agree with my picks, but I’m certain if you pick one compatible with your hunting style, the gun will do its part if you do yours.
Best Overall: Wilson Combat NULA Model 20
Best New: Browning X-Bolt 2 Hunter
Best Value: Ruger American Gen II
Best Long Range: Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT
Best Woods Rifle: Marlin 336 Classic
Best Straight Wall: Ruger American Gen II Ranch
General-Purpose Deer Rifles
Right off the bat, we need to split deer rifles into a few separate categories, because it's impossible to compare a long-range deer rifle with a woods gun. That said, when most people say, "best deer rifle," they are talking about a general-purpose rifle, one that can get the job done in the thicket, on the farm, or out on the prairie. So, that's where we'll start—and it's also the reason why three of our awards—Best Overall, Best New, and Best Value—go to guns in this category.
Here's the cream of the crop when it comes to the all-around rifles for deer hunting. If you’re looking for a single deer rifle capable of serving you from coast to coast for the rest of your life, look no further.
Best Overall: Wilson Combat NULA Model 20
Wilson Combat NULA Model 20 Bolt Action Centerfire Rifle
Specs
Length: 39.38 inches
Weight: 5.17 pounds
Barrel: Wilson Combat, button rifled, 416R stainless, 16.25-, 20-, and 22-inches, depending on cartridge. Threaded at 5/8×24.
Action: Bolt, two-lug with Sako style extractor and plunger ejector
Trigger: Timney Elite Hunter
Capacity: 4+1 (hinged floorplate)
Finish: Barrel and Action (Armor-Tuff) bolt (Black Panther PVD)
Stock: AG Composites with Kodiak Rouge (tested), Canyon Rouge, or charcoal grey finish
Chamberings: 243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor (tested), 7mm-08 Remington, 284 Winchester, 308 Winchester, 358 Winchester
Wilson Combat's NULA Model 20 came out in 2023 and won our award for the best new rifle. At the time, I said it was a damn-near perfect big-game rifle—and it still is. So much so, that as good as the new crop of rifles is, it still holds the top spot. The reason we picked the NULA Model 20 as the best new rifle in 2023—and why I'm picking it as the best overall deer rifle now—is simple: It weighs in at just a shade over 5 pounds, is perfectly balanced, handles like a fencing foil, and shoots like a benchrest rifle. I was hunting with NULA rifles for two decades before Wilson Combat bought the company, and I still believe they are pound-for-pound the best and most-accurate rifles made.
The Wilson Combat updated Model 20 is a fantastic rendition of the rifle Melvin Forbes made famous in 1985, and with the enhancements of the hinged floor plate, Timney Elite Hunter trigger, muzzle threading, and barrels contoured to each cartridge/chambering, you could argue this version is even better. I’ve tested seven of these rifles. and they were all dime-splitting accurate. All metal surfaces are finished with Armor Tuff, the safety locks the bolt handle down, and three stock finish options are offered. If there’s a downside it’s that cartridge choices are limited to the 243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, 308 Winchester, and the 358 Winchester. But seeing that four out of five of those are on my list of best whitetail cartridges, maybe the only real downside is the price.
Related: Wilson Combat NULA Model 20 Full Review
Best New: Browning X-Bolt 2 Hunter
Browning X-Bolt 2 Hunter
Specs
Length: 42 inches
Weight: 6.625 pounds
Barrel: 22 inches
Action: X Bolt 2 (bolt action)
Trigger: DLX Trigger 3.0 pounds (as tested)
Capacity: 4+1
Finish: Matte blue
Stock: Grade 1 walnut
Chamberings: 243 Winchester, 6.5 PRC, 270 Winchester, 6.8 Western, 7mm Remington Magnum, 308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 300 Winchester Magnum
The X Bolt 2 Hunter is a wood-stocked bolt-action that weighs less than 7 pounds and you can have it in one of a dozen popular big-game cartridges. The X Bolt action has a 60° bolt throw, a three-lug radially fluted bolt, Sako-style extractor, and a plunger ejector. It also has a two-position, tang-mounted safety that locks the bolt, but there is a unique bolt release button located on the bolt handle. Like all X-Bolt 2 rifles, the Hunter has the excellent and adjustable DLX trigger. The rifle feeds from Browning’s excellent detachable magazine, comes with a 22-inch free-floated barrel, and the receiver is drilled for Browning’s X-Lock Scope Mounting System, which uses four screws for each mount.
You should interface well with the traditionally configured wood stock and the soft 1¼-inch Inflex recoil pad will soften the push on your shoulder. The trigger was exceptional, the flush-fitting magazine was superb, and the lockable bolt was exceptionally smooth. Whether you are a tree-stand whitetail hunter or a Texas mule deer hunter, you’re going to appreciate a good-handling rifle that’s reliable, safe, accurate, and not too heavy. Browning’s X Bolt 2 Hunter is all that, but it is also a traditional, wood-stocked rifle, and there are just not enough of those around these days.
Related: Browning X Bolt 2 Hunter Full Review
Best Value: Ruger American Gen II
Specs
Length: 41.25 inches
Weight: 6 pounds, 7.4 ounces (actual)
Barrel: 20 inches, cold hammer forged, 5-grooves, RH twist, threaded at 5/8”x24
Action: Bolt action, with three lugs and a 70° throw
Trigger: Ruger Marksman Adjustable (4.0 pounds as tested)
Capacity: 3+1 (10+1 in 204 Ruger and 223 Remington)
Finish: Gun-metal gray Cerakote
Stock: Synthetic stock, with adjustable LOP, modular comb, optional weight kit
Chambering: 6.5 Creedmoor (tested), 7mm-08 Remington, 308 Winchester, 450 Bushmaster, 204 Ruger, 223 Remington
Ruger’s original American rifle is one of the most affordable and best-selling centerfire bolt-action deer hunting rifles made. But it's a very basic rifle. So, Ruger updated the design with the Gen II, and they loaded it with practical features. Ruger created a more ergonomic and modular rifle stock that allows for adjustment in length of pull and height of the comb. They added a 20-inch, cold-hammer-forged barrel, with spiral fluting and a threaded muzzle with and a radial-port muzzle brake. The Gen II also comes with Ruger’s Marksman Adjustable trigger, a three-position safety that locks the bolt, and all the steel surfaces are finished in Gun Metal Grey Cerakote. Ruger even offers a stock-weight kit to tune the rifle’s balance if you use a suppressor. My test rifle shot astounding well, and there’s no question you get a lot for your dollar—and a very capable deer rifle—with the Ruger American Gen II, which retails for about $700. There are cheaper rifles on the market that will work in the deer woods, but you won't find a better value than the new Ruger American Gen II.
Related: Ruger American Gen II Full Review
Weatherby 307 Adventure SD
Weatherby 307 Adventure SD Bolt Action Rifle
Specs
Length: 44.25 inches (including two-inch muzzle brake)
Weight: 7.7 pounds
Barrel: 26 inches + 2 inches with muzzle brake
Action: Weatherby 307
Trigger: Trigger Tech Field Trigger
Capacity: 3+1 (6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum)
Finish: Graphite black Cerakote
Stock: Fancy walnut w/ rosewood forend, grip cap, and maple diamond inlay.
Chamberings: 240 Weatherby Magnum, 243 Winchester, 257 Weatherby Magnum, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC,270 Winchester, 270 Weatherby Magnum, 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum (tested), 6.5 Weatherby RPM, 270 Winchester, 7mm Backcountry, 7mm PRC, 30-30 Springfield, 300 Weatherby Magnum
This rifle shot very well, averaging 1.15 inches for six, five-shot groups using two different loads, and my test rifle was chambered for the screaming 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum. It also performed exceptionally well, with no hiccups or failures to fire, function, or eject. The Adventure SD is built on Weatherby’s 307 action which has a footprint like the Remington 700 action, but you can disassemble the 307’s two-lug bolt without tools, and it has an M16-style extractor, plunger ejector, and 8x40 scope mounting holes. It also comes with a Trigger Tech trigger and a two-position safety. But the stock is what’s so appealing. Aside from being crafted from fancy walnut with a rosewood forend tip and grip cap, the extreme negative drop in the traditional Weatherby configuration soothes the impact of the comb with the cheekbone by allowing it to slip by without smacking you in the face. It was also nice that the muzzle was threaded, and the rifle comes with a brake for those who like that feature. And as opposed to a traditional blued finish, all the metal surfaces are coated with Cerakote for protection from the elements.
The most appealing thing about this rifle is that it looks like it’s from the previous century, but that it shoots as well as many modern synthetic-stocked rifles. Your hunting buddies might call you a Fudd when show up at camp with this rifle, but they just might go buy one just like it when they see how well it shoots.
Related: Weatherby Adventure SD Full Review
Long-Range Deer Rifles
Long-range shots at deer in open country can present themselves anywhere from a South Carolina bean field to a Montana river bottom flanked by alfalfa. If these types of shots are the norm where you live and hunt, and if you want a deer rifle designed with distance in mind, you're in luck, as you have more options than ever. Some of these rifles can be on the heavy side, which is why I picked these two outstanding and relatively lightweight models for deer hunting.
Best Long-Range: Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT
Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT Bolt-Action Rifle
Specs
Weight: 5.4 pounds
Barrel: 22 inches, carbon-fiber-wrapped, threaded at 5/8”x24
Action: Bolt action, with two-lugs and M16/Sako-style extractor
Trigger: Adjustable Trigger Tech
Capacity: 3+1 (6.5 PRC) varies with chambering
Finish: Cerakote
Stock: FFT Carbon Fiber
Chamberings: 22-250 Rem., 243 Win., 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 -284 Norma, 6.5 PRC, 270 Win., 6.8 Western, 7mm-08 Rem., 280 Ackley, 7mm Rem. Mag., 7mm PRC, 28 Nosler, 308 Win., 30-06 Springfield, 300 WSM, 300 Win. Mag., 300 RUM, 300 PRC
This is not a brand new rifle, but it is new rifle to me, as I negligently overlooked it for a few years. I finally got my hands on one for testing recently and was very impressed. Christensen Arms builds this rifle on a two-lug action with a M16/Sako-style extractor, and it has a Remington 700 footprint and accepts Remington 700 scope mounts. It comes with a carbon-fiber wrapped barrel, and what some folks don’t know is that Christensen Arms pioneered that process—and therefore they know how to do it right. What really sets this rifle apart is the lightweight stock that allows the completed rifle to weigh only 5.4 pounds. It comes with a sub-MOA guarantee, and it will meet it. Standard features include a Trigger Tech trigger, a threaded muzzle, a radial-port muzzle brake, and your choice between 20 deer killing cartridges.
Related: Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT Full Review
Springfield Armory Boundary Carbon
Specs
Length: 43.0 inches
Weight: 6 pounds, 12 ounces (actual)
Barrel: 22-inch carbon fiber wrapped or fluted stainless steel, RH 1 in 8 twist, threaded at 5/8”-24
Action: Model 2020 bolt action, with fluted 4140 steel Nitride coated bolt
Trigger: Trigger Tech (3.0 pounds as tested)
Capacity: 4+1
Finish: Satin stainless Cerakote
Stock: Synthetic AG Composites Sportsman carbon fiber, Rouge camouflage
Chamberings: 6.5 Creedmoor (tested), 308 Winchester, 6.5 PRC, 7mm Rem. Mag., 7mm PRC 300 PRC, 300 Win. Mag.
The Springfield-Armory Waypoint is a well-made precision-style rifle, and their Redline is a very lightweight and compact hunting rifle. The Boundary Carbon is sort of a hybrid cross between the two, and it has some interesting features that make it ideal for open-county deer hunting. The first is that Springfield-Armory chambers these rifles in an array of extremely flat-shooting cartridges. The second is that the stock has a built-in M-Lok rail in the forend for bipod or tripod attachment. The third is that it comes with two QD sling-swivel attachment points on the left side of the stock. And to round things out, it comes with a Picatinny scope rail, threaded muzzle, and a radial-port muzzle break. Our test rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor shot great, but there were feeding issues on early production guns that have been corrected. The carbon-fiber wrapped barrel version goes for $2,599, and a steel-barrel version is also available and goes for $2,173.
Related: Springfield Armory Boundary Carbon Full Review
Best Woods Rifles for Deer
Deer live in the woods. Sure, you’ll see them in crop fields and on the open plains, but they relish the cover that timber provides. If that’s where you hunt, a fast-handling and compact woods rifle is just the thing for the quick, close-range shots you're apt to get. Traditionally, woods rifles have been lever-action, semi-auto, or pump guns, but modern bolt-action rifles are now being made to serve hunters who prowl the evergreen and hardwood forests looking for their buck. Here's the best of the bunch.
Best Woods Rifle: Marlin 336 Classic
Specs
Length: 38.5 inches
Weight: 7.21 pounds (actual)
Barrel: 20 inches, 1-in-12 twist
Action: Lever action
Trigger: 4.5 pounds
Capacity: 6+1
Finish: Satin blued steel
Stock: American black walnut
Chambering: 30-30 Winchester
Hunters have been chasing deer with lever guns for well over 100 years, and they’ve been doing it with the Marlin 336 since 1948. It is a classic, and when Remington/Marlin filed bankruptcy in 2000, hunters across America collectively held their breath. Ruger is what let lever-gun lovers start breathing again; they purchased Marlin and now the Model 336 is back. The even better news is that the new Ruger-made Model 336 rifles are some of the best that’s ever been. The Classic version weighs in at about 7 pounds and is just a tad less than a meter long. Lever guns are not known to be tack drivers, but my test rifle turned in five-shot group averages right at 2 MOA. These new 336s function flawlessly, and the trigger is better than you’d expect. They’re only available in 30-30 Winchester, but for tracking big bucks in the timber or for jump shooting them out of the corn patch behind the barn, a 30-30 is all you need. The only downside is that modern lever guns made right are not cheap; a new 336 Classic retails for $1,279.
Related: Marlin 336 Classic Full Review
Wilson Combat Model 20S
Specs
Length: 35.0 inches
Weight: 4.80 pounds
Barrel: 16.25 inches, w/ 5.8x24 threaded muzzle and thread protector
Action: NULA Model 20S
Trigger: 2.75 pounds (as tested) adjustable
Capacity: 5+1
Finish: Barrel and Action (Armor-Tuff) bolt (Black Panther PVD)
Stock: AG Composite
Available Chamberings: 300 HAMR (tested) 22 ARC, 223 Remington (Wylde), 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 300 Blackout
You might think this is the same rifle as the Wilson Combat NULA Model 20. It’s not. At only 35 inches long, this rifle is extremely compact and useable inside even the most compact blind or shoot house. Weighing in at less than 5 pounds, it is also incredibly light and will not hold you back when climbing even the steepest West Virginia mountainside. Like the NULA Model 20, the 20S comes with a Timney trigger and an Armor Tuff metal coating, and it has a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee. For deer in the hardwoods, I’d go with the 300 HAMR cartridge which offers better ballistics than the 30-30 Winchester. And if you hunt in a straight-wall state, the 350 Legend is an option too. The NULA Model 20S is not cheap. It has a suggested retail price of $2,995, just like the NULA Model 20. But it has a 2.5-inch magazine box so handloaders have more bullet choices, and it is an exceptional wood rifle. If you want to hunt deer in the timber, suppressed, this rifle is just about perfectly designed for it.
Related: Wilson Combat NULA Model 20S Full Review
Q Fix SBR Suppressed
Specs
Length: 28.25 to 32.25
Weight: 5 pounds, 3 ounces
Barrel: 8-inch, 12-inch stainless steel, threaded 5/8x24
Action: Striker-fired, bolt action with 45° throw
Trigger: Two-stage match, 2.5 pounds (as tested)
Capacity: Detachable SR-25-type magazine, ships with 10-round Magpul P-Mag
Finish: Combination hard anodizing and nitride
Stock: Skeletonized, folding adjustable buttstock, aluminum Q-Sert handguard
Chamberings: Switch-barrel, 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Winchester, 8.6 Blackout
We typically do not cover SBRs (short-barreled rifles) with barrels less than 16 inches long, because—at least in the past—these NFA firearms required special approval and a $200 tax. However, with the passage of The Big Beautiful Bill that eliminated the $200 tax on SBRs and suppressors, its likely more hunters will start considering both for the light weight and compactness they offer. The Q Fix is one of the best SBR rifles for hunting there is, especially when outfitted with a suppressor, and when it is chambered for the 8.6 Blackout cartridge, which offers great subsonic and supersonic performance due to its extremely fast 1-in-3 rifling twist rate.
The Fix is a radically unique rifle, and with a 12-inch barrel in 8.6 Blackout it only weighs a shade more than five pounds. Add in a Q Porq Chop suppressor and a one-pound riflescope, and you’re right at 7.75 pounds but it’s still less than a meter long. The Q Fix might look like an AR but it’s not. This is a magazine fed, striker fired, bolt action rifle with only a 45° bolt throw and a folding stock that is adjustable for length of pull and comb height. The rifle is very handy to carry, easy to work with in a blind, and you can even order additional barrels (short or long) in 308 Winchester or 6.5 Creedmoor. One thing is for sure, if you can afford the rifle ($3,475) and the Porq Chop suppressor ($850)—at least you won’t have to pay the $200 tax for either—you’ll have the coolest rifle at deer camp.
Related: Q Fix (non-SBR) Full Review
Best Straight-Wall Deer Rifles
Straight-wall deer rifles are rifles chambered for centerfire rifle cartridges that do not have a shoulder on the case. Though regulations vary, straight-wall cartridges are mandatory in a variety of states/locations including Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio. However, you can deer hunt with a straight-wall rifle cartridge in other states too, and some deer hunters prefer them.
Best Straightwall: Ruger American Gen II Ranch
Specs
Length: 41.25 inches
Weight: 6 pounds
Barrel: 16 inches, cold hammer forged, threaded
Action: Bolt action, with three lugs and a 70° throw
Trigger: Ruger Marksman Adjustable (4.0 pounds as tested)
Capacity: 5+1 (350 & 400 Legend), 3+1 (450 Bushmaster)
Finish: Gun metal grey Cerakote
Stock: Synthetic stock, with adjustable LOP, modular comb, optional weight kit
Chamberings: 350 Legend, 400 Legend, 450 Bushmaster
The Ruger American Gen II Ranch rifle has all the features of the standard Gen II, like Ruger’s Marksman Adjustable trigger, a bolt-locking three-position safety, Cerakoted metal surfaces, a threaded barrel, and the new modular stock that allows for customization to best fit you. The big difference between the Standard and the Ranch versions of the Ruger American Gen II rifle is the shorter, 16-inch barrel on the Ranch version, and the tan-colored stock. The Ranch is available chambered for three straightwall cartridges, including the 350 and 400 Legend and the 450 Bushmaster. All three feed from an extended and detachable magazine, with the 350 and 400 holding 5 rounds and the 450 holding three. The reason this is the best straightwall-cartridge rifle is the same reason that the Standard Ruger American Gen II is the best value deer rifle. It is loaded with features and has a suggested retail price of only $729.
Related: Ruger American Gen II Full Review
Mossberg Patriot
Mossberg Patriot Bolt-Action Rifle
Specs
Length: 42.45 inches
Weight: 7.0 pounds
Barrel: 22-inch fluted
Action: Bolt-action, with two lugs
Trigger: Adjustable Mossberg Lightning Bolt Action (LBA)
Capacity: 4+1
Finish: Stainless Cerakote
Stock: Laminated hardwood
Chambering: 350 Legend
Mossberg's Patriot makes the cut here for three reasons. First, because it's a bolt-action, and the extra accuracy you get with a bolt can be useful in the farm country where straight-wall cartridges tend to be required, and where shots out to 200 yards or more are possible. Second, because four versions of the Mossberg Patriot are chambered for the hottest straight-wall cartridge—the 350 Legend. And third, because this rifle is affordable, which is important to hunters in straight-wall states who want to buy a second rifle for when they travel to hunt.
The four Mossberg Patriot rifles available in 350 Legend are priced from less than $500 to $735. The most expensive version is exclusively available from Lipsey’s, and its the best of the bunch for deer hunting. It weighs right at 7 pounds and comes with a laminated wood stock, Mossberg’s LBA trigger, a spiral fluted bolt, and a straight fluted 22-inch barrel. The metal work is finished in stainless Cerakote, and the rifle feeds from a very nice and reliable polymer magazine, which in 350 Legend has a 4+1 capacity. This rifle's 22-inch barrel lets you extract all the performance possible from the cartridge. You’ll appreciate that when overlooking a big Midwestern field of corn stubble.
Marlin 1895 Trapper (Magpul)
Marlin 1895 Trapper .45-70 Government Lever Action Rifle
Specs
Length: 33 to 34.5 inches
Weight: 7.0 pounds
Barrel: 16.17 inches, capped and threaded at 11/16x24
Action: Model 1895 lever
Trigger: 5.0 pounds (as tested)
Capacity: 5+1
Finish: Stainless Steel
Stock: Black Magpul ELG buttstock and black ELG M-Lok hand guard.
Available Chamberings: 45-70 Government
Price: $1,649
This is a stainless-steel lever gun with a 16.17-inch barrel, threaded at 11/16x24. It has a Skinner Sights 10-slot Picatinny rail with an integrated and fully adjustable peep sight, and a Skinner Bear Buster front sight. The satin stainless-steel finish is offset with black screws, loading gate, hammer, and bolt, creating a stark contrast. But what really sets it apart is the Magpul stock and forend. The stock is adjustable for length-of-pull from 12.5 inches to 14 inches, and you can adjust the comb height with ¼-inch shims. It’s also compatible with Magpul QD sling attachments. It’s most unique feature is a button-released hinged comb that exposes a storage compartment that can hold a six-cartridge quiver. The forend is 12-inches long and polymer too, and it has six M-Lok slots on the left, right and bottom. This 1895 Trapper looks a bit different than a traditional lever gun, because it is a bit different than a traditional lever gun. It’s also better, and one of the best lever guns Ruger-owned Marlin has produced yet. It's short and handy, has a versatile butt stock and forend, and it is chambered for one of the hardest hitting straightwall cartridges there is.
Related: Marlin 1895 Trapper w/Magpul Stock Full Review
How to Choose the Right Deer Rifle for You
For the list above, we of course chose rifles that come chambered for common deer-hunting cartridges, but the truth is that, barring extremes, cartridge choice isn't all that important for deer hunting. Pick one that's suitable for the distances you will shoot, but just as important, pick a cartridge you can shoot well, one you have confidence in, and one you have some connection to. The three most important aspects of a deer rifle are that it fits you, fits your style of hunting, and that you like it.
If you enjoy prowling the timber or even stand hunting in the hardwoods, you’ll want a compact fast-handling rifle that will let you jump shoot an escaping buck or snap shoot one coming by that’s hot on the tail of a doe. If you hunt out west and mostly spot and stalk or even sit a high stand, a rifle well configured to shoot across canyons and crop fields or down a sendero is a good idea. And then of course you have the straight-wall states where you’re limited to just a handful of shorter-range cartridges. But even in those locations, the type of rifle you use matters.
Deer rifles can range in price from around $500 to more than six times that much. In most cases you’ll get what you pay for; more features and better precision are what more money most often delivers. But the deer won’t be as impressed with how much money you spend as your buddies will be. Still, buying the best rifle you can afford is never a bad idea. Don’t overlook pride of ownership and bragging rights around the campfire, because both are an integral part of deer hunting.
Final Thoughts
When I was growing up, semi-automatics and lever guns dominated my family deer camp, but I wanted more precision than semi-autos and lever guns offered. So, I started my deer hunting career with a bolt-action rifle, but I’ve since learned that in the hills of West Virginia, I can do just as well with a lever gun, and I really enjoy hunting with them. Ultimately, your hunting and shooting skill will have more of an impact on your deer hunting success than the rifle you choose, but a deer hunter ought to also really like their rifle, and in some cases, a bad choice can hinder your success.
Maybe the greatest thing about deer hunting is that you can use so many different types of rifles successfully. And while the old axiom of beware the man with only one rifle has merit, he might not have as much fun in the deer woods as the hunter who has several to choose from. The best deer rifle is a very subjective thing and few of us will agree on the answer. And, well, that’s the way it ought to be. Gotta have something other than politics to argue about around the campfire.
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
