Deer Hunting 2016

[Aragorn243]

Haven't seen one of these yet this year, if I missed it, please delete this and direct me to it.

Deer season started yesterday for firearms but I have not gone yet, waiting till Friday.

I do have a question as our laws suddenly and unexpectedly changed last week with the governor's signature on a bill allowing semi-autos for hunting. PA was one of two states not allowing them.

With that in mind (I still don't know the true ramifications of the law) I'm seriously considering an AR for deer. I now hunt with a 243 and ideally would love an AR in that caliber but I can't say I've ever heard of one. 308 seems to be the only alternative to the 223. I sort of kinda consider the 223 too light for deer. It is legal in PA but not sure that I want to go that route although I have a nice long bull barreled Stag AR that I could take if I decided to try it. I also have an M-4 style setup I could use as a light walking/driving rifle. What do you guys use?

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[P246]

I'm in Kansas and they changed the law to allow for .223. However in the brush or over 200 yard openings I've used 1 of three rifles. 03A3, No 4 Mark 1, or a VZ 24 rebarreled to 308 and scout scoped. Over large bean fields I use a 300 WM Sendero. Although some are 1400 yards across I don't hunt that far, 600 to 700 yards Is where I've drawn the line. I try and only take really big White Tails. Although I have ARs I prefer bigger bore rifles personally, but if that is what you want to use as always shot placement trumps caliber. Also what they charge for 5 rd. AR mags **** me off. Good luck our season starts tomorrow.

[browningautorifle]

I still think .223 is too light of a bullet. I'd go a bit bigger. Mind you, I also carried my LL M1 the first few times out back in the '70s. I also used a #5 Carbine, an M1917, a #4 rifle...and an array of sporting calibers. I finally settled on a 760 Remington carbine in .308. I don't need a semi for hunting, not my preference.

[jmoore]

I started hunting with a .223 some years back and it's now my favorite deer thing. Factory Winchester 60ish gr bulleted ammo works fine, but I now almost exclusively use the 55gr Sierra hunting bullet on top of my own loads. Has worked extremely well for me, but the furthest I've shot a deer with it was ~200 yards from a 20" 1-12" twist barrel. Also, 16" 1-7 twist Colt lightweight carbine used at 165 yards. Otherwise under 100 yards is the norm.


Put into the chest cavity, the deer are either DRT or don't go more than 30-50 yards.


Been too hot and dry this year to go out yet. May get some late season stalks in but more looking forward to squirreling.

[Aragorn243]

I've killed a lot of deer over the years but could probably count on one hand those that were outside of 100 yards and most were within 50 yards. I've carried a Savage 99 for most of those years. Not sure I want to switch but it's good to have options. Lightest bullet I've ever used on deer is 80 grain and that's in the 243. I believe most of my loads are 100 grain. Jumps to 180-200 grain with my 300 Savage which is probably my second most used rifle. Only milsurp I've used and killed a deer with is my Enfield no III. And the heaviest I've used is 356 Winchester.

[P246]

Went out today...morning brush with the 03A3, afternoon started on a beanfield with the Sendero...wind got stupid and moved to a small pasture surrounded by trees. Saw 4 does but the only horns was a four point who hung out for 10 minutes 50 yards in front of me. He needs a few more years. BAR I had a 760 in 35 Remington....my nephew kept "borrowing" it every deer season so I finally gave it to him.

[browningautorifle]

I had a 760 in 35 Remington

That would be a great brush popper...

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

45-70 Hornaday LeverRevolution 325 grain = deer dirt nap if it ever cools off.

[cipherk98]

Only problem I see is actually getting the PGC to allow deer with semi-autos. All the chatter I've heard suggests it will start with varmints (coyote, ground hogs, squirrels, etc) and deer is a long way off and even then I suspect there is a risk of different caliber restrictions than "traditional" repeaters.

It's just funny to me it's that big of a deal... at the end of the day it doesn't matter what kind of gun that bullet comes out of. The potential consequences are the same if you miss plus your one chance to get that deer is probably gone, doesn't matter if that 8mm bullet it comes out of a sporterized K98k or a Yugo M76

[Aragorn243]

I haven't heard that. Only reason to allow them is for deer. No one particularly needs them for anything else. I was under the impression they were already legal for coyotes.