Preferred setup for Louisiana deer hunting

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  • jsquareo

    Active Member
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    Oct 23, 2019
    29
    1
    New Orleans
    I'm curious as to what people in Louisiana's "go-to" deer rifle is?

    Back home in Florida I used to use my Ruger M77 in .270 with a 3.5-14x 40mm optic
    Mainly because I hunted a power-line clearing that provided a couple hundred yards of unimpeded visibility.

    Now that I mainly hunt in Pearl River I am rarely in an area where I can see further than 100 yards.
    So I'm considering changing my choice of firearm up to something without a scope.

    I'll probably go with my Winchester 94 in 30-30. Old school tack driver. It's a rifle that I have very high confidence in out to 150 yards.

    Let me know what ya'll use. Very interested to hear
     
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    whbonney26

    Well-Known Member
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    37   0   0
    Nov 2, 2008
    4,795
    63
    Pearl River, LA
    I'm curious as to what people in Louisiana's "go-to" deer rifle is?

    Back home in Florida I used to use my Ruger M77 in .270 with a 3-12x 42mm optic
    Mainly because I hunted a power-line clearing that provided a couple hundred yards of unimpeded visibility.

    Now that I mainly hunt in Pearl River I am rarely in an area where I can see further than 100 yards.
    So I'm considering changing my choice of firearm up to something without a scope.

    I'll probably go with my Winchester 94 in 30-30. Old school tack driver. It's a rifle that I have very high confidence in out to 150 yards.

    Let me know what ya'll use. Very interested to hear


    I mostly use a Winchester 94 in 30-30 as well. When I am back home in Alabama I sometimes use a higher caliber such as 30-06 because longer shots across cottonfields but the Winchester is my go to in most cases.

    There was a time when I was spending money on high powered rifles and scopes that cost as much as the guns or more plus every other type of gear one could get for hunting but it took the fun out of it so I put those guns back in the safe and started carrying the old Winchester Lever gun again and made hunting fun again.
     

    shrxfn

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    Oct 25, 2015
    855
    28
    SWLA
    I use an AR chambered in 6.8mm with a 2-7 scope. I am in the process of changing most of my rifles over to 1-6 or 1-8 scopes because distances are not that great and can get good hits with 8x out to 300yds.
     

    whbonney26

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    37   0   0
    Nov 2, 2008
    4,795
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    Pearl River, LA
    I use an AR chambered in 6.8mm with a 2-7 scope. I am in the process of changing most of my rifles over to 1-6 or 1-8 scopes because distances are not that great and can get good hits with 8x out to 300yds.


    Not bad either. I built my son an AR in 6.8spc for hunting hogs and deer in the swamp.
     

    Bmash

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    Dec 23, 2013
    202
    28
    Zachary, LA
    When doing a drive or hunting with limited range I use my 300BO. I had a 2-7 but went up in power so I can see the head better - I want to make sure I don’t shoot a 1/2* spike.
     

    340six

    -Global Mod-
    Staff member
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    Apr 12, 2012
    6,499
    113
    Kenner, La
    My plan is to use a 1903A4 {clone} in all its glory with Custom Loaded Nosler BT Bullets.
     

    Bigchillin83

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    94   0   1
    Feb 27, 2012
    6,187
    113
    Livingston
    #1 encore 45-70 suppressed with silencerco hybrid and hand load 405gr subsonic hardcast. leupold 3-9x40 firedot .. deer typically never know they were shot and any other deer around just stand there and look

    #2 Tikka ctr .308 suppressed with silencerco omega with leupold 4-12 firedot and handloaded 165gr sst @2650fps

    #3 Marlin 1895g threaded with silencerco hybrid and handload subsonic 405gr hard cast and leupold 1-4

    #4 Encore .45acp 16" with silencerco hybrid and 250gr atomic subs. Trijicon tr-24 haven't placed one on a deer yet but its next on my list
     

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    jsquareo

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    Oct 23, 2019
    29
    1
    New Orleans
    #1 encore 45-70 suppressed with silencerco hybrid and hand load 405gr subsonic hardcast. leupold 3-9x40 firedot .. deer typically never know they were shot and any other deer around just stand there and look

    #2 Tikka ctr .308 suppressed with silencerco omega with leupold 4-12 firedot and handloaded 165gr sst @2650fps

    #3 Marlin 1895g threaded with silencerco hybrid and handload subsonic 405gr hard cast and leupold 1-4

    #4 Encore .45acp 16" with silencerco hybrid and 250gr atomic subs. Trijicon tr-24 haven't placed one on a deer yet but its next on my list


    Thank you for sharing. That's quite the collection of firearms and cans you've got there! Hats off to ya brother
     

    340six

    -Global Mod-
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    Apr 12, 2012
    6,499
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    Kenner, La
    Classssssssssssssic rifle. What a beast!
    I got it used {yes I know most all are except a Few the CMP still had to Aution}
    It was used to shoot at Camp Perry in 2013 by an 18-Year-Old Girl who shot very, very well with it. I got it from her Dad since she Got Married and Moved out of the States.
    There is still some of the yellow tape on the trigger guard
    It went threw a whole rebuild and sports a New Walnut Stock, Barrel, etc.
     

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    jsquareo

    Active Member
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    0   0   0
    Oct 23, 2019
    29
    1
    New Orleans
    I got it used {yes I know most all are except a Few the CMP still had to Aution}
    It was used to shoot at Camp Perry in 2013 by an 18-Year-Old Girl who shot very, very well with it. I got it from her Dad since she Got Married and Moved out of the States.
    There is still some of the yellow tape on the trigger guard
    It went threw a whole rebuild and sports a New Walnut Stock, Barrel, etc.


    Right down to the retro optic. Love everything about this rig.
     

    Win1917

    Win1917
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    3   0   0
    Apr 13, 2009
    440
    16
    Lafayette
    Since you're on public land, consider getting something legal for primitive weapons and use the same rifle through both seasons. The gun seasons are so short at least that'll give you a little more time. Second, if you really want to spend some time hunting public, pick up archery and hunt the entire season
     

    tbone

    Threadender
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    Used a Ruger M77 .270 topped with a 2-7 Redfield Widefield shooting 130 grain Speer SPBT handloaded with a Lee neck sizing loader using the minimum powder charge of IMR 4350 for about 28 years. Shot deer from 10 ft. to 150 yds. All with the same result.
    Recently my wife started hunting so I gave that rifle to her.
    I bought a Ruger M77 Hawkeye .308 topped with a Burris 2-7 scope shooting 150 grain Hornady SST factory loads.
     

    Emperor

    Seriously Misunderstood!
    Rating - 100%
    11   0   0
    Mar 7, 2011
    8,376
    113
    Nether region
    #1 encore 45-70 suppressed with silencerco hybrid and hand load 405gr subsonic hardcast. leupold 3-9x40 firedot .. deer typically never know they were shot and any other deer around just stand there and look

    #2 Tikka ctr .308 suppressed with silencerco omega with leupold 4-12 firedot and handloaded 165gr sst @2650fps

    #3 Marlin 1895g threaded with silencerco hybrid and handload subsonic 405gr hard cast and leupold 1-4

    #4 Encore .45acp 16" with silencerco hybrid and 250gr atomic subs. Trijicon tr-24 haven't placed one on a deer yet but its next on my list

    Redleg, Redleg.......Ripper Bravo Two. Check your fire; Check your fire (on some of those deer)!

    :mamoru:
     
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    Emperor

    Seriously Misunderstood!
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    11   0   0
    Mar 7, 2011
    8,376
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    Nether region
    Pearl River is very similar to where I hunt. I also know the Pearl River well because I too used to hunt there quite often.

    You should consider a scope regardless of the confidence level in that 30-30. Why, you ask? Because as stated, you should want to verify the sex (and age IMHO), of the deer BEFORE you shoot at it. Even if you are just going for meat, shot placement should be important.

    So, what I used to use as a religion was a BAR 30-06 with a nice, early edition Nikon scope (actually bought it when Nikon first started into hunting optics). My bullet preference was factory Winchester Super X in 130gr. It is/was a deer stacker. I was switching them off instantly with neck shots. Why, you ask? Least amount of blood and gore, and no meat carnage! But mostly for no busted gut bags. I can't stand messing with a deer with a busted gut bag, or shattered legs and bones.

    As you say for you, so for me; most shots less than 100yds.

    Last year I took it up a notch. Tikka T3x Stainless in .308, with a SIG Whiskey 5 and a can! Why, you ask? For even more precise shot placement.

    I have that thing shooting groups of 3 at 100yds where there are only 2 holes in the paper, sometimes 1 1/2. :p So my plan is to take out does at the Axis bone (on the spine) or C2. That's about 1-2 inches under the skull for you laymen. No muss! No fuss! No running!

    Some would say that is overkill for a simple deer rifle. I would say so too, but I am not simply deer hunting! I am killing!

    As for a buck that meets my criteria? Heart shot for the win! If he meets my criteria for killing, I ain't taking a chance! Call me crazy!

    Oh, that Tikka loves Federal Premium Big Game factory loads in......, you guessed it; 130gr.
     
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    Blue Diamond

    sportsman
    Premium Member
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    10   0   0
    Apr 12, 2014
    944
    16
    Metairie, La.
    Since you're on public land, consider getting something legal for primitive weapons and use the same rifle through both seasons. The gun seasons are so short at least that'll give you a little more time. Second, if you really want to spend some time hunting public, pick up archery and hunt the entire season

    I use an H&R in 35 whelen for all now. Fitted with a boyd laminate thumbhole stock an a will's muzzle break it shoots dime groups at 100 yds.
     

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