I know this is a site dedicated to snipers and the such but which of the Tactical Operations rifles would anyone suggest be best suited for hunting deer down in Texas? My first thought would be the Seirra .308 with a 22 inch barrel. Any other suggestions?
Hunting?
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The sierra-51 wouldn't be bad, but I'd also seriously look at the tango-51 with a 18 or 20" barrel. The stock used on the tango is compact and "lighter" in weight (relative term, as its still probably heavier then the typical hunting stock) but yet also has the wider beaver tail forearm and raised cheek rest. I say 18 or 20" tube just to keep weight down.
MEL
MEL
I wouldn't use it for long range hiking for deer hunting, I have plenty of other rifles for that, but I'm just looking for a rifle that I would have in a blind. But thanks for your input Mel. Maybe in the future I will have a very good chance in buying one of those rifles.
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For me (I live in Fort Worth) when I head out to East Texas for a little white-tail I typically take my tried and true 30-06 if I am going to be hunting valleys or open areas.
However, when in the forest, or any other place that will be "close" (under 100m) I will typically pick up my ol' 30-30. The scopes on either one cost more than both the rifles.
A hunting rifle and a sniper rifle are designed for different applications. Realistically a hunting rifle needs to be able 2-4" MOA for a solid vital organ hit. Where as a Sniper rifle needs to be .2-.5 to make sure you can put it to the left of the left eye and snag the brainstem.
However, when in the forest, or any other place that will be "close" (under 100m) I will typically pick up my ol' 30-30. The scopes on either one cost more than both the rifles.
A hunting rifle and a sniper rifle are designed for different applications. Realistically a hunting rifle needs to be able 2-4" MOA for a solid vital organ hit. Where as a Sniper rifle needs to be .2-.5 to make sure you can put it to the left of the left eye and snag the brainstem.
Agreed! It certainly is job related when it comes to rifle selection.
I'm currently working on new hunting rifle.... and its nothing like a tactical rifle. Its going to be built following the "Scout" rifle concept. Under 40" length, under 7 lbs, scope mounted forward of the action. It will be built on a Turkish Mauser action, have a swedish mauser 16" carbine barrel chambered in 6.5x55. I will put an EER scope on it, probably a nikon 2.5-8x, maybe a leupold 2.5x scout with German #1 reticule.
Perfect hunting rifle for my stomping grounds
MEL
I'm currently working on new hunting rifle.... and its nothing like a tactical rifle. Its going to be built following the "Scout" rifle concept. Under 40" length, under 7 lbs, scope mounted forward of the action. It will be built on a Turkish Mauser action, have a swedish mauser 16" carbine barrel chambered in 6.5x55. I will put an EER scope on it, probably a nikon 2.5-8x, maybe a leupold 2.5x scout with German #1 reticule.
Perfect hunting rifle for my stomping grounds
MEL
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372 Posts
Aren't you in Elk country? I can remember almost being trampled by one when I was younger and out camping. I was told it was a young one too, never wanted to get out and find a big one! 
Personally, for white tail, I don't think you can really beat a 30-06. It is good at all ranges (with practice), and it fairly a cheap rifle. Now, the ammo can get expenisve if you don't by in bulk.
I'd hit the pawn shop and grab a winchester 30-06 and stick a new stock on it, mount you a scope and be done with it.
Personally, for white tail, I don't think you can really beat a 30-06. It is good at all ranges (with practice), and it fairly a cheap rifle. Now, the ammo can get expenisve if you don't by in bulk.
I'd hit the pawn shop and grab a winchester 30-06 and stick a new stock on it, mount you a scope and be done with it.
I'm not saying I don't have enough deer rifles. Right now I'm using my Ruger .30-06 as my main deer rifle. But I have a deer rifle for just about every hunting situation when hunting deer. I have a .30-30 for the brush, a .300 Savage, a .270 which is for all practical purposes a .30-06, and two .308 so I'm just looking for something that's out of the ordinary for hunting.
I live in Ohio we don't have the luxury of hunting with rifles. If you want to try something out of the ordinary pick up a reliable remington 870 shotgun with a fully rifled barrel and 4x scope, Federal Barnes X-panders in 2 3/4" and go to town. Whole system under $500 and I have dropped whitetails where they stood at 125 yards. When I go to W.V. to hunt with a rifle I have a Remington Model 7 compact in .243. Awesome little gun even the teenagers can shoot.
G
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·hunting
hey i have one of the new savage Tac rifles with the choate stock in 308 win and i use that rifle for every thing from deer hunting in wide areas to wood chuck hunting and its great right out of the box it shoots half inch groups i have a savage 99 for mountain hunting but for the hell of it i took my savage tac out and it weighs 13 pounds and let me tell you i doint want to do that againe with out a sling its a great rifle though it will defenetly get you in shape cost me 1300 all togeather the rifle was 600 and then i added assories and a good scope
hey i have one of the new savage Tac rifles with the choate stock in 308 win and i use that rifle for every thing from deer hunting in wide areas to wood chuck hunting and its great right out of the box it shoots half inch groups i have a savage 99 for mountain hunting but for the hell of it i took my savage tac out and it weighs 13 pounds and let me tell you i doint want to do that againe with out a sling its a great rifle though it will defenetly get you in shape cost me 1300 all togeather the rifle was 600 and then i added assories and a good scope
.223 The best for me.
The only rifle I've ever hunted with here in South Texas is my Remington .223, but it's the only thing that's been avaliable to me. However, it has been a tried and true deer and hog killer. It has a very reliable range for a blind or a wooded area, but if you are going to get a new rifle I would recommend a .22-250 or a 30-60. Both are reliable enough out to at least 250 yards and that's about as far as it gets until you get to West Texas or Colorado.
The only rifle I've ever hunted with here in South Texas is my Remington .223, but it's the only thing that's been avaliable to me. However, it has been a tried and true deer and hog killer. It has a very reliable range for a blind or a wooded area, but if you are going to get a new rifle I would recommend a .22-250 or a 30-60. Both are reliable enough out to at least 250 yards and that's about as far as it gets until you get to West Texas or Colorado.
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I really like looking at scout builds, they're... unique, and I find them very effective. I was even considering purchasing a Ruger 77 Frontier to rig, but I've heard mixed things about the 77 for the money. J&G sells a scout style stock for Mauser rifles, if I could find a nice cheap Mauser action I'd drop it in one of those and throw a Millett TRS-1 or something on there.
A word of advice on the ATI Mauser scout stock. Hold one in your hands before purchase. They aren't the most ergonomic stock, in my opinion.The top part of the handguard , where the scope mounts, is clamped to the barrel.I didn't think that was a very secure method of installing a scope.
Jeff
Jeff
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thanks for the heads up on that one. maybe I'll just stick with the Ruger 77 Frontier then, it's a real scout setup.jeffdorr said:
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hot rifle. what are some scout-friendly optics?
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