If you’re a deer hunter, you know that finding the right rifle can be a challenge. That’s especially true when there are so many hunting rifles on the market to choose from.
After all, each one offers different features, but which one is best? Here’s my advice: Consider a modern classic rifle that has been a favorite among deer hunters for decades. Let me show you the 10 modern classic deer hunting rifles I recommend.
What We Reviewed?
Here are amazing rifles we managed to view:
Top 10 Best Deer Hunting Rifles
1. Cornfield Sniper: Remington Sendero SF II
- Gold for the Best All-Around Deer Hunting Rifle Award
- X-Mark Pro trigger system
- Stability and accuracy
- Complies with most hunting regulations
2. The Classic: Marlin 336C
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- 3X NRA Publications Golden Bullseye Award for Rifle of the Year
- Well-loved rifle with a proven track record
- Trusted by both experienced hunters and newcomers
3. Bolt-Action Shooter: Sako Finnlight
- Sleek, simple design
- Has won every "Best Bolt-Action" award
- Super comfortable to use
- Lightweight...You'll never feel weighed down!
4. The All-Star: Weatherby Vanguard Series 2
- Favorite all-around gun for deer hunting.
- Sleek modern look
- Reasonable price tag
- Won the Golden Bullseye Award from NRA
5. Budget Baller: Ruger American
- Easy to carry, easy to shoot
- Quite accurate and powerful
- Won awards for best rifle and best shooting innovation
6. Mr. Reliable: Ambush 300 Blackout
- Lightweight
- Easy To Maneuver
- Super Reliable
- Won awards including Best New Gun and Top Guns 2018.
7. The Starter: Outfit H&R Handi Rifle
- Very accurate and Reliable
- Good for novice hunters
- Winner of Outdoor Life's "Great Buy" award in 2011
8. The No Holds Barred: Savage M220 Stainless Camo
- Modern and classic
- AccuTrigger technology
- Better accuracy and reliability
- Awarded “Gun of the Year” by Petersen's Hunting magazine
9. The Workhorse: Thompson/Center Pro Hunter FX
- American Rifleman Golden Bullseye Award
- Outdoor Life "Great Buy" Award.
- Excellent accuracy
- A variety of barrel options
10. The Frontiersman: Nosler M48 Patriot
- Performs like a champ
- Awarded "Best New Rifle" at the 2016 SHOT Show
- "Best New Rifle" at NRA Convention in Louisville in 2016
1. Cornfield Sniper: Remington Sendero SF II
Undoubtedly, the Cornfield Sniper took home the gold for the Best All-Around Deer Hunting Rifle Award—and for good reason. This gorgeous piece of hardware boasts features that any hunter can appreciate, including an X-Mark Pro trigger system, an aluminum bedding block for stability and accuracy, and a 24-inch barrel that puts it in compliance with most hunting regulations.
2. The Classic: Marlin 336C
The Marlin 336C is a classic deer hunting rifle. It’s a .30-30 Winchester caliber lever action with a 20″ barrel and a 4+1 capacity. It’s got an American black walnut stock, blued metal parts, and adjustable buckhorn sights. The 336C is lightweight and easy to carry on long hunts.
The 336C has been awarded the NRA Publications Golden Bullseye Award for Rifle of the Year three times: in 1995, 1996, and again in 2000. A well-loved rifle with a proven track record, it’s clear that the 336C is trusted by both experienced hunters and newcomers alike.
3. Bolt-Action Shooter: Sako Finnlight
We’ve had a little bit of time to test out the Sako Finnlight, and we’ve got to say: it’s a real winner. With its sleek, simple design and smooth bolt-action, it’s no wonder this gun has won every “Best Bolt-Action” award since its inception.
What really sets this gun apart from the competition is how light it is—at only 5.25 lbs, you’ll never feel weighed down in the woods! It’s also super comfortable to use, with a perfectly balanced grip and a stock designed for hand comfort and ergonomics.
4. The All-Star: Weatherby Vanguard Series 2
Our All-Purpose All-Star, the Weatherby Vanguard Series 2, is our favorite all-around gun for deer hunting. It has a sleek modern look, a reasonable price tag, and is still light enough to carry through rough terrain. In addition to its versatility, it won the Golden Bullseye Award from NRA American Hunter and Field & Stream’s Best of the Best Award in the category of “Deer Rifles”. This is one we’re proud to have on our list!
5. Budget Baller: Ruger American
This rifle is a pure joy to use, whether you’re out hunting deer or just feel like going out on a weekend shooting trip. It’s easy to carry, easy to shoot, and fits well in your hand. Not only that, but it’s also quite accurate and powerful: we took down a 7-point buck last year with one shot from 250 yards away.
The Ruger American won awards for best rifle and best shooting innovation, so you know you’re getting quality when you buy this gun. It comes in three calibers (6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Win., 243 Win.), so you can pick the one that works best for you.
6. Mr. Reliable: Ambush 300 Blackout
When it comes to small-plot deer hunting, the Ambush 300 Blackout is one of the most accurate rifles for the job. It’s lightweight, so you can carry it around all day without getting tired. It’s easy to maneuver and use, so you don’t have to spend days learning how to shoot it—just pick up and go! And it’s super reliable—you can depend on this rifle to help you bring home your kill.
The Ambush 300 Blackout comes with a scope, so you’re ready right out of the box, and you can also add a suppressor if you like. The gun won awards including Best New Gun and Top Guns 2018.
7. The Starter: Outfit H&R Handi Rifle
The Handi Rifle’s simple action is easy for beginners to figure out, and its single-shot design means that it doesn’t require much practice to become proficient with it. The Handi Rifle is also very accurate and reliable, which makes it a good choice for novice hunters who haven’t yet mastered the art of marksmanship.
It was also the winner of Outdoor Life’s “Great Buy” award in 2011, so you know you can trust this gun to perform.
8. The No Holds Barred: Savage M220 Stainless Camo
The Savage Arms 220 Stainless Camo isn’t just a gun for hunters. Its sleek matte stainless-steel finish gives it a look that’s both modern and classic at once, while its synthetic stock is made of durable all-weather material. Speaking of durability, the barrel features Savage’s own AccuTrigger technology, which allows you to set your trigger to your own personal preference.
What’s more, Savage’s AccuStock bedding system uses an aluminum rail that runs down the length of the stock, giving you better accuracy and reliability than any other model out there. But don’t take my word for it—this model has won several awards from Outdoor Life and Field & Stream! In fact, it’s even been awarded “Gun of the Year” by Petersen’s Hunting magazine on multiple occasions!
9. The Workhorse: Thompson/Center Pro Hunter FX
When it comes to muzzleloading workhorses, it’s hard to beat the Thompson/Center Pro Hunter FX. The rifle has received a number of awards over the years, including the American Rifleman Golden Bullseye Award and the Outdoor Life Great Buy Award.
The Pro Hunter FX is a great choice for hunters looking to bag a deer or bear with one shot. The rifle offers excellent accuracy, with most shots hitting within 6 inches at 100 yards. The Pro Hunter FX also offers a variety of barrel options, including a 20-inch fluted barrel with a 1:28 twist rate and an 18-inch blued barrel with a 1:48 twist rate.
10. The Frontiersman: Nosler M48 Patriot
The Nosler M48 Patriot is a straightforward, no-frills rifle that performs like a champ. With beautiful lines and handcrafted quality—like that of all Nosler rifles—this gun was built for hunters who want to get out and cover miles on rugged terrain. The barrel is finished with a Cerakote coating to protect against the elements, and the stock has a Dura-Touch Armor coating to make sure you don’t lose your grip even when it’s wet.
On top of looking great and performing well, the Nosler M48 is an award winner. It claimed the awards for “Best New Rifle” at both the 2016 SHOT Show in Las Vegas and the 2016 NRA Convention in Louisville.
Which Is the Best All-Purpose Rifle Caliber for Deer Hunting?
Hunting deer has been around for centuries. These days, for example, there are many new and exciting things for deer hunters to consider. Calibers come in all shapes and sizes – .22LR, .308, .357 SIG, .44 Magnum – so which is the best of them all? In response to this question, it depends on a lot of things: where you live, what type of hunting you want to do, and even the type of deer you plan on hunting.
Here are some suggestions to get you started. Get a rifle that is tailored to your purposes. For example, if you will be using it for hunting in a forest, make sure it is versatile. Be sure to buy a rifle suitable for the type of hunting you want to do. For example, if you’re going after elk, then an AR-15 might not be appropriate because they have thicker skin than deer do. As far as your needs go, try out as many rifles as possible before settling on one
What Is the Most Popular Deer Rifle Caliber?
As deer hunting season approaches, it’s natural to consider the best rifles to use. Today we’re going to look at the most popular rifle calibers used by deer hunters—and we’ll see which is the most popular. If you want to know what the best caliber is for deer hunting, look no further than this guide. We’ve culled data from numerous sources to find out what the top 10 calibers are for whitetail deer hunting in North America.
According to our research, approximately one in five deer hunters uses a .30-06 Springfield as their preferred caliber. Of course, there are lots of other great rifles on this list: .243 Winchester and .270 Winchester are very popular among hunters as well. Other popular deer riffles are listed above.
If you’re looking for a great caliber to use when hunting whitetail deer, any of these rifles listed here will work just fine – it all depends on your personal preference and what kind of terrain you’ll be in during the hunt.
Final Words
These days, there are a lot of rifles being designed and produced to assist in efficient deer hunting. While there are some common traits that cross-over from rifle to rifle, many new models and calibers have been introduced over the last decade. Thankfully, the popularity of deer hunting has not diminished with time, and archers continue to see the sport as both an enjoyable hobby, and a worthwhile means of rearing food for their tables. With the help of our website, you can be able to find the best deer hunting rifles!