Stephen Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Hey guys, so I'm in the market to purchase my first hunting rifle for this upcoming deer season and wondered if anyone had any experience with the Savage axis .270 or Marlin XL7 .270? I almost bought the Savage Axis up at Gander Mt today for a good price of $279. It seemed to have great reviews for the inexperienced hunter, but got less than desirable reviews from the experienced crowd. I found a used Marlin XL7 for $299 and I'm thinking about jumping on it. New ones go for about $400. Seems to have a better trigger and stainless steel barrel. Any thoughts? I'm open for other suggestions if anyone has any on some other rifles <$400. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Weatherby vanguard or remington 700 would probably be my picks. Even the entry level rifles are going to be really good guns. I believe you can find them for right at $400. I have not shot either of those you listed so can't comment directly. You might see if any of the shooting ranges have models you can demo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 BMG .50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 BMG .50 That might be pushing it for the little dog sized deer around here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ct67stang Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 +1 on remi 700. its like the 1911 of rifles. very reliable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaggedfire Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 I'd go 700 if I did it again. Have a mossberg atr in a 270 and is still a good rifle. Just don't expect quite the trigger on the lower models. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esacjack Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 weatherby, winchester, remington are my rifles of choice for the field. you pay more up front, but my weatherby has never FTF'ed. Kimber/Browning also is worth mentioning. I've had a few savage armaments, and don't have any complaints aside from the quality of their OEM stocks. If I were you, I would visit the non-reefer ARC. Austin Rifle Club, and check out what the guys are using out there. Pay attention to those that are having issues with muzzle lift, jamming(FTF), etc... take notes... it'll save you a world of hurt later... I still use my fathers Winchester 30/30 and 30-06 (REM 770) for game clearing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esacjack Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Oh, and above all.. the scope is going to cost the most, unless you're billy-badass with open sights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 BMG .50 That might be pushing it for the little dog sized deer around here. Not from extreme distances! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ct67stang Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 BMG .50 I shot an ar50 and OH MAN!! what a gun. we had a javalina that was killed and we hit it at 150yrd and well you can only imagine.. not much left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Grog Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 and I like my 1930's Mosin. Kicks like a mule but gets the job done. Red dot only, no scope as I didn't want to spend $ on turning the bolt down. Have a .270 that I've never fired. May do that this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offroadodge Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I have a Savage 270 that I bought when I was 18 and it has been threw all the trials and tribulations, shoots great with just your average off the shelf Remington corelock bullets. I have tried nice ammo like Hornady and hand loads and my gun just shoots the best with the corelock. For the deer here in Texas anything from a 223,22-250,30-06,243 will be fine. The other thing is that I haven't shot a deer with a gun in over 7 yrs, im one of the luck ones that gets to start deer season this weekend. Its SO much more exilerating to shoot a deer with a bow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ct67stang Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I keep hearing about the "little deer" here in texas.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsea Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I use a .243 bolt action Remington Model 700. The Leopold scope cost twice as much as the rifle. In my opinion, the .243 is the best all around varmint gun that I have ever used. At 500 yards, it belongs to me. Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I keep hearing about the "little deer" here in texas.... {style_image_url}/attachicon.gif 198033_570922672924081_1003075999_n (2).jpg They are like poodles. I've got a 27 point on the wall. Dressed out at 375. I like the spread on that rack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I keep hearing about the "little deer" here in texas.... http://www.austinreefclub.com//public/style_images/master/attachicon.gif 198033_570922672924081_1003075999_n (2).jpg They are like poodles. I've got a 27 point on the wall. Dressed out at 375. I like the spread on that rack Yeah, gonna need to see proof of that before believing you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I keep hearing about the "little deer" here in texas.... http://www.austinreefclub.com//public/style_images/master/attachicon.gif 198033_570922672924081_1003075999_n (2).jpg They are like poodles. I've got a 27 point on the wall. Dressed out at 375. I like the spread on that rack Yeah, gonna need to see proof of that before believing you. I'll get it next time I'm at that house no problem. It came out of southern Illinois on our old farm. The doe up there are larger than the bucks in Texas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jestep Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Pretty much every whitetail we've gotten here was 150lbs max. Back in Colorado almost everything I've ever seen was 300+, mule deer though. They definitely taste better here. I guess tree bark and sage brush for 6 - 9 months of the year doesn't lend well to flavorful meat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ct67stang Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I keep hearing about the "little deer" here in texas.... http://www.austinreefclub.com//public/style_images/master/attachicon.gif 198033_570922672924081_1003075999_n (2).jpg They are like poodles. I've got a 27 point on the wall. Dressed out at 375. I like the spread on that rack im kinda cheating since this guy is a mule deer. white tail ARE much smaller. but at the ranch I worked we fed year round so there were some big white tail. I got some pics yall might appreciate. might post later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Turns out my brother had a pic. Here it is with a dollar bill for scale. White tail buck 27 points. And in pope and young book, forgot exactly where. I'll see if I can dig up a field pic later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb in Austin Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ct67stang Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 SWEEET! was he in a free roaming ranch or a fenced one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 SWEEET! was he in a free roaming ranch or a fenced one? Thanks they all free roam up there. No fenced farms really. And no rifle season/feeding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bige Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 That's a purdy deer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherita Posted September 29, 2013 Share Posted September 29, 2013 Nice pics y'all! I shoot a Savage .223 with open sights. Yes, I AM a billy-badass with open sights And remember folks, bullet placement trumps both mass and velocity (who can name the author of that quote?) I do a lot of brush hunting. so a huge amount of knockdown power is just not needed. However, when needed, the .223 can reach out and touch something. It's a very flat shooting gun, but not a lot of punch once you get out there a ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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