45 replies to this topic

[RAPTOR72]

Hey everyone, new to the area (California). Been huntin shotgun/archery for whitetail in New Jersey the last six years, now want to take up blacktail with the rifle out here. Can you guys recommend a rifle for this dummy. I have never owned one and really dont know much about them. In NJ we could only hunt with shotguns. If things work-out, I plan on hunting in the Sierras. Thanks!

[mac]

I've used 3 various rifles in California. It depends on the type of country you're hunting in. One of the best rifles I used was a Remington .270. Good all around caliber & rifle. Flat trajectory for good shots at 300yds. Enough to kill a decent Sierra blacktail / black/mule mix and even muleys. I've even shot bear with it and boars. Currently I'm shooting the Benelli R1 .300 win mag - overall this is the best gun I've ever owned and shot. They are in limited production runs for that rifle. Unique design with gel padsinserted in the butt and on the plate, so it kicks like a lightweight .270 - but they're rather expensive.Another good caliber is .308 winchester - good for brush hunting with decent distance. owned that gun for 30yrs still have it to this day.Hope this helps.

[Cranky Farmer]

.243, 25-06, .270 and 308.

[Shoot-it]

I would the new 270 WSM its a hot item right now.

[ShooterJohn]

There are three basic rifle calibers you can't go wrong with. The .243, .270 and the venerable .30-06. All are excellent California deer calibers and ammo is easy to find for all of them. I like the .270 and .30-06 because you can hunt larger North American game with them. After all you might want to go bear hunting.

[RAPTOR72]

Currently I'm shooting the Benelli R1 .300

That gun looks impressive. I shot a Benelli 12 gauge back east and had no complaints. Will definately check it out with a dealer. Thanks mac!

[D-Man]

That gun looks impressive. I shot a Benelli 12 gauge back east and had no complaints. Will definately check it out with a dealer. Thanks mac!

I have a .30-06 and a .270. Right now that Savage in .270 is working great for me. Take any game in North America with it and don't need to worry.Darren

[lilwes278]

.270, .30-06, or 7mm magnum are great all-around guns with easy-to-find ammo in a variety of configurations. If bear is something that you're sure you're never going to hunt, I'd look at a .25-06. Fast & flat shooting, it will handle any of the deer found in California...

[peeker seeker]

I like them all I have killed deer with the 3oo win ,7mm mag,444 marlin,and the 308 and 25-06. the 30-06 and 270 are great cal. too . the 270 and the 30-06 will do anything in NA. But the 25-06 is becoming my pet cal. . Thumper has killed deer with 270 and a friend swears by the 30-06 but I no a guy that has taken more cal and out of state deer with the 243 than most of us ever will. It just depends on how good of shot you are and what you trust and can handle. now your really confused. I would look up the bul. on all of them and try to fire them .

[SpotandStalk]

Look into the 270 and 30-06. The brand choices (remington, savage) and models ( CDL, LS SF) will be almost endless with these two calibers. Your choices and price range of ammo will be almost endless as well. If you're really looking at the black tail hunting the 270 is more than enough and can take down anything California has to offer. Some guys might say you need a 30-06 or bigger for Elk or Black Bear, but if you hit em' in the vitals a 270 will take out a moose. Get yourself an A or B tag O.T.C and go get some of the best Black tail in the county. S&S

[peeker seeker]

.270, .30-06, or 7mm magnum are great all-around guns with easy-to-find ammo in a variety of configurations. If bear is something that you're sure you're never going to hunt, I'd look at a .25-06. Fast & flat shooting, it will handle any of the deer found in California...

I would shoot a bear with my 25-06 no problem.

[lilwes278]

I would shoot a bear with my 25-06 no problem.

As would I, but I was trying to keep in mind that 99% of his hunting has been done with shotgun. Until he gets better acquainted with rifle hunting (trajectory, windage, etc.), I wouldn't want to send him out underpowered on a bear hunt.

[Tundra]

30.06 will work for anything you might come across and you can find ammo for it anywhere.

[peeker seeker]

As would I, but I was trying to keep in mind that 99% of his hunting has been done with shotgun. Until he gets better acquainted with rifle hunting (trajectory, windage, etc.), I wouldn't want to send him out underpowered on a bear hunt.

I miss the part about never shooting a rifle much . But I dont think the 25-06 would be under gun on a Cal. bear. The 30-06 would be a better choice for a novice thoe. We could argue about what is best for ever.

[lilwes278]

Again, I agree that a .25-06 would take a bear with a well-placed shot. The reason I am recommending a larger caliber is to make up for a not-so-well placed shot due to lack of rifle-hunting experience. I'm not knocking the .25-06 (trust me, if Savage made one in stainless, I'd already have one). By the way Raptor, what part of CA are you in, and what part do you plan to hunt? There's lots of different terrain in CA, and knowing which part you plan to hunt can make a difference on which rifle you should choose...

[peeker seeker]

Im sorry. But whats wrong with the blue ones If you get one and shoot it it will be your favorite Cal from squirlle to deer it does it all very well OK I no Im alittle parshall to mine and yes I sleep with it , when the wife is gone.

[lilwes278]

...it will be your favorite Cal from squirlle to deer it does it all very well...

Shouldn't you be saying "from squirrel to bear"???

[peeker seeker]

Shouldn't you be saying "from squirrel to bear"???

I got to get one with it first But a 120 gn btsp going 2800 to 2900ft per sec. should have no trouble doing it.The guys I know who hunt with dogs use 44mags or the good old 30-30.

[Shoot-it]

I got to get one with it first But a 120 gn btsp going 2800 to 2900ft per sec. should have no trouble doing it.The guys I know who hunt with dogs use 44mags or the good old 30-30.

well thats not really hunting your shooting him in the tree then if he not dead when he hits the ground the dogs will keep him busy while you shoot him again. If we are walking around on the ground 25 caliber is not much stopping power if you want too donate yourself too the food chain go right a head. I am more in ballistics I shoot the 270 win, the 3006 drops 8 inches in 300yards still is a good round. Blacktail don't need much gun 243 would work great for coyote and deer.

[SpotandStalk]

Been huntin shotgun/archery for whitetail in New Jersey the last six years, now want to take up blacktail with the rifle out here. Can you guys recommend a rifle for this dummy.

Raptor,Your next concern should be what type of glass to put on top of your new shootin' iron. That's a ? that you probably won't get two of the same answers for! Have fun with your selection process.S&S

[peeker seeker]

Were talking Cal. black bear Maybe 200 to 300lbs.most about 150 to 250.and Im talking about 100 to 200 yards that 25 cal is not that much smaller than a 270. And Im sure he wanted a black tail deer gun and this is a pred and varment site the 243 and the 25-06 to me is a better choice. Just my thinking.

[Soreloser]

.300WSM with 150gr Ballistic tips. Enough said..Now, where were you in NJ? I was born and raised in So. Jersey

[D-Man]

Raptor,Your next concern should be what type of glass to put on top of your new shootin' iron. That's a ? that you probably won't get two of the same answers for! Have fun with your selection process.S&S

For that I always recommend a Shepherd scope. A former SEAL buddy of mine recommended it for me, and I wouldn't use anything else. Shepherd Scopes for Scott's website. BTW, I had one scope lose it's nitrogen after it fell almost a hundred feet during a sheep hunt. I sent it to the company, Scott Shepherd called me himself to verify the story and the replaced the scope free of charge. Hard to top that!Darren

[RAPTOR72]

Now, where were you in NJ? I was born and raised in So. Jersey

Born in Jersey City, raised in Lake Hopatcong. What part of south Jersey? I spent alot of summers in Tuckerton.....and guys thanks for all the feedback, I got some good direction and appreciate the help. I'm sure i will have more new posts soon with some more questions on getting started out here.

By the way Raptor, what part of CA are you in, and what part do you plan to hunt? There's lots of different terrain in CA, and knowing which part you plan to hunt can make a difference on which rifle you should choose...

I live in the bay area, Antioch. Non-existent deer huntin, but good Duck on the Delta. I am thinking to head up into the Sierras for Deer, thats a whole other topic i'm sure.

[Cranky Farmer]

So if you guys are both from NJ then you were neighbors!

[mac]

That gun looks impressive. I shot a Benelli 12 gauge back east and had no complaints. Will definately check it out with a dealer. Thanks mac!

No worries RAPTOR. It is quite simply the best rifle I've shot. The ony problem, and it's really not a big problem is that the clip is a 3-shot clip + 1 in the chamber. Again, we all strive to only take a 1-shot kill ! I also loaded this gn up with a Pentax LightSeeker scope...again was Leupold sscope fnatic until I used this - great field of view and as the name says it really brings in the light. Good luck on checking it out!

[mac]

Were talking Cal. black bear Maybe 200 to 300lbs.most about 150 to 250.and Im talking about 100 to 200 yards that 25 cal is not that much smaller than a 270. And Im sure he wanted a black tail deer gun and this is a pred and varment site the 243 and the 25-06 to me is a better choice. Just my thinking.

Personally I think Calf black bears are getting bigger - 2 years ago I had a 500yd shot at a bear that went over 600lbs. Now, it was 500yds away and I didn't personally get the scale out to weigh that bad boy, but it was the largest boar I've seen - even had a hump on the back similar to brown bear. Very unique animal. This year I shot a 500-550lbs black bear. 2 1/2 hrs after I shot, skinned & quartered - on my way working towards my group of buddies I ran into another large bear 350-400lbs (brown/blonde). In fact the smallest bear we saw just in 3-days of deer hunting was about 250lbs all within less than a 10mile sq area (6 bears total). This is probably a fluke, but where we've been hunting the past 10years not many hunters pressure these animals off of the ridge and down deep in the "hole" (as we call it) - as I can attest that getting an animal out of there is a good day's effort ---- I thhink we've average a concensus here that a .270 might be a good one to start with :-)

Born in Jersey City, raised in Lake Hopatcong. What part of south Jersey? I spent alot of summers in Tuckerton.....and guys thanks for all the feedback, I got some good direction and appreciate the help. I'm sure i will have more new posts soon with some more questions on getting started out here.I live in the bay area, Antioch. Non-existent deer huntin, but good Duck on the Delta. I am thinking to head up into the Sierras for Deer, thats a whole other topic i'm sure.

I grew up around Truckee and have hunted up and down the Sierras for 30years. I have to say honestly that over the past 5 years I have seen more larger bucks ... not sure if all this great winter weather and more food is helping or I've become a patient hunter over the years. Anything in X7a/b is awesome -- D3-5 you either have to hunt hard opening weekend or wait for weather to pull and find where the deer migration path.

[lilwes278]

Here's a tip on CA deer hunting, next year start applying for any special hunts you might want to draw for. With our point system, it could take you a couple years or more to build up enough points to get drawn for them. Personally, I've hunted D6 for over 15 years and I've been successful for the last 5 years straight.As for rifles, if bear hunting isn't your thing then I still stand by the .25-06. If you're not sure, then a .270 or 7mm mag would be good choices.BTW- The bear my neighbor took this year was just over 350lbs.

[RAPTOR72]

Personally, I've hunted D6 for over 15 years and I've been successful for the last 5 years straight.

lilwes,Is it easier to draw for D6 than say X7A? I have no idea how to go about getting in this lottery. In NJ we just went to the local sports store and just paid for the zone we wanted. People warned me it was tough to hunt out here!

[lilwes278]

lilwes,Is it easier to draw for D6 than say X7A? I have no idea how to go about getting in this lottery. In NJ we just went to the local sports store and just paid for the zone we wanted. People warned me it was tough to hunt out here!

Yes, D6 is much easier, but you still need to submit your tag applications as early as possible. Start asking the local sporting goods stores if they have tags in stock around late may/early june. Buy them and submit them as soon as you find them. After a certain date (this year was September 1st, I think) the DFG goes back and fills secondary tag applications with any remaining tags for each zone. This is usually when D6 sells out. I would suggest you go down to the local sporting goods store or Walmart and pick up a copy of the 2006 regulations. In the regulations, it shows how many tags are available for a certain zone, how many people applied for that zone, what the hunter success rate was, and when the tag quota was filled. This will give you an idea of how hard it is to get the tags for each zone and which areas are more successful than others. I'm going through the same thing myself with the Oregon regulations since I'll be moving there in a few months. It's never too early to start doing your homework. Good luck.