Looking for ideas on a compact deer rifle

[goalie]

So what barrel length is he shooting? AR style platform or traditional rifle?

Also what ammo?

The 12.5" bolt/barrel combo from PSA for under $200 on sale. Shooting AAC Black Tip from PSA.

He had fun building and painting it.

 

[RobertLosekamp]

What length barrel is that? It’s a pretty neat looking rifle. I’d probably go the 308 or the 6.5 creed. Although the 44mag would be cool.

I think it was 16.5"~

 

[waspocrew]

As others have mentioned, I think you have some great tools to use already (300 BLK, Tikka 6.5 CM).

If you look around, you can find a used Sig Cross in 308 (18" barrel) for a decent price.

 

[The_Dinkmaster]

I have a Q Fix and love it. Im glad that i bought it even if it is just chasing whitetail, but if i did not want to spend that much i would get the Bergara Ridge SP. Its a nice compact rifle with an 18” barrel. Mine is a 308 and shoots great.

I like this option. SW has an 18 inch barrel 308 for $900. Its a little heavy is the only drawback

 

[Rock’N Tacos]

Howa Mini 20” in 6 ARC…

 

[The_Dinkmaster]

OP, back to your post #21. You say clearly the shot was good. You found two drops of blood at 40 yards. I'm not necessarily saying the shot wasn't good however something doesn't add up. If you put a hole through the vitals at that range the animal is dead.

I know, Nothing is impossible. I clearly hit the deer. Hopefully I just grazed it, and it was a bad shot, and the deer lived. I just have a hard time believing that I made that bad of a shot at that distance given how well the rifle has shot on the range. Stranger things have certainly happened, dont get me wrong.

But it left a sour taste in my mouth toward 300blk on a deer. If it had been a giant deer I may have pawned the gun that day.

 

[The_Dinkmaster]

Had one of those in .300BO, neat little things. Wish I hadn't sold it but I'll probably pick one up again in a different caliber.View attachment 959974View attachment 959975

Love this foldable stock option. Definitely going to look into this. Did you have to modify it any to make it work? A quick google serach shows Midway USA may have the stock adapter, but Im on my work computer and the firewall wont let me look

 

[Crcusmonky]

Sharps brothers makes the adapter. Midaway does sell it as well.

CVA Grip with -1913 Picatinny Interface (Black)

Exceptional Designs. Exceptional Craftsmanship.

sharpsbros.com

Farrowtech makes one as well but I liked the sharps better


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Q_Sertorius]

This has probably been asked a million times on here, but I’m looking for ideas to get a light, compact deer rifle I can use hunting whitetail in the Eastern big woods. Something like the Q Fix is the idea.

Here’s the caveat: not looking to break the bank. Spending $1500-$2k on this kind of rifle seems silly just to pack around after 120 inch whitetail that I’m probably going to shoot sub 100 yards.

I’ve thought about using the AR platform and using something like a 6.5 Grendel with a short barrel and foldable stock, but I’m a little hesitant using that round. Just not convinced it has the “oomph” needed, even at distances around 100 yards or less.

Anyway, I know there are a lot of experts here, so just looking for ideas or opinions on what a practical solution to this would be. I have a disability, so a lighter, compact deer rifle would be huge for me. Thanks.

I’ve used a CZ 527 in 6.5 Grendel to kill a couple of whitetails at 40 and 160 yards. The Hornady factory loads with 123-grain SST and ELDM are lethal. My 18” PAC-NOR barrel averages 2509 FPS with Hornady Black.

Depending on wind and stability, I’d happily take a shot with that rifle out to 400 yards.

 

[Keb]

If you are wanting to keep it simple and cheap, I would look at the CVA SB (like a couple of others noted). Good value and depending on which caliber you pick a 16.5 to 18" barrel. I have hunted in both the East and West and have owned and used both a .223, .243 and 6.5 -- personally i prefer either the 243 or the 6.5 for hunting. Just a little more oomph. My 223 spend most of the time in the cabinet but gets pulled out for target practice and/or working on mechanics for new shooters.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I wouldn’t write off a caliber because of that. I’ve had some odd results from 45-70 as well. And I don’t think it can be argued that it was due to lack of oomph.

Precisely. I shot a nice buck with a .45-70. It was a high lung shot at about 150 yards (my absolute maximum range with that rifle). I tracked it 400-yards in wet leaves with never a drop of blood until the last 10 yards. If you hunt long enough, you will see a range of outcomes. Especially if you are hunting in woods or timber, where shot opportunities can be fleeting.

 

[RobertLosekamp]

Love this foldable stock option. Definitely going to look into this. Did you have to modify it any to make it work? A quick google serach shows Midway USA may have the stock adapter, but Im on my work computer and the firewall wont let me look

No modifications at all. If I recall correctly it's one bolt to attach the sharps bros grip adapter and another one or two for the stock. Ezpz

 

[schmidty3]

Precisely. I shot a nice buck with a .45-70. It was a high lung shot at about 150 yards (my absolute maximum range with that rifle). I tracked it 400-yards in wet leaves with never a drop of blood until the last 10 yards. If you hunt long enough, you will see a range of outcomes. Especially if you are hunting in woods or timber, where shot opportunities can be fleeting.

4570 is overrated. It just doesn't create the same amount of damage of a high velocity rifle.

My bias against it comes from my dad shooting a doe 400+ yards away...bullet went thru the doe, 100 yards of woods, 300 yards of field and landed right next to me....turns out he gut shot it and we never found it.

Another anecdote... I center punched a doe with a 500 s&w rifle, she kept running, dad put a 60 gr vmax from his AR into her shoulder and she did a front flip.

Big slow bullets just suck at killing stuff. They make a hole not a soup. I prefer to make soup.

 

[Fabel.52]

Just shot a deer this morning 40 yards away with a AR15 suppressed 16" 223 with 73 Eldms. ran 15 yards and dropped. The bullet did exit and there was a good bit of blood. I would not do a large frame AR as they are so heavy. A 6 arc would be cool and that will be one of my future builds.

 

[CJ_BG]

The biggest buck you could think of encountering is gonna be 12-14 inches between the back of the ribs, and more like 7-9 inches behind the shoulder. 16 inches of penetration gets you well into both lungs from any angle you can actually reach them both. An AR in 223/6 arc/6.5 grendel will be fine.

Alternatively either go with a tikka/howa ultralight or if you wanna keep it really budget get used gen 1 american in whatever you feel like.

 

[Boltgun]

Buy whatever you like, but I can assure you, a 12.5” 6.5 Grendel with 123gr SST’s will absolutely wreck deer. Mine dropped over 15-20 deer and 50+ pigs? It has the whallup.

It also makes a handy carry rifle, and is pretty dang lightweight.

 

[liv3mind]

Took more than a couple whitetail last year with a 10.5 AR and 73eldm. Longest at 180y performed fantastic. Makes for a very compact, lighter, very capable setup.