What is your favorite tree stand rifle?

[allstajacket]

I hunt Michigan whitetail from a tree stand on state land. Longest possible shot from my usual spot is under 200 yards, and most shots are between 15 and 80 yards.

I currently mainly use my model 70 EWMB in .308, with a SiCo Harvester Evo.

The 22” barrel plus can is manageable, but I also wonder if something shorter would be nicer.

This year I added a Browning Xbolt 2 speed in 7PRC with a 20” barrel, but honestly the 2” difference really isn’t all that noticeable. I know 7prc is a bit overkill for my use, but I also wanted something in the arsenal for other future hunts out west.

A good friend uses an old Ruger 77 “carbine” in 30-06 with an 18” barrel (I think?) and that thing just feels amazing and seems like it would handle amazingly well in a tree stand.

This has got me thinking of all the different possible ways a gun could be “better”for tree stand use. So, what do you use?


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[wind gypsy]

Usually 18” 6 creed tikka, similar circumstances to what you said. Might start with a 14.5” AR though. Main concern there would be noise loading/unloading.

 

[RWT]

Chop that barrel on the 308 to 16”. You will be much happier hunting with it. You should have good terminal ballistics for any bullet weight to at least 400 yards.

If I wanted a new gun I would look at 6.5 Grendel or 6 ARC with a 16” barrel for you use case. No recoil and more than enough speed to 300 yards.

 

[CMF]

For hunting MS, mine is an H&R 45-70 single-shot with a short barrel. It's good for our primitive season too.
I don't have to look for deer. The furthest I've shot it is about 200yd, but all of the other 15 or so deer I've shot were under 100yd. I want to put a suppressor on it.

 

[Snowwolfe]

When we lived in TN my favorite was a Mossberg 30-30 lever action with a 16 inch barrel. It killed my biggest personal best whitetail, one shot. Hard to argue with what worked for the last 100+ years.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I have a tikka 16” 308 with an AB raptor 8. I don’t get to use it much but love it, super handy and would be perfect for tree stand/still hunting thick timber.

 

[03mossy]

I am setting up a rifle for the exact same situation. I have jumped on the suppressor bandwagon and all of my rifles have 22” barrels. My favorite sentimental rifle is my first rifle, Savage 116 Classic 30-06. I bought a take off .243 barrel and had it cut and threaded at 16” to swap barrels. Overall length with the Nomad 30 should be 41”. Perfect for a tree stand or box blind.

I really thought about a Marlin 30-30 with the 16” barrel but doing this barrel swap was way cheaper and it gives life to a rifle that didn’t get out much anymore.

 

[JBradley500]

Something 16ish inches in barrel. Lately been using ultralight built AR style rifles.

 

[HandgunHTR]

These are both great "treestand" or "box-blind" guns.

With the cans, they are still shorter overall than most rifles with a 20" barrel. Top one is a 7-08, the bottom is a 308.

 

[allstajacket]

When we lived in TN my favorite was a Mossberg 30-30 lever action with a 16 inch barrel. It killed my biggest personal best whitetail, one shot. Hard to argue with what worked for the last 100+ years.

Took my first deer with a 30-30! That year I got my first deer and first buck, but he was really pushing the limits of the cartridge. It was around 190-200 yards. No blood, no exit wound. Hit him right in the heart thankfully. He ran about 30 yards still. It was raining and I nearly gave up and convinced myself I missed! Winchester Deer Season XP ammunition, I forget what grain.

With the way things have grown in that area, I can’t really get a good shot in that spot anymore so my possible shots are mostly closer, but it still convinced me to switch to the .308.

I’ve spoiled myself hunting suppressed and don’t think I can ever go back


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[tall]

6mm ARC with a 16” barrel, and a DDC LTi suppressor.

It’s light and handy. You’ll smile the first time you shoot it and realize how little recoil it has and how quiet it is.

MPBR is better than 200 yds with factory Hornady 108gr ELD-M.

If you want to save money, chop your 308 to 16”.

 

[waterengineer]

I started using a 12.5” AR last year. With a suppressor it is still easy to maneuver and I am confident in the 77 TMK beyond 200 yards.

 

[casey36]

I dont use a can on anything but do use shorter barreled rifles in a tree stand or box blind. It could be a 20" barreled Model Seven in 7mm-08, a Marlin 1895 ABL in .45-70, or a Marlin 336 in .30-30 AI or .35 Rem. All under 40" and great at normal woods range. The Model Seven is good out to 400 yards so it goes to my box blind were I have that kind of range.

 

[SloppyJ]

The more I see my son take deer with his 16" .223 tikka, the more Im convinced it might be the perfect whitetail gun. That 77tmk has performed well for over two years now for us. Legitimately little to no tracking required and its so compact that its just easy.

If I were building one for me, id probably go 6 creed with 108 elite hunters just because I like the extra HP. I shoot an 18" 6cm now. Its damn near perfect too but i dont think you need that much and I was raised shooting a 150gr 30-06 at 150lb deer.

 

[UnckleBob]

Howa Mini in 6 ARC with a 20” barrel and an AB Raptor 8 can. A clear 3-9 scope of a LVPO.

 

[handwerk]

For the last 30 years or so my pre 64 M70 FWT .270 has been in the Mn. woods with me.

 

[Decker]

Mi here. Used 30-30 for years in box and tree stand. Couple years ago switch to ar based 450 with 18” barrel with no problem. This year prob gonna with 7 mag. Needed no but I like shooting it. Soon gonna build a 6 arc for my kids and will prob hunt few times with that.

 

[cole96]

Alabama here.
28 nosler with 22” barrel and suppressed shooting 180s

300 rum with 22” barrel and suppressed

Had the fun’s built for out west but deer hunt with them too

 

[ruger35]

Short 6mm or 25CM with the eldm

 

[mtnbound]

I hunt Michigan whitetail from a tree stand on state land. Longest possible shot from my usual spot is under 200 yards, and most shots are between 15 and 80 yards.

I currently mainly use my model 70 EWMB in .308, with a SiCo Harvester Evo.

The 22” barrel plus can is manageable, but I also wonder if something shorter would be nicer.

This year I added a Browning Xbolt 2 speed in 7PRC with a 20” barrel, but honestly the 2” difference really isn’t all that noticeable. I know 7prc is a bit overkill for my use, but I also wanted something in the arsenal for other future hunts out west.

A good friend uses an old Ruger 77 “carbine” in 30-06 with an 18” barrel (I think?) and that thing just feels amazing and seems like it would handle amazingly well in a tree stand.

This has got me thinking of all the different possible ways a gun could be “better”for tree stand use. So, what do you use?


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If legal 223, if not then 6ARC or 243/6CM.