Sons rifle choice ?

Sort of missed my big trip this year.  But got a great substitute.  Whole male side of the family (10) is going deer hunting in North Carolina for a week.

My son hunted a lot but has drifted more to shooting, skydiving, and triathlons. We're all pretty excited; first time my two brothers and I will each be hunting with our grown sons at one time.  Beside the actual hunting, the cabin time will be great.

My son is coming up to my place for a wedding an I asked him to pick a rifle out of my deer rifle rack.  I've been speculating what he would pick.  Thought some of you hunter/cartridge/rifle nuts might like to take a guess.  He has yet to chose.  So the playing field is open.  Moose lives close to my kid so I may have to exclude him, but I think Moose is on vacation now.

Pick 3 guesses.  I plan to let him take two to the range to shoot before his final choice. I omitted the inappropriate rifles, the 416 and the military will stay in the case.

Hunt is all tree stands with half the blinds in wood lots the other over cotton or bean fields, longest shot on prior trips to this place was 300 yds with lots of 200, and lots of 80 yards shots.

BEAR

This could be interesting.  Because there is going to be a "right" answer.  The question is "the son's choice".  For the record he is a smart kid (works as a research engineer).  He has hunted and killed many deer.

  If there is one thing I've taught him it is only bullet placement matters, and if you want to catch fish you better be in the place in the lake where the fish are.

Recoil shouldn't be a problem, but I'm sure he is focused on accuracy (he wouldn't pick the 416  or anything that big).  He is 5'11", weights about 160#, runs 10 miles a day, bikes 15, and swimms a mile every 3 days.  On weekends he teaches and skydives about 8-15 jumps.  He is in better shape than I'll ever be (or was...lol)

BEAR

well glad to see you drop the 243 in favor of the 7x57.  The 257 bob and 7x57 are the same case only .017 difference in the mouth.  One of the reasons I don't particularly like the 243 win for big game is, it is the hyped cartridge that killed the commercially successful (and better) 257 Roberts.

I can do 2 miles on the treadmill.....but running in the sun is a LOT different to me....even with my new plumbing!

BEAR

Bear;

I picked the .257 Bob in the poll & found out it wouldn't let me list another two.  So, out of the ones listed in the poll, my personal choices would be:  1, Da Bob!  2, Ruger #1 in 7 X 57.  3, The Marlin .30-30.

Almost put the double 8 X 57 in there, but considering hauling the thing up & down a stand & possibly needing to rapidly swing it onto a target, the weight considerations forced me to drop it.  But boy it sure would be cool to say you took your deer with a double rifle.

900F

CB

We use pull up ropes, camo parachute cord.  So the weight isn't a problem (guns are open and empty  when we pull them up),

the weight thing isn't a problem in stands and like I've said before the quick handling issue isn't a problem.  We take lots of time for the one shot.  I've used the 8mm double before from tree stands in the south, never a problem.  The fast second shot can be a big advantage because you can shoot two a day  ( and we usually do).  Only one buck a day so you can wack a buck and then take a big doe that is trying to "figure out what is going on".

I actually did one of my right shoulder and then shot one left handed off to my left about 65 yards.  I just had to do the double!

BEAR

PS both were one shot kills and that was the first time I really appreciated what an outstanding deer rifle the 8x57 is  ( 175 grain bullet in front of 42 grs IMR3031 )

BEAR... also, if he goes with the .338, I/we can reload for it.  I do not have dies for 7x57 or .257 Bob.  If he does want to go with the .308, I can reload for that too though.