So I took an AR to axis deer hunt this weekend, SMH...

[KCHAR]

...as I am a newb to deer hunting I didn't know it would be frowned upon. Anyway, I'd like to get something for varmint hunting. Something for coyote, pig, anything that moves in the night, etc. What would you suggest for $1000 or less?

[YALE]

Your AR should be fine for varmint hunting. Buy a deer rifle.

[KCHAR]

Your AR should be fine for varmint hunting. Buy a deer rifle.

What deer rifle would you go with? The AR was borrowed fwiw......

[Sleeper]

Tikka t3. Around 549 and a hell of a deer gun. Ive got one in 308

I suggest a set of talley rings for the scope so add 50 bucks.

[matts5.0]

an ar10 variant.

[Craizie]

an ar10 variant.

That gets old after about 20 minutes of carrying it.

[BlackGT]

Tikka T3 would be a great gun! .270, .308, 30-06 would all be good calibers. Mine is a .308 and it is my main hunting rifle for larger game.

[Moose242]

Was it frowned upon because it was "tactical" or the caliber was too small?

[dee]

Was it frowned upon because it was "tactical" or the caliber was too small?

I would bet it was a combination of the two.

[YALE]

Tikka t3. Around 549 and a hell of a deer gun. Ive got one in 308

I suggest a set of talley rings for the scope so add 50 bucks.

Wouldn't be a bad way to go.

OP, My primary suggestion would be to to go finger blast a bunch, and see what feels good.

[Pewter Y2K Z28]

Was it frowned upon because it was "tactical" or the caliber was too small?

.223 is a bit light for Axis, but I hate when people catch crap for using AR's for hunting.

[Sleeper]

I feel kansas fucked up last year. If its center fire you can hunt with it regardless of size. The guy i hunt with hunted with a .223 and got lucky as hell tp cut the windpipe in half.

[Baron Von Crowder]

My family place in arkansas always had at lease one SKS being used to hunt whitetails. I remember many times there were several.

[KCHAR]

Tikka t3. Around 549 and a hell of a deer gun. Ive got one in 308

I suggest a set of talley rings for the scope so add 50 bucks.

holy shat, there are like 10 different versions of the T3, then about 20 different calibers. Head is spinning. Id like a flat shooting gun, if i put my cross hairs on it id like it to hit it, not have to worry about shooting above it due to the weight dropping it over distance. Do I need a bull barrel? 25-06 suffice or would you go larger? Deer, pigs, varmint usage.

[YALE]

.25-06 or .243 would be fine, and could be used for varmint duty, too.