Bolt action or semi-auto for deer

[Alan]

I'm old school, use a bolt action. My buddy uses an AR-10, we argue about it every season. He says quick follow-up shots matter. I say one good shot is all you need. What do you guys actually hunt with?

 

[GaryS]

I wouldn't let the deer have either.

 

[LDB]

I don't hunt but since the deer likely isn't shooting back either should work equally well. A good bolt man is about as quick as a semi-auto man. And the bolt looks better doing it as a bonus. YMWV

 

[Mike6158]

I'd suggest that he practice more

I like my bolt guns but I wouldn't refuse to use an AR. That said, I don't have to worry about over gassed or under gassed or brass flying all over the place and getting lost or beat up with a bolt gun.

 

[GaryS]

I used an AR to take a hog on a hunt in Limestone County. It wasn't ideal, but since I was traveling in from out of state it was what I could borrow.

 

[Drycreek]

I use both. I have used an AR in 6.8 to take axis does and scads of hogs but my main deer rifle is a bolt gun.

 

[bdubose]

I typically only hunt with bolt guns due to accuracy issues with older semi-autos, and I can shoot pretty fast.
I was on a doe hunt a couple of years ago and I shot 4 doe in less than 60 seconds with my bolt action 7 mag. including a reload!
But I have a friend with a custom AR-10 that shoots sub MOA - that would be my choice for hogs in the future.

 

[Old Gun]

It depends...as a landowner in the Texas Hill Country, my hog hunting is done daylight and dark, and is more of an elimination of a pest species, so an AR in .300 blackout may give me followup shots when the group bolts at the sound of the first shot. For deer, I hunt near and far, so a bolt gun gives me that ability. The bolt is accurate, has the range, and gives me the warm and fuzzies.

 

[Mike6158]

The one AR I've taken hunting is an AR10 in 8.6BLK. 1:6 twist. Time permitting I'm still working on supersonic loads for it. Subs will come after that.

 

[Deleted member 153]

I personally am a bit nostalgic The photo is opening day. I used my late father’s 1960’s Remington 30-06 simi-automatic. I feel like he is right there with me! I have never had to make a follow up shot, he taught me to always respect the animal and make a clean shot. Most of my hunting has been less than 400 yards. I’m 70 now have and have some nice bolt guns two of which I currently shoot 300,600,1000 yards in F-class competition.

Opening day 2025

 

[Raven]

Seems like I always gravitate to a bolt rifle when deer hunting. Shot my first with an old Springfield A3-03. Hooked on the bolts since.