Twice a year Rock Island Auction Company holds one of its massive Sporting & Collector Firearm Auctions in our 86,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art auction facility, with thousands of firearms available of every make, model, type, genre, era, and nationality you can think of. With hunting seasons coming up just around the corner, why not point out the top 5 deer hunting rifles available for bidding in our upcoming October Sporting & Collector Firearm Auction? These 5 rifles will have you set for deer hunting everywhere from the deep north woods of Maine to the senderos of Texas, and everywhere in between.

#5 - Lot 3114: Winchester-Tooley Custom Model 70 Bolt Action Rifle with Scope

If the senderos of Texas or the open country of the Great Plains is where you go for deer hunting then you need a rifle capable of flat, accurate shooting for a long distance. This custom built Winchester-Tooley Model 70 rifle should more than do the trick. Chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum, you will be able to find a factory load or reloading recipe that is capable of a single point of aim trajectory out to 300 yards and still maintains over 1000 ft.-lbs. of energy at 1000 yards. With a custom stock and barrel it will also have the accuracy to make the bullet performance count at those extended distances.

#4 - Lot 4789: ArmaLite-Noveske AR-10A4 Semi-Automatic Rifle

While many people like to claim that no one needs an AR to shoot a deer, the fact is that the AR platform is one of the most popular hunting rifles in America today, and for good reason. The modular design that has made it so versatile to military and law enforcement, has also made it customizable to each hunter’s needs and preferences. While the AR-15 in 5.56 or .223 is often considered too small for many deer applications, this AR-10 in .308 Winchester is just right!

#3 - Lot 592: Winchester Model 94 Lever Action Carbine with Box

Being in production for the last 126 years, it is no wonder that the Winchester Model 1894 (later shortened to the Model 94) is one of the most popular deer rifles of all time. While it was offered in many various calibers over the years, the Model 94 is most widely recognized in the .30-30 WCF chambering, as this lot is. With quickness and maneuverability, along with a heavy, slow bullet, these carbines are often considered a heavy brush aficionado, but they are up to the task in any situation under 200 yards.

#2 - Lot 488: Prins Attributed Custom Springfield Model 1903 Bolt Action Rifle

Before the custom gunmakers of today started producing their own actions, most custom bolt actions were built from surplus military actions, both foreign and domestic. This particular rifle was purportedly built by Herman Prins of Holland, Michigan utilizing a Springfield Armory Model 1903 and used by him and probably the most well-known gun writer of the 20^thcentury, Elmer Keith. Their mountain goat hunt together is highlighted in Keith’s book, “Elmer Keith’s Big Game Hunting.” Chambered in the venerable .30-06 and topped with a Zeiss scope and a period leather sling, this rifle is ready for the deer woods. The lot even has a copy of Keith’s book to read about the legendary adventures the rifle has already been on, while you embark on new ones of your own.

#1 - Lot 3086: Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Bolt Action Rifle

If a hunter had to choose one rifle to be able to do it all, it would likely be a Winchester Model 70 with the pre-64 action and it would likely be chambered in .30-06. Both of these are absolute icons of the hunting world because of their proven reliability and versatility. There isn’t an animal in North America that cannot be brought down with one of the many bullet offerings available in the .30-06, but when it comes to deer, the 150-grain and 165-grain bullets are by far the most popular. This particular lot is the featherweight version of the Model 70 and while it was not as popular at the time as its bigger brother, today’s hunters can appreciate shedding a few pounds in the deer woods.

Hunting season is just around the corner, and Rock Island Auction Company has got you covered. With thousands of firearms and hunting rifles at your finger tips, this auction will not be something to miss for the avid hunter. Join us for the October 7th-10th Sporting & Collector Firearms Auction to see more hunting and sporting rifles than you could dream of. We can't wait to see you here!

As always, of there are any questions about the bidding process, registration, or consignment, please do not hesitate to contact us or follow this helpful link!