Browning’s Best Whitetail Guns & Calibers

By Ralph Cianciarulo Published on November 7th 2023

It’s no secret that the white-tailed deer is the most coveted big-game animal on the planet. The whitetails’ uncanny ability to adapt to almost any terrain, making the species huntable in nearly every state, makes it a truly extraordinary creature.

From bucks with bigger bodies that push the scale over 300 pounds in Canada to Midwest giants to bucks that rut in Florida in August, the whitetail reigns supreme.

If you’re like me, you have a whitetail-specific rifle. (Or, again like me, you have several. Don’t tell Vicki, it’s November and I’m already in enough hot water.) Whether you’re looking to add to your whitetail rifle arsenal or buy your first rifle, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite Browning makes and some of my favorite calibers for this unique big-game species.

It's Hard To Beat The .243 Win.

Call me old school, but for me, nothing says, let’s go hunt whitetails with a rifle like the classic .243 Winchester. Our favorite models for deer hunting include the BAR MK 3 Stalker and X-Bolt Speed.

When using the BAR MK 3 Stalker, Vicki and I appreciate the rifle’s compact build and lack of recoil. Weighing only 6 pounds 10 ounces, the rifle travels well with the hunter, and we like the matte blued barrel and matte black stock and receiver finish. We don’t care much for whitetail-spooking glare, and the BAR MK 3 Stalker produces zero shine. We also like the no-jam speed of this autoloading rifle and have had excellent luck with it over the years.

Another 22-inch barrel .243 Win. Browning build that has impressed us when hunting whitetails out West — both mountain bucks and those that live in rugged cedar-choked canyon country — is the 6-pound 5-ounce X-Bolt Speed bolt-action rifle.

The rifle is light and airy, and the OVIX camo pattern blends into any terrain. We love the quick 60-degree bolt lift. With the Inflex Recoil Pad, combined with the lack of shoulder abuse the caliber creates, we can stay in our optics and make quick follow-up shots if needed.

The Cerakote Smoked Bronze finish is more durable than a blued finish, and like all X-Bolt makes, there is no terrain or weather condition this do-all rifle can’t handle.

Regarding ammo, we have had excellent success with Winchester’s 100 Grain Power-Point and Winchester’s 95 Grain Rapid Controlled Expansion Polymer Tip. Both rounds group exceptionally well, and the X-Bolt Speed and BAR MK 3 Stalker produce excellent groups at 300 yards.

It’s important to note that the .243 Winchester is not an ultra-long-range whitetail caliber. We like it in areas where bottle-neck cartridges are legal, and shots are inside 300 yards.

We Like The Speed LR, Too

If the terrain or conditions tell us that our shots at a buck will make us stretch our barrels, Browning’s Speed LR chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor is what’s in our hands.

The features of the Speed LR mimic that of Browning’s standard Speed rifle. Where the LR shines is when the hunter must shoot at longer ranges. LR stands for Long Range, and the 26-inch barrel combined with the remarkable ballistics of this caliber make it a long-range whitetail winner.

Though a touch heavier, the Speed LR is an excellent choice when you know you’ll be shooting prone or off an excellent set of shooting sticks. The Speed LR chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor features a fluted sporter contour barrel, composite stock, and detachable magazine. We also love the adjustable, three-lever Feather Trigger which promises customization in spades.

The barrel is belled at the muzzle and features 5/8"-24 suppressor-ready threads that we use. A solid suppressor like those from Griffen Armament helps protect the ears and, when shooting long distance, prevents game from knowing where the shot is coming from. This is extremely important if a hunter misses or a follow-up shot is needed.

The Hunter

Browning has created a tried-and-true lineup of X-Bolt models, and while we love them all and all have their purpose, we still love our balanced, economical, and uber-accurate X-Bolt Hunter chambered in .243 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor or .270 Win.

There’s something about slipping through the woods or sitting in a blind or treestand with a rifle that features a classic, checkered walnut stock that can’t be beat. Not only do X-Bolt Hunter rifles look great, but we have had excellent success with them.

If you’re in the market for a top-end whitetail rifle that looks great, won’t let you down, and is offered in several top-end whitetail calibers, the X-Bolt Hunter is a win.

BLR Lightweight 81

Vicki and I love lever-action rifles, and we haven’t found one we love more than the BLR Lightweight 81. The rifle is drilled and tapped, but if you’re looking for an added challenge, this 20-inch barrel shooter, with an overall length of only 40 inches, features an adjustable rear iron sight.

This rifle is high on our list when hunting in thick timber, where shots often happen quickly and close. Another terrain where the BLR shines is wooded river bottoms.

Unlike most lever-action rifles, the BLR features a detachable box magazine that allows deer hunters to select magnum calibers and shoot pointed bullets. This is a huge advantage. We also love the smoothness and feel of the rack and pinion lever action, and the folding hammer has four positions: Full-cock, half-cock, the folder hammer position, and the dropped or fired position.

The rifle features a classic look with a polished blued receiver and barrel, and walnut stock with a gloss finish and cut checkering. It’s hard not to cheer all the calibers, but whitetail killers like the .308 Winchester and 7mm-08 Remington are two of our favorites when toting this lever-action beauty.

AB3 Micro Stalker

If you’re looking to save some money and still get a top-end whitetail wrecker available in many calibers that displays features like a compact 13-inch length of pull and 20-inch barrel, look no further than the AB3 Micro Stalker. This rifle is great for hunters of smaller stature, and coming in under $700, you can’t beat the price point.

Like the popular X-Bolt, the AB3 Micro has a short 60-degree bolt lift that ensures quick cycling. The barrel is free-floating, and the weather-resistant composite stock will hold up to any of Mother Nature’s many moods.

There you have it, the Cianciarulo’s favorite Browning whitetail rifles and calibers. Remember, if you’re shooting a Browning, no matter the caliber, you can’t go wrong.