John Johnston is a retired sergeant detective who served with the Austin Police Department for 25 years and was a licensed gun dealer for 25 years. He now lives in Lampasas County and can be reached via email at olsingleshot@gmail.com. It is that time of year when a lot of folks are shopping for a deer rifle. What is "best" is basically a personal choice. You can ask your friends, read magazines, watch television shows or go to the range to help make up your mind.

Quite frequently I am asked what I look for in a deer rifle. I get to shoot a lot of rifles in a year -- from brand-new ones not even out to the public yet to rifles 30 years old. So I thought I would offer a list of what I look for in a deer rifle, in priority order or as close as I can.

• Accuracy is a must for me. It promotes confidence in the rifle, thus making good clean shots easy.

• The trigger needs to be adjustable. I prefer to adjust all my hunting rifle triggers to 2-2.5 pound pull.

• It must be reliable and smoothworking. This applies to all types of rifles. It is frustrating to be out hunting and have a problem with the gun.

• Caliber is important, but not as important as some may think. If you cannot shoot a rifle accurately, it does not matter what caliber you use. A Magnum caliber cannot substitute for a well-placed shot of a smaller, less powerful caliber. A lot of hunters will try going to a Magnum if they lose a deer, but in all likelihood the shot was bad.

My favorite deer cartridges are in the 6mm to 6.5mm range. This is all you need, and these rifles typically are very accurate.

• Composition is really the shooter's choice. Stainless steel is nice but not totally rust-free. There are several parts of a rifle that are not stainless and need attention. Wood, laminate and synthetic stocks each have their advantages and disadvantages.

Coming from the old school, I tend to appreciate a fine piece of walnut and a bright blue. All rifles need to be properly cleaned on a regular basis.

If I have a choice, I like to have a clip-fed rifle. These are the easiest and safest rifles to load and unload.

Whatever you choose, take your time and spend some time at the range. Make sure your ammunition is correct for the rifle and barrel twist. Remember, not all ammunition is good for deer hunting. Check the boxes or ask the salesperson.

Your first deer rifle will always be special. Take your time and find what is right for you.