A few questions on hunting cartridges.

[Curly]

If you're looking at $1,000 including optics, for a new gun, you should consider a Weatherby Vanguard or Savage rifles.........maybe Tikka.  Vanguard is good if you're thinking 300WM or 7mm mag since it is a little on the heavy side.  With the heavier weight, felt recoil will be less than in the Savage. 

If you go the Savage or Tikka route, I'd suggest the 30-06 or even better the .270.  

[C-Money]

I don't know what kind of guns you folks are shooting, but I sure feel a difference in recoil! The 7mm kicks harder than the '06 and the 270, and the '06 a bit harder than the 270 in my experience. All are tolerable. Don't get caught up in the MAGNUM name that follows the 7mm Rem Magnum. The 7mm is not that far ahead of the other two. I have all three, and my 30-06 goes hunting with me more than any other! The 270 is second, and the 7mm , tho it shoots great and is a perfect fit with fine optics, stays home almost always. Accurately Hit game where they live, and stay tight behind the front shoulder to lessen meat damage. Shoot quality bullets and any of the three will work great.

[Crunchy]

Yeah during deer season when Im rifle hunting I often think of buying a lighter gun, cause the 7mag gets heavy. 

[Stevo539]

For performance the 7mag would be my choice. 

For ammo availability and cost the 30-06 would be my choice.

The 30-06 is plenty capable of taking anything wandering the lower 48.

As far as ruining meat, shot placement is key.  All three will ruin a lot of meat if you hit the wrong spot.  Train yourself to shoot right behind the shoulder (on deer/elk) and the only thing you'll ruin is rib meat.  No biggie.

I wouldn't try the "work my way up to a larger caliber" unless you just want an excuse to go buy another rifle in a couple of years.  Which is actually a pretty good idea. 

[jackelope]

unless you just want an excuse to go buy another rifle in a couple of years.  Which is actually a pretty good idea.

never a bad idea.

[fishseeker]

I hunted for 25 years using a 308 for deer and a 300wm for elk. Both Ruger 77s. As I got older I got tired of the weight and kick of the mag. Sold the Mag and bought a .06. Lighter and less kick(my Black Shadow Mod,70 weighs 6.5lbs less scope and stuff). It does kick with 180s but not bad. Evey elk I have shot with it are just as dead as the ones I shot with the mag. Never needed a follow up shot. Have a Win md. 88 that kicks like a mule with 180s,Kills elk just as dead! I don't shot long range, I just get closer

[mhadix]

personally i use a .308.
i good quality .308 properly sighted in and using premium ammo will put a thumping on anything in north america well into the 700 yard range.
the one i use was made for competion shooting at 1000 yards, so i wouldn't hesitate to take a shot at big game 500-700+ yards if i felt the need to. but i like getting closer, if you can stalk hunt up to an animal without it detecting you and pull off a good shot under 30 yards, to me that's more satisfying than a long range shot.

[Redstar]

Thanks for the help

I shot a 7mm and 06 back to back this weekend. They're pretty similar from what I could tell. Hits at 250 yards were pretty easy with both and recoil was about the same. The 7mm also had a leupold on it, wow that thing was clear!

Ammo for the 7mm looks to run around $10 more per box, but there was a lot more of it avalible localy than .30-06 last Friday - I thought that was kinda weird.

Still a tough call between the two, I think I'm going to check out a .308 before I make up my mind.

[Redstar]

I got my rifle. Now it's time to practice.

Thanks for all your help!

[C-Money]

Redstar, great caliber choice!! Sooo, what kind of rifle/optics did you get? Congrats!

[jackelope]

i agree..great choice of caliber...tried and true. what rifle did you end up with?

[batch]

i have had all three i would go with the 7mm if the recoil doesnt bother you too much its not too much more than the 06 but its noticible

[mtndew]

Thanks for the help

I shot a 7mm and 06 back to back this weekend. They're pretty similar from what I could tell. Hits at 250 yards were pretty easy with both and recoil was about the same. The 7mm also had a Leupold on it, wow that thing was clear!

That brings up another point with regards to the cost of your rifle/scope combination. Leupold scopes are great, but a good one is going to cost you as much, or more, than the rifle (depending on what rifle you get) My , my main gun is a Browning A-bolt in 300WSM, with a Leupold 3x9- love it!

[Redstar]

I got a great deal on a used rifle with a Simmons 3-9x scope.

The adjustment knobs on the scope are vauge, but it's good enough for right now. My only complaint with the rifle is the lack of a removable magazine (or even a hinged floorplate) to make unloading easier.

Regardless of all that, I think it will be a good starting point for me. I'm not going to cringe when I drop it, plus once I start hunting more and figure out what I actually need/want I should be able to easily configure the rifle to suit me.

[C-Money]

Savage makes a very accurate rifle. They work well. Get it sighted in and you will have a dependable rifle for a lot of years to come. I like the Federal classic 150gr ammo. Seemed to shoot the best groups and had good on game preformance in my 30-06's.