NEED ADVICE FOR NEW GUN

[Curly]

from DakotaMan wrote 26 weeks 6 days ago
The 7.62x54R is a famous old cartrige. Adopted as the service round for the Russian Army in 1891, it has lasted over 100 years. Many Mosin-Nagant rifles chambered in it have been made available as miliaty surplus. Some shoot better than others. Some shoot well enough to be a hunting rifle. The cartrige is more comparable to the .308 Winchester than the .300 WSM but it is a formidable deer cartrige when loaded with hunting bullets rather than with full metal jackets. Depending on how yours shoots, you might consider hunting with it. If you are happy doing nothing more than putting an inexpensive fixed 2 1/2 power scope on it, I would give it a try. It will probably shoot fine for timber hunting out to 150 yards... maybe more if you have a good shooter. I don't think the recoil is any worse on a Mosin-Nagant than with any other comparable rifle weight in .308. What is different is the muzzle blast... with most military loads they are just scary loud because that is a lot of bullet to fire in such a short barrel... consequently, it is very LOUD and has a big muzzle blast and flames from lots of unburned powder. They aren't too pretty as a hunting rifle but the deer won't know the difference from the most expensive .308 on the planet when hit in the boilerhouse with a good 150 grain hunting bullet going 2900 fps.

Mosin Nagant

[Pathfinder101]

I have a buddy who keeps a Nagant permanently stationed on the dashboard of his jeep as a backup brush gun.  NOT his primary deer rifle though...

[LRshooter]

howa 1500 in 30-06. costs around $400

[Huntbear]

Well, am going to say something that will get all you 06 and 270 people going.  I can not stand them.  If I am shooting a long action it is gonna be a magnum.  Why shoot a long action non magnum when there are short action calibers just as good, but more powder effecient?

.308 will keep up with an 06 with 150 & 165 gr. bullets.  If I need bigger, I pick up my .338.   If I need something to shoot fast and flat, I shoot my .257 AI.  Short calibers, pushing bullets just as fast, just as accurate, and just as deadly on deer and elk.

Best all purpose caliber?  .300 WSM  Short Action, Better ballistics than an 06.

just my    flame on.

[bobcat]

A 308 will not keep up with an '06. It's impossible. The 30-06 holds more powder. the 308 isn't far behind, that's for sure, but then the 30-06 is also just a c-hair away from the 300 WSM velocities. If the 308 is just as good as the 30-06 then the 30-06 is just as good as the 300 WSM.

[high country]

Well, am going to say something that will get all you 06 and 270 people going.  I can not stand them.  If I am shooting a long action it is gonna be a magnum.  Why shoot a long action non magnum when there are short action calibers just as good, but more powder effecient?

.308 will keep up with an 06 with 150 & 165 gr. bullets.  If I need bigger, I pick up my .338.   If I need something to shoot fast and flat, I shoot my .257 AI.  Short calibers, pushing bullets just as fast, just as accurate, and just as deadly on deer and elk.

Best all purpose caliber?  .300 WSM  Short Action, Better ballistics than an 06.

just my    flame on.

no flame, I just think it is ironic that you would dislike the 308 and like the bob.....afterall the bob has nothing on the 2bit-06......let alone the 257roy.


6.5-284........the original short fat with big potential

[elkaholic123]

300 win mag or 300wsm

[Huntbear]

Never said I do not like the 308.  I prefer it over almost any deer round.  I said it is as good as an 06 with 150 - 165 bullets. 

[Mudeater]

A 308 will not keep up with an '06. It's impossible. The 30-06 holds more powder. the 308 isn't far behind, that's for sure, but then the 30-06 is also just a c-hair away from the 300 WSM velocities. If the 308 is just as good as the 30-06 then the 30-06 is just as good as the 300 WSM.

+1, well said, cant add a thing.

[Curly]

Well, am going to say something that will get all you 06 and 270 people going.  I can not stand them.  If I am shooting a long action it is gonna be a magnum.  Why shoot a long action non magnum when there are short action calibers just as good, but more powder effecient?

.308 will keep up with an 06 with 150 & 165 gr. bullets.  If I need bigger, I pick up my .338.   If I need something to shoot fast and flat, I shoot my .257 AI.  Short calibers, pushing bullets just as fast, just as accurate, and just as deadly on deer and elk.

Best all purpose caliber?  .300 WSM  Short Action, Better ballistics than an 06.

just my    flame on.

Best all purpose..... .300WSM?  That may be true if you're strictly looking at ballistics.  But if you take a look at other variables such as cost of factory ammo and availablility of ammo, it's hard to argue against the 30-06 or even the .270.  For a guy that doesn't reload, I think the .270 or 30-06 would be better than the .300WSM if he wants to get a lot of shooting practice in and not break the bank doing it.

[Bob33]

"SOMETHING THAT WON'T BREAK THE BANK"

That criterion favors more common calibers such as 308 and 30-06.  You can buy Core-Lokt ammunition on sale for them for under $20.  The WSMs are great but will cost more to shoot, for the most part.

If ammo cost and recoil are not a consideration, then I would lean towards a 300 magnum (either WSM or Win Mag).

[C-Money]

For all around in Washington, or the west for that matter, go with a .270win, 280, or a 30-06. Plenty of ammo choices, plenty of rifle choices. Weatherby Vanguards are fair priced! P.S. you dont need a Magnum!

[Thenewguy]

I think everyone here is way overlooking the middle of the road gun here, 7mm-08. A little more punch then a .270 but ALOT flater shooting then a .308 or .06

[bobcat]

The 7/08 doesn't have any more "punch" than the 270, and is NOT flatter shooting than the 308 or 30-06. Well, with the right bullet it could be slightly flatter shooting than the 308, but not any significant amount. And definitely not flatter shooting than the 30-06. That's impossible, the 30-06 is a longer case with more powder capacity, which translates into more velocity.

[Thenewguy]

The 7/08 doesn't have any more "punch" than the 270, and is NOT flatter shooting than the 308 or 30-06. Well, with the right bullet it could be slightly flatter shooting than the 308, but not any significant amount. And definitely not flatter shooting than the 30-06. That's impossible, the 30-06 is a longer case with more powder capacity, which translates into more velocity.

The 7mm-8 is a higher caliber (granted not a ton) so it does had a slight amount more "stopping power" then a .270. If the guy is a new shooter, flinching and the like will cause him to be significantly less accurate with the higher kicking .308 which has little gains over a 7m-08. This is even more apparent in a 30.06 although the fps gain is more extreme.

I was shooting my 30.06 with 180 gr (yes i understand it is a bigger bullet, but isn;t that the real advantage of an .06?) at a velocity of 2700 at 100 yards which is reduced to 1726 at 400 yds. With my -08 I shoot 2850 at 100 and 2170 at 400 yards.

I know that personally, I am less likely to flinch and have been incredibly more accurate, out to longer distances, with a 7mm-08 then a 30.06. Each person will have their own preference and results. But this is my experience