Rifle Choices

[bs63366]

I have just recently moved out to the Seattle area and I am wanting to do some deer elk and possibly bear hunting while I am in the area.  I am interested in what a recommended caliber is for the game that i am looking.  I have done some white tail hunting in MO, just have not gotten a chance to go after anything bigger.  Also I am looking into any areas to hunt for next year if anyone has a good spot for public hunting or know of anyone looking for someone to hunt some land.  Thanks for any help.

Kyle

[coyotewallace]

hard to go wrong with a 30-06

[JoeE]

 

[Huntbear]

any caliber from 7mm-08 through .338 WM will do what you want..

you have to make a choice, kind of like truck shopping, what do you want it to do exactly, do you reload, what features do you want. how much do you wish to spend.... then go handle a bunch of them,

[bs63366]

Ok thank you all for the help that will get me pointed in the right direction.  Any suggestions on public land that its not to hard to get drawn for a tag on?

[carpsniperg2]

Here in washington most of our tags are over the counter tags. You can just buy them and go hunt. There is permits like any bull or cow tags etc. Then you need to draw them. Every unit will have public land just some is hard to find and little acess. If you are not use to a mag cal or shooting a rifle a lot. I would look at the 7mm-08 or 30-06

[Bean Counter]

hard to go wrong with a 30-06

+1.. again.

.30-06, or the .308 or the .270. Keep your ammo costs modest and practice your shooting. 

[wence5]

hard to go wrong with a 30-06

+1.. again.

.30-06, or the .308 or the .270. Keep your ammo costs modest and practice your shooting. 

All good choices, but don't overlook the 7mm Remington Magnum. Ammo isn't much more expensive than .30-06 or .270, recoil is manageable, plus it will give you a little more knock down on the elk when he is out there at 300 yards.
BTW, don't believe those that tell you the .270 and the .30-06 are to lite to take an elk. It's all about the right load, shot placement, and marksmanship.

[nwdp]

I wouldn't worry too much about the caliber, but if you want a good all around rifle an 06 based case is hard to beat.  I would go to a couple of gun stores and put your hands on some different models and see what one you like the best.  Once you know what model you want that will narrow the caliber selection.  If you plan on hunting on the west side or packing in the cascades I would consider stainless.

[Biggerhammer]

Since your looking to hunt elk, bear and deer with one chambering. I would base it on a .30 cal bullets and choose your cartridge according to what you consider manageable recoil. There is a huge selection of quality .30 cal bullets out there. In qualified hands in most standard hunting situations a .308 Win Will get the job done, if you don't mind a little more recoil?  Then a .300 WSM OR .300 Winchester magnum would be worth looking into but there is always the tried and true undisputed standby, that has worked since almostthe beginning and there are probably more afield than the prior three mentioned all added together. The 30-06, all though I have never owned one.

[demontang]

Ive got a soft spot for the 338 cal myself I also like the 25wssm ar 

[hendog]

.308 or 30-06

[Huntbear]

If you are planning on shooting 250 - 300 yds max...   .338 Federal... it is a kick ass caliber.

[cwuwildcat]

30.06, with a 180 grain bullet will drop deer, elk, bear.

[birdwacker]

The older I get and the more I shoot Iv'e come to the personal conclusion that magnums aren't needed and a well placed shot is more important than power. With todays bullets a 7-08 or 6.5x55 swede are fine for anything hear in Wa. I would love a 6.5 creedmore . My most powerful cartidge that I own now is a 338 fed which recoils like a 30-06 and has more power. I personally would not go bigger than a 30-06 for recoil  comfort and prefer short actions rounds in the .308 family. I shoot 168ttsx in a .308win and they will go clean thru any elk deer or bear you run into around here.