what gun to buy??

[deerhunter_98520]

alright guys im putting my 9 yr old son through hunters ed this year and giving him my first gun that i still hunt with...a model 788 rem in .243...time for me to buy me a new toy...what do you guys suggest...it will most likely be used for just deer...but want somthing big enough for elk if i ever decide to go back to rifle elk...i want a flat shooting rifle thats good out to 500 yds and i just started getting into reloading this last year

[D-Rock425]

7mm mag would be my choice.

[400out]

I say 06 great starter and finisher gun 

[Huntbear]

.338 WM.  Shoot the 225 gr. accubonds and it will knock elk flat at 500 yds.  Has way more energy and retains way more velocity than the 7 mag.  It is an elk killing rifle, and is a great long range deer gun.

[birdwacker]

270 win, 257 weatherby, 280 rem. 7mm rem mag, 270wsm,300wsm in most cases you dont need a magnum for deer but 500 yd elk the extra velocity would help even though Boddingtons longest elk kill was with a 270 win and people are killing them at 700yds with 243 and berger vld bullets.

[D-Rock425]

.338 WM.  Shoot the 225 gr. accubonds and it will knock elk flat at 500 yds.  Has way more energy and retains way more velocity than the 7 mag.  It is an elk killing rifle, and is a great long range deer gun.

either one will work just fine.  7mm will do it much cheaper if you're not reloading.  500 yards is perfect range for the 7mm.  Don't forget to look at the short mags too.

[C-Money]

I would try and get closer than 500yards, but I guess long range shooting is fun and is getting popular. For the cool "wow" factor, I would get a 270 Weatherby. Long range and plenty of power. This would lead to getting another toy( if you dont have it already) a RCBS reloading kit! Enjoy researching for that perfect new gun!

[Quackin_Archer]

After researching and asking lots of questions, I am picking myself up a Tikka T3 .300 WSM today or tomorrow 

[BOWHUNTER45]

.270 - 25-06 my 

[blackveltbowhunter]

   If primarily a deer gun why subject yourself to the recoil of a magnum. Im a 270 junky , its a perfect deer gun and I would not hesitate for a second to hunt elk with it. I dont know anything about its LR performance. I know its capabilities are far above mine and thats fine with me. 

[ICEMAN]

This is going to be fun!

.300 Remington Ultramagnum.

[elkslayer069]

+1 for the .338 you can do everything previously stated and the perfect caliber if you ever decide to venture north. 

[Fowlweather25]

Definitely a 7 mag. If you want to kill deer at 500 yards it's your huckleberry. And it will drop elk like a bad habit with the 168 gr Berger vlds.

[JimmyHoffa]

For flat shooting, 500 yds, and elk I'd suggest: .338 Lapua, .338 RUM, .338 Edge, .338-378 Wby or even go up to a .416 Barret or .408 CheyTac.

[fishngamereaper]

Definitely a 7 mag. If you want to kill deer at 500 yards it's your huckleberry. And it will drop elk like a bad habit with the 168 gr Berger vlds.

 ....excpet with Winchester CXP ammo in 160grn.

Or the .408 cheytac that hoffa mentioned.... Have shot it before...Dead accurate beyond 1500yds