Post by: Three_Oh_Eight on August 07, 2012, 07:29:46 PM
For my style of hunting, I almost never shoot further than 300 yards. I've only killed two animals beyond 300 and both were right at 400 yards. I consider that my practical maximum under perfect conditions. Some of my rifles are heavy, but great long-range shooters. Some of my rifles are really light, but not nearly as stable when shooting from field positions. I do prefer to be able to hunt with my rifle in my hands and not slung on my shoulder.
So, I'm thinking I need a sorta-light-but-stable-enough rifle to hunt deer and elk from 25 to 400 yards with the vast majority of shots in the 100 to 200 yard range. I'll most likely go with stainless because its practical. I'll eventually re-stock into a McMillan stock. I'm debating on cartridge between 270 Winchester, 308 Winchester and 30-06. The 308 makes the list because of how much 308 reloading stuff I have (I feed my M-1A, so a 308 bolt gun would be easy). The other two cartridges have been killing stuff forever and will keep doing it (though they are both boring as heck).
What do you guys think? Do you believe in "go-to" rifles? I've been following the golf club theory (you don't play a whole round with a 5 iron, so why would you only hunt with one gun?) but its getting tedious.
Post by: wadu1 on August 07, 2012, 07:40:43 PM
Post by: hillbilli on August 07, 2012, 07:45:36 PM
Post by: Three_Oh_Eight on August 07, 2012, 07:53:46 PM
The 30-06 makes a lot of sense, but it is SO FREAKING BORING. I guess it got boring from setting a standard that hasn't been surpassed in over 100 years. I recommend the 30-06 to my friends all of the time but I don't own one myself.
Post by: KFhunter on August 07, 2012, 08:04:13 PM
I'm good with that!
So to answer your question, a 30-06 will do it all very well. You can find anything from 150g up to 220g at any walmart. I'd get a removable box magazine and a good 3x9 with a pretty large objective to help find your target in the brush at closer ranges. 50mm would be good but it wouldn't have to be that big.
I carry an old interarms 30-06 mark x and have yet to miss a shot with it and it's taken a lot of game.
Post by: wadu1 on August 07, 2012, 08:14:34 PM
Post by: bearpaw on August 07, 2012, 08:43:44 PM
But for the sake of making things more complicated, I think a 280 would be better than the 06. :chuckle:
Post by: deleted BGS on August 07, 2012, 08:49:09 PM
Post by: CAMPMEAT on August 07, 2012, 08:49:58 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on August 07, 2012, 09:02:53 PM
Post by: JLS on August 07, 2012, 09:06:01 PM
Post by: Dan-o on August 07, 2012, 09:22:50 PM
I've hunted with the same 7MM Rem Mag for 0 years, and for the last almost 30 years I've known that rifle really really well. I really enjoy being able to take the shot - even a fairly long shot - with supreme confidence that I'll put the round right into the vitals. That trumps having situational rifles for me.
I did just break down and buy my 2nd hunting rifle but that was because my original finally started acting badly.
Post by: Limhangerslayer on August 07, 2012, 09:38:33 PM
Post by: Biggerhammer on August 07, 2012, 09:38:59 PM
Post by: Huntbear on August 07, 2012, 09:42:46 PM
But for the sake of making things more complicated, I think a 280 would be better than the 06. :chuckle:
There is a couple of real nice .280 Rem. rifles in the classfieds.. the 7mm bullet is great ballistically, and will kill anything from coyotes to Black Bear and Elk...
It all depends if weight is an issue, do you like long actions vs. short actions???
7mm=08 and .308 on up will do all you want...
Post by: Curly on August 07, 2012, 09:52:41 PM
1) .280 AI
2) .280 Rem
3) 30-06
4) .270 Win
Catch me on a different day, I might have those in a different order and/or I might throw in the .300 WSM or 7 mm Rem mag......... 8)
Post by: Bob33 on August 07, 2012, 09:57:10 PM
Post by: bobcat on August 07, 2012, 10:18:13 PM
Post by: demontang on August 07, 2012, 10:28:23 PM
Post by: Ducknut97 on August 07, 2012, 10:41:42 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on August 07, 2012, 11:43:00 PM
I would also really look at the 270wsm.
Post by: rebal69972 on August 08, 2012, 12:24:21 AM
Post by: blacktailcody on August 08, 2012, 07:35:03 AM
Post by: et1702 on August 08, 2012, 07:40:27 AM
ET
Post by: pianoman9701 on August 08, 2012, 07:40:59 AM
Post by: headshot5 on August 08, 2012, 08:10:29 AM
Post by: Skillet on August 08, 2012, 09:10:09 AM
Guess what I just bought as my new "go to" rifle? Tikka T3 Lite Stainless in 270 WSM. If you reload, it has pretty impressive ballistics. But if you don't reload, ammo for it has pretty impressive prices... you may want to consider that combo. Light and has a reputation for accuracy. I believe it's plenty of gun for the deer as far as you dare shoot and elk out to 400 yards with the right bullet.
I swore I would never, ever, go into the woods without enough shells to get 'er done. Always thought that "get ammo anywhere" argument was not really valid. Guess what I did last year? Spent some on a coyote and some thunderchickens. Felt a little light in the ammo dep't for the rest of the trip, so I decided to go down into Winthrop to pick up some fresh grub and shells. Damn glad I had a 30-06 instead of the 270 WSM with me that time. So, that's a thing to consider as well.
30-06 is boring, yes - but when you're looking for ammo in a small town, do you really need that kind of excitement?
Post by: woodswalker on August 08, 2012, 09:50:23 AM
Cant beat that deal with a STICK.
I DO have a 300WM and a .338WM...but I'm mostly duffing around with those.
The Winchester M-70 30-06s just flat DO the job. Hard to mess with success.
Post by: coachcw on August 08, 2012, 10:05:37 AM
Post by: Curly on August 08, 2012, 01:52:12 PM
Post by: FC on August 08, 2012, 02:34:01 PM
With the quality of today's reloading components, if I was buying a rifle to fit your criteria I'd buy a .270 and shoot Barnes TSX bullets into anything I wanted to hunt in the lower 48. A 30-06 is absolutely fine also.
:yeah:
I would get a stainless tikka t3 lite in 270 and shoot Barnes bullets...Oh yeah, I already did/do!
Post by: Kowsrule30 on August 08, 2012, 03:38:07 PM
I'd reccomend something in the 7mm-.300.... Magnum or not.... Don't matter..... For what your set up is and the guns you mentioned I'd say the 06 is more practicle.... :twocents:
Post by: JLS on August 09, 2012, 09:32:00 AM
I have a couple of 30-06's (one is probably going to be the subject of a 338-06 build), a 7 Mag and a 25-06 as my long guns.
Guess what I just bought as my new "go to" rifle? Tikka T3 Lite Stainless in 270 WSM. If you reload, it has pretty impressive ballistics. But if you don't reload, ammo for it has pretty impressive prices... you may want to consider that combo. Light and has a reputation for accuracy. I believe it's plenty of gun for the deer as far as you dare shoot and elk out to 400 yards with the right bullet.
I swore I would never, ever, go into the woods without enough shells to get 'er done. Always thought that "get ammo anywhere" argument was not really valid. Guess what I did last year? Spent some on a coyote and some thunderchickens. Felt a little light in the ammo dep't for the rest of the trip, so I decided to go down into Winthrop to pick up some fresh grub and shells. Damn glad I had a 30-06 instead of the 270 WSM with me that time. So, that's a thing to consider as well.
30-06 is boring, yes - but when you're looking for ammo in a small town, do you really need that kind of excitement?
I have a .338-06 that I had rebarreled about 13 years ago. I love it. The best bullet I found for it is the Barnes TSX 185 grainer. I've shot a pile of elk with it, and the performance is excellent.
Post by: sticky on August 09, 2012, 12:45:43 PM
With the quality of today's reloading components, if I was buying a rifle to fit your criteria I'd buy a .270 and shoot Barnes TSX bullets into anything I wanted to hunt in the lower 48. A 30-06 is absolutely fine also.
I agree, but I'd go 30-06 and say a .270 is fine too. ;-)
Post by: 1bugman on August 09, 2012, 12:57:03 PM
What ever you choose, I like Stainless and synthetic. Not as pretty to look at, but will hole up to the elements better.
Post by: PlateauNDN on August 09, 2012, 01:16:07 PM
Post by: Three_Oh_Eight on August 10, 2012, 08:11:22 AM
I got a new M700 XCR (the original one) in 7mm Rem Mag. A little longer than I wanted, a bit more recoil too. But heck, whatever. It will kill stuff.
Post by: pianoman9701 on August 10, 2012, 09:40:34 AM
So, I picked up a new rifle that I hope will fill the bill. I went to a local gun store and was going to buy a Remington M700 SPS Stainless in 30-06. I don't have any stainless rifles and consider them "beaters" in a way. So, what would make a better beater than that? Then, the guy behind the counter says, "Hey, I ended up with a couple of NIB M700 XCRs in 7mm Rem Mag that I need to get rid of". So, I bit.
I got a new M700 XCR (the original one) in 7mm Rem Mag. A little longer than I wanted, a bit more recoil too. But heck, whatever. It will kill stuff.
Post by: webbspinner on August 14, 2012, 09:14:46 PM
I have become a fan of my 338 wm, but have a 7mm and a 300 as well as 270 and 30-06, any will do the job but if I had to just keep 1, it would probably be my 300 or my 06, just for ammo options. All that said I've killed more mule deer and whitetail with a 25-06, which i regret ever parting with, and all my elk with my 7mm and all one shot flops with the ole 7.
Post by: Three_Oh_Eight on August 15, 2012, 10:19:01 PM