Two rifles only

[CTK]

I have a 6.5x47 hunting rifle and a 280Ai hunting rifle. Both are full custom and done by highly respected gunsmiths. I am limiting myself to 2 big game rifles. If a new one comes in, one has to go. I shoot no varmints as I live in the Southeast. I occasionally go west for mule deer and may get the chance at Elk next year. Would a 28 Nosler bring any fundamental improvement to my game out west? Recoil is bad enough to make a brake a practical necessity? I am not a big fan of brakes. In my formula, the 280AI would have to go. The 280ai is my current go to for long whitetail field hunting. Realize the Nosler could fill that gap but may be major overkill.

 

[JRS]

Your 280AI, with the proper bullets, will get the job done on any North American big game.

 

[Sniper338]

Keep the 280ai. 28 nosler aint worth it.

If you want/need more boom, throw your 2 gun rule out the window and build a big 30 or 33 cal

 

[joshb]

Why the 2 gun rule??? That just sounds WAY too restrictive. Even a 20 gun limit would would be too few, in my book. Life is short. Enjoy yourself more. Just my feelings.
What you have is fine but:
Doesn't everyone have to own a 300 Weatherby?
A nice lever gun in 45/70 has it's place.
Need a 6.5x55. Can't let the Europeans have all the fun with that dandy cartridge.
I could go on, but you prolly catch my drift. I gave up my "50 gun" limit a while ago.

 

[Carolina Man]

Keep the 280ai. 28 nosler aint worth it.

If you want/need more boom, throw your 2 gun rule out the window and build a big 30 or 33 cal

I have a 6.5x47 hunting rifle and a 280Ai hunting rifle. Both are full custom and done by highly respected gunsmiths. I am limiting myself to 2 big game rifles. If a new one comes in, one has to go. I shoot no varmints as I live in the Southeast. I occasionally go west for mule deer and may get the chance at Elk next year. Would a 28 Nosler bring any fundamental improvement to my game out west? Recoil is bad enough to make a brake a practical necessity? I am not a big fan of brakes. In my formula, the 280AI would have to go. The 280ai is my current go to for long whitetail field hunting. Realize the Nosler could fill that gap but may be major overkill.

What you have pretty much all the bases. Including Africa except the big 5. My personel choices is the 270 Win and a 30-06. Been using them for close to 50 years. Haven't found anything much better. Tried the big 30s and other then a lot more noise and recoil they didn't kill any deader.

 

[drover]

I have lived and hunted elk in the West all of my life, I have used a variety of calibers, 243, 7x57, 270, 30-06 and I can tell you with confidence that either of the two rifles you own now will work just fine for elk. However keep in mind that I am talking about distances within a reasonable range of 100 to 300 yards, if you are planning on 700-1000 yard shots then you need a large magnum. For all practical purposes the 280AI would be my choice of the two you have only because it gives a bit more energy if you do take a longer shot.

drover

 

[moorepower]

I have lived and hunted elk in the West all of my life, I have used a variety of calibers, 243, 7x57, 270, 30-06 and I can tell you with confidence that either of the two rifles you own now will work just fine for elk. However keep in mind that I am talking about distances within a reasonable range of 100 to 300 yards, if you are planning on 700-1000 yard shots then you need a large magnum. For all practical purposes the 280AI would be my choice of the two you have only because it gives a bit more energy if you do take a longer shot.

drover

I will give you just one. 7mm RM. Any listed but the .243 would be a good choice for up to ELK. FYI I have 4 .243's so I am not a hater.

 

[drover]

I should have been clearer on the 243 - I do not recommend it for elk, I have seen quite a few taken with it and have done so myself but they were very selective shots. I have the opportunity to hunt all season long and can pass shots that are iffy because I will have more opportunities, but if I were an out of state hunter on a limited time hunt I would certainly use something bigger with more energy - the perfect shot that is required for a 243 doesn't always present itself.

drover

 

[CTK]

I am probably going to do a new build on the 280ai. Everyone has confirmed what I pretty much knew and needed to hear. This will be my 4th 280AI build. I am not immune to the irrational rifle acquisition bug. I just purge regularly. I own 3 22lr rifles and one 17hmr. I rarely shoot them but somehow justify keeping them. I now feel the need for a marlin or Winchester lever 22lr and possibly a suppressed Kidd 22lr. Thankfully the double shotgun bug has only mildly hit me. That bug can cause marital dissolution. I have successfully avoided the "black gun" acquisition disease and only own one "combat" pistol, which I never shoot. I technically also own a youth 7mm-08 but do not count it in my two rifle formula.

 

[K22]

I hunt varmints, predators, and white tail deer in the east. I could get away with one if I was pressed. The 243. I have been gradually consolidating calibers trying to simplify my reloading and inventory of components. Currently I have three caliber, 223, 243, and 308.

In your case I believe you could get away with a 30-06 with a 24" barrel. My ex boss was born and raised in Wyoming. His entire family were avid elk and mule deer hunters. They hunted in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. All of them used 270's or 30-06's.

There's an older guy at our club who had hunted extensively in the west. He has taken several mule deer and a few elk with a Remignton out of box Model 700 in 308 using Nosler Partition bullets. He's an exceptional field shot and practices a lot.

I shot the 06 extensively in the 70's and 80's. The 06 recoil is not light but it's not a shoulder breaker either. With a good recoil pad such as the De-cellerator it's tolerable. The 06 with 165 Nosler Paritions is a formable game stopper. It's a good balance between velocity and punch.

 

[CTK]

I like nice sporting toys. Cannot justify or afford getting too deep of in any one sub category. Even a modest hunting and fishing gear arsenal is big bucks. Bow and accessories, rifles/scopes, binos, rangefinder, spotting scope, waterfowl and upland shotgun, stream and saltwater fly rods, reloading equipment and supplies, fly tying equipment and supplies. I try to buy the reasonably best stuff available. Keeping to two big game rifles not only allows for cost but helps keeping down the clutter which can take over my hard earned "man room".

I agree that one 30-06 could handle all of my big game needs.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have one rifle. Its a 28 Nosler Your definately fine with the 2 you have. But the 28 is my favorite hunting cartridge. Mild recoil, the best ballistics until you get to a 338 Improved. Accuracy and ease of tune that reminds me of a 6br. I love them.

Just depends on how far you want to shoot. It gets windy here in the mountains.

 

[msinc]

......I am limiting myself to 2 big game rifles. If a new one comes in, one has to go........

Help me fellow forum members as I put on my silver healing glove and lead you in prayer for this poor lost and distraught man!!!!!

Dear lord, help this man to regaineth his sanity. Punish him no more lord......for his mind is filled with lunacy and he knoweth not of what he spaketh!!! Lord please help him to climb the ladder, for long...and hard is the way that leadeth up from the darkness and into the light....of owning all the guns one can. Help him to rectify the err of his ways and not blasphem no more...and if by chance lord this terrible condition was brought about by some female witchery strike her down lord with fierce vengeance so that she may not commit this terrible thing on no man...ever again...

Can I get an AMEN?????

 

[17VLD]

AMEN brother MS!
Since your in the preacherin business,would you pray for me?
I have the opposite problem,I just had to buy my 4th gunsafe a Fatboy64
With my own money,please pray now that no other guns come along,I'm running out of room,and I don't want to build a bigger house!
Matt

 

[msinc]

AMEN brother MS!
Since your in the preacherin business,would you pray for me?
I have the opposite problem,I just had to buy my 4th gunsafe a Fatboy64
With my own money,please pray now that no other guns come along,I'm running out of room,and I don't want to build a bigger house!
Matt

Buddy if I could fix that problem I would have long been praying for my damn self!!!!!!!

 

[Intheshop]

All bolts....

.223,7-08,06,until either Alaska or Africa...then "maybe" a 416?This coming from the last pew(first one to the door).

 

[Doc W]

If I was limited to two rifles it would be 30-06 and 375 H&H. Both will pretty much do it all.

 

[tmx199]

The 280ai is great! I narrowed it down to 2 hunting rifles my 7mm -08AI in a mod 7 gun is 6.5# with scope for East coast deer hunting and the exotic sheep and goats I want to hunt. For out west I have a rem 700 in .300wby!

 

[CTK]

I will say that the two CF rifles I currently own are the best shooting rifles I have ever owned. I now am interested in the new Bighorn CRF hunting action. My Borden 280AI is a laser but really like that new Bighorn action. My 6.5x47 is on a Bighorn push feed action. Part of the fallacy with the one in and one out program is that I might replace a known shooter with a mediocre shooter.

 

[CTK]

Keep the 280ai. 28 nosler aint worth it.

If you want/need more boom, throw your 2 gun rule out the window and build a big 30 or 33 cal

A 300 Ultra Mag would be my choice if needed it. I will never shoot a Brown Bear and cannot afford a good Moose hunt. So I really don't need it despite how cool it would be to have such a rifle.