Need Advice for All Around Caliber / Rifle

[oldhoward]

Hi, I live in Texas and shoot the same game. I use a 300 Win. mag. does it all. Try one before you buy it, it may not be your cup of tea. My son bought one it is too much for him so he uses a 7x57 to 400/500. My other son has one also but prefers a 25/06 and shoots to 400/500 yards. For Elk 25-06 would work with good bullets if the range is kept in mind.

Oldhoward

 

[Syncrowave]

If you do not reload, a 270 or 30-06 are going to be hard to beat.

+1

Jack O'Connor made multiple single-shot kills on moose at 600+yds with the 270 shooting the standard 130 gr bullet.

My memory is not what is once was, but I sure don't remember Jack O'Connor as being a "shooter" rather than a "hunter." Could you provide me with the article or book that you rely on for your statement?

I think it's called "The Rifle Book." A pretty good read, by the way, if somewhat dated.

 

[JimT]

If you do not reload, a 270 or 30-06 are going to be hard to beat.

+1

Jack O'Connor made multiple single-shot kills on moose at 600+yds with the 270 shooting the standard 130 gr bullet.

My memory is not what is once was, but I sure don't remember Jack O'Connor as being a "shooter" rather than a "hunter." Could you provide me with the article or book that you rely on for your statement?

I think it's called "The Rifle Book." A pretty good read, by the way, if somewhat dated.

I have that book, what page(s) contain the description of the shots you reference?

 

[birddog1]

One gun for everything
Pre prefix or early prefix rem 700.
30-06
Ammo everywhere
Shoots better than the new 700's
Will kill anything
End of discussion
Thank you

 

[normmatzen]

7X57 or 7mm-08.

These rounds will reliably kill any North american game out to 400yd if reloaded correctly.

Plus, they are light and have low recoil and MANY bullets are available.

 

[LoganDon]

As a hunter for over 55 years and having killed a large number of deer and over 30 elk I have used almost every caliber. After all these years, I now use a 270 for everything. With the new bonded, copper, or Nosler partion bullets, a bull will go down without a struggle.

 

[effendude]

Years ago, my wife bought me a Cooper Phoenix single shot/synthetic stocked rifle in 6.5-284 fro Christmas. I had never had a custom rifle built before and was just getting started with F-Class using something more than one of my OTC rifles. I had heard about the 6.5-284 and wanted one very badly. I used the rifle half heartedly for some league shooting but it wasn't really stocked correctly for F-Class. I did fall in love with the cartridge though. The rifle has shot everything from prairie dogs to a very large Alaskan bull moose in North America. I shot 5 wolves in Alaska with it in 2013 and that was the only time the single shot was a slight hindrance. The rifle performed well on plains game in Africa as well. The rifle is a joy to shoot, virtually no recoil, and the 6.5-284 shooting 130 or 140 gr. bullets has a very flat trajectory. I plan to build one for my wife soon as her featherweight 300WSM is pretty to look at but not to shoot.

Any cartridge listed above will work fine, but get something you will enjoy shooting.

Scott

 

[CJ6]

Any cartridge listed above will work fine, but get something you will enjoy shooting.

Scott

Yes , This says alot

 

[searcher]

Not sure what boundaries you have set for a "hunting weight" rifle. That weight thing could be another whole debate. If looking for lightweight - I'd look at the extra weight in that particular rifle - as opposed to one, say, in a short action. The 7MM Mag is what I use in a few rifles and I love it - but you do carry around extra weight that could be lost without much reduction in cartridge effectiveness. Everything is a tradeoff. If I were starting over, I'd probably look at the 300 WSM, 6.5 Creedmore or .280 Remington. I'd probably stick to a caliber that I "could" get factory ammo for if ever needed - such as in flying to a hunting destination where ammo on a plane could be a problem if lost. As such, I'd not look at wildcats or Ackleys, as great as they are.

 

[Valar]

30-06 or 308 both excellent choice. of shelf amo consistantly available. for a great optic without going broke i like a nikon buckmaster or weaver Kaspa 3-12 or 4.5 to 18 in a buckmaster/ I own both. decent glass hold zero and tracks very well. watch for a sale on the optics and you can definatly do a decent hunting rifle for under a grand! Take your time and shop! I like remington but not a thing wrong with savage. I have yet to try a ruger American yet! Good luck

 

[Drossz]

280AI - 284 -7mm saum all great choices

 

[BradMT]

If you are really hunting elk, then get a Magnum for that, when you need to.

Huh?

 

[kev77]

If I was going to have exactly ONE rifle for all that you are asking about, I would opt for a .280Ackley. Brass is easily obtainable and fireforming is a cinch! It is VERY flat with 140 class bullets and with 160gr projectiles it will flatten an Elk!
I have never shot an Elk, however, I spoke extensively with an Elk guide in New Mexico one year. It is his opinion that a "regular" .280 Rem is the perfect Elk rifle for most shooters. Turn that "perfect" Elk rifle into an Ackley improved and you have "more of the same"..

The 280 AI will do it all and the some. Moose too

 

[hogan]

Under $1000 w/o scope?

Gonna be shooting elk are ya? Rio Grande mule deer or them big muthas up coalorado way? Them coalorado deer are pretty big; them elk too... But then you got Big Deer in East Texas; well maybe 140lbs to a bit more. Got your Hill Country deer, about like some tiny African antelope. Not much on them, especially in drought years.

Not much under $1000 these days. Heard about them Forbes rifles selling for $1600 and you get a real ER Shaw barrel for your 16 large. Imagine that! Damn! What does a Shilen or Hart barreled rifle go for???


Know what, Tex? Start haunting the pawn shops. Last time the oil bust thing was in high gear, I bought a Steyr .30-06 Pro Hunter w/dbl set triggers in .30-06 with a Leupold 3.5-10x A/O for $600 including tax! Gun was likely never fired. Try them pawnshops in good neighborhoods. Betcha find all sorts of deals.

What's a good rifle to choose?
Hard to beat a .30-06 for versatility. More ammo loaded for it than any other rifle chambering. Always gonna find it at the grocery store 65mi out from Montrose CO. Might not have much other ammo, but they gonna have .30-06...

All the boys here got a lot of great suggestions.

Truthfully, you can kill anything in Texas with a .223rem. Most of E. Texas was poached-out using the .22short... All about bullet placement when you gotta be stealthy...

Getcha a .30-06 bolt action, a Lee Loader and a Sierra loading manual and learn what really makes a rifle tick. Shooting your own ammunition is The Ticket to shooting success and happiness!

 

[WindSurgeon]

.308 or 30-06. If you have any inclination to shoot anything larger than a mule deer, then go with the 30-06. In a pinch you can get 30-06 ammunition in any small town at the hardware or grocery store across America on any given day.