Next Rifle to Buy?

[10XSHOOTER]

A .300 Win Mag With a 180 Nosler Accubond will kill anything in North America.
.300 Win Mag ammo can be found in any gun shop!

 

[7br]

.25/06 can be alot of fun. You already have a .45/70 that is capable of covering a spectrum from heavy thumper to mild plinker if you’re a handloader and especially if you’re a bullet caster. Same applies to the awsome .375 H&H.

 

[MClark]

375 H&H
One planet, one cartridge.
An elephant gun is like a parachute. When you need one no other tool will work.

 

[alintx]

375 h&h is fun to play with. More of a big shove than a kick. Adequate for coyotes to rhino

 

[Just Say Moe]

338-06! Cup and core for deer, bonded or partitions for Elk/moose.

 

[msalm]

375 H&H
One planet, one cartridge.
An elephant gun is like a parachute. When you need one no other tool will work.

Other than availablity of components as a drawback, I’d prefer a 375 Ruger myself. Very well designed cartridge.

 

[LHSmith]

From PA but not a hunter? How did that happen? .223 bolt action, plain jane 6 BR fast twist, the Swede over the 30/06 for the nostalgia fix.

 

[358WCF]

All these new WSM-bang cartridges are fine until there's another of whatever that mess that started in 2020 was. There is so much 308 & 30-06 brass of all flavors around that I wouldn't even consider any of that boutique stuff without stocking it deep & high. SAUM seems to be something of a contradiction in terms... like jumbo shrimp.

If it was me, I'd be looking at a 25 Souper or a 280 Ackley because everything below is already in the safe. Take a good look at 338 Federal or 358 Winchester. I grew larger & older in PA & the 358 was outstanding on deer. If you want a little more HP for bigger animals, there's the 338-06 or 35 Whelen. They can all be handloaded to very useful velocities with a proper bolt gun, & in a pinch are easily made from 308 or 30-06 brass.

 

[Mark W]

Everyone should have at least one 30-06.

 

[ben-o]

Currently have 22r, 223ar, 6bra, 6.5cm, 7-08 and 45-70. Not currently a hunter, mainly range/target shooter, but deer, elk and moose hunting are on my bucket list. Live in northeast and am an avid hand loader. Not averse to recoil and enjoy load development. Looking for suggestions on good caliber to add to my collection.

Thanks.

308 win or 30-06 fills the most obvious gap. If you want something more unique, I’d look at .338 fed, 35 Rem, 358 Win, and 35 Whelen.

 

[grantre72]

From PA but not a hunter? How did that happen? .223 bolt action, plain jane 6 BR fast twist, the Swede over the 30/06 for the nostalgia fix.

Yea, a real anomaly, I know.

 

[ELR LVR]

Currently have 22r, 223ar, 6bra, 6.5cm, 7-08 and 45-70. Not currently a hunter, mainly range/target shooter, but deer, elk and moose hunting are on my bucket list. Live in northeast and am an avid hand loader. Not averse to recoil and enjoy load development. Looking for suggestions on good caliber to add to my collection.

Thanks.

22 BR - every shooter needs at least one
284 Winchester / 8 twist (perfect long range hunting and competition rifle)

 

[grantre72]

Everyone should have at least one 30-06.

Collection just seems incomplete without an 06...

 

[ogre1911]

From PA but not a hunter? How did that happen? .223 bolt action, plain jane 6 BR fast twist, the Swede over the 30/06 for the nostalgia fix.

Yah fer sure der Swede.

Keeping my peeps safe and DRT'ing moose for 130 plus years and one of those inherently accurate cartridges.

 

[Hipshoot]

All these new WSM-bang cartridges are fine until there's another of whatever that mess that started in 2020 was. There is so much 308 & 30-06 brass of all flavors around that I wouldn't even consider any of that boutique stuff without stocking it deep & high. SAUM seems to be something of a contradiction in terms... like jumbo shrimp.

If it was me, I'd be looking at a 25 Souper or a 280 Ackley because everything below is already in the safe. Take a good look at 338 Federal or 358 Winchester. I grew larger & older in PA & the 358 was outstanding on deer. If you want a little more HP for bigger animals, there's the 338-06 or 35 Whelen. They can all be handloaded to very useful velocities with a proper bolt gun, & in a pinch are easily made from 308 or 30-06 brass.

^^^^^^ This plus a 7mm/08!

 

[SteveOak]

I can't believe no one said 6.5 PRC or 7 PRC.

 

[joshb]

How’s your eyesight? I bought an old 03-A3. It’s a fine gun, a collectable that will appreciate, not depreciate in value and it’s an ‘06. Really neat old gun!

 

[Oso]

I can't believe no one said 6.5 PRC or 7 PRC.

I was thinking the same thing. Isn’t the PRC effectively the update/replacement for the WSM cartridges.

 

[SteveOak]

7 PRC has pretty much the same case volume as the 7 Rem Mag, but has a much better case shape.

Not sure about the 6.5 PRC although I will have on in November.

 

[nakneker]

If your an avid handloader then your list to choose from grows, fun! Improved cartridges are a lot of fun, yes you have to fireform the brass but most fireform loads are pretty accurate so I’ve never counted that as a disadvantage. 223 ackley improved is night and day vs the standard 223. Same thing with 243, 257roberts, 6.5-06 improved is a fun one. The 338-06 is one of my favorites, it’s not far behind the 338 win mag. I just delivery of one this summer after my cousin had to have my last one. It’s a good one and leaves a big hole but doesn’t recoil like a 338 win mag.

Smaller calibers like the 20s are a lot of fun, different world than the 22 caliber cartridges. My current favorite is the 20-222, you simply neck a 222 down to 20 caliber. A 204 is a great factory option.

Big cartridges are fun, especially if your trying to ring steel at a mile or 1k. It’s just fun to develop a load for those big dudes and see what you can do. They buck the wind so much better and can be very very accurate despite being large. 338 Lapua improved is one I like but even the standard 338 Lapua is fun. Same with the 300 Norma mag.

You have a 45-70 which is like having 20 different cartridges in one, the amount of bullets to choose from is endless. Load it big, load it small, whatever makes ya smile. Try that big beast with a suppressor and get your load under the speed of sound and it becomes mild and enjoyable for anyone, it’ll bring a smile to your face!

The fact that you handload broadens the horizon. Lets us know what you do.