I live in Colorado so i hunt Elk and Deer and some Pronghorn the question i have is why rifle to buy.?

Question

I need to purchase a rifle for hunting season and i am not sure what gun or caliber to shoot there are so many choices so just trying to see what others think.

Why Because i ask this question does everyone think i am a n00b to hunting/shooting i just hear different things from everyone that i know like go 7mm WSM, go 30-06, 25-06, 270, 270 WSM, Now with Ammo like the LeveRevolution make Guns like the 45/70 444 Marlin and 450 Marlin become options for range and Knock Down Power. I just wanted to find out what people thought and i appreciate the info so it looks like 30-06 is most peoples choice and for that i thank you. FYI i shoot a 30-30 Marlin Lever Action i shoot 150 Grain Standard Ammo for target and for Hunting i shoot 160 Grain LeveRevolution Thanks again.

Answer 1

Bound's hubby here:

Sounds like you are a beginning hunter/shooter with little experience, or enough smarts to not be a Monday morning quarterback!

I think your best choice, to develop marksmanship, build skill, and the ability for the much desired 1 shot kill, would be the Remington 700.

For cartridge, I would highly recommend that you consider the .30-06 Springfield. Being from Colorado, I think you will have more opportunity for a long shot (to perhaps 500 or 600 yards). The '06 will handle the game you describe, with ease! While you could go with the .308 (my personal choice in my 700 Varmint), I think the .30-06 will give you the edge in performance that would help overcome your potential lack in marksmanship skill.

I would strongly recommend a fixed power scope such as a Leupold or Weaver in 6 or 8 power. Fixed power scopes are reliable, and you you have a consistant sight picture ... basically the KISS principle ... something experienced hunters will usually agree with!

Good luck!

Answer 2

remember, the more powerful the ammo you get, the more it will recoil and the more each box of ammo will cost. Someone is sure to mention the 30-06 and it is a fine case. However, the 30-06 spawned a whole family of cartridges using the same case. One such 'child' of the 30-06 is the 270. It is the same case just with the neck resized to taker a slightly smaller bullet. What this does is reduce the recoil a bit and makes it a flatter shooter. Plus the .277 bullets that it takes tend to have better sectional density so even though it has a tiny bit less power it actually utilizes that power better and gives equal or better performance than a 30-06 unless you are hunting grizzly bear or something. I think a rifle in 270 winchester would be what you need. I suggest getting a Remington 700 in 270

Answer 3

I would also look into the 25-06 as a good all around cartridge. It's based on the 30-06 case, necked down to a .25 caliber. You do lose a little energy, but gain improvement on trajectory and velocity. It has less recoil than the 30-06 and that may help with accuracy on your part as well depending on experience. It's plenty of gun for deer and pronghorn and with proper shot placement and bullet type will be potent for elk. Any experienced elk hunter will tell you that shot placement is key. A bad shot even with the largest of cartridges still means a long chase.

Answer 4

It sounds like your a beginning hunter, which is great! I have hunted since I was a boy, and I have shot many, and own many calibers of weapons, but I always recommend the 30-06 caliber for people who want a weapon to hunt several different types of game. The reason for this is, the 30-06 has a wide array of bullet weights that can be used, which varies from 125 gr., all the way up to 220 gr. I would suggest a 140 gr. bullet for hunting antelope, 150gr. to 165 gr. for deer, and the 220 gr. for elk, and bear. The 30-06 has been around for a very long time, and has proved over these many years to be a very versatile, and reliable weapon.

Answer 5

I know you should get more technical answers here however since I hunt alone some times,I like to know I have my trusty Remington 30;06 -700,BDL ,and in the event I happen to come across something huge that dont like me being there,I can count on it comming down.ie Bear,Moose--- I might add that I later attached the magazine clip attachment, now I can have my spare magazines,however I usually end off using the warm bullet thats in my pocket simular to Bounds comment at the end about the Rem.700 being a good one shot gun.By the way,using the bullet from your pocket and slipping the bolt back inserting the bullet is almost noiseless providing you have time.

Answer 6

Typically the pronghorn shots are going to be farther out, minimum caliber would be .308. The ideal caliber in my opinion would be the .375 H&H magnum. Ammo is more expensive for the .375, but you can reach out farther and still have enough knock down for a clean, humane kill.

Answer 7

I live in N.M. and the most prefered weapon for deer elk and pronghorn is the 270 or 308. I have used both and the 308 has a better knock down power.

Answer 8

i have used my ruger m77 in .270 to take down elk deer and pronghorn. it has killed more game then anything else i own. but i think more importantly then caliber is your comfort and ability with the rifle. find something you can carry, shoot and hit with. price is also a factor. i would recomend finding someone with the style of rifle you are interested and see if you can borrow it to test them out. then decide.

Answer 9

for the distances you will be shooting, the size of your game, it is hard to beat the tried and true 30-06,

Answer 10

Your going to be shooting at a great distance don't forget a good scope