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I have a pretty good idea going with a 300 Win Mag or 7mm but would like other perspectives and the best value when looking at manufacturer and price.

2006-11-28 04:16:54 · 16 answers · asked by cornfedhusker 1 in Sports Outdoor Recreation Hunting

16 answers

Bound's hubby here:

Personally, I would avoid the new generation of Short Magnums, Super Short Magnums, and Ultra Magnums ... for two reasons ... first, the availability of ammo (especially near deer camps) and second, the designers intend these new rounds to replicate the performance of the original magnums in a shorter cartridge/action.

I would strongly suggest a .30-06 Springfield or .270 WInchester for your hunt. With skill and practice, the .270 is sufficient gun for elk ... as long as the rifleman knows his limitations. The .30-06 should be the standard you go for. Any good rifle will do the job with the .30-06. Look for a Remington, Winchester, or Browning ... any of these rifles will be very reliable and affordable. Do not get cheap on a rifle and/or scope if this rifle will be either for a hunt of a life-time, or depended upon to put meat on the table for years to come!

Good luck!

2006-11-28 15:52:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2 1

I would have to second the .30/06 also. Here in Arizona we have whitetail and elk. I use a .30/06 and so do all the other hunters I know. We do take out other rifles every now and then, mostly .270s or a 7mm mag, but that trusty old 06 is our favorite. We didn't collaborate ever since I was kid that was the rifle in deer camps in AZ. It gives you great downrange energy as well as close range knock-down with out alot of recoil and it is only slower than the .300 winmag by only a few hundered fps. With good handloads or specialty ammo it can actually match the .300 Winmag, I have done it before, many times. The only thing the .300 gives you is a flat trajectory and capability to take game at really long range. Of course the 06 does this with ease, you just need more practice and see what drop your rifle and bullet weights give you. I think it is better because it doesn't recoil as much so people don't develop a flinch, if you practice even moderately with it you will learn how much hold over you will need and if you sight it in for 200 yards like I do you can shoot anywheres out to 400 and hit a deer in the vitals. I have had my guns sighted in like that and shot a deer at 80 yards and another occasion shot a deer at 350. The 80 yards, I aimed low at the heart and the bullet went through both lungs. At 350 I aimed at the lung area a bit higher towards the top of the back and it was a hit in the heart, a bit lower, but the trauma took care of the heart. The .300 and 7mm mag are fine, but kick and are almost too much. Ranges were approximate and the deer here are pretty small. A .270 or .30/06 both popular here will do fine for deer and elk and even moose. I have seen elk in my time hit by a .338 mag, a .300 win mag, and .30/06, there was no difference. My 06 and others in my party have dropped elk 80 yards out to 300. In some cases the elk ran, in others they dropped dead. There is no magical caliber or round, shot placement is key. Wait, maybe a .50 bmg. We had a guy in our party get a .338 win mag, Browning BAR safari, I have an 06 in that make and model and love it, but he was claiming it dropped elk like nothing else. After he saw my dad shoot his elk, he has backed down on his claims and his elk he shot ran 60 yards before dying! It was a vital area shot, but elk are strong and it all depends. He has now taken out his old 06 as it is lighter and says he was only testing the .338 anyways for a hunt in Alaska.

My dad this last season hit his huge elk in the shoulder at 200 more or less yards, downing it in one shot, he put another one in the heart, but the damage to the shoulder was impressive, it was enough. It matters more where you hit them and an 06 is a whole lot easier to practice with and carry in the field. I have used the .300, 7mm mag, and the .325wssm. They are fine, really nice calibers, but I can hit targets at 1000 yards with my 06, it may take a bit more work, but that is the way I like it.

As far as value a Remington 710 is a great value 06 or .270. You can also find Remington 700 or Winchester 70 used for under $400. The Remington 700 and Winchester 70 are made in tons of calibers and wildy regarded as the best. They were used in Vietnam as sniper rifles, and Jack O'Connor used the Win 70 in .270. Savage are also great guns and have a great trigger.
I wouldn't recommend the 06 if I didn't like it, its a great all around caliber and cartridge. I use a Remington 700. My dad's rifle he used for that elk and he uses still is an old American enfiled pattern rifle from WWI, sporterized with a Redfield scope. It shoots 1.5-2moa at 100 yards. Way back when, I shot my first elk with it, at 80 yards the elk ran 30 yards uphill.
Hopefully this helps you out.

2006-11-28 12:37:14 · answer #2 · answered by az outdoorsmen 2 · 2 1

30-.06. You can't go wrong with the 30-.06

I have criticized the 300 Win Mag before on these answers and I'll do it again. It won't give you any more takedown power..... it will just give you more range.....more range than you should be responsibly shooting at a deer anyways, particulary in wooded areas.

I have seen way to many macho guys jump on the 300WM bandwagon. If you are on the Yukon tundra and need to take down really big game at 700 yards you have a reason for it.

If you are in the lower 48 after elk or whitetail, you don't. Particularly in forested areas.

You become one of those characters who have their trucks lifted three feet with SuperSwampers and drive it to the shopping mall.

As long as it's adequate for the game, size doesn't make you any better of a hunter and it has some serious drawbacks. I saw a guy at my range recently cursing up a storm at his $2500 Custom ported Weatherby .300WM and $1400 Leupold scope setup. He was all over the paper. He was blaming his rig and his gunsmith....and what was really happening is he had a subconscious "flinch" like crazy and didn't even know. His whole body would tense as he pulled the trigger. That round packs a wallop, and it rattles your teeth. Not a problem if you shoot high powered .30 cal and above regularly, but for the casual and occasional shooter it's way too much.

2006-11-28 06:59:02 · answer #3 · answered by DJ 7 · 1 1

With a 300 Win Mag, you would be able to take any animal that lives in North America. The recoil may be a little much for novice shooters (I have no idea what your level of shooting experience is), but I think it is quite tolerable (when again, I weigh 225 pounds and have been shooting over 25 years).

The 7mm Mag is another excellent round. Again, with patience, you can take any animal in North America. I might be a little hesitant on taking the largest of game (Brown bear, Musk Ox, Bison), but with good shot placement it would take any animal with ease.

As others have mentioned, the 30-06 is one of the best, most economical rounds on the market. There is a huge variety of bullets and bullet weights available in factory ammo. There is still surplus ammo available for very cheap. Finally, the 30-06 is really the world's standard in rifles. You can go anywhere in the world that sells ammo and they will most likely carry something for the 30-06.

Personally, if I were to only own one rifle, I would buy a 35 Whelen, which is a 30-06 necked up to 35 caliber. The downfall to this round is the limited availability of rifles chambered in it and thre is not a great variety of factory ammo. With the heavier bullets, long distance (300 yard +) shooting is something that is sacrificed.

If you are looking for a brand of rifle, any of the major rifle brands are great (Ruger, Browning, Remington, Winchester).

If you are looking for a good value, Wal-Mart used to sell a Savage rifle and scope package for about $300 (not sure if they still do). Personally, I think Savage makes an ugly and heavy rifle, but their Accu-trigger is an excellent factory trigger and they are quite accurate (I own one myself and am not disappointed). The Wal-Mart Savage package might be for you if you are looking for something to pull out 2 days a year for deer hunting.

2006-11-28 05:12:17 · answer #4 · answered by Slider728 6 · 1 0

I too will echo the .30-06 recommendation. It is now the granddaddy of modern cartridges, 100 years old. Introduced in 1906 as a military round, no other caliber has equaled it as an American hunting cartridge.

Back in 1979, five years before I was born, my dad bought a used Parker-Hale rifle in .30-06. He was 25 years old back then. Now, 27 years later, he and his gun are a bit older but continue to echo in the woods. My dad has killed several deer and elk, all with the same .30-06 rifle. When I was nine years old, I watched him fold a deer maybe 50 yards away with it, just BOOM and it collapsed as if struck by lightning. I fired his gun when I was fifteen and big enough not to be kicked into next year. I remember being mesmerized at the sheer power of it, a pretty enthusiastic level of recoil, and the mighty echoing boom.

I grew up knowing that one day the torch would be passed. As a kid I never had the opportunity to hunt big game. I left for the Army when I was 18 and got out last summer at 22. My dad had recently secured a deer lease...time for me to buy a gun. Dreaming of future elk and bear action, I wanted something that would work for any game in North America. After some debate I bought a brand new rifle, a .30-06, of course.

I hope to eventually head up into the mountains on a hard-core elk trip and my '06 will handle whatever needs done out there. After college I would like to get a job in the Pacific Northwest. I could hunt all over the place, just hunt my butt off with my .30-06.

Much has been said about super-duper magnum cartridges. They do provide a flatter trajectory and more energy, but this is not going to help you for 90% of American big game hunting. Animals are not impressed by exactly how fast the bullet goes, or the energy numbers. The .30-06 has almost 3,000 pounds of muzzle energy and can retain over 1500 at 400 yards with a good load. This is enough to kill a bull elk with proper shot placement. Marksmanship is always paramount with any caliber you use.

This caliber is capable of taking any game in North America, and has. It really stands out with good 180-grain bullets as a fine elk, moose, and bear cartridge. Not the best choice for shooting beyond 300 yards or so, but streamlined boattail bullets can reach way out there and embarrass a 7 mag. Best cartridge ever, nothing else has the tradition, history, versatility, compromise, and popularity of the old .30-06. May it boom loudly for another hundred years.

2006-11-28 14:00:44 · answer #5 · answered by fade0246 3 · 2 1

For deer and elk you will need more than a 7mm and 300 win. I would go with the 30-06 I like the Remington 700 series, the 700CDL is a very nice rifle. I also like the Savage 114, very similar to the Rem 700, same mauser bolt style and wood stocks.

2006-11-28 11:46:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1 1

I have to agree with both of the guys regarding the .30-'06
I've taken both with mine as well.... I'm assuming you mean 7mm Mag and not another variable like a 7mm-08 or .280 Remington, which are both awesome cartridges and the .280 is considered by many shooting experts the perfect solution in your case. I would lean towards the 7mm only if you plan on sticking to elk-sized game or smaller, not that it's not a fine cartridge for bigger stuff. If you plan on moose, caribou, or bigger bear than I'd go the way of the .300 Win Mag. just based on downrange energy.
Also think about the .325 WSM/WSSM.

2006-11-28 05:21:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1 1

Personally I prefer the plain old 30-06. You can't beat it for the price of the gun and ammo alike. I've taken deer and elk both with this gun, and it works fine for me. If your set on one of the others though I think I would go with the 7mmWSM round. The shells are about $40 a box, but it has much better velocity, trajectory, and knock down power than the old 7mm Mag. I went elk hunting in Montana this year with a friend who has one and was very impressed.
Good Luck!!!

2006-11-28 04:44:23 · answer #8 · answered by bartman40467 4 · 1 1

Get the 300 Win Mag. yeah the '06 has done this and done that but remember its over a 100 years old ,you WILL have greater energy from a bullet that weighs the same from a 300 than an '06 because its moving faster.Get a gun that you can give to your grand child some day,so you might want to spend a little extra and get a quality firearm.I own a T/C Encore in 300 Win Mag and eventually my daughter will own that gun and it will kill deer for her just like it does for me.Recoil is manageable because the gun has a 26" heavy barrel and the stock is made of wood.The choice is ultimately up to you. Good Hunting.

2006-11-28 17:24:48 · answer #9 · answered by Droptine s 4 · 0 2

the 30-06 you can hunt varmint to elk The 7mm or 300 have too much power for your average shot less than 50 yards here in the states save your cash the 06 ammo is far cheaper as well

2006-11-28 11:13:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1 1

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