Which cartridge should I get?

Question

I'm getting a Remington 700 CDL (http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_700/model_700_CDL_specs.asp)
I live in Mississippi, and want to use it for the usual (whitetail deer, etc.) but i also want a cartridge that i could use elsewhere. Example if i ever want to go out west and shoot big horn sheep, or elk, or maybe even bear i want to know what cartridge would work for all this. I was thinking 30-06 because i know that is a good one and works well. i am new to all these 7mm and everything, so im asking what cartridge you think. See the link i put up there to show what cartridges they offer for the rifle. thanks

Answer 1

The best choice for your purpose is the 30-06.* When you have a 30-06 you do not need any other caliber rifle.* I prefer the 180 or 220 grain bullet for big game in this caliber.* It will cleanly harvest any game in North America.*There is no need for a Magnum.*

Answer 2

If I was only going to use the rifle in Mississippi, I would go with a 7mm-08 or 308 win. That way You could have the short action. I prefer the smaller of the two.

If you must have an all around rifle that is good for everything but brushing your teeth, then go with the 30.06. Remington sells the managed recoil ammo and Hornady will sell you a 180 grain lite magnum load that leaves the muzzle @ 2900 fps with over 3000 lbs of energy. Serious stopping power.

I personally want a 35 Whelen. Reaching beyond 200 yards is not as easy but I have other rifles. Of course if you have ever truly shot over 200 yds you may find that 200 yds is the limit of your ability. The whelen will shoot though brush better than any other non-magnum round and puts deer down FAST. I am not a big fan of the huge amounts of recoil one receives from bolt action magnums.

Answer 3

There is quite literally nothing on earth that hasn't been taken with an -06, but that's not saying you should attempt to repeat the performance. For your purposes you will never feel under gunned with an -06 and there is ammo out there for everything from coyotes {accelerators} to moose / big bear {220 gr} and everything in between. For sheep / deer / antelope try 150/165 gr. bullets and elk go hand in hand with 180's. If you get into hand loading this is a dream caliber, feed it 4895 or 4831 powder and bullets from 110 gr to 220's and shoot it. If you find the recoil a bit stout with it there are some lighter recoiling cartridges out there or you can get a muzzle break installed. Other options would include a better recoil pad {Limbsaver is my favorite} to having mercury tubes installed in the stock. You can always buy more specialized calibers in the future but this is a terrific all rounder.

Answer 4

7mm-08, .308, .30-06, 7mm, .300 various magnums, .270,
.280.. all are good for deer size and up. the only advantage/disadvantage to the .300 magnums is they are very long range and hit extremely hard. 7mm-08 is the best of 7mm and a .308. they have proven themselves time and time again. that would be my pick for the all around deer plus rifle

Answer 5

Leland Speakes, a fellow Mississippian, is one of the leaders among sheep hunters and his favorite is 7mm RemMag, for what that's worth. I've known him all my life, and I can attest that he knows cartridges. And for brown bear, you'll want a different rifle, anyway. There is a point at which the one-rifle battery becomes ridiculous.

Answer 6

.270 read up on it and you will see why. I changed over to it 30 years ago and have never regretted it. I have taken antelope, elk, mule deer and black bear with it. The 150 grain bullet travels farther, faster, and flatter than the 30-06 with a 165 grain bullet.

Answer 7

I would go with the -06. It has proven its self over and over again. Cheap ammo. Not overly punishing and plenty for sheep and elk.

Answer 8

The Venerable 30-06 has literally been used to take all game species on this planet. You can take it anywhere and it will be enough gun. Also there will be no trouble finding ammo anywhere in the world. Its as universal as you can get.