New guys Questions

[MPA249]

Hello to all, this is my first Post here. I have traditionally been more into tactical shooting than anything probably because I am in the military. Anyways I am looking more ito the hunting realm. My question is this, I have ideas of what I want to get as far as guns for hunting and I need to see if this makes since to you all.

Small game .17 Ruger 77/17 with a 3-9X luepold.
Medium game 308 Remington 700 3.5-10X leupold.
(Would this work on larger game above say the size of a white tail deer?)
Shotgun O/U Browning Citori or Beretta Silver Pigeon in 12 Ga. (pheasant, ect.)
NEF 12 Ga slug gun with a Leupold 4X scope.
Smith and wesson 629 6.5" barrel (more of a hiking gun)

My thinking is that this should take care of most game in North America. Am I wrong? I know a 22-250 would be better for some varmit hunting but I am looking mainly at ground hog anyways.

I do not know how well 308 will perform against Moose, Elk, and the like If I decided to go after them I probably would go with a 7mm Rem Mag.

Any improvements? Advise will be taken with an open mind and appreciated.

[JeffS]

You'll probably get about 50 different answers on which is the best gun to use. Though there is nothing wrong with the .308 for medium size game. You can easily use a 180 grain bullet for Elk, or Moose with it and it is an excellent deer gun. A lot of people use a larger gun for Elk though with the proper placement the .308 will work just as good as any other of the larger guns with less recoil. My grandfather went hunting with my uncles for Elk one time and he took his 30-30 and everybody told him he needed a different gun. When the trip was over he actually shot the largest Elk of the group.

[Ridge Runner]

for edible small game the 17 HMR is pretty destructive, you'd be better served with a 17 hmII, or a 22 lr, I think the rest is fine for most hunting
RR

[okcmco]

Sounds Like a good arsenal. I might consider a smaller 44 mag for hiking. the 629 in 6 1/2" barrel aint light.
The 308 is fine for elk but bullet drop after 300 yards is pronounced. A7 mag is probably a bit more versatile, but has more recoil and ammo is more expoensive so it's a trade off.
BTW those are some sweet shotguns! You are wiiling to spend some serious jack!
okcmco

[longrifle1000]

for edible small game the 17 HMR is pretty destructive, you'd be better served with a 17 hmII, or a 22 lr, I think the rest is fine for most hunting

I have taken 15 squirells with my HMR this year, and the damage was similar to a 22lr. I was using the 20gr CCI gamepoint. They worked great.

[mossy33oak]

I gots a suggestion.....how about scrap the .17 and .308 idea since you are only shooting groundhogs, and get a 270 win. This gun will shoot groundhogs, deer, and with the right bullet choice Elk too!!!

[mainehunt]

The 17 caliber bullets are affected greatly by cross winds. Maybe a 22 cal cartridge? You don't need the 22-250. I love the 223 Rem., (you should be very aware of this cartridge as you are military. I use a Bushmaster Varmint rifle in 223. Very accurate)

The .308 is a great cartridge. By buddy just shot a big cow moose (650 pounds, field-dressed) here in Maine with a .308. He used 150 grain bullets. He shot 3 times as she ran across a potato field. All three shots were at 150 yards and complete passthroughs. (He shot 3 times because she was running straight for the game preserve border)


Kev