Need a New Gun What Cal.

[J Bolt 7mm]

Many of my friends travel around the states hunting everything the USA has to offer (big Game). Currently I have a .270 which works just fine for me in New York foe deer. I want a rifle that will take down anything I feel like hunting. I know that a .270 is capable of this with perfect shot placement but I am not perfect. I am considering 7mm remmag, 7mm wsm, 30.06, 300 winmag, 300wsm, 45.70, 450 marlin. What are the differences between the regular mags and the short mags besides the actions. Also I would consider buying an extra barrel for my Savage 111, I know that a 30.06 barrel would work are there any others. Any help would be great. I am kinda leaning towards a 7mm rem mag. What do you guys think. Cheers

[Soilarch]

I'm not a big fan of the caliber...but if I had to have one gun to take anything in N. A. I'd get a 300win. Its known to be very accurate, is widely available and (with good, not perfect granted) shot placement and proper bullet selection should take anything.

[NVMIKE]

the 7mag wouldnt be a bad choice at all, but the 300win mag is better and they kick about the same so unless the 7mag is at your absolute tolerence for recoil the 300win has no down side in this situation.

[Virginia7]

For anything in the lower 48, the 7mmRem.Mag. will do a good job for you, and this includes elk, moose, black bear, etc. Another good choice would be the 30-06.
Yes, the 300 magnums will give you an edge, but are not really necessary. If you feel you need a bigger caliber than .30 (308Win. or 30-06, etc.) then I'd move on up to the
35Whelen. If you must have a magnum, above & beyond the 7mmRem.Mag., then get
a real MAGNUM, and go for a 375H&H.

I want a rifle that will take down anything I feel like hunting.

I'd suggest you keep your 270Win., and given the above requirement, go for a 375H&H.
You'll then have a two rifle battery that will not only handle everything in North America,
including the big bears in Alaska, but will also handle most African game. Hey, you did
say "anything".

[mossy33oak]

ORIGINAL: Soilarch

I'm not a big fan of the caliber...

Why?

but if I had to have one gun to take anything in N. A. I'd get a 300win. Its known to be very accurate, is widely available

And a 7mm rem mag isnt???

and (with good, not perfect granted) shot placement and proper bullet selection should take anything.

now your on the right track!!!!!......7mm rem mag and 300 win mag are as close to each other as possible , dont know why everybody says there is so much difference

[HighDesertWolf]

A 7mm rem mag realistically speaking is not any more powerful then a 30-06 except ithe 7mm rem mag is flatter shooting in the lighter grain bullets, when you get into the 160 grain and heavier bullets with a 7mm rem mag its ballistics are no flatter shooting then a 30-06 in similar grain weights. with that said I would go with a 300 win mag or one of the new short action 30 caliber loadings available from remington or winchester. Myself I dont have the need for anything bigger then a .308 or 30-06 both of those calibers suite me just fine even for elk size game. good luck hope my post helps

[broey1]

If you want to take anything in the lower 48, then the 7mm Rem Mag is a wonderful choice! It'll give you a bit more of everything over your 270, but I don't know if it gives you enough extra to warrant it over the 270 (unless you just like it better). The 7mm & 270 are both fine guns for anything in the lower 48.

If you throw Alaska in the mix or even Canada's moose, you probably ought to start with at least a 30-06 (better yet the 300 Win Mag).

Just my 2 cents, but if your 270 is a good shooter that's all you need for deer, antelope, black bear, most hogs, even elk. If I were in your situation, I'd grab a 300 Winney or a 35 Whelen. They both will work on everything the 270 will, but add to that moose and bigger bears.

[HUNTER74]

Since you already have a .270 which will do most anything the 7mm Mags, .30-06, or .300 Mags will do inside 300 yards (which is pretty darned far in reality), I'd say get a .45-70 or .450 Marlin for a change. Then you'll have a med-long range deer rifle and a short-med range "kill anything that walks" rifle. That will limit redundancy in your collection. My two cents.

[PaJack]

Different??? .325WSM...

[J Bolt 7mm]

I'm looking in to a 35 Whelen but it sounds like I would have to get the barrel costom made. I wonder if I can just buy a 30.06 barrel from savage (I have a 111)and fit it on to my .270. I know that they are the same size cases so they should fit but can my rifle take the extra abuse from the larger bullet