ORIGINAL: Syd1981
So here is my dilemma(I am sure this has been asked a million times but I am going to ask anyways), I may not get to go on my fly out moose hunt this year
(I have applied for a new job and if I get it I don't get holiday's for a year and the job starts about 1 month before moose opens
). So if I don't get to go I may have some money to spend on a new rifle (abou 2500 CAN give or take).What would you choose? I am looking for a rifle for moose and blackbear (I already have a browning bolt action 30-06 that I bought used and will still use for deer it is great but I would like a little more power and you can never have enough guns). I am leaning to the .300 wsm from what I have read but I am just not sure. (yeah I know it is all a matter of personal opinion) and also what scope would you top it off with for shots out to say 300+ yards??? thanks guys
Steve
Steve. I have been reading up on the WSM series and the .300 WSM seems to be about a perfect roundup to(butnot including)Grizz. But I am interested in the new .325 WSM which I believe pretty much gives you .338 ballistics in a short action (meaning lower weight). Kimber makes a wonderfull line of rifles calle dthe 8400 which chambers the new Winchester short mags. I believe they are around 1600 or 1700 bucks here in the US. But they don't chamber it for the .325wsm yet. The biggest short mag they chamber it for is the .300wsm. I believe that Winchester offers the only .325ws. right now. You could probably spend twice as much on a custom gun and still not get one that shoots any better than the Kimber.
However, CZ is a great bolt rifle for teh money. The 550 series can be had from about 550 US to about 850 US depending on wood and trigger. I love My CZ's and they are elegant and accurate. But the 550 is not offered in WSM calibers. The CZ3 is but I wouldn't recomend that model.
As for scopes, Get the best you can. Skimp on the rifle and splurge on the scope. Some great deals in European scopes are the Meopta and Docter Optic. (made in Czech republic and Germany, resp) You can pick up a 3-9x40 for under 400 US and I have had good luck with both. Also Check out IOR Valdada out of Bucharest. Roughly the same price as a Zeiss Conquest.
Let us know what you get