For all around Western big game hunting you would be very hard pressed to have a better suited cartridge than a 300 magnum of some configuration. I am partial to the WSM rather than the standard 300 Win mag. simply because it will hang neck and neck with its larger cousin when shooting bullets of 180 grains or less and it does it in a short action receiver with less recoil (given equal weight guns) and it is of a beltless design (I hate belted cases as you might have gathered onother threads). And,lets face it, with todays hunting bullets there is no reason what so ever to use a 30 caliber bullet heavier than 180 grains no matter what you are hunting with it. There is a huge selection of factory loaded and loose bullets available to reloaders in 180 grains that will do everything that a 200 or 220 grain of conventional design will do and even do it better. If you need a 30 cal. bullet heavier than 180 grains then you need to step up in caliber rather than just bullet weight.


Good scope choice but I wouldn't fool with that B&C reticle. Just more junk confusing a big game hunter when the moment of thrth comes along. That reticle is much better suited to varmint hunting. Stick with a duplex, heavy duplex, or maybe even a simple ballistic plex. I would also urge you to consider Burris signature select scoopes. I get to look through a lot of scopes and the Burris scopes impress me more dollar for dollar and optic for optic than any other brand out there. They really are second to none.