RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Ruger M-77 ,338 win mag,nikon scope that will use the rest of the money.But you already have rings with the rifle.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

I stand corrected ...I guess. I never shot one so I don't know but have thought about that caliber for elk. How is the recoil as compared to say a .300 win mag or an06?

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Recoil? Not a plinking caliber!
I have and mainly shoot the .300 WinMag. I had a Sako .338. Wonderful gun. Excellent caliber. BUT! When I'd go to the range, I'd start with say the .300WM. Pop a few off and the typical recoil/rifle kick/slide back a bit response.
The .338 however, would lift up off of the rest as it recoiled, and come slamin' down on the rest. The other guys in the shack would turn and say, "What the hell was that?! . . . Give a guy some warning next time."
I got rid of it. .30 cal is plenty big enough for large, thick skinned game like elk / moose. Especially with the powder behind the WinMag. Which I understand is a necked down .338.
If you HAD to have a .338, Get a muzzle break, hunt with ear protection, get the thickest, softest gel-filled recoil pad made, and hunt well enough so you only pull the trigger once!
Other than that . . . great round.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Just for the sake of conversation, the 30-06 has probably taken more grizzly bears than all other calibers combined. Long before the modem magnums, guys like O'Connor were taking polar and brown bears with the 30-06, 270, 7x57 and yes the 30-30 and 30-40 krag. For quite some time, the world record grizzly was one that was killed with one shot from the 30-30. The Natives up north have taken polar bears with everything from the 22 hornet on up and a few Polar and grizzly with the 22 rim fire. Of course this does not make themadequate big game rounds but the 270 and 7x57 Mauser have taken every species of big game on earth and will continue to do so. IMO the 7x57. 6.5x55 and 270 are the most under rated cartridges on earth. All will fire 160 grain bullets and heavier with very good SD and excellent penetration. Add low recoil and the ability of most hunters to place their shots very well with these calibers and you have some pretty effective big game getters.

My main reason for picking the smaller calibers is that 99 percent of my and most other hunters shots won't be at grizzly bears or even in country where they exist. I am not a one rifle for everything hunter but I could make do with these middle calibers quite well. In the end for the big bears I have several 45-70's and I wouldn't hesitate one second to use that for the big stuff.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

300 wthrby mag

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

ONLY $1000!!!! YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

OHHH The agony..... OK settle down, just going to have to think outside the box here:

used Rem 700 SPS stainless from pawn shop $450
Throw away the stock, order boyds laminate from bargain bin $100
Order Douglas barrel, chamber in 338 win mag....350
Do all Smith work myself.

Okay thats $900. I'll have to tune the factory trigger rather than buy a timney or jewell. Leupold rings and bases $75= 975

I'll just have to steal a scope from another rifle in my safe. Leupold VXIII 2.5-8x32mm will do nicely. I'll replace it with a new Zeiss Conquest, but that doesn't count because that would be another project. so it doesn't count. (I use the logic on my wife from time to time).

So I came in under budget! [8D]

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Yeah, I saw the first line and thought, hey I just went through this. But I blew the budget by $200 with my Browning A-Bolt.

If I had to stay under $1,000 I would swap the A-Bolt out for a Tikka T3 in Stainless but keep everything else the same. 7mm Rem Mag for caliber and the Nikon Monarch 4-12x 40mm scope with leopould rings and bases.That would even leave you will a little left over for some ammo.

The Nikon monarchs seem to be the best bang for the buck right now on scopes IMO.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

A ruger .300 win mag

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Sako M-998 chambered in 340-Weatherby.
Swarovski 3X10X42mm. scope.

I am a little over the budget, but you asked us what we wanted.;)

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

A Sako with a swarovski.....now that sounds awesome!!!!