Big Game Hunting
 

If you could have only one rifle and scope combo to hunt all North American Big Game from Texas to Alaska, what Cal., model, and scope would be your choice? Your budget is limited to $1000 total.

Whatcha Think????;)[/align]

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

$1,000 bucks, hmmm..... let's see...

Savage Arms (Stevens).300 Win Mag, synthetic stock, blued barrel $325.00

Leupold VXII, 3-9x40 matte
$299.00

Warne rings and Badger Ordnace one piece picatinny-style base
$35.00
$150.00

Harris 13 1/2"-27" pivoting bipod
$115.00

Claw contour sling
$20.00

Total is $944.00 (the other $56.00 might have to cover shipping, or if not, you could probably buy a box of ammo)

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

I agree with eatsleephunt except I'd forget the bipod and go with .338 win mag

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Remington ADL synthetic stock in .30-06 with Leopold 40 mm 3.5-10x scope in Leopold rings. Total price $330 rifle+ $500 scope+ $50 rings + $20 rifle sling is about $900.

The .30-06 is good for anything in the lower 48 states; if you are going to go to Alaska, buy an additional gun. If you don't accept this finessing of the problem you posed, then change to the .338 Winchester Magnum which IS suitable for all game including Alaska Brown Bear, but I think it is a bit much for pronghorn antelope and whitetail deer. You can buy ammo for the .30-06 anywhere.

The Remington ADL probably shoots as well as any other rifle you are going to buy in the price range you mentioned. The synthetic stock makes this rifle substantially impervious to the elements.

The scope is very good and will stand up to abuse and provide good service. Is it odd to invert the budget for the rifle with respect to the targeting system? Not according to my viewpoint. Any damn rifle is going to put 3 shots inside a 1.5" circle at 100 yards if you do your part. If your scope breaks or fogs or is unreliable, however, even a $4,000 rifle is not going to shoot where you want it to.

I actually own this combination. I bought it as a back-up for my other rifles. One I can take out when it is raining and I don't want to expose my pretty walnut wood stocked rifles to the rain. One which can provide a backup to either my .243 or my .25-06 on an out-of-state pronghorn hunt; one which can provide a backup to either my pretty walnut wood stocked .30-06 or the .338 Winchester magnum (I may someday purchase) on an out-of-state elk hunt.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

.338 Win Mag on a texas sized deer. Hamburg.
I'd go with a .270 or .308 or 30.06
Reason they all have various loads and bullet combinations that are available for all types of game from big to small and aresold everywhere

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

With the great bullets we have today, The Remington SS SPS 270 Win. Weaver rings and bases and a Bushnell 3200 3x9x40 rifle scope. Save the other 300 bucks for the thieves selling gas for my trip..[:@]

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Give me a 300 Ultra Mag with a syn. stock. Throw on a Luepold VX III 3.5-10. If there is extra money I would look into a Hart barrel.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Remington 700 300 ultra mag, Burris Black Diamond 4x16x50

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Champlain Islander, .338 on texas deer hamburg, not true I've shot at least 6 deer with my .338 with 250 gr nosler and it either makes a .33 cal hole in one side and out the other or if you hit bone it doe's about the same damage as a 30.06,

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

You're absolutely correct usa . . . Most would think, "Bigger the bullet, bigger the damage". Not so. You're hitting a small bodied animal (deer) and it can only open so much.

Crawfish . . . To answer your question. Don't take a .270 to Alaska to shoot a Griz! You'll just piss him off. You said ALL North American big game. That's all deers, bears, elk, moose, antelope, cats, goats,
sheep . . . you get the picture. I'd have to vote for a .300 Win Mag. Big enough for Griz, moose, elk . . . and still great for the antelope, deer sized animals. Cats and goats aren't real big either. The balistics are indisputable. Flat shooting to 300 yards+. Which you'll need for some. Lots of variation in over-the-counter ammo and likely to be in every shop in North America.
$1,000.00 budget? . . . I'd have to go with the Remington model 700 in .300 WinMag($665) and a Nikon Buckmaster scope in 4.5-14X40 with the BDC reticle ($300). You already have slings, cases and stuff.
The Nikon scope blows away the Leupolds for clarity and low light gathering. I A/B'd them at Cabela's and it blew my mind how much better the Nikon was than Leupold. 4.5 is as low as you'd want to go and 14 power is very handy for long range shots on lopes and sheep/etc.
My (more than) .02 worth.

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!!!!

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

With everyone buying up the magnums, the good old standard calibers might be on sale.:)

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Good point James B!
Just pick up a Winchester 30-30 for around $250.00 and spend the rest on getting there!
More big game has been taken by either the 30-30 or '06 than any other caliber over history.
I still take mine for walks in the woods.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

With that kind of variety of mission, I see no option than to equip for the Alaskan Brownie and then figure it will handle the rest just fine....

Used CZ 550 Safari Magnum in 375H&H and a Leupold scope.
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For Alaskan Brownies?..... I think you'd best put the left over $750 into getting back.... as in a MedJet insurance policy.

One other thing in using a 30-30 for the Great Bears, consider taking off the front sight on the 30-30 and filethe barrelsmooth and keepthe muzzlewell oiled.
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One other thing,one rifle is okay for a local deer patch hunt and it's okay to specify for the $1,000 theoretical exercise; however the two don't really go together. If I'm going to be travelling through out North America after the full cross section of game, then I'd have a back up rifle with me on every trip.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

One other thing in using a 30-30 for the Great Bears, consider taking off the front sight on the 30-30 and filethe barrelsmooth and keepthe muzzlewell oiled.
[/quote]

reminds me of a story from my mis-spent youth.
when I was younger and dumber I hung around with some pretty rough characters. We ran the rodeo circuit and where pretty bad to frequent the beer tent afterwards to sociallize with the local ladies, if you know what I mean.:D

Well, this one time that I'm thiking of we where in a particularly rough neck of the woods. My rodeo buddy was smoothing up on this pretty young thing. It was all smiles and giggles until her boyfriend showed up. My buddy never was one to back down (i'm sure you know the type). So my he didn't let the boyfriends showing up slow him down. He told the ladies "I can take care of any problems" to which they replied that the feller was known to carry a pistol. Well the boyfriend came over to run my friend off. So Mike, being a not particularly bright person,[:@] asked him if he was packing. To which he replied: "you darn right!" My buddy's reply was: "you should file the front sight off that thing so it doesn't hurt as bad when I shove it up your #$$!" Then he looked at me and laughed saying "I read that in a magazine once, and have always wanted to say it to somebody" I'm not sure how we got outa there that night with our skin still attached, but let me tell you it was touch and go for awhile. Of course its much funnier now thinking of it than it was at the time.;)

I HOPE NO ONE READING THIS STORY THINKS THAT I AM IN ANY WAY ADVOCATING USING THIS LINE ON SOMEONE WITH A GUN, BECAUSE I AM NOT. IT WAS A VERY STUPID THING TO DO AND I WAS LUCKY THAT NOTHING BAD HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Savage 116FSS .375 H&H, or Winchester Model 70 .338 Win Mag.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Maybe I should have you talk to my wife? I am not doing so well telling her what a great buy I just made.:DI just bought this rifle & scope combo, for abear hunt next week.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

That point is true.

Something else to think about, more game has been lost to the 30-30 & 30-06 than any other two rounds combined.

Match the gun to your game, or live life on the edge of just enough???

My honest choice is a two gun battery. IF I could do it all over again? I would have a 25-06 or 270 for my smaller game. I would pick a 338-win mag or 340-weatherby for my bigger game. This would handle all of my hunting.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Wolk Killer, Congrats on your purchase. Tell your wife that I am jealous.

By the way, I do have a 25-06 in a Remington Sendero

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

wolf killer. Just curious about where you got the statistics concerning the 30-30 and 30-06? I have killed a ton of game with the 30-06 and have not lost a wounded animal yet. I have not used the 30-30 to much but have had no problems killing game with it. I think wounding game is much more hunter related than firearm related. I know its easier to blame the gun or lack of than to admit they made a lousy shot.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Remington 700sps in 300win mag with a 3x9x40 zeiss conquest.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

I think that the point being made is that since the 30-30 and 30-06 are the most commonly used cartridges in use,they are responsible for both the most big game animals taken,and the most animals lost or wounded.In both cases,it is the popularity of the round that is responsible,not the performance of the round.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

I went to the Gun shop today and handled several rifles. The best feeling rifle to both myself and my buddy was the Weatherby vangard. I do own or have owned Remington 700, Savage, Ruger, and Wincherster rifles. What do you guys think (from personal experiance only) about a Weatherby rifle in 300 Weatherby Mag?

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

That may be his point but The 30-06 sure does not come to mind when talking about a cartridge that wounds much big game. It ceratinly has the bullet weight and penetration to do in about anything that gets in its way.

I can see the 30-30 being considered a wounder because people tend to under estimate range and the 30-30 is sure at its best within 100 yards. However a lot of moose and other big game have been harvested with the 30-30 in its day. Again, my point is that wounding animals is mostly the fault of the hunter.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

stubblejumper, hit the nail on the head.

JamesB, What percentage of hunters in the U.S.A. are hard core & know just what there gun & bullet choice will do??? My guess, not many.
Some ammo is made for "light thin skinned" game animals, some ammo is made for "large thicker skinned" big game & some ammo is made fordangerous game.
I know people to this day that do not check there guns zero every year & buy whatever ammo is on sale. They figure it all shoots the same.
Twenty years ago I fit into this large group of un-informed hunters. Today however, thanks to reloading, countlesshours at the range, in the fieldhunting time & the internet. I am better informed, about gun & bullet choices.
I do not think the 30-06 with the proper bullet wounds deer.
I do think a 30-06 with the wrong bullet "for the game hunted" wounds deer & elk, with help from a un-informed, less than accuratehunter.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

While the vanguard(manfactured by Howa of Japan)is a great gun for the price,I don't like the fact that vanguards chambered in 300wby only have 24" barrels.A 26" barrel is much better at utilizing the extra case capacity.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Of course it is,but that doesn't change the fact that the more popular a cartridge is,the more game that will be wounded with that cartridge.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

ok

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Swarovski scopes alone cost well over $1,000.

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Remington 700MTN Rifle .300 Win. Mag. $600

Nikon Monarch 4x12x40 $225

Federal Vital-Shok Nosler Partitionammo $75

Limbsaver Recoil Pad $25

A sling in Realtree Hardwoods $20

$945.00

RE: Big Game Hunting
 

Most,but not all.


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