Best all around gun for big game
 

I'm getting a new savage rifle, the 110 package rifle. It comes in
270, 30-06, and 7mag. Which one would you choose for an all around big game gun? Mule deer, antelope, whitetail, elk, and hogs will be all I need it for. Any of them seem good, but if it was you... which one would you choose? Why? I wish I could find a 280 for the same price <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>. How far is ya'll average shot?

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RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

I'd go for the 30-06, reason is its my favorite gun, used it to kill deer and elk, my farthest shot with it has been 400 yards and that was to kill a black bear. I shot my elk this year with the 30-06 200 yard shot right through the neck she dropped in her tracks.

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RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

My choice would be the 7mm mag as it shoots flatter than the other two and recoil is easily tolerated by most shooters.

RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

Any would work, but I would chose the 7 Mag as well. It will give you a more power than the 270 and is flatter than the 06. Good bullet selection available and reasonable to shoot for a mag.

RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

Everyone here in Georgia I have met that shoots a 7mag has bad hearing loss. When hog hunting, you may need to shoot a good many times, and sometimes a few shots in a row. How bad is the muzzleblast compaired to the 06 with 180g bullets? Recoil doesn't get to me bad, but muzzleblast does.

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RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

I would go with the 7 mag but all 3 are very good rounds, 7 mag just shoots a bit flatter than the 06 and hits harder than the other 2 with a heavier bullet. As far as muzzle blast my buddy has a 24&quot; barrelled mod 70 in 270 and it is very noisy as noisy as my 7 mags have been so I wouldn't take that into account.

RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

I would go with the 7mm mag. If you wear ears at the range you shouldn't have a hearing loss problem. Even a lot of shooting in the field shouldn't effect hearing, at least not much more than the 06. I and a couple guys I know do not have hearing problems due to the 7mm mag. I feel the 7mm mag is a step up from the 06 and I disagree with the guy who said the ballistics aren't all that different at long ranges between the 06 and 7mm. In my opinion within about 200 yds they are about the same maybe with even a slight edge to the 06. After that the 06 really starts to drop off compared the the 7mm. the 7mm shoots flatter and carries it energy much better at long ranges. Realistically with lots of practice and the right shells you can take a bull elk at 400 yds with it, I don't believe you can with an 06, it loses too much energy.

Edited by - rather_be_huntin on 12/19/2002 17:52:11

RE: Best all around gun for big game
 

If muzzle blast/recoil tends to make you flinch, go for the 30-06, if not consider the 7mm, but otherwise toss a coin. Eliminate the 270 if elk is on the plate. Yes, it is good elk medicine, but not the best in my book.

To answer your question about what is the best gun for big game, I would answer that there is no best. That is why over the years, I have accumulated a 222, 243, 270, 7mm mag, and a 338 win mag. Also a 54 caliber muzzleloader.