Rackem

Okay, sorry fer de flame! By the way I hear they're coming out with a new small bore fer small game huntin'; them market'n boys keep workin' thet bore size down! Was .22, then down ta .17 and now introducing the .09 cal -- perfect for stalking them horse flies, kills the fly ands dont hurt the hoss! <img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle> .243 is now a big bore!<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

MinnFinn

In northern MN where hunting deer with rifles is allowed I use .30-06 with 180 grain soft-point. Rarely need to shoot greater than 100 yds there with heavy cover. In the southern 2/3 of state we can only use shotgun with rifled slug/sabot, bow or blackpowder rifle. They're afraid high-powered slugs in more populated open farm country will cause problems. There I go with 12g and sabot slugs, which seem very effective.

This was my first year to hunt Elk in NW Wyoming. Found my .30-06 was barely adequate for the range most Elk we saw were. But filled my tag anyway. Thinking of buying a .300 Win Mag if I'm able to go there again next fall.

You asked, &quot;Does no one really shoot .45-70's anymore?&quot; The fellow we hunted with in WY carried 2 of them in his truck. One a Marlin I think for Elk (along with a .338). The other a .45-70 revolver made by Magnum Research. It weigh 6 lbs, as I recall and he claims it doesn't kick as much as you'd think, due to the weight. He wore this in the back country in case he had an encounter with a grizzly, which they have around that area. Thank God we didn't run into any while we were there! :-)

445 supermag

Well for me I use a 270 weatherby mag for deer and I also use my 7mm mag for deer also. I do have a 338 win mag that is for deer too. It all comes down to what I just feel like carrying with me that day in the field. To me it comes down to a old friend my rifles that is and who I want to take with me. I have the confidence in all my rifles and could take any game with any of them. So I really don't specify what they are used for just who I feel like carrying with me.

brian

Eagle338

MinnFinn,
Your experience is fairly common (I think I need more gun for next year.) Before you buy though, I'd encourage you to pickup Federal's Ammo catalog and study the difference between a &quot;High Energy&quot; 3006 using 180gr and a 300 WinMag using 180gr. Its not much difference. If you are going to buy, please consider putting some seperation between your calibers. If you have a 3006 and something on the order of a 338Mag you've got North America covered in spades! Note: even your guide had a 338, must have been a reason.

seattlesetters

I've killed game animals (deer, elk, hog, pronghorn) with the following:

.257 Roberts
.260 Rem
6.5mm/.284 wildcat
.270 Win
.270 Wby Mag
7mm-08 Rem
.284 Win
7mm Wby Mag
.308 Win
.30-06 Spgfd
.300 H&H Mag
.300 Wby Mag
.338 Win Mag

Of these, my personal favorite is the .270 Wby Mag. It is very flat-shooting and kills as well or better than any of the other cartridges, even on long, tough quartering shots on elk. I am recoil-sensitive and can handle this round in a 8.5 lb. rifle, so I don't see a need for the bigger magnums on the game I hunt. It seems to kill with equal authority at short or long range (Shortest shot: 40 yards. Longest shot: 377 yards).

All this aside, I am having a custom rig built in either .338-06 or .350 Rem Mag on a Mauser action for close-quarters elk hunting that will be done in grizzly country.

I also like 6.5mm cartridges, and will have another built on a pre-'64 Model 70 action chambered in .260 Rem or 6.5x55mm Swedish. With these three, I should be well-equipped for anything.

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

Bullelk Hunter

T/C Contender 375JDJ for Elk and Bear. T/C Encore 308 or 30'06 for Deer. T/C Contender 223 or 6.5JDJ for chucks n such. Custom Win M70 Match rifle for CMP Hi-Power accross the course rifle, and a full blown Bushmaster AR15 flattop Match for the same. I like choices. I shoot a Sig/Hammerli 22lr for NRA small-bore, Kimber Custom combat .45 for IPSC steel and trespassers. Walther P99 or Beretta M92 for carry concealed. I also just picked up a Ruger SBH Hunter that will get used for white-tail this year. I forgot to mention my Browning Gold 10 for geese, and my Win M1200 laminate 22&quot; for Turkey, and my 1100 Spec Field 20 for upland. Did I miss anything---only maybe my wife on occassion!!! I fish in the off-time (rainy days)

bigbearhuntertodd

I shoot a 30-378 wthby mag for elk and bigger, and my old reliable at times 338 win mag, and for deer size 257 wthby mag.
the wife shoots 308 for all.

340WBYMAG

First gun I ever owned was a 338 (for moose). From there I bought a 340 Wby, then a 300 WBY and finally broke down and bought a 375 H&H.

I've used them exclusively for moose, where we hunt deer only 12 Gauges are permitted. I've never used anything smaller so I can't comment on that. I might be weird but my favorite is the 375.

340,

Catfish369

All depends on where I'm hunting.....bearing in mind I'm thinking whitetails.

- 30-06
- 30-30
- 12ga & slugs

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