Just returned a few weaks ago from Alberta where I took my first big game, a 350lb black bear. Not a record but a great coat and a great hunt! I've been hunting before for whitetail but never scored a buck and pretty much had written off hunting until I got invited on this bear hunt. Hunting the bear was awesome but to be honest every time I saw an elk or moose I wanted so badly to be after one of them...and now, back at home I can't clear my mind of what or where my next hunt might be.

On to my question...I've done tons of reading on rifles and optics and hunting over the past 3 months or so and I've think I've found the rifle for me, a Ruger M77 Mark II all weather in the 7mm Rem mag with a Bushnell 4200 2.5-10x40 scope. I used a borrowed rifle of the same make and model in the .300 (different scope) for the bear and really was happy with the way it felt. Here's why I think it's a good choice:

1. I liked the look and feel of the .300 I used
2. From my research the 7mm looks like a solid all around medium/big game caliber if you can't own a chest full of rifles.
3. It's a synthetic stock and stainless barrell (I plan to be in the rain sooner or later and the brush sooner!)
4. Finding ammo anywhere should be relatively easy
5. Ruger M77 Mark II rifles are named as a good production rifle choice from what I've read

Sorry this post is getting so long, the question is, does anyone shoot this rifle now, if so are you happy with it...would you reccomend it?

Marc11,
I own or have owned several Ruger MkII rifles and I would recomend them to anyone who was looking for a new gun.I have a 25-06 in the wood/blue and a .338 win mag. in laminated/stainless,strong good preforming guns.I have also had a 6mm Rem,243 win,308 and a 270 in the standerd version.
The 7mm will serve you well in your hunting adventures,have you looked at the Bushnell 3200 elite scope,a little less money and all the advantages of the 4200.
Now the next question where do you plan on hunting.
BBJ.

BBJ,

Thanks for the info! I hope to hunt everywhere but I'd really like to get good at long distance shots 200 - 300 yards with this rifle. I of course would never pass up a closer shot on the right animal but while some like the idea of sneaking up on an animal I like the idea of being a "rifleman". I've been trained to kill out to 500 yards using an M16. I know an M16 and a Ruger 7mm are totally different rifles and I mention this only because it's where I first learned that I liked the challenge of long range shooting and second because I've trained not to take shots I'll miss... so long range shooting for me does not mean "chance" shots when I'm sure my skill will not allow a more than resonable chance at a kill. Additionally, I can carry much of the skill set to any rifle...breathing and such...

I'd love to hunt a moose or elk but by the looks of licensing and land it'll be almost impossible to go on public land or private land without dropping at least the down payment on a nice car...crappy thing is I now live in Florida, good for hogs and turkey, and great for fishing but that about rounds it out!

For elk and moose I would use a .300 Mag. of some kind. Good luck.

The 7 mag loaded with 175 Nosler partitions will, and does kill everything we have in the U.S. includeing bears. It will make an excelent moose and elk cartridge, as long as you use the "right bullet"!!! For smaller game like deer and blk bear, use 150 grain bullets.

Drilling Man

I'm trying to decide on the advantages to choosing a ballistic tip, partition, or a bonded "Bear Claw" from Federal as my standard big game cartridge. I've had lots of folks saying go the ballsitic way but my line of thinking is the Bear Claw would be the way to go.

Marc11,
I have found the that if you shoot the 175gr out of the 7mm Rem Mag,you might as well go with a 300 Win mag or Short.
Not taking anything away from the 7mm,I have owned one of each and like the 30 cal magnums more IMHO.

A good all around bullet weight for the 7 mmRM is the 160 gr partion,I have only killed 2 animals with the 7mm 1 bull elk and 1 mule deer,I found that the 7mm is more than enough gun for elk and deer.
The elk was shot at around 250-275 yds,the bullet exited and kick dirt up 50 yds the other side,and the deer was forward 1/4 to me angle at 75-80 yds the bullet entered through the brisket destroying the heart lungs,deflected off the back rib,across through the stomach and out the lower leg just under the back hind quarter, and kept going.So you don't have to worry about penetration with this gun,your biggest question now is wich scope.BBJ