Only one more rifle ?
 

I'm the guy who started......"Three rifle for ALL North American game"

At the time, I saidONE had to be a .243, because I had already brought a Remington 700 SPS DM.

Now, Ijust brought a.204 Savage 16 FCSS DM.

So, now I need the last one.

ALL of you have been great helping me sort things out along the way and I appreciate ALL of your opinions!!!!

The last one is for the BIG stuff; remember I am gonna need to lug it around at higher evelations (and I'm not getting any younger).

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

You're going to have to be a little more specific. What's the biggest thing you plan on shooting?

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

Well if you have a 204 the varmits are handled.

And with a 243 the deer and antilope are dead meat.

So the last gun needs to be able to handle the biggest from elk, to moose and grizzlies. I would go 300 mag. or better yet. 338 mag.

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

They have to live in North America; so that means GRIZZ!!!

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

........338 Win. Mag........

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

If grizz is in the picture, then I'm going to have to agree with the others and say something along the lines of 358 STA, 338 Win Mag, 340 Weatherby, 8mm Rem Mag, 300 Win mag, 300 Rem Ultramag, etc. There's a whole list or cartridges that will fit the bill.

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

If your are talking inland grizzly then the 300 Mag or 338 Mag preferred. Coastal bears may require more medicine. 339 Mag min preferring one ofthe 375s. And with the 375 you would be good for anything.

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

.338 Win Mag, .338 RUM, or .375 H&H (just bought a barrel for one btw).;)

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

Isn't the STA a STW necked up?

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

The 358 STA is just an 8mm Rem mag necked up to .358.

Of course if you are going to go through the trouble of chamberinga 35 caliber wildcat then you may as well chamber the .358 ultra mag.

If you want a factory load then my choice would be a 338 RUM.

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

375 H&H or a lighter package a 35 Whelen or a 45-70 .

The 45-70 can be had in any platform you choose and can be loaded up or down from a heavy
45 pistol cartrige for off season practice and loaded up to nearly 458 Win.mag and will easily handle
250 yrds and elk and punch a plenty big enough hole to handle big bears .

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

338 Ultra Mag or 375 H&H

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

375 Ruger


or, if you're worried about getting firepower without having to lug around anything more than necessary, maybe the 338 RCM -- 338 Win Mag capabilities in a 20 inch barrel.

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

9.3x62

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

Is the 7MM Mag even capable with Grizz in the picture ?

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

Yes it has certainly been done thousands of times but it certainly wouldn't be my first, second, third, fourth, etc... choice.

IMO Grizzly should start at 338 Win mag. I haven't hunted Grizzly yet but whenI do it will be with a 338 or larger cartridge.

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

Here is my concern........When I'm in the high country, I'm in bear country.
Putting an animal on the ground, field dressing him and packing him out, can be the most dangerous part of the trip.
I already pack a sidearm for both follow-up and protection.

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

For griz, 338 win mag or 375 H&H! They'll certainlytake down an elk or moose also.

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

This one http://www.chuckhawks.com/338_federal_first_look.htm

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

Since you will be in the highcountry, assuming your hunting elk/mule deer, with a chance of a grizz. I'd saw 7mm Rem Mag, 300 Win Mag, etc. But if you plan on actually chasing/harvesting a grizzley, and still hunting elk, etc with that gun, 338 Win Mag.

Or the new 375 Ruger. :D

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

Rammer,
I don't want to say that is exactly what I wanted to hear but, I know I will get more use out of a 7MM Rem Mag and still feel adequately gunnedwhen in bear country.
I guesswhen I go to Alaskaafter GrizzI can say, "I need just ONE more gun"!!!

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

Yep, I personally feel if a guy is going to chase the big bears, you can justify having "just one more gun." ;)

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

Thank you to ALL of you, as I am the one who posed the original question.
Fariswm has done a great job compiling all the responses; so a special thank you to him.
You have ALL been instrumental in helping me make MY best decision.

Here is what I ended up with;

204 Savage 16 FCSS
243 Remington 700 SPS DM
7MM Mag. Sako A7 Stainless

Note: If I ever get to Alaska, believe me; I will be carrying a 338 Win. Mag.

I appreciate each and every response, and I believe they all have merit.

_____________________________

Brown Dirt Cowboy
Stand up and be counted

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

haha, .204, .243......I say get a .257.......let's keep this small bore trend going..... I say .25-06

or how about a .22-250, squeeze one inbetween the two you already have.

or in all seriousness a .338 or .375, get the .375, then legally I think you can hunt the world and NA quite well.

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

First if you can't shoot it with absolute confidence and accuracy no cartridge will work. So I will list a few and pick from them what you can shoot effectively. 375h&h, 338win, 35whelen, and 45-70+p. The whelen with 250gr partitions will work out to 250 yards with recoilless than your 7mm rem with 175gr bullets it willbe in a slightly lighterrifle and have a bigger heavier bullet. Same for the 45-70 in a 1895 marlin but more recoil. The 338win isa great choice butit comes with recoil and weight.

Remember felt recoil has everything to do with velocity not so much as bullet weight, but penitration dose have everything to do bullet weight and less to do with velocity
I personaly do not like the recoil of the 7mm remso I have a 35whelen for the big stuff mainly elk/moose but it works great on browns tooand a 270win for deer toelk/moose.

RE: Only one more rifle ?
 

300 win mag in rifle of your flavor