Which caliber? Custom timber rifle for elk/deer
 

I have recenly inherited a German Mauser manufactured around 1940 and am going to have a custom timber rifle built on the action. This is going to be a fairly light "mountain rifle" that will be used to hunt both deer and elk in thick timber. I am hoping that this rifle will be used for shots of 200 yards or less. If I think the shots may be longer, I'll take my .270 Wby Mag. I want to keep the action length the same, so a short-action round is out of the question. I also want to keep the recoil to a minimum (too many shoulder surgeries). My question is, should I just keep the chambering the same (8 x 57) or should I go with something like 30-06, .280 Rem, .338-06 or 7 x 57? What other suggestions might you have? The gun will sport a 23" fluted Lilja stainless barrel, composite stock and Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad. It will most likely wear a Leupold 2x7 Compact scope in Conetrol rings.

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

RE: Which caliber? Custom timber rifle for elk/deer
 

Just for ease of finding bullets I would opt for the 30-06. But Weatherby is now chambering and loading for the 338-06, I think this would be a better choice for heavy timber with the heavier bullet and, it can launch equal weight bullets about 200fps faster than the 30-06 can. If you reload even better reason for the 338-06. A 225gr bullet at about 2700fps. is definetly more than a 200 yard gun.

RE: Which caliber? Custom timber rifle for elk/deer
 

bigbulls - How's the kick? I've got a bad shoulder. It's also going to be used for deer and I will certainly handload.

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

RE: Which caliber? Custom timber rifle for elk/deer
 

There's nothing wrong with a PROPERLY LOADED 8X57mm for your purposes, but not when used with U.S. factory ammo!! IF you rebarrel, my choices would be, in order of preference: 1. Any version of .338/'06; 2. Any version of .35 Whelen; 3. A .358 Winchester.

Keep yore powder dry!!

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RE: Which caliber? Custom timber rifle for elk/deer
 

35whelen.

RE: Which caliber? Custom timber rifle for elk/deer
 

The kick will , as I'm sure you know, depend alot on your rifle. I don't have one personally but a friend does and he sayes it's about like a 7mag wich is only a tad more than the 30-06. I don't think you should have a problem with it with the Pachmayr pad and a well designed stock. Ofcourse that depends on how bad your shoulder is. Look into a laminated stock it will give you a bit more weight to soften the recoil.

RE: Which caliber? Custom timber rifle for elk/deer
 

I can handle the recoil of my .270 Wby Mag in the factory rifle (walnut stock) and find it roughly equivalent to most 7mm Rem Mags. My shoulder gives me trouble with any of the .300 mags and I practically gave away a sweet-shooting .338 Win Mag because it was just too much.

Please remember this rifle will be dual-purpose in nature: Deer and elk. Does everyone really think the .338/06 and .35 Whelen are the best combo deer/elk cartridges in the woods? I'm really surprised I haven't heard any praises for the .280 Rem or the the good ol' .270 WCF. And isn't the 8 x 57 handloaded with 170-200 grain bullets at 2600-2800 fps nearly perfect for a dual-purpose timber rifle? Wouldn't a 7 x 57 work well?

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting

Edited by - seattlesetters on 10/10/2002 10:54:41

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RE: Which caliber? Custom timber rifle for elk/deer
 

I'd like to keep the recoil of the rifle below 20 ft. lbs. if possible. I guess I could go with the 23-29 ft. lbs. of the 338/06 or .35 Whelen if that's what is necessary to get the job done, but I won't be able to practice very much with these rounds. I can't even sleep on my right side because my shoulder is so messed up, so getting kicked by a rather heavy recoiling rifle in it 40 or 50 times at the bench is out of the question. I will just have to shoot two, maybe three groups and call it a session. I can manage to put a few dozen rounds per session through my .270 Wby Mag but that is with plenty of rest between groups (that barrel gets HOT!).

Good Dogwork and Good Hunting