One Rifle
 

I've been given the go ahead from my wife to get a new rifle. I've only hunted deer to this point and my 30-30 has served me well. I am looking for one more rifle that will best serve me for deer, elk, and long range antelope hunts. Some things are factors for me.

Price, not that I want the cheapest thing I can find, but value for my dollar is definately an issue. Along with this is cost of rounds. My buddy has a .300 wm and at more than a buck a round I couldn't afford to shoot nearly as much as I want to. Whatever I get will get a lot of rounds thrown through it at paper. Recoil is also an issue, not so much for me, but I frequently take my wife and kids out to shoot and whatever I get will see a lot of use by my 14 year old daughter as well as myself. She does fine with her .50 inline muzzleloader, but not well with my friends .300 wm.

So with these things in mind, anyone have opinions on which way to go? Whatever opinions are shared here I do understand that there is also the feel factor involved. I will definately spend some time at my local gun shop shouldering rifles and getting a feel for them. My knowledge is limited though, so I appreciate your opinions.

RE: One Rifle
 

The .270 is a good cartridge for the purposes you stated.

RE: One Rifle
 

or the 30 06 is a great calibre.

RE: One Rifle
 

Yep.

RE: One Rifle
 

One rifle? Two people? Aye Chihuahua!

Finding the reach for antelope & the power for elk isn't too bad of a problem. Trying to find 1 rifle that will accomodate this for both a 14 year old young woman and a grown man is far more difficult.

Recoil sensitivity has lots of factors,likely the largest of which are cartridge selection and stock fit. If you finda rifle that fitsyour daughterwell, you can train her to shoot it effectively. However, will that rifle fit you, too?

Will your daughter be going for elk & long-range antelope? Those 2 critters are on the edge of the capabilities (power & range, respectively) of the .30-.30 that you already own. If she were just going for deer, then she could use that gun, & you could use the new one for the bigger/farther beasts.

You're not going to find 100% agreement on a cartridge for your purposes: that's why there are seemingly THOUSANDS of them these days! For reach & power on the lower end of the recoil spectrum, however, a 7mm Rem. Mag. will get you at least grudging nods of adequacy from some,and outright shouts of adulation from others. You're likely going to receive very persuasive arguements for cartridges from .270 to .375 H&H. Nobody's wrong - it's just what works best for them!

Oh, by the way, no matter which cartridge you select, $1 per round will be on the low to middle part of the spectrum for quality constructed bullets, which you'll want to be using should you go chasing elk. However, 7mm mag. will be far less than many of the newer cartridges that have lower production numbers. It's tried, true,& proven, so you'll probably be able to find ammo wherever you go, and at a decent price.

So:

1) Decide who's using the rifle
2) Picka riflethat fits that person like a favorite glove
3) Pick a cartridge that that person is comfortable with from a power/range/recoil/cost standpoint
4) Get to the range!

Good Luck!

FC

RE: One Rifle
 

Have her shoot a 7mm Rem Mag (if you know someone who owns one) to see how she handles the recoil. If she handles it well, then you may want to keep the 7mm Rem Mag in mind.

RE: One Rifle
 

Thanks for the input guys. Just to clarify, my daughter will not be hunting with this rifle. She'll only be using it when we are out shooting targets. She'll be going deer and elk hunting this year, but will be using her muzzleloader. I'll just be along as a guide on those hunts, so both of us needing a hunting rifle at the same time won't be an issue.

RE: One Rifle
 

:DSPS 7mm-08.

RE: One Rifle
 

hard to go wrong with a 270.

RE: One Rifle
 

Have you considered an Encore with two barrels? Go with a 30-06 for yourself. There is plenty of cheap ammo out there. Get a 223 barrel for the kids to shoot. There is plenty of cheap ammo out there for that. If you shoot 300-400 rounds in the first year you could probably pay for the extra barrel from ammo prices alone. $10 a box for '06, and $4 a box for 223 can go a long way. If I could only have one rifle it would probably be an Encore, or an 1886 Winchester in 45-70.

Watch E-bay, sometimes you can get a pretty good deal on a barrel, and even a scope there. Tom.

RE: One Rifle
 

.270, .308, .30-06 would all be good for what you want.

RE: One Rifle
 

Ill second that. My 14 year old son andI both killed deer this year with a Remington model seven stainless 7mm-08

RE: One Rifle
 

Ok, so as I said I don't know a lot, thats why I'm here.:) Whats the difference between a 7mm and a 7mm-08

RE: One Rifle
 

.280 remington or 30/06 would be some good choices.Theres a lot of good calibers out there and everyone has there favorites.I shoot a .280 so im a little bias towards it

RE: One Rifle
 

This is why God made the .308.


It can do anything in North America and there is a plethora of cheap, very high quality military ammo out there. Plus it's so common that almost any rifle you decide on will be chambered in it. Plus it's probalby the tamest .30 caliber in terms of recoil and cost. It's a very good performer up there with the .270, .280 etc. Add also that it can be had in a wide selection of bullet weights, and per grain of powder it is the most efficient cartridge out there.

RE: One Rifle
 

dmacl...The 7mm-08 is a .308 case necked down to a 7mm or .284..
Came out in 1980 if I remember correctly, it had been a wildcat for several years, until Remington made it a factory loading...My brother has had one since 1982 or so...The most popular bullet weight is 140grs, and most factory loadings are 2850fps or so...The 7mm-08 would be a good choice...

But, depending on how often you go elk hunting the 30-06 is better....Just use reduced recoil loadings for your wife and daughter...Use 150 or 165 gr bullets for deer and antelope and 180 grs for elk...I believe it was Jack O'Connor that said he preferred a .270 for hunters going after deer sized game and smaller and a 30-06 for hunters going after deer sized game and larger...

RE: One Rifle
 

IfI was in your situationI would buy either a Savage or Remington with wood stock.
Iwould cut the wood stock down and add a good recoil pad for the smaller stature shooters and get myself an aftermarket stock.

I prefer the good ol 30'06.
I think if a person cant kill what they wanna kill with a .22lr a 12ga. and '06 they might as well hang up thier huntin' hat.
I own a couple magnums they are nice but not necessary.

Although I feel that the .308 Winchester is better suited to your needs.

My opinion

RE: One Rifle
 

The 7mm-08 would work well but you would have to check the availability of this round. The 308 would also be an excellent choice being that it’s very popular as previously mentioned...

RE: One Rifle
 

I agree with Trailer. A Remington 700 in 308 or 7mm-08. If money is tight you might want tolook ata Howa 1500 in 308.

RE: One Rifle
 

I would get a .270. You can shoot some higher power shells and let her shoot the reduced recoil sheels from Federal.

RE: One Rifle
 

Ruger M77 6.5mmSwede/ 156gr Norma "Alaska"

RE: One Rifle
 

THAT ONE TOO:D.

RE: One Rifle
 

[

RE: One Rifle
 

270 or 7mm. Either will serve you right.

RE: One Rifle
 

30-06 is probably one of the best all-around rifle cartridges you'll ever find.I've seengame as small as white-tail deer taken with an 06 as well as game as large as a moose. Cartridges aren't too expensive, especially if you reload your own. Buy up a bunch of good surplus, use them for punching holes in paper, then reload them for hunting using the best choice/weight bulletfor the game you are going for... Just my .02 cents worth. Good luck!

RE: One Rifle
 

If you buy factory ammo then the 7mm rem, 3006 or 308winwould be my vote. If a reloader then the ones listed prior will work fine as bullets can be found to load up or down for the application.

If your daughter will be shooting it only off the bench and bags you may want to consider a heavier rifle vs a lite/ultra lightset upto help with felt recoil. Of course being it is your hunting rifle you still must consider your needs too. What ever you choose install a sims limbsaver, pachmayr decellerator, etcrecoil pad(if not already equipped on the rifle), this will help both you and your family with handling the recoil the rifle puts out. The SPS is a good suggestion and comes equipped with a sims pad (R3). Though like you said have to do some looking to find the right one for you.

Good Luck

RE: One Rifle
 

I own .308, 30/30 and .270. That said i have a super varmet wetherby .308 and it weights 12lbs on the scale with the scope. I can shoot this all day long buy my G/F can only shoot the sucker 1 or 2 times and she pusses out, same to be said with the .270.

You might want to check into a 25-06. With the hot rounds from hornady it has almost the same knock down power as a .270 but wont kick the crap out of you. Just my 2 cents.

RE: One Rifle
 

OK, for what you want, I'll list the calibers in order of preference:

7mm Remington Magnum
.30/'06
.280 Remington
.270 Winchester

The 7 mag. and the '06 have about the same recoil with similar bullet weights, but the 7 Mag. has a VERY SLIGHT edge for long-range shooting of antelope using appropriate bullet weights for this - nothing over 140 grains.

They ALL will be fine for any deer, and all will take elk as well. For elk hunting with the .270 Win., I prefer the Nosler 150-grain Partition bullet and 53.5 grains of IMR 4350. The .270 may be the best choice, as it will have the least recoil of any of the listed rounds, so your daughter can use it. (I knew a doctor's wife many years ago in Fairbanks AK who used to kill POLAR BEARS with a Model 70 Winchester in .270 Win. caliber.)

As far as the launching platform is concerned, I personally prefer the Ruger No.1's, but I suppose you want a bolt-action. Both the Howa/Weatherby Vanguard are very accurate reasonably priced rifles, and so are the Savage bolt actions. The Savage Accutrigger is unbelievable!

(7mm is a bore size - caliber - .284" - NOT a cartridge! There are a number of cartridges that use 7mm bullets, ie., 7X57mm Mauser, 7mm-08, .280 Remington, 7X64mm Brenneke, 7mm Remington Magnum, 7mm STW, 7mm Rem. Ultra Magnum, etc. And they all use different powder charges, but can all fire the same BULLETS.)

RE: One Rifle
 

Rebel hog has got it right the 6.5X55 can not be beat and the recoil will not kick the dog out of you. Take a look at the ballistic charts on this round it is hard to beat with any round.

RE: One Rifle
 

My vote is for the .308. Of all the cartridges mentioned I think the .308 fitsthe best. Very mild in recoil, low cost ammo, and capable of all the kills you mentioned.

Good Luck

Tom

RE: One Rifle
 

7mm-08 is a 308 winchester case that has been necked down to 7mm. This used to be a wildcat but not to long ago it was made a factory round.

RE: One Rifle
 

264 win mag or nothing! Just kidding! I started with a bolt 30-06 and I think that it's versatility lends to every serious big game hunter owning one at one time or another. EJ