It would probably be best to use your current rifle and spend the money on ammunition for it to practice with. By the time you buy a new rifle, scope, and still have to get ammo for it, you could have just spent it all on ammo for current rifle, maybe a new scope for it to reapply it to this hunt.

So you have a 30-06 to hunt elk with, but you want to add another rifle to the arsenal whether you really need it or not... I know where you're coming from. Nothing quite like that "new gun smell!". ;)

My recommendation depends on whether you (or your dad) are handloaders, or if you'll be factory ammo dependent. If you shoot factory ammo, I'd recommend the .25-06 Remington. A huge speed-goat weighs what, 150lbs soaking wet? I guarantee that the 25-06 will lay the smack down on any speed goat alive as far away as you can hit it's kill zone.

Now, if you do handload... I gotta recommend the 257 Weatherby Mag. If you want flat shooting, it really doesn't get much flatter than the 257 Roy. I can easily push 100 grain bullets an honest 3600 fps without pressure signs at all, and if I wanted to push it I'm betting I could get pretty close to 3700 fps without blowing anything up... but I just don't need to. The 257 Wby kicks about like a 270, and has a max point blank range (+/- 3" from line of sight) of 340 yards. And best of all, you can now have the 257 Roy in relatively inexpensive factory rifles since it's offered in both the Weatherby Vanguard (starting at $400) and the Remington 700.

Oh, and stuffed with 115 grain TSX bullets, I wouldn't hesitate to take a boiler-room shot on an elk. Some guys may poo-poo that idea, but according to history/legend Roy Weatherby killed a cape buffalo with a 257 Wby with one shot. Cape buffalo are far bigger, tougher and meaner than an elk. But that's just me.

Mike

If I had a .30-06 I would not buy a 7mm RemMag for antelope.

A .270win would be more appropriate but still pretty close to the .30-06

IMO ideal antelope rifle is anything from .243win to .270win, but again since you have an '06, my upper limit in your case might be a .25-06

If you want super flat maybe check out the .257wby? .270WSM? .240wby? 6mm-284?

I picked up pretty much an exclusive antelope rifle in .243win, its dedicated for antelope and probably the occasional coyote at the moment.

I shoot a .270 because I wanted a flat shooting deer and antelope rifle that will also take elk nicely.


You shoot a .30-06 that takes elk and deer well but will also do nicely on antelope.


Unless you really want another rifle you already have all you need.


The 7mm would also do, as would the .308 or .264 mag. but they wouldn't do much better than your 06.

Add another nod to shoot your 3006 w150s . I also like the 25-06 w 100gr bullets it'll give you 3100 fps . The 257 Roberts is a great choice too getting to 3000fps w 100grs . If you want a new short action savage made a run of classics in 250 savage in 1938 they drove an 87 gr 3000fps with it , the best part is that it goes in any rifle the 22-250 fits at the same weight .

If you have a pile-o-money just sitting around buy yourself a .243, a .257 Roberts, a .25-06, a 7mm Mag and a .338 Win Mag. Then you will be all set to cover every narrow band of hunting situations.

If you have the urge to have another firearm (something we all suffer from) buy yourself a .243 for your prairie goats and use your .30-06 on the elk. If you, like the rest of us, have no "spare cash use your .30-06 for all the above and be happy.

The .30-06 will cover all situations here in the Lower 48 states. Further, my opinion on the argument between the 7mm mag and the .30-06 is that the .30-06 is the better round (all else considered) due to the heavy bullets that come in the .30 cal range. Yeah, sure the 7mm is flatter, but in the end it really doesn't matter that much in the real world. Keep in mind, big animals need big bullets to be brought down.

That's your best bet, since you "probably" will be going. Save the money on the gun and practice. Maybe get a better scope if you don't have one or binoculars. Best case scenario you are going to need one shot. No sense in a new gun....

The 7mm (I assume Magnum) is roughly equivalent to the .30-06 is usefulness. Why have something nearly the same as you already have?

I'd far rather see a .260 Remington, .257 Roberts, 6.5 X 55, .25-06, or even a .243 as a second rifle.....and I assure you.....any of these will do fine on pronghorns.