RE: First big game rifle
 

True enough, but the sectional density arguement comes into play. A 175 grain 7mm bullet in theory will penetrate better than a 200 grain .308 bullet due to its superior sectional density. In reality I think it is six of one and half a dozen of the other. If it was me and I was looking for a new rifle to hunt deer up to moose I would probably pick a 280 Rem.

RE: First big game rifle
 

I love my 7mm Rem Mag and wouldnt be afraid to use it on moose if i got the chance but i would step up to larger bullets than what i use for deer. That is definetly the key to large game animals, quality bullets. Something along the lines of a Nosler partition, Bear Claw or any other slighty more expensive bullet that penetrates good and holds together. Any of your magnums would be a great choices. Heck a Marlin lever action in like 45/70 or 450 marlin mag would probably pound them too since theyve take big bear and elk.

Dave

RE: First big game rifle
 

The 280 would be a good choice as well. With Barnes bullets in the 30-06 you have the option of using the 250 grain Original. In 7MM the have a 195 grain bullet as well. The 308 bullet has a little higher SD. at 376 vs 347 if I remember right. The 45-70 would be a great choice as long as the range is not to long.

RE: First big game rifle
 

Thanks guys! I appreciate all the thoughts.

I went down to the Bass Pro Shops near where I work (lucky me) to handle some of them. They have a Ruger M77 for $479, either stainless/synthetic or blued/wood. They also had a Nikon Buckmasters (I think) scope that matched the stainless. For the gun, this was not that much more than the savage, which they also had, but it looked like the Ruger had a much smoother action and solid feel. How does Ruger stack up? I' m leaning to the 7mm Mag with an appropriate bullet.

RE: First big game rifle
 

I have never seen a Ruger that will shoot with a Savage. I shoot both but the Ruger had to have a trigger job, barrel floated, and action bedded and the Savages still shoot a little better. Don' t get me wrong, I like the Ruger and think it is a nice rifle, but they just usually don' t shoot out of the box.

RE: First big game rifle
 

i would no touch another ruger. been there done that. savage will outshoot them out of the box. would stay with the 300 win mag, you can get heavy for moose and light for deer or even varmint. you can even look at the 300ultramag or the 300wsm.

RE: First big game rifle
 

The standard velocity 180 grain .308 load is 2620 fps, the 30-06 is 2700. I don' t know how this is considered not handling 180 grain bullets well. High energy loads push 180 grainers comnsiderably faster. If you are talking 200-220 grain bullets though, the .308 can' t even come close to the 06.

RE: First big game rifle
 

That is pretty much what I had in mind. For a .308 caliber I wouldn' t go lighter than 200 grains on moose.

RE: First big game rifle
 

A buddy of mine hunts with the 7mm mag and I use a ' 06 (30 that is). I think the 7mm is a little big for smaller animals like deer, especially whitetail. It is very adequate for elk though as is the ' 06. And since that is our primary prey it works for both of us.
I enjoy the heck out of my -06 and one big advantage is ammo cost and availability. A few years ago we went plinking around and both ran out of ammo before we ran out of fun. We stopped at a local southern Utah sporting goods store to reload, and his ammo cost nearly twice what mine did and he got one of the last boxes. If you reload it isn' t that big of a deal but if you don' t it can get costly if you shoot a lot.

RE: First big game rifle
 

grizz,

savage rifles are pound for pound the best you can get for price and accuracy but , i recommend getting one with the black composite stock

also , i would say go for the model 11 short action , and try one of the short mags offered in it , whether it' s the 7mm saum , or one of the .300 short mags , i have heard rumors that they have less recoil , and they are available in a short action which is a more stiffer rifle ( not in cycling the action ) :D:D