Ordering a ruger m77 next week. Suggestions on caliber?
 

Im ordering a ruger m77 next thursday and need suggestions on caliber from more avid rifle hunters. I am well educated on rifles and own 3 varmint rifles but as i am from ohio there is no big game i hunt with rifle. I will use it out of state for whitetails with the chance of a possible elk in the future. Thanks.

cant go wrong with a 30/06 as ammo is always easy to find. good luck on your choice.

7mm Rem. Mag. Good luck.

.270 Win, 7 mag, .308 Win, 30/06, or 300 Win Mag in order of recoil. All are capable of filling your needs just depends on how much punishment you like to put yourself through.

7mm rem mag

For all-around use, the .30-06 is hard to beat. I'm not a fan of magnum cartridges UNLESS you're routinely going to encounter shots beyond 300 yards AND you can be proficient with one. Most of the elk I've taken have been with a .30-06. Although I prefer a .243 for deer and pronghorns, I've taken plenty whitetails and mule deer with a .30-06 as well. Other options I'd consider are the .280 and .270.

Throwing elk in is the wild card...Plenty of hunters here in North Carolina buy a centerfire based upon "possibly" taking an elk hunt in the future, many never do...If I lived in a state with elk I'd go with something like a .300 Winchester Mag...But, this is simply more gun than most hunters can shoot well and simply too much for deer...One with a good recoil pad and muzzle break wouldn't be too bad but damage on your average deer will be massive...

Here is my way of thinking...If I can afford that "once in a lifetime" hunt I can afford to buy a reasonably priced gun for elk at that time...I would pull the scope off one of my other rifles and go at it...

For a designated deer rifle, something along the lines of a .243, 7mm-08, .308, 25-06, .270 or 30-06 would make much more sense...The .243, 7mm-08 and 25-06 are all a pleasure to shoot and will cleanly take any whitetail that ever walked...When you enjoy shooting your gun you shoot more and will be a better shot...

Just my thoughts... :)

A good 30 caliber rifle is hard to beat for deer and elk. If I had only one cartridge it would be a .30-06. If I had only one rifle it would be a Ruger M77.

I would make the choice a .300 Win Mag. (to push 180 and 200 grain bullets) but only if elk will be on the menu more than once, or African plains game is a possibility. Inside of 300 yards both cartridges do the same job. The .300 Win Mag gives you a bit more effective distance and shines with the heavier bullets, but at the price of more recoil. Ruger makes a very good rifle but the stock recoil pad could be improved upon.

RabidSnipper308<
I like nchawkeye's logic! And if I were in your shoes and using that logic, I would go with the 7-08. Only because I already have a 243 (awesome) and have had a 25-06 (to finicky). However, I noticed that you already have a Browning X-bolt that no doubt does a fine job on any whitetail and can do double duty on elk! One other suggestion would be to save this money (and a bit more) and go hunt yourself an elk with your X-bolt.

Another thing to keep in mind: Bigger caliber rounds cost much more.

But having said all this, a person has to remember that "he who dies with the most toys wins!" Those are the rules!!!

Either 308 or 30/06. I'm leaning toward the 308 for the shorter action.