I was stationed there from 89-92 with a few pumps in between.
when I bought my Tikka i was getting ready for a elk trip. My buddy was a Magnum freak and was convinced to get a magnum rifle. i was ignorant at the time. The tikka is a long action rifle and getting it chambered in a short action is silly to me now ,but I wanted a 300wsm at the time (wsm were the flavor of the month) I have not been elk hunting since. Here in MN hunting the woods the shots are to close for something moving that fast. the 300wsm is expensive to just play at the range. i don't reload now when i gun hunt i use my dads 30-06 Remington 742 but i mostly bow hunt now.

I hear ya. Someone was telling me to get a WSM but there's very little ammo out here for that.

Dave

Lots of good rifle options mentioned. Personally, I'm a fan of Rem 700's. Scopes...obviously the Zeiss Conquest is very good, as well as Leupolds, and I really like Sightrons also...the Big Sky is incredible. Good luck :)

I have a rem 700 sps 06 and topped it off with a leupold 4x12 vx 2 scope. it shoots very well and does the job for me. I load 165 grain btsp for deer.

They were giving you GREAT advice. There is more 300 WSM ammo out there than 30.06.

I'd go for a Remington 700 or a Browning A-Bolt or X-Bolt.

As COLucydog stated...300WSM ammo is actually more easy to come by now than 30-06. And it is a great caliber! Shoots flat, accurate, less recoil than an '06 and takes advantage of a short action making it quicker handling and lighter.

I too would recommend the Browning A bolt, as well as the Tikka T-3.

30-06 is a great round. It's not the fastest or the coolest newest thing on the block but it will FLAT get it done. And one of your responses hit it right on the head fine ammo is readily available for it. Had a Remy 7400 30-06 nothing wrong with it but I let friends convince me into something else. Need I say a bad move. So if a 30-06 avails itself to me in a BAR or a nice bolt gun it will be coming home with me. All that to say take the time to find what you want and you will be happy with a nice 30-06.

I am also a fan of the Remington 700. Last year I purchase a 700 Sportsman LSS with the Laminate stock and stainless barrel in 30.06. I am very happy with the purchase and the accuracy. But as others have said there are also many other great rifles out there. Another of my favorites in the Savage 110.

It is awesome to have so many great choices.

I ended up sealing the deal on a NOS Sako TRG-s (M995) in 30-06. My understanding is that it was a sporter version of their TRG sniper rifle and made back in the 1990's. I seem to get off on the more odd ball stuff. Hope it works out.

Thanks,
Dave

That's an odd-ball, but it's a Sako !!!

Let us know how it shoots ?