need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

OK, here is a question. I know that it is all personal opinion here, but that' s what makes it great.:)

For centerfire rifles, I have a .223, .243, 25-06, and a 300 Win Mag.

The .223 is for varmints.
The .243 is my deer rifle. (also doubles for varmints)
The .300 WM is in case I ever get lucky enough to draw a moose tag here in Maine.

I just got the 25-06 in a trade. Good rifle, but here in lies the problem. The 06 and the 243 SORT OF use the same bullet weights. I' m talking roughly here, 80grain, 100 grain. The 300 WM can be loaded with 110 grain up to 220 grain bullets, but since this is my " moose" gun, I only load it with 180' s on up.
so..I want a rifle that would load bullets of say, 120grain up to about 165.

I have considered the .308, 7mm-08, .270, 270WSM

What are your opinions?

PS- I hope I didn' t confuse everybody, it' s hard to express myself through typing.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Well since the 25-06 shoots the 120' s,you wan' t 140 to 160 gr sluggs,for my opion I would go with the the 7mm-08.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Forgot to mention, I just sold the 25-06, so The biggest I shoot in the .243 is 100 gr. bullets.
I don' t want to reload smaller than 180' s in the 300 WM so I need to have something that shoots 100-180

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

You' ll get a ton of opinions and any of them would work. But my pick, and " current" personal favorite, would be a .308. It' s perfect for 150 grain bullets. I have one that sometimes carry with 110 grain bullets for varmints and 150 grain bullets for deer. I wouldn' t be afraid to use the right 180 grain bullet in it for moose or elk.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

If you get a .308, you can lose the .300 Mag. If you like the big gun, get a 7mm-08.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

7mm-08 or 270-winchester would fill the gap.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

I love the big gun, especially the way " it kills on both ends"

I like the big recoil, lets me know I' m still alive:D

I knew that somebody would suggest that a smaller rifle than my .300 WM would kill a moose. I know. The biggest moose killed in Maine for that particular year, was one bull that weighed in at something like 1200 pounds. A 12 year old girl shot it with a .22-250. I understand that smaller rifles will do a job on big animals, in fact, here in Maine a hunter can even use the .22 rimfire magnum for deer hunting. Legally, not necessarily the greatest deer cartridge.


I just want another rifle, so this is an excuse, more than anything ;)

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

.30-06!!! Nobody should have a gun cabinet without a 30-06 anyway. It' s like having a bathroom with no toilet:D

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

I hear ya' barnesX.

Had one for years, just want to try something I' ve never had before.:eek:

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

If I' m following this right, you' re looking for something between a 243 and 300WM.

My two picks are either a 280 or 7mm-08 depending on if you prefer a standard or short action. The 6.5x55 Swedish would also be a nice choice.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Awww, I was going to say .30-06 too. If you' ve already had one and want something different, perhaps the .270 or .270 wsm would be a good alternative. The .308 is a good choice, but is very similar to .30-06. I don' t own a .270, but know some people that have them and it is a very good, flat-shooting round.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

To be perfectly honest with you there isn' t much of a " gap" in your rifles.

Looking at what I would hunt with the rifles that you already own:
.223 === Everything from prarie dogs to coyotes
.243 === varmints, prong horn antelope, deer, sheep
300 WM === deer, elk, sheep, mountain goats, moose, black bear, Carabou

I think you have all of the bases covered except for Grizzly, and Polar bear.

If you really want a rifle that would fill the gap that you think you have then the 270 winchester would do very nicely.

If it were my money I would think about a 338 WM, a 338-06, 35 Whelen, or something like a .444 Marlin or 45-70 that would fill the nich of the dangerous game category.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

I vote for the big bores! 444 or 45/70 Go Big Or Stay Home

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Hey Bigbulls,
What are you trying to do, make me look like a lier in front of my wife!?;) She thinks that I need to fill this gap too.:D That' s half the battle.

Just kidding, but hey, I have to have some excuse to buy something different or she' ll make me spend the money from selling the 25-06 on friggin' carpet or something else that is totally worthless.

The neighbor is selling a Winchester Mod. 70 in .270WSM, what do fellas think? The rifle is only a year old and his wife is scared of the recoil.

BTW, what do you all think of the .270WSM in general (just the cartridge)

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Maine, I dont know why you cant load 130-150 Xbullets in your 300 and wallop ANYTHING in Maine??? There is' nt a deer walking ANYWHERE that can stand one of those fired from your 300.

But if you must you must. Lets see, " ...120-165..." ....................

Can you say 280? ;)
RA

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Sorry bout that.;) I know what you mean.
The 270 WSM would fill that " gap" nicely. Actually that cartridge would be capeable of taking all of the hooved game that this country has to offer. I mean everything except for moose. You would still need the 300 WM for moose.;)

You could still go to the other end of the spectrum and look at a lever action big bore for the deep Maine woods.;) You know, a gun that is short enough and fast handling enough so that it allows you to hunt in the thick cover where that long bolt action 243 and 300 are just too much of a hinderance when you are trying to negotiate an undergrowth thicket quietly. Those long bolt actions just seem to catch on every branch in the woods.:D;)

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

I' m dramatically paring down guns I own. I' m going to wind up with four CF rifles:

.223, .260 Rem, .30-06 & .375 H&H

That pretty much covers it!!!!!

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RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

6.5 X 55, 7mm/08, 280, 300 Savage, .308, 30/06 would all fill your gap.
You need to decide exactly what you would be using it for before you can narrow your choices.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

BigBulls,
Now you' re talking my language! I was just on an overnight trip with the wife. Just celebrated our 15th anniversary. She didn' t complain too much when I pulled into a few gunshops. Nothing really sparked my interest until I saw this " one" rifle. It is a Used-Ruger M77 V, wood stock, blued metal, .308., " semi" varmint weight barrel. Just felt, " GOOD" to hold.
The stock was nice, (not sure if original) the bluing was beautiful. Asking $449.

So....what do you folks have to say, don' t be shy, lay it on me:D

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Mainehunt, if I were in your shoes, I would have to give serious consideration to the .270 Win., .280 Rem., or the .270 WSM. All three would be great rifles in anybodies gun safe. Lots of versatility in all three guns also. Good luck in your decision and let us know what you decide on.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

30-06.

I have
.223
25-06
.308
30-06

I had the .308 and my father in law was dying of cancer and gave me the 30-06. It has become one of my favorite guns it does everything pretty well. Got the 25-06 this year and just ordered the scope, haven' t even sighted it in. Just something different, really a person could get by with 22 LR, .223 and 30-06 for 95% of the situations in hunting. Here in the east, anything from 30-30 to 30-06 would pretty much cover it.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Being that you have a 30 cal already I would opt for the 270 WSM. If I didn' t already have a " regular" 270 Winchester I' d be looking at one real hard.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Another option might be to use the .300 and load it or have someone load it down to 30-06 levels. Of course, that wouldn' t buy you a new gun!

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Marlin Guide gun in 45/70. Shouldn' t everyone have one?

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RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Well, it' s just tht I always wanted a .308

My 300WM just doesn' t like the taste of the Light weight bullets(under 150gr)

I love my 243 savage, Looking at a 308 Savage in wood right now

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

IF you actually plan on shooting this rifle much I would opt for the 7mm08, 7x57, or 6.5 x55. As soon as you fill this gap though, you need to work on your upper end. 30 cal is no place to quit. There' s a whole nother world beyond .30.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

I' d say go for a 6.5x55. Time honored and proven. 120-160 gr loads if you handload and when someone in the woods ask' s " What you got there?" and you tell them it' s a swede and you get a funny look, that' s priceless.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

I' d go with the 7-08. then the 45-70

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Definitly the .270 Win. I had a 30-06 myself and was rather bored with it. Traded it in on a .270 and am very happy. Perfect gun to fill your gap so to speak. Would be perfect in the grains you mentioned and would kill just about any game you could think of in north america. Including moose. but in my opinion a great whitail, antilope, sheep etc... gun. You can' t go wrong with the .270 a gun that everyone should have in their collection. I sure love it in mine!

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

I have nothing against the .270, but everybody and their brother has one it seems.
Same way with the 30-06. Believe it or not, I only know two guys with a .308

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

mainehunt, I tend to like the standard cartrides .30-06 SPNG, .270 Win, ect. but I get the impression you want something that your hunting buddies haven' t shot yet. In this case I think one of the short magnums like the .270 wsm.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Im in agreement,why not go with something odd. 280 jeffery,284,264,or 275 nitro express. They are all fun to reload, and some you will have to fire form. What a great way to learn more about relaoding.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

Browning BLR lightweight in .358 win. This could be a nice round for deer, bear, and moose in that thick Maine woods.

RE: need a gun to " fill the gap"
 

If you are truely looking for a great filler gun, I say the 270win. If you want a filler gun, but also wanna be the first kid on the block.. get the 270WSM. Either should do great for ya.