what kind of rifle
 

i use to rifle hunt then i started bow hunting and i havent picked up a rifle for about 5 years. i was wondering what is the best overall big game rifle i am wanting a flat shooting rifle my average shoots are between 100 to 300 but i have reached out to 500 yards before i was thinking a remington 700 sps 300 wsm or a 7mm ultra mag what do y'all think?

Could get one like mine. Savage 116 weather warrior, with muzzle break, accutrigger, fluted barrel, and a leupold scope 3-9x50

I shoot a Remington 300 Ultra Mag., but the choices you named would be good as well.

I'd shoot a 7 of one flavor or another, and the 700 is a good place to be.

Unless you reload or plan to pass on the RUM. Factory ammo doesn't realize the RUMS potential. Also the fact you haven't picked up a rifle for 5 years..I wouldn't suggest the first one being a big magnum. RUMS can be sharp and even the 300 wm or 300 wsm is at or beyond the limit of a lot of shooters in felt recoil. Not meaning to scare you, realize I have no info or idea on how you shoot/handle recoil just that its been years since you did, so giving food for thought.

Dang near any caliber with the right loads and time behind will work. The key is know your gun, load and limits. That makes up for inches down range everytime. If you want a magnum then i'd suggest looking at a 270wsm or 7mm rem mag. I lean on the latter and have had no problem taking game to 500+ yards.

Good luck

there is a a ton of calibers that will suit out to 500 yrds. 3006, 270, 280 308, 7mm 08 7mm Rem the 300's .If you can handle the recoil go to the Ultra Mags. You don't them for the ranges your willing to shoot though. The .308 is inherently probably the most accurate of all calibers to the range your willing or going to shoot.I gave alot of respect for this caliber and the 7mm08. Tight tight groups little recoil
very efficient cartridge where velocity and retained energy are concerned and good quality bullets made for both. The 6.5 x 284 is an animal killer as well.I got a big Custom Rifle in a .311 CND Imperial Mag.I got into the Ultras over 10 years before companies commercialized them, and it collects dust during the season.It's a 404 Jeffrey necked to a .311 bullet. It gives very very impressive ballistics and velocity especially when Ive got a 28 inch hart barrel out to 800 plus yrds but Learned my lesson a long time ago.You don't need that much thump at something standing 50 yrds away.Nope stick to the standard common calibers, these are more than adequate for the range you want to shoot. shot placement and bullet performance is
what is gonna kill them.

I have a browning XBolt 7mm Rem Mag and a Marlin X7 .243

the .308 is the only cal I would set up for 400+yd shots.

I'm sitting here, shaking my head.

You don't need a magnum rifle, you just need to learn to be a better hunter. Shooting 500 yards does not make you a good hunter, just makes you a shooter.

You need to learn how to deal with nature and if you do not get them today, to go back tomorrow and try harder.
Hunting in my opinion is a up close and personal sport.

If you cannot get closer then 150 yards to a deer, you are not a deer hunter. You don't need a cannon to shoot a deer. There are thousands of 12 year old and younger kids in Pennsylvania who shoots deer with a .222 Remington, 30-30 Winchester or .243 Winchester with no problems. So why can't you?

I would dare to say that 99% of hunters in the woods have no business shooting 500 yards at an animal. I'm not saying the OP isn't in the 1%, although if it's been 5 years since he's shot a rifle, he has a lot of practice to do before he has any business shooting that far. If you're really going to shoot a measured 500 yards, not just "it looks like 500 yards but it's only really 200", you'd be best off with the flattest shooting magnum you can find. If you can't handle the recoil, then you don't need to be shooting that far. I'm a huge fan of the .308, it's what I hunt with most of the time. However, I do not consider it a 500 yard rifle. That bullet is dropping in a hurry at that range, so you'd really have to know exactly where to hold on a deer out at those ranges.

[quote Night Crawler;3698100]the .308 is the only cal I would set up for 400+yd shots.[/quote]

What .308 cartridge are you referring too??? 06', 300 or is it the .308 win??

As we do everytime you type it seems.:pcwhack: First off just because you can't see more then 150 yards where you hunt doesn't mean other elsewhere can't! Try getting to even 250 yards of an antelope without a tree of any kind from which to perch or shield your movements. Just one example where shooting isn't because ones lazy or unable to interpret game sign, necessity. The arguement pops up all the time and the same bs is flung. Your not a real hunter if you can't get within 100 to 150 yards and the other side is just b/c you can't shoot further doesn't mean others can't either. Skill vs skill but most times its a strict by product of our different hunting enviroments. Some can't see more then 100 yards and others can see what appears the end of the earth. It makes us different yes but wrong or inadequate...not IMHO.:arms:

I don't think I have ever read a useful post from you.

Where I hunt, 150 yards is a close shot. Wide open areas with little cover make it hard to get close. Just because it is the way you hunt, doesn't mean it is the only way and every other way is wrong and unethical. When you get a chance, get off your high horse.

you are a condescending a$$. i sure wish we were all as good as you. f-ing loser. you continuously fail to show a "feeling of good will" towards others...

ill prob get banned etc from this site for flaming you but i really don't care. there are dozens more like it out there.

there are some really good folks on here that care about others and care about the sport. unfortunately for you... you only care about you.

if you are an adult, shame one you for not acting like one. if you are a snot nosed kid who thinks they know everything, then turn off mom's computer as i think she is calling you for your pm snack.

very nicely said,i totaly agree.some ppl are nothing more then self proclaimed profesionals.in reality they know little to nothing.

Whoa bud hold up im a bow hunter you really think I don't know how to get close to deer I have shot deer 5 yards away what's wrong with shooting that far if you are able to? I have fields that I hunt in that's over a thousand yards long I don't know where you hunt at but im guessing that you don't have wide open fields like we do so before you start yelling at people think about it for a minute its not like I sling out bullets until I think I've hit something

You mean there are open spaces in Kansas??? :s4:

Couldnt have said it better myself. This site is for hunters to share stories and ask advice. He doesnt deserve to be bashed for being able to take a long shot but congradulated for his shooting abilities. Do us all a favor and stop bashing everyone on the forum for no apparent reason.:nonono2:

Only one or two lol

Don't need a short or ultra mag.

The 7MM RM or the .300 WM will do just fine !!!

All the major manufacturers make capable rifles.

I choose the "features" I prefer first, then which shoulders best.

What .308 cartridge are you referring too??? 06', 300 or is it the .308 win??



As we do everytime you type it seems.:pcwhack: First off just because you can't see more then 150 yards where you hunt doesn't mean other elsewhere can't! Try getting to even 250 yards of an antelope without a tree of any kind from which to perch or shield your movements. Just one example where shooting isn't because ones lazy or unable to interpret game sign, necessity. The arguement pops up all the time and the same bs is flung. Your not a real hunter if you can't get within 100 to 150 yards and the other side is just b/c you can't shoot further doesn't mean others can't either. Skill vs skill but most times its a strict by product of our different hunting enviroments. Some can't see more then 100 yards and others can see what appears the end of the earth. It makes us different yes but wrong or inadequate...not IMHO.:arms:[/quote]

Hey mr. ass hole...i mean mr. deer hunter. You see this... this right here is 6 other people on this 1 thread that see how negative, rude, and unhelpful you are to other people. I can see youve been hard at your posting for a while now...if that length of time is even a month...and i cant imagine that 1 of those 200 something post have actually been positive toward another person on this site, because i like other people have never heard anything nice said by you before. I mean what is your deal??? GROW UP!!!

and pearson, i like you am a bowhunter but as far as a good flat shooting gun, i recommend something in a short mag like a 270wsm or a 300wsm or a 7mm wsm. these shortmagnums are some of the fastest, flattest shooting, and most accurate rounds that can take down any big game that you would be hunting. I would reccomend looking at one of these cartridges in whatever brand gun you are looking to buy. I hope this helps.

Anyone ever notcies Mr a$$ hole never comes back to continue his "thoughts"? It's one jack@ss post and he's gone...

i hunt the open plains of the texas panhandle... the only way to get that close is spotlighting grain fields at night which aint legal. other than that 300 yards is an average to close shot.

LOL!

I only read a couple of posts from him and got that idea IMMEDIATELY!

I guess when you're spot-on, you're right and that's what it appears here as the general consensus has spoken.

Wow.

iSnipe

Do you ever have anything positive to say? Do you hunt for a living? I just recently started posting and every post of yours that I have read, you are bashing, belittling and generally speaking DOWN to people. You need to ease up.

Haha I concur. Mr. Deer Hunter I guess not everyone is up to your level of prestige as a hunter but what about a compliment every once in a while? Do you just like stirring stuff up? I think bashing someone else on the internet is a way to boost your self esteem but for what cause? What hunter wants to get bashed on all the time for a legitimate question? I know a guy like you and he hates his life because all he does is speak in a condescending manner to everyone and everyone picks on him relentlessly. I would say don't just ease up, QUIT. BB

I would say though that especially just for whitetails a 270 win is more than adequate. I have never had to do very much tracking at all with nosler ballistic tips. I just loaded up some 140 gr accubonds that I would honestly feel confident on anything up to an elk with. It is more about shot placement than stopping power. BB

Looks like Beard Buster has a bunch of sock puppets.

Where is Larry when you need him ?

Relentlesssssssssss !!!

Wannabie anyway..........and writes a book everytime LOL

lol what? No looks like little Mr. Deer Hunter has some social issues and problems in dealing with people. You can't get your jollies in life doing nothing but sitting on the internet trying to self proclaim your greatness. I have been on this site since 04 and have seen some pretty bad know-it-alls but you top all I've ever seen. Looks like you don't even have time for sock puppets with all the time you have spent on here since september trying to berate people. Grow up. BB

Amen and well said.

7mm-08 i feel is great round, comfortable to shoot with low recoil, accurate and relatively flat shooting. i've heard of guys shooting elk out to 250yds with this round.

LOL!

How does that saying go...

"Give a man enough rope and he will...." ??

iSnipe :D

I agree Beard Buster

Make sure you understand you may be a little rusty, so do a lot of shooting again to get back into stroke. In MN here, I see all too often Fall Weekend Warriors come up and try their luck at whitetails and some haven't even sighted in or shot their guns since the year previous! Some think taking a few shots to see if their rifle is "close" and call that good!

Getting re-acquainted with shooting and your gun, then this will pay dividends when everything you've worked for and hoped for, comes down to a few special key last seconds! Perfect practice, makes perfect. Go buy a lot of shells!

iSnipe

Hey pearsontx4, another thing you may want to consider is how available cartridges are in your area. It's been a while since you have used your rifle and some things have changed in that time. It seems like anymore, it's hard to find ammo around hunting season, brands and weights can be kind of limited (unless you're buying on-line), and odd-ball calibers can be a lot more expensive. On the other hand, it seems like everywhere I go I can find .243, .270, .308, and 30-06 without any problems. I like my .308 because, although it's not as flat shooting as the .300 WM, the bullet drop is very predictable and it's not too hard on the shoulder and good ammunition (relatively) cheap. But, like I say, it will depend on what people in your area are using and, likewise, what your ammo shops are keeping on the shelves. Have fun sniping those deer!