What caliber of rifle should I get ?

Well, regardless of what you choose, take a look at Basin Sports in Vernal. They have probably the largest rifle and handgun selection I have seen in Utah. I used to live in Vernal, and have gotten several weapons there. They have fantastic prices too, and put Cabela's in Salt Lake to shame.

They will be able to tell you over the phone what they have in stock relative to your choice, so it is worth the phone call. If you have not been to Vernal, it is on the right side of 40 about halfway through town. You can't miss em.

As far as rifle choices go, I have seen some pretty massive Mule Deer in Utah (something folks outside the area are not always aware of-those suckers are HUGE) and I have had a SMALL bull elk lope over the hood of my jacked up Silverado 2500HD 4WD without even getting CLOSE to the hood itself up on Paradise Mountain. I would not go with the 25-06 (though some associates in Vernal use them on elk) and would consider the .270 with something like 150 grain slugs to be about right for those deer, and possibly for elk. The 130 grain slugs are fine for antelope, and if your rifle will shoot them accurately something a touch lighter of good construction is fine as well. I really would go .270 or heavier in the area you are considering, in fact, it will be good on rams and up to moose, which are also in that area on occasion.

30-06 is fantastic all around for the situation, especially since there are some BIG cats out there, and bears as well. Consider that carefully when considering a 25 caliber weapon for elk in bear and cat country.

I met a guy that got mauled and knocked off a horse while riding recreationally out there by a mountain lion. He lived, but only because he stick beat the cat to death (could not reach the gun and was bleeding out), and now uses the stick (cat tooth still embedded within it) as a much required cane, as the cat almost killed him.... Just something to consider.
 
Oh, another thing, .270 is necked down 30-06, you can get brass CHEEP for either of those calibers! Ammo that is factory loaded is plentiful for both of those calibers in that area, I don't think I saw as much .308 hunting ammo out there as I did of the other two.
 
To add to my earlier post you also want to consider where you hunt as well since it helps determine game size. In the mountains where I hunt an average 4 point mule is about 1/2 the size of he average doe in the lowlands I hunt. If all I hunted was up high the lightest caliber legal is enough, small body and close shots. Down low, heavy body and enough room for shots measured in miles. So a little more oomph is nice.

I had nothing but a 30-06 for years, used it on goats at 50, elk at 200 and deer at around 100. Those weren't maxs obviously, just the usual shots. I picked p a couple 25s a couple years ago, used it on miles and goats past 400 with no issues and with much lighter recoil. It's nicer.

The biggest downside to adding to your collection is the limited hunting time allowed. YOu end up being able to take 1 deer his year and have to decide which of 10 appropriate calibers to use, then which of the 3 rifles chambered in it, then which ammo to start loading....

I've got several good hunting rifles that have never been hunted, not enough time and not enough seasons. I could really drop to just a couple and be fine, just hard to do.
 
Thanks again for some very detailed insight from everyone. And thank you about the information about the gun store in Vernal, just too bad it is about 4 hours drive time from Draper.
I went out there few months back PDog hunting with some good guys I met here on this forum.

I also heard of a place called "CA Ranch" that sells rifles and handguns in the SLC area.

I will hopefully come to descision about rifle/caliber before this season jumps off lol


wayne
 
Wayne, +1 on the 30.06 for a "one size fits all" approach. Can be loaded up or down with a plethora of bullets to tailor a load for everything from antelope to moose and anything in between. Big variety of factory ammunition available if you don't hand load. Inexpensive to shoot like others have said. Most every manufacturer offers this caliber as a standard so it can be had in virtually any rifle you prefer.

Another place to look for a good deal is at Gunnie's in Utah County, right around the corner from you
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I have gotten some good deals there in the past, and they do trades as well.

BTW, I think you are referring to Cal Ranch stores...

Wily
 
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From my perspective since you hunt OL Grizz with a Willow Switch why not use it and just practice your running so you can keep up with an Antelope. It would save you money and just think how healthy you would be.
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Of the three you are picking from my choice would be the 30-06.

But me thinks that a 7mm Rem. Mag would be very hard to beat.

DAB
 
I wouldn't hesitate to use a .25-06 on Elk, just wouldn't take a 300 yard shot at one. I used to believe this cartridge wasn't enough but if you look around you'll find quite a few using it on Elk with no complaints.

I also wouldn't take a 300 yard shot at an Elk with the other 2 cartridges.
 
If I had the discipline to take only up close and personal and only the 25 to use, I probably would as long as I was in practice. I like the caliber. You just have to be aware that the window for error is a lot slimmer on it than on the other calibers. People do it with .243, but I know that perfect doesn't happen often enough for me to expect it. So I'll stick to my guns and continue saying it's too light, and .270 range is the minimum caliber most should use, coupled with a capable bullet.

If there's the chance that you pull the shot and find shoulder instead of lungs, or only get 1 of the 3 vitals you're shooting for, the bigger the bullet usually means the shorter the track. I've done both and never been unhappy I was capable of destroying the shoulder and still penetrating. Longest elk track to date was measured in feet, longest on a goat was about 200 yards. That was both lungs -heart with the 25-06 at about 400 yards. Track would have been more or less identical with the 30 on that one.
 
FWIW, the LAST really nice mulie buck I ever took with with my 30-06 was also the last time I pulled the trigger on it before branching out to too many calibers. 275 yards by laser, sighted in for elk, using my elk loads, with 1 day of deer hunting available to hunt before I packed up for the hills so I wasn't going to adjust the load or the scope.

From experience at that range, that caliber, loaded with 180gr swift scirocco pushed as fast as the gun allowed before seeing pressure signs (2900 range if memory serves), if you pull marginally to the right and hit the shoulders instead of behind them the bullet will not expand. 30 caliber in, 30 caliber out, and what looks like a grenade exploded everywhere in between. I lost the entire front half of the biggest deer I've shot since I was a kid and I doubt the bullet even knew it passed through an animal. The bullet missed the lungs but they were pretty well destroyed by bone fragments.

Picking the right bullet goes downwards as well as up
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So from what I gather through all the posts so far, dont go any less then 30 caliber, or nothing less then 25-06.

I do love that 7mm-08 though and it has worked well for me in the past.

I am interested in 7mm rem mag too, so whats the word on that caliber possibly for antelope,deer and possible elk hunting

Thanks again everyone for your input

Wayne
 
Originally Posted By: VarmintsBewareI am interested in 7mm rem mag too, so whats the word on that caliber possibly for antelope,deer and possible elk hunting

Thanks again everyone for your input

Wayne

The 7 rm has performed very well for me on deer. And I know plenty who use it for elk. I truly believe it is an all inclusive lower 48 cartridge.
 
7Mag's a dandy. I just prefer the short action and milder recoil the 7/08 offers.

In reference to your comment about buying a gun before the season kicks off.
You might want to start looking in ernest right now.
Guns are flying off the shelves, inventories are low, and it's bound to get worse the closer we get to the election so finding exactly what you want might get tough, and who wants to settle?

PS,,, I still say 308 or 7/08.
The 7/08'll be a little flatter for Antelope, the 308'll offer heavier bullets for Elk, and either will kill a Deer.
Pick your poison.
Luck
 
Originally Posted By: VarmintsBewareI just found some really nice priced 7mm-08 at Get R Done website. I really like the remington model 7 in that caliber.

hhhmmm




You could do allot worse.
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Although, I'd look at the Winni Feather weight. A leeeetle longer barrel=free velocity and CRF's always a good thing in a Big Game rifle.
 
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The Get R Done website had a bunch of different brands carrying the 7mm-08 caliber.

I think I will take a trip to there some time soon.

Maybe even look at some 25-06 or 308 while I am there.

Thanks again everyone.

Wayne
 
Just buy you a 338LM and be done with it!

I love how some people say a caliber is too small or light! Must have forgotten the video of the girl getting a elk at some 700+ yards with that little ole .243!

Or just admitting that she can shoot better then you guys.
 

In response to your question about the 7mm Rem. Mag, I will say if I had to choose but one cartridge for everything from antelope to elk, that would be my first pick.

My response will be a bit lengthy, please bear with me, and please keep in mind that I'm not advocating anything for anyone else. I'm merely pointing out what works well for me.

I've used a lot of calibers over the years and had good success with all on antelope and deer. As I mentioned earlier, I have never hunted elk.

I have taken several whitetail deer with the 7mm Remington Magnum cartridge. I've taken deer with cartridges from a 6x45 and up to a .338 mag. and a lot inbetween, including a .35 Whelen and .444 Marlin. There's a lot of enjoyment for me, at least, in using something different from time to time, and experimenting with various bullets. Deer are not generally difficult to kill, nor are antleope, but good trajectory is ususally needed for anteope.

The 7mm Rem. Mag is more than needed for deer and antelope, but why does it matter if it's more? It does a good job and is also adaptable for larger game. It anchors deer really well, plus the two rifles I had chambered in that caliber were very accurate. I'm one of those guys who tends to lean more toward heavier calibers for a lot of game anyway and am not bothered so much by recoil, so my reasoning is why not use it. I could just as easily use a .25-06.

When I first started hunting Wyoming, my go-to antelope rifle was a 25-06. It has served me well, and it worked great for mule deer and whitetails too.

Then some time later I purchased a Remington Sendero 7mm STW. It's one of those rifles that I just wanted, especially since I really love the 7mm caliber. I took it to Wyoming the first year I had it and took a mule deer across a little ravine at 175 yards, and dropped it with a 145 gr. Speer Grand Slam. After that it sat in the gun rack for a number of years, unused except for a couple of trips and use on groundhogs with lighter bullets.

In October 2010, my son, a friend and I went back to Wyoming and I decided to take the STW. I worked up some loads with 140 gr. Barnes TSX bullets and found them to be very flat shooting and accurate. I was amazed at the accuracy and trajectory of that load. While the 7mm Rem. Mag is not as fast as the STW, it is still a very good round and if I recall correctly, has the same point blank range as the .270, but it is capable of shooting heavier bullets.

In Wyoming the 7mm STW really impressed me and made me wonder why I had allowed it to sit in the gun rack for so long. Most every deer and antelope shot with it dropped on the spot. It accounted for a 403 yard antelope doe, another one at about 250 yards, an antelope buck at around 100 yards, a mule deer buck at 388 yards, and another mule deer buck at 137 yards. All but one dropped instantly.

This past October 2011, the STW accompanied me once again to Wyoming. VicFox (from Australia) here on the forums hunted with me and he used the STW to take several antelope and a mule deer. All dropped on the spot, with distances up to about 250 yards, not considered long range by any means, but respectable ranges. I also dropped two antelope where they stood with that rifle. It shoots so well and flat that it has become my favorite Wyoming rifle. I would not hesitate to use it on elk, with the 140 gr. Barnes bullet, but would probably go to a 160 gr. if for elk only.

Some people will throw in the words "overkill" when a subject like this comes up. I believe you can use a variety of rifles and cartridges and enjoy them all. To me personally, overkill has little meaning. I'd much rather have overkill than underkill.




Below is a short clip of Wyoming 2010. The first antleope buck was dropped at 360 yards. My son used a .300 Rem. Ultra Mag and 168 gr. Barnes TSX. Who says that's not a good antleope cartridge! Overkill? Not in my mind. It didn't ruin the meat and we didn't have to chase a wounded antelope around.

The second antelope being drug by my buddy was taken with a 25-06 and a 100 gr. Speer SP. Distance was about 250 yards.

The mule deer buck that is next in the video was taken with the STW at 388 yards. Dropped instantly. Sorry that I didn't get that shot on video.

The next mule deer buck standing by the iron posts is one I shot with the STW at 137 yards. The video speaks for itself, and I hit it a bit high in the back due to the closer range.

After that, an anteleope doe was shot by my son at about 100 yards with a .257 Arnold Mag. (.264 Win. Mag. necked down to 25 caliber) shooting 100 gr. Sierra SP. The Arnold Mag. is essentially a suped up 25-06.

The mule deer buck near the end of the clip, the one that was trotting slightly to the left, was over 400 yards. My son attempted a shot at it with the STW, and hit just to the right of it due to the deer moving. If it had been standing still, he would have dropped it. Sighted 2" to 2.5" high at 100 yards, the STW is esentially dead on at 400. The field trajectory of it defies the ballistic programs.








Below is the 2011 Wyoming clip. The first antleope was taken
with the STW at a short distance of 186 yards.

The next antelope that is being drug was taken by Yfzdunner's
wife, Lindsey at 193 yards with a .243. It didn't drop instantly,
but staggerd a few seconds and then went down. End result was
a clean shot and a clean kill.






It sounds as if I am trying to sell you on the 7mm Rem. Mag. I'm
really not, just stating that is "MY" favorite caliber for the game
you mentioned, and why. The 7mm08, while not as fast or flat shooting as
the 7 mags. is still a good one, just consider that it doesn't have
the range of it's larger brothers.

Before shutting my mouth I will say that while in Africa a few years back,
the guides handed me a .308 with which I took a large warthog, and a springbuck.
They use a .308 quite a lot over there.

The choice is yours. Enjoy whichever one you choose.





 
How often are you going to hunt elk? If once in your life then 25-06 will have a lot less recoil and offer a flat trajectory for those antelope but still be ok for an occasional elk hunt with the 120 gr bullet and a careful shot placement. On the other hand if you are going to hunt a lot of elk and the occasional antelope the 7mm08 is said to hit as hard as 308 with less recoil. The 308 will have the cheapest and most available ammo for certain and work fine.
 
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