What caliber of rifle should I get ?

I think my first question before I could make a good suggestion is handloader or not? Both the 7mm-08 and the 25-06 are great choices, but getting the bullet best for you application in these cartridges can be more challenging, while for .308 you can get everything from 130grn to 185grn in just about every decent sporting goods store - or even True Value.

I love the .308 case, and have 7mm-08, .308 and .358's. Forget the 30-06 fans mania- .308 can do anything 30-06 can do in a nice short action rifle.
 
Quote: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.

So where is the limit or who gets to decide it. Experience decides for most. The most popular calibers for each game category are just that for a reason. Proven performance. Who can guarantee a 700 yd .243 one shot kill. Grizzly have been killed with .22 LR.
Here WDFW by definition allows .25 auto for big game hunting. Try to find someone to recommend that for elk.

Some claim .22-250 is more than sufficient for elk even right here on this forum. Then the .223 for deer threads. For that matter it is well known a .22 or even a hammer or stick will do. So why waste powder.
 
Originally Posted By: RePeteOriginally 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.


Feather weight with a longer barrel is for sure a great setup. I especially like the 7mm08 and this one I picked up used at a reasonable price is perfect for me.
Kimber 84M Classic at 7lbs. .01oz. as shown.

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I have a Savage Model 11 GCNS Wood Stock,Blued Barrel with the Accu-Trigger in a 7mm-08,very nice Rifle that is accurate and easy on recoil.I put a Leupold 3X9X40mm Matte-Black Rifleman scope on it and it does great in the early mornings and late evening in low light conditions where most scope can be cloudy and un-clear!




K22....those Kimbers are sure Sweet looking Rifles!
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Originally Posted By: GTOHunterI have a Savage Model 11 GCNS Wood Stock,Blued Barrel with the Accu-Trigger in a 7mm-08,very nice Rifle that is accurate and easy on recoil.I put a Leupold 3X9X40mm Matte-Black Rifleman scope on it and it does great in the early mornings and late evening in low light conditions where most scope can be cloudy and un-clear!




K22....those Kimbers are sure Sweet looking Rifles!
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Thanks GTOHunter. They shoot as sweet as they look and this one was well worth the price.
 
Thanks again everyone for thier input. I am leaning towards the 7mm-08 or 308 as caliber choice.

Now I need to find some places that rifles in both so I can get an idea on prices.

Once again, thanks to all for your input.

Wayne
 
Originally Posted By: Yoteless in OhioI'll answer your question that you originally asked without throwing out ten other calibers.

308
The "question that was originally asked" included opinions on alternative calibers.


Lots of good info here, and I'm sure the OP is smart enough to sift through it and deciede what's right for him.

PS, I like the 308 too (and the 7/08) but there's nothing wrong with the other suggestions.
 
6mm06, Bob Milek was a friend of mine for several years. I live in Bob's home town here in Wyoming and Bob and I shot together at the same little gun club that Bob actually owned and leased to the club. His passion was hunting handguns but he loved the smell of gunpowder regardless of what it came from. Because of Bob I had a 257 Ackely Improved built for my kids and they each shot their first elk with it. It wasn't an ideal elk cartrige but with heavy bullets and careful shot placement at a reasonable range it got the job done. The difference is I live here and had multiple opportunties with my kids on elk we waited for the right shot at fairly close range. If I was on a once in lifetime hunt I would chose a .30 caliber rifle with some punch. Elk are tough animals.
 
I got to thinking, when I was in Vernal, our current prez had just got elected. I bet that is where all the .308 went... They were out of .45 and 9 mm too... Now I remember why it was gone! They have a chitpotfullaguns in that place though, I would check and see if they will ship to a local FFL before I passed on at least a phone call to them. At least figure out the cost issue, whatever you want, they will most likely have at LEAST three of it....
 
Of the three you listed, I would go with the .308 but the 30-06 would be better. Whatever you get, get one that has readily available ammunition at retail locations. If you happen to need some ammo in a hurry due to lost luggage, misplaced ammo, etc., you need to be able to readily replace it. You can get 30-06 and 308 just about anywhere. The others?
 
Very true white smoke, very true. 30-06 and 308 are so common, you can get a box at some gas station in the middle of nowhere.

I saw a really nice Ruger mod 77 hawkeye in 308, brushed stainless with rings.
I also saw some Savage mod 11 in 25-06,7mm-08 and 308.

I am thinking of getting a 308, but I really do like the 7mm-08 (only because i used one before on antelope and deer)

I am very appreciative of all the comments and input from PM members
Thank you guys so much

Wayne
 
Nothing wrong with either of the 30cals but IMO ammo availability just isn't that big of a deal considering that every manufacturers stuff shoots into a different POI even with the same weight of bullet, so unless said gas and go has your brand you're not really that much better off.
I've been hunting for 50+ years and can't remember one time when I lost or forgot my ammo. Sure, it can happen, but the odds just aren't high enough to justify choosing one caliber over another IMO.
Plus the fact that 7/08 not all that uncommon. At least not in the western states.


That's JMO though and we all know about opinions.

PS,,, if your shooting factory ammo (or reloads) and your worried about it, throw a box in your glove box and another in your favorite pack and and you'll likely cut your odds on leaving home without it down to that of Nancy Pelosi saying something coherent.
 

JCL,

I would love to have been able to hunt with Bob and to have known him as you did. Without a doubt, he was the most influential hunter / shooter in my life. I used to anxiously wait to get magazines with his articles, Guns & Ammo if I recall correctly. Bob covered the topics well, and in manner of detail so that a guy like me who was yearing to learn, could do so. I have those old magazines still stored, but haven't looked at them in a long time. I would have got rid of them except I couldn't stand to part with Bob's articles. I read every article of his I could get my hands on. I remember specifically the .25-06 one pertaining to elk.

You are right about his love for handguns. He wrote several articles on various ones. Via phone conversation, Bob gave me some good advice on loading the .30 Herrett for a Contender handgun. He was very knowledgeable.

RePete, I can't help noticing that fantastic bobcat in your avatar every time I see your post. That is a great looking cat.


 
To be honest RePete, my ammmo gets doubled checked and tripled checked before anything esle does. Except for the tag and my hunting license, before I leave.

I may not have as much hunting/shooting experience as most do on this forum, but I have enough to know I sure wouldnt want to land somewhere after a flight only to find out I have nothing to go BANG with. That would be a miserable hunting experience. Just like some of the stories I read of peoples guns getting destroyed or even stolen by anti-hunting airline baggage handlers.

So it is between the 7mm-08 and 308 for my choice. Now I am going to look at diferent brands of rifles in both calibers. That will be a whole new "post" sometime soon.

Once again, the inputs,comments,suggestions,opinions and chat talk are greatly apprecriated.

Thanks so much,
Wayne
 
The Savage Accu-trigger concept is interesting to me, but I have never used one. My model is a 110G and was made before the Accutrigger replaced that sintered metal POS that the Brits put in the rifles before the plant employees bought it back. When I called them about it the moment they got to the "G" in the serial number, the line always went dead. They had an official policy not to even talk with owners of those rifles for fear or lawsuits or some such. I sure wish I could locate a better trigger for that rifle.. In any case, the user adjustable nature of that newer setup than I have currently seems to be pretty interesting, and may be worth a look.

I wish I could suggest another maker, but all I have seen lately are the WalMart versions of Remingtons, Mossbergs, Winchesters, and the like, and as we all know, they can be pretty crappy. I saw one bolt action rifle at WallyWorld that had stamped and folded over (halfway) metal rails for the bolt to slide on, I crap you not... The action was absolutely sloppy and grated like a shin on pavement covered in gravel. Wow... The sad part was that they did not realize that all rifles are not like that, and that such situation was a PROBLEM.....
 
I heard that my receiver will not even accept the newer trigger group, and that combined with the total lack of ANY service blows poo poo big time.. Maybe I need to give em another call, maybe they will talk with me now that the rifle has not killed me, what do you fellas think?
 
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