Recommend me a hunting rifle

[BeefCakeScout]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

.30-06 is probably the perfect fit and good for both deer and elk.

It just isn't near as sexy as a 7mm or 300 WSM/RUM/std Mag.

Precisely....

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

You want to be 1.5MOA-ish at 600, or about 9" group...size of a dinner plate?

Originally Posted by redpitbull44

No. 8MOA at 600yd would be a 48" group...

I know...I know...I initially had some wonky ass calculation for MOA, but then decided it was probably still not right, so I changed it to 8.....just forgot/neglected/hit my head/didn't change it to shot group. Retard moment...I has them

Originally Posted by redpitbull44

I sometimes wonder if people realize just how far away even 300yd is.

I can kill a human sized pop up target at 300m like nobodies bidness!

Originally Posted by Crawlchevy

338 Lapua Mag

$5 a round and massacred carcass's......nuh uh. I will own one someday.....but not for Ca Blacktail

[MT4Runner]

Originally Posted by BeefCakeScout

Precisely....

Ummm...here's another random idea. If one gun is good, two is better.

What about a .338 Lapua, even in a Savage action, just for a fun gun.
Get the 30-06 for the practical hunting.

$5 a round and massacred carcass's......nuh uh. I will own one someday.....but not for Ca Blacktail

If you can afford a fun gun, you can afford $5 a round. Save your brass and get reloads.


Buddy of mine just did 20 and done in the Army. He went out and bought a 30-378 Weatherby.

You never mentioned Weatherby's.....

Originally Posted by SilverZuk

Boat tails have a better ballistic coefficient that is beneficial at extended ranges. However, they are harder on your barrel. When you are talking about hot, fast rounds - it really makes a difference.

Duh. Makes a ton of sense. I always figured it was mostly due to overbore cartridges.
You're basically pulling the trigger on a plasma cutter. Barrel lives longer if the hot gases go straight down the barrel. Throat erodes if the hot gases go sideways.

[wheelerfreak]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

If you can afford a fun gun, you can afford $5 a round. Save your brass and get reloads.


You never mentioned Weatherby's.....

.

I have two weatherbys and don't reload, 270wm and 257wm. I shoot the Barnes triple shock and that shit is $$$ about $70 a box I really need to start reloading.

But, back on topic. I asked this same question a while back and finaly decided to stick with the -06. I wanted the 300 Win Mag or 7mm Rem Mag just for the wow factor and the off chance I might take a 500m shot. But the consensus was the -06 will kill anything I'm likely to hunt within reasonable distances...with my own skills being the limiting factor.

[BeefCakeScout]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

Ummm...here's another random idea. If one gun is good, two is better.

What about a .338 Lapua, even in a Savage action, just for a fun gun.
Get the 30-06 for the practical hunting.

Cause I'm getting the Xtrema2 also

[spork2367]

Originally Posted by redpitbull44

I sometimes wonder if people realize just how far away even 300yd is.

Most don't. They watch too many shows about sniper rifles on the military channel. When someone starts talking about "shooting 1000 yards" at my house I point all the way across the valley to the next mountain top and tell them that's 980 yards. They usually change the subject at that point.

[Texas97]

Originally Posted by spork2367

Most don't. They watch too many shows about sniper rifles on the military channel. When someone starts talking about "shooting 1000 yards" at my house I point all the way across the valley to the next mountain top and tell them that's 980 yards. They usually change the subject at that point.

Depends on what part of the world your in. I happen to think 300 yards isn't THAT far. But that's because I used to have clear line of sight out to 800 yards, before the mesquite took over my field. In South Texas, hunting senderos, you can shoot as far as your gun, eye sight, and skill will let you.

[Corn_Smuggler]

I don't even break the Lapua out on the 1000 yard range; it's a waste of ammo. Hell, I bought my .17HMR to target shoot at 300-500. I just bought a 22-250 the other morning to go Coyote hunting and play out on the 1000 yard target range with.

As for reloads, quality Lapua brass, Lapua Scenars and Retumbo powder, comes out to about $3.50 a round last time I bought... not bad if you load. I don't think I would recommend it as a hunting round though, if you're only shooting Elk and smaller, unless you're into long range hunting... which I find fascinating btw. The guys at work, here in CO, shoot elk each season with 270's, fwiw.

To me, long range hunting is where you start thinking 338LM, IMHO.

Wyoming Elk at 1000 Yards Kill Shot - YouTube.

[spork2367]

Originally Posted by Texas97

Depends on what part of the world your in. I happen to think 300 yards isn't THAT far. But that's because I used to have clear line of sight out to 800 yards, before the mesquite took over my field. In South Texas, hunting senderos, you can shoot as far as your gun, eye sight, and skill will let you.

I'm not arguing about what is far and what isn't, just that most people are terrible judges of distance.

[broncman]

Laser range finder...always in the bag...

[redpitbull44]

Originally Posted by spork2367

I'm not arguing about what is far and what isn't, just that most people are terrible judges of distance.

Indeed. The longest range in my area is 300 or so, and the range owner told me he makes people take a test before allowing them to shoot that far... I had to laugh, although not at him, but at the situation. Everybody at the range was shooting at 25 or 50. We had the 100 and 200 to ourselves all day. I asked a few of them if they wanted to shoot on the longer ranges, and they declined saying things like, "its open sights, its not set up for long range." To which I felt compelled to reply "don't most mosin sights go to 2000yds?" He looks at it, looks back up, grunts and walks away.

As far as the choice of caliber and rifle goes, you can get a Savage in .338 Lapua for around $1050 IIRC.

[BeefCakeScout]

I am a crack shot out to 600m, and consistently hit center mass on silhouettes at 800. However, at those distances, the most minute discrepancy is the difference between dropping and animal and losing a wounded one. I shoot inside 300 for the sake of the game I'm after. I know that every time I pull the trigger I am hitting exactly where I want to hit and I will get my kill. I haven't hunted elk, but i'm pretty sure I would feel safe going out to 400 on a body that big.

I was laying in my rack last night thinking to myself "self, do you REALLY need a big beastly RUM?"
I dunno....methinks my bonus money went to my head. Still stuck on the 700, buuuuuuut, 7mag or 06 seem to be far more realistic choices. If I ever decide to shoot a moose, i'll just buy another gun

[MT4Runner]

7mmRM is a bit flatter, better ballistics.
06 has a TON more factory bullet weights available. Heck, more weights available for handloaders, too. Handload it to .308 pressures and it can meet or exceed the energy and velocity from the 7mm.

Why not 300WinMag? Doesn't have the ballistics of the .284 bullet, but you have more muzzle energy than either of the two above, and it won't break your bank.

300WSM for a bit less recoil, but more expensive factory ammo.



Just to add some confusion while you're lying in bed at night pondering guns.

[BeefCakeScout]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

7mmRM is a bit flatter, better ballistics.
06 has a TON more factory bullet weights available. Heck, more weights available for handloaders, too. Handload it to .308 pressures and it can meet or exceed the energy and velocity from the 7mm.

Why not 300WinMag? Doesn't have the ballistics of the .284 bullet, but you have more muzzle energy than either of the two above, and it won't break your bank.

300WSM for a bit less recoil, but more expensive factory ammo.



Just to add some confusion while you're lying in bed at night pondering guns.

Thanks asshole! At 300m, I'm pretty confident that any one of them will kill what I shoot at. I think a 7mag should fit the bill.....but.....

[redpitbull44]

.300 Win Mag will kill anything in North America at 300 yd.

[WheelinOK]

Originally Posted by redpitbull44

.300 Win Mag will kill anything in North America at 300 yd.

X2 Beating a dead horse, aren't we?

[SilverZuk]

Originally Posted by redpitbull44

.300 Win Mag will kill anything in North America at 300 yd.

Do you know the difference between a 7mm mag and a 30-06?






































Neither does a deer

[micky_blue]

Since the OP asks for a "hunting rifle"...

Why not get a 30-30 and LEARN TO STALK. to me that is the fun of hunting. it is about the chase and out smarting the prey, not lets see if I can shoot it 700 yards away. Yeah 700 yard shots look really cool on youtube and all, but some one who shoots a deer at bow range with a rifle is more impressive in my book. FWIW.

[BeefCakeScout]

Originally Posted by micky_blue

Since the OP asks for a "hunting rifle"...

Why not get a 30-30 and LEARN TO STALK. to me that is the fun of hunting. it is about the chase and out smarting the prey, not lets see if I can shoot it 700 yards away. Yeah 700 yard shots look really cool on youtube and all, but some one who shoots a deer at bow range with a rifle is more impressive in my book. FWIW.

I'm thinking you missed the vast majority of this thread. I have a 30-30,I know how to stalk......I just don't want to. Meat in my freezer FAR outweighs impressing someone else.

[redpitbull44]

Originally Posted by WheelinOK

X2 Beating a dead horse, aren't we?

Yes, but somehow the rest of my post got cut off after an edit and I didn't realize it until just now. I went on to expound on the comparisons between 7mm rem mag and .300 win mag, and how I like flat trajectory but feel better with a heavier bullet, etc.

To me the logical progression for ammo sizes is 7.62x39 or 300blk, .308, .300win mag .338 Lapua, .408 CheyTac, and .50BMG.

[BeefCakeScout]

OK....I have no experience with the 300RUM and i'm pretty much over that. I DO however have lots of experience with 7Mag and 06. What would make a 300 WinMag a better choice than the above?

[redpitbull44]

Heavier bullet options for one. You can load from 110gr to 250gr, because it is a .308. I don't have my numbers here in front of me, but off the top of my head, .308 goes subsonic around 1100yd or so, and drops to around 500ft lbs. .300win mag is around 2800+ fps muzzle and 3600+ ft lbs muzzle, but is still over 1000ft lb at 1000yd! A lot of your heavy magnums start out with more energy than .300 win mag, but .300 win mag outperforms them in a hurry. Compare some drop tables and you will see 7mag and .300win mag are comprable with 7 being flatter, until you get the bullet weights close to the same. I gotta get ready for a wedding, but I'll stop back in later. You. Are on the right path though, comparing the two.

[BeefCakeScout]

I like your logic......I will continue my research

[Munchies]

Fyi 7rm kills moose dead just fine. Double shovel on my dads garage wall proves it. Rem 700 7rm 1989 or abouts. Boiler room shot, no problem! Imagine an 06 would do it too.

[intenseimages]

Originally Posted by BeefCakeScout

OK....I have no experience with the 300RUM and i'm pretty much over that. I DO however have lots of experience with 7Mag and 06. What would make a 300 WinMag a better choice than the above?

Not a damned thing. Is the 300 Win Mag a bit faster than the 7RemMag? Yeah, Is it faster than the 30-06, only in factory loads. Handloads the 30-06 is right on its heels and does not have the brutal recoil of the 300WinMag.

I had lots of fantasies about owning a long range rifle in 300 Win Mag. Until I shot one. That is by far the most brutally recoiling rifle for so little gain in velocity it isn't even funny. If I want monster recoil in a 30 magnum I will get a 30-378 or a 7.82 Lazzeroni Warbird. Other than that, the 300 Weatherby wl beat the 300 Win Mag and nto be quite as punishing. The 30-06 can be loaded to 3100fps with a 165gr bullet with the right powder.

Over all, there isn't a whole lot the 30-06 cannot do for you. There is a reason it is still one of hte cartridges most others are judged by.

[WheelinOK]

Originally Posted by intenseimages

Not a damned thing. Is the 300 Win Mag a bit faster than the 7RemMag? Yeah, Is it faster than the 30-06, only in factory loads. Handloads the 30-06 is right on its heels and does not have the brutal recoil of the 300WinMag.

I had lots of fantasies about owning a long range rifle in 300 Win Mag. Until I shot one. That is by far the most brutally recoiling rifle for so little gain in velocity it isn't even funny. If I want monster recoil in a 30 magnum I will get a 30-378 or a 7.82 Lazzeroni Warbird. Other than that, the 300 Weatherby wl beat the 300 Win Mag and nto be quite as punishing. The 30-06 can be loaded to 3100fps with a 165gr bullet with the right powder.

Over all, there isn't a whole lot the 30-06 cannot do for you. There is a reason it is still one of hte cartridges most others are judged by.

Recoil is subjective. It's up to BCS how much he's comfortable shooting. I don't think the .300WM is that bad.