Best multiple species big game rifle??? Help!!!!!!!!!!!

[CRAZYEYES]

My grandfather was a hunting guide and he used a model 740 30-06 for everything in north america from moose to bear to deer. I have a 270 and 30-06 and like both equally. I really want to get a good varmit rifle though. I have shot coyotes with the 270 but want something in 223.

[JeffB]

My first choice is a 460 Weatherby and a close second is a 458 Lott. No such thing as to much gun. I've shot prairie dogs to deer with a 460. No need to worry about brush and with good hand loads you'd be surprised how far they will shoot.

I totally disagree with this advice. If this is a guys first gun and he wants a do it all gun this is a bad choice. He needs a gun he can get comfortable with and shoot a lot at the range to get good shooting habits. These are not starter guns. If you can shoot this gun well not everyone will. And at over $5 a round how many practice shots will a person take? But I will agree its a good gun to have if you are out hunting for deer and run into a charging cape buffalo or rampaging elephant.

[swamptiger]

Quote:

I need help choosing the best rifle to get for multiple big game, you know like an all in one rifle for deer, bear, elk, moose, etc. etc.

The most versatile round is the 30-06, simply because of the wide choice of bullet weights available.

[Black_Bay]

I need help choosing the best rifle to get for multiple big game, you know like an all in one rifle for deer, bear, elk, moose, etc. etc. Either a .270, .308, 7MM, or 30-06. Which one is best all around and why??? I know it's probably more of a personal choice and I'll get a hundred different answers but any help is appreciated!!! Thanks in advance!!!

I would look at the largest animal I honestly plan on hunting and buy a gun in the caliber sufficient to handle that. If you are honestly going to hunt bear (black I assume), moose and elk I wouldn't go smaller than an 30-06. Black bear and moose have thick bones and hide so they can be tough to take down. In my opinion you owe it to the animal you hunt to make a quick clean kill.

[glenn57]

7mm rem mag, hands down! just look at their ballistics. fast and flat. we have 5 in our household! we use them deer and elk hunting. the only complaint i have is you cant get heavier than 175 grain bullets. i shoot federal 165 grain sierra gameking btsp's, and man do they pattern!

if i were to buy another rifle, id be getting a .325 wsm

yeah, why is that? i shoot a 30-06 and like the 220grain bullet but it gets harder every year to find them.

[Musky Buck]

30.06

[Black_Bay]

One other thing to consider is that Remington makes managed recoil ammunition in various calibers. If you really are planning on hunting large game such as moose, elk or bears I'd go for the 300 Win Mag or 300 Remington Ultra Mag.

[jcpmn82]

Can of worms has been opened.......

[fishlakeman]

Originally Posted By: gunmunky

My first choice is a 460 Weatherby and a close second is a 458 Lott. No such thing as to much gun. I've shot prairie dogs to deer with a 460. No need to worry about brush and with good hand loads you'd be surprised how far they will shoot.

I totally disagree with this advice. If this is a guys first gun and he wants a do it all gun this is a bad choice. He needs a gun he can get comfortable with and shoot a lot at the range to get good shooting habits. These are not starter guns. If you can shoot this gun well not everyone will. And at over $5 a round how many practice shots will a person take? But I will agree its a good gun to have if you are out hunting for deer and run into a charging cape buffalo or rampaging elephant.

Hahahaha, Jeff, my thoughts exactly. Heard there was a hippopotamus spotted around Leech Lake, better bring the big guns just incase.

My reccomendation would be to pic one of the main three: .308, 30-06, or a .270. All three will take any big game in North America down with one well placed shot. These rounds come with a variety of grains to suit thin skinned antelope up to elk and moose. I personally like the 30-06 because of the availability of ammo in a 165, 180, or 220 grain bullet. The .270 may be a little light with only 130's and 150's most readily available.

Find a gun that fits you well, that you feel confident shooting with. Get to know it, and become accurate with it, and you'll have many years of success in the field. I just recently switched from a Remington semi-auto 30-06 to a Browning A-Bolt 30-06. I just didn't have confidence in the semi to go much past 200 yds. The a-bolt I'll feel comfortable going past 350 yd. I just feel much more confident shooting a bolt for some reason. It all comes down to personal taste.

[gunmunky]

Any caliber/gun you shoot well will be the right one for you. I personally like big bores but they are not for every one. I truely believe any caliber 6mm or bigger will take any game in north america with the proper bullet and more importantly if the shooter knows the limits of himself and the gun.

To Jeffb and fishlakeman, Have either of you shot either of these calibers? I'm guessing not, You really owe it to yourself to broden your horizens.. He asked for opinions. Sorry my opinion doesn't match yours. I will check with the 2 of you in the future before I post again, NOT.

[bassmann77]

I had this decision to make a few years ago and I toiled between the 7mm and the 30.06. Either gun has its advantages and disadvantages, but in the end I went with a 30.06. If ones thinks about Moose hunting, it is a once-in-a-lifetime license in MN so I don't believe a caliber should be chosen based on that animal. Unless you have a lot of money, moose hunting is expensive if one wants to do it every year out of state or country. 30.06 will kill just about every animal cleanly with the grains available. The ammo that is available even at gas stations is a nice safe alternative if one forgets their ammo while packing everything for the weekend

[vister]

munky, why are you ruling out the .243? afterall a 6mm is a .244 just kidding.

but i dont think a guy needs advice on buying a 458 loft when hes looking for something in the /06 range.

id just buy a barret 50 cal, then the big bore guys will be happy, and the anti-bigbore guys wont complain, cause yer gun is twice as big!

but with what you've heard, i'd say anything from .264-.300 will do what you ask of it

[Ufatz]

You can load the 06 up or down to do what you need to do. If you don't load your own, somebody can suggest loads and then make' em up for you. The 06 makes sense for a lot of guys.

I note a substantial harvest of moose [PoorWordUsage] floating around in this thread. How many of the people commenting to airily about 460's and 458's etc have ever shot one. Or SEEN one! Ha! You guys ever trip the trigger on a .378 Norma mag? Or a 460 Weatherby mag. How many rounds have you put through YOUR .458? Hardly any varnish left on mine. ha!

Have fun boys.....but a little more seasoned guidance might help the guy.

[fishgutz77]

Not only is the 06 a great MN gun the ammo is every where.

If you spot a nice animal in the brush just go get him, the 06 will do the job.

[HC Eye Hunter]

The most under rated rifle ever made, the unbelted .280, it has the killing power without the kick of a 7 mag. Excellent bullet coefficient, excellent accuracy and will drop anything in this country.

[fishlakeman]

Gunmunky or Ufatz,

I'm not ripping on the calibers, and no I have not shot them. I have shot many different calibers, played around with many different bullet grains, and types, done some reloading, and patterned guns out to 400 yds using all types of ammo. I do know what I'm talking about when it comes to ballistics. I just disagree with the reccommendation for your calibers mentioned. They are extremely expensive to shoot, so a novice shooter would probably not get to shoot the gun as much as they should. I'm not ripping on the ability of the cartriges. It's just that they're spendy, and not really found at any ma and pa store. Didn't mean to offend ya.

I can swing by the gas station and pic up a box of federal 30-06, 165 gr for $16.00, and they pattern better than a lot of the Nosler and Sierra slugs out there. Thats why I think a std cartrige is better for a guy looking for a great all around rifle.

[vister]

what does any of what you just said in your post help the guy out that originally posted this thread? none! the guy was simply asking us what caliber of the four he listed would be our gun of choice, and why. Not, what is the biggest gun you can buy, or if you can handle the buck of it, you can shoot it! I dont have to shoot a 460 weatherby mag to know i dont need it to go deer hunting. i've never shot it, but seen the size of the round. if you wanna spend the money per round, be my guest, but dont ridicule us because we are recommending more appropriate calibers for the intended game. I dont think there is such thing as too big of a gun myself, but i know i don't need to blow the animal in half! by the way, i've "tripped the trigger" on a few different calibers of norma mags. still think 10 guage with 3 1/2 mag slugs kicked more!

seasoned guidance doesn't come from a black and blue shoulder!

[DuckDog]

I have a 30-.06, a 7mm WSM and my great grandfathers 38-55 lever. Hands down the 7mm WSM is my gun of choice for all around hunting. The knock down power beats the 30.06 and the range in greater.

I should also say I do not believe at shooting any animal while they are in heavy woods and I don't have a clear shot so I have no experience with bullet deflection. Personally I think any bullet will deflect on a twig or branch. A different topic on a different day. Last year I was able to take a beautiful deer at 472 yards which went 10 yards; and a bear at 22 yards.

The length of the gun is minimal as it does not really had any effect on the hunting experience.

I have a friend that lives in Oregon and hunts mostly elk and deer; his gun of choice is a .257 roberts - he feels comfortable and able to harvest any animal with his weapon.