Buying a new rifle...caliber recommendations?

[Squatch]

Hey, all...

I have my sights (sic) set on either a Browning A-bolt, Weatherby Mark V, or a Remington Mod 700. I need an all-purpose rifle for most N American game including deer, mule deer, elk, moose, and black bear.

I think I need to be in the .300s and maybe the .338s (though that may be overkill for VA deer), so I've come up with these calibers:

.300 WinMag
.300 WSM
30-06 Springfield
.338 WinMag
.338 Weatherby Mag

I am leaning toward the .300 WSM.

Any thoughts?

Oh, yeah, I'm putting a Burris Fullfield II 3x9 on it.

[Redneck Socialist]

1. I'd go with the 30-06

It'll be plenty sufficient for every game species on your list. IMNSHO the mags aren't necessary for any of the common North American game. All you get is extra noise and recoil so unless you just have to have the last gee wiz magnum blaster I'd say go with the '06. Granted it's not the most sexy caliber out there but there are tons of good factory loads available, which is nice if you don't reload and the ammo is available pretty much every where, which can be important if you travel to hunt. The deer certainly won't notice the difference between the '06 and the other choices you listed.

As for the rifle itself I'd go with the Remington, but that's just because I don't really like how either the Browings or Weatherbys look. All of those companies make a quality rifle though, so buy whichever one trips your trigger.

[arkie dem]

2. Slightly smaller caliber than you listed....

I like the 280 or 7mm Mag. I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to the real hard kickers. I haven't shot any of the newer short magnums.
I have an older model Burris 3X9 Fullfield on my 280 and it's a decent scope, don't know about the newer Burris scopes???

[TX-RAT]

3. 300 mag minimum.

My personal favorite is the 300 Weatherby. I've taken everything on your list, and some that wasn't, (Oryx, Nilgai, Buffalo) except Moose. When we start talking Elk and larger a 300 is the minimum in my opinion, and Moose is in a class by itself. Most guides would rather see you hunt with a 338 minimum.

[Endangered Specie]

4. You might consider a Military Surplus rifle

rather than an expensive commercial gun :shrug:


There are many out there in remarkably good condition, one can generally be had for the $150-$300 range.

Example:

7.5x55 caliber Swiss Kar 31...
http://www.surplusrifle.com/swissk31/index.asp
These things are typically stunningly accurate and well maintained.
Will cost you around $150-$250 depending
Ammo is about $9/20, hunting ammo is a bit more expensive.
The link also has a article on a scope mount for it.


Some other ideas include British Lee-Enfields, Mausers of any stripe, and even Russian Mosins, which are dirt cheap (<$100, ammo is also very inexpensive).