best all around rifle and cal. for hunting n.a. big game at long range

stan_b8

I appreciate all the input from my past post but I need to elaborate a little more. I want a rifle which I can hunt with for mostly va. whitetail and possibly elk some time but I don't want to leave out some possible terrorist who decides to stick his head out if this may ever becomes a problem. I plan to reload in future and know there is no 1 gun for everything but would like to get input possible which rifle and cal. may be most versatile for my need. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ITS HUNTERS

AntiqueDr

.300 Win Mag.

---

We buy, sell and trade quality guns and scopes!Ask us about Shepherd Scopes!Visit our website at www.ApaxEnterprises.com

Rembrandt

Tough question, for the gun I'd go with a composite stock and stainless barrel bolt action.My top 5 Caliber picks:300 Win Mag (good powerful round)30-06 (easy to find ammo for)270 (personal favorite)7mm Rem Mag (flat shooter for long distance)308 (good all around cartridge)

SNIPER1048

STAN_B8:I WOULD GO WITH 300 WIN MAG. IF YOU RELOAD; YOU CAN PUT TOGETHER SOME CUSTOM LOADS FOR DIFFERENT JOBS. I HAVE A REM SENDRO IN 300 WIN MAG THAT I CAN HIT A PLAYING CARD WITH AT 500 YARDS. WITH ALL THE 30 CAL.BULLETS OUT THERE TRY LOADING TRACER OR BLACK TIP ARMOUR PIRECING. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE TO PUNCH A CAR DOOR AT 500 YARDS.

---

"START THE BALL ROLLING THERE, TECTOR"

JudgeColt

The heading on your post asks for recommendations for hunting North American big game. You then go on to mention elk but do not mention the big bears so I assume you are not considering a rifle for that purpose. You then mention wanting to deal with terrorists as well should it be necessary. While a hunting rifle (any firearm) will deal with terrorists, it is far from ideal because of limited magazine capacity and excessive power in most of the chamberings mentioned. Buy a .223 military-style semi-automatic of some sort for that purpose, and general self-defense. For elk, the .300 Magnums of any variation are great, but the .30-06 and .308 will work with less margin of error. I am a big fan of the .338 in the Browning BAR. The .338 would work for the big bears as well if you include them in your requirements. My ideal elk rifle would be a BAR in the .300/.375 wildcat (a .300 Win. Magnum necked up to .375). I still may build one, although I have not hunted elk for many years. Such a rifle would be a good reason to start again.

DaRoosta

I agree with all of the above posts. This is a very typical question and something that comes up often, if not on this board then in general discussion. Find something you like based on fit, feel and asthetics and you'll have the confidence necessary for the job.The .300 Win Mag or 7mm Mag are both excellent calibers for your purpose. I would like to add the Ultra Mag's to the list as well. I bought a Sako Model 75 SS in .300 Ultra Mag earlier this year and have been extremely impressed. The recoil is fairly substantial, but if you can handle it, the ballistics produce excellent results. Bolt action rifles are my personal favorite (as a side note, Ultra Mags are currently only available in bolt action). For semi-autos, the Browning BAR in .300 Win Mag would be a good choice as well. The Remington Sendero is a nice model that is very popular right now as well.

wilmamae

Just my two cents worth. If you feel the need for more than a 30-06 why fool with a 300? Just go to a 338 and get some meaningful upgrade in power.

steve45

.300 win mag is a excellant cartridge but the .270, .280 or 30-06 have been doing this job for many years. These are all perfect for deer. They are fine for elk as long as you limit your shots to 350 yds. or less. The rifles cost less, the ammo costs less, which leaves you more money for practice. When it comes to hunting shot placement is always first and over and above power. An Elk gut shot with a magnum is going to run just as far as one gutshot with a standard caliber. These calibers are easier to master than magnum calibers. As far as terrorists are concerned a decent hit anywhere on the body with any hi-power rifle and expanding bullet will stop them instantly.

mudge

I'd have to agree with JudgeColt. (With a name like that, how could I disagree?).I don't think one rifle is going to meet your requirements satisfactorily. The AR-15 (or better yet an M-16) for the goblins. I'd personally choose a .30-06 for your other wildlife needs.Mudge

---

Anyone who CAN carry, SHOULD carry!Let me update that.Anyone who CAN carry, BETTER carry.

Orphanedcowboy

30.06 or .308 great rounds very accurate and ammo is readily available, and Hornady makes those excellent Light magnum rounds for each with that great bullet, the SST, the .308 in LM has 1256 ftlbs of energy @ 500yds while the 30.06 has 1350 and this is with a 150 gr SST bullet, based on Hornady's numbers, the .300 Win Mag with a 180 gr bullet has 1565 ft lbs of energy. I only use the .308 or 30.06 to hunt medium to big game with, and I have had everything I have shot, fall within 70 yards of where it was. Plus there is a world of rifles to choose from, and so many handloads it's unbelievable

---

Let us Show the World our true colors, Unite and be Heard!Orphanedcowboy@msn.com[This message has been edited by Orphanedcowboy (edited 10-07-2001).]

rg666

Browning BAR in 308 or 30.06 would fit all of your listed requirements. No need to elaborate further. RG

modoc

Funny how often the distance of 350 yards come up when we are dicussing big game hunting.Considering how seldom animals are shot at that distance.Our bow hunting brothers and blackpowder shooters probably get a real chuckle over the thought of how we are such lousey hunters that we would even consider shooting an animal at such a far distance just because we have the rifle and optics to make it possible.When such shots are taken and the animal is killed how often are the shooters able to find the carcass??Unless one person stays at the point of the shot it is nearly impossible to find the exact spot the animal was hit.If one confines his longrange shooting to flat country,maybe he will find where it is but in even slight cover it is a real chore.To my way of thinking a real HUNTER gets close to his goal before shooting,as do the archers and muzzle loaders.I have to take my hat off to them and salute REAL HUNTERS.In no way do I include myself in either bunch but try to insure one shot kills as respect to the animal I am hunting.Too often I have heard of guys shooting an animal and later reporting that they couldn't find it so they shot another.If that is becomming the hunters code count me out.modoc

steve45

Modoc, it looks to me as if you hunt a heavily forested area. You have to remember that some of us dont. In hunting more open mountain country sometimes cross canyon shots are the rule. There is no way to get closer that won't take hours and most of my success has been in the afternoon when you don't have hours. This is where marksmanship comes in. You have to know your rifle and shoot it a lot. You have to use a rifle that can do the job.(the 30-30 win. was never popular in the mountain west). As far as finding the animal, in more open country you can watch them run at the shot, watch them stumble,and see them fall. Yes, I could hold my fire unless their under 100 yds. but Id have taken home about a tenth of the animals that Ive shot. Killing with one shot is every hunters goal, being a good shot at longer ranges can be practiced and mastered. By the way, when I've been lucky enough to get drawn for muzzleloader Elk in heavy woods I've gone two for two. Shot one at 10 yds and one at 40 yds. So I guess in your book I'm a REAL HUNTER sometimes,and then sometimes not.