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Posted: 8/6/2005 11:53:40 AM EDT
I have some money saved up and I was thinking of buying a good bolt action rifle. The only thing is that I don't know what caliber to get? Now I want something that is a good flat trajectory for long range shots but has the power to take down all north American game and not mess the meat up on a deer but it could take down an elk if I wanted it to.
A friend of mine said to look at the 300 win mag but he is a sniper and he loves his 300 win mag. I had a 30-06 but it does not have the trajectory that I want. Any advice would help thanks. 
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Posted: 8/6/2005 11:56:14 AM EDT
[#1]
the 30.06 isnt doing it for you? it is hotter than a .308 and I've used a .308 to make hits on targets out to 950 meters. you can also reload the 30.06 a decent bit hotter than commercial loads to get even more range out of it.
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:07:42 PM EDT
[#2]
Ya, but your here in California. Most game, except bear, can be taken with a .223, but I have a lot of respect for the .308 and .30-06.
Plus .223/.308/.30-06 are available just about anywhere. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:07:54 PM EDT
[#3]
I also for got to sa that I'd like to use this as a long range target rifle and if need be a sniper rifle. Dont know if that changes anything. When I shot my 700 30-06 it was opening up at about 800 meters. I like the 308 also but does it have the power to knock down an elk at 800 meters? I'v taken things out up to 1800 meters with the 240 Golf mostly targets. I know it will take down a man easy at 1000 meters I'v done that the only thing that worries me is when it gets to something like and elk will it still have the knock down power? |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:08:26 PM EDT
[#4]
um i would have said get a 06..............there the best damn round out there but sense you dont like that go for the 300. the runner up for power and range.
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:10:08 PM EDT
[#5]
But moving to IL or Tenn in about a year and plane on doing some elk hunting soon. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:11:47 PM EDT
[#6]
there are elk in TN and IL? 
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:13:36 PM EDT
[#7]
Common? .308
Less common? .243 |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:15:04 PM EDT
[#8]
I guess I may as well be the one to inject some reality into this. Learn to hunt and get closer. I'll bet my left nut that you cannot put your first, cold bore shot into an area 24" in diameter (about the size of the elk's vitals), each time, every time. I don't give a fuck how far you've sprayed lead from a machine gun. All this talk about knocking an elk down at 800 meters is BULLSHIT. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:16:40 PM EDT
[#9]
there are elk in KY and Tn - reintroduced a few years back, competing with the whitetail herd. Interesting. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:16:49 PM EDT
[#10]
30.06 can be used to great effect as a long range round, it is arguably the most versatile .30 caliber cartridge out there. the groups opening up at 800 is probably due to the rifle or the loads you were using, or both. a good precision rifle with quality match loads in 30.06 should be able to do anything you want. and honestly do you really think you are going to be taking shots at elk at 800 meters? granted, that range would be pushing it for most rounds short of the really long range stuff(.338 lapua, .50bmg, etc...) what model 700 do you have? |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:17:26 PM EDT
[#11]
wow...i did not know that. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:17:53 PM EDT
[#12]
How about a 7mm Rem Mag? From what I've read, it has a pretty flat trajectory and enough foot-pounds necessary to bring down most large game North American animals, BUT it is not all that common such as 223Rem, 308Win, & 30-06.
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:19:02 PM EDT
[#13]
7mag is a great round, but the bullets are a bit on the light side when it comes to elk. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:19:57 PM EDT
[#14]
Not a premium like a Nosler Partition or Swift A Frame around 175 grains. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:20:55 PM EDT
[#15]
I am partial to the 308
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:21:33 PM EDT
[#16]
i have to concur that if your taking shots at 800 yards at a elk you should be beat with the garden hose. learn how to stalk and get closer, shooting that far is just dumb.
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:22:47 PM EDT
[#17]
30-06 is about it. I mean, no one caliber is gonna do EVERYTHING but the 30-06 will be really close. Taking an elk , a hunter doesn't need huge magnums . How far are you planning on shooting one? Your not really hunting if your shooting 500 yds or so. That is sniping.
The .300 WM is a great caliber but it has it's limits also as does every caliber. Your not gonna find a caliber that does everything. Now,if you didn't know, the 30-06 can be handloaded down to take varmints and can be loaded up to take grizzly. A 220 gr. Nosler partition will handle anything in North America and most parts of the world. Whatever you decide on, practice is going to be your best friend. And I don't mean practice from a bench. Certainly that will get you started, but you will need to practice off-hand,kneeling and prone. Good luck |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:23:46 PM EDT
[#18]
30-06
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:26:58 PM EDT
[#19]
Besides... if John C Garand thought it was good enough for his rifle, who are you to argue?
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:28:11 PM EDT
[#20]
Now I've read the part about shooting at elk at 800 yds. Your not a hunter. Hunters don't snipe at animals,much less one they are trying to take humanely. Shooting at animals like you said you have done is what gives hunters a bad name amongst the non-hunting crowd.
Great, thanks a lot. We don't have enough working against us already. And what is a 240 Golf?? |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:28:25 PM EDT
[#21]
Inquiring mind(s) wants to know, is 30-06 powerful enough for elk? And at what distance? BTW: tayous1 welcome home, back from the Iraq? |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:31:02 PM EDT
[#23]
i would either get a phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range or a gun similar to that used by Al Pacino in Heat.
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:34:11 PM EDT
[#24]
John Garand didnt think 30.06 was good enough for his rifle, the war department made him rechamber to 30.06 to keep compatability with the 1903 rifle.
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:37:28 PM EDT
[#25]
The KY herd is thriving and there is Elk hunting in Eastern KY. Elk have been transplanted back in to the Smoky Mountains though that might never lead to a herd you can hunt. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:37:51 PM EDT
[#26]
ive killed 2 elk with my 270 with one shots. your 06 is all you need.
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:40:46 PM EDT
[#27]
.300 Win Mag is my favorite cartridge, too...after .223/5.56. A similar-ballistically-cartridge is the 7mm Rem Mag.
HH |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:51:52 PM EDT
[#28]
I've got a 300 Win Mag, and I wish I had 308 Winchester
If you're looking to kill BIG animals just step up to a 165-180 grain Barnes bullet for it. You should be able to bag anything in NA but a Grizzly with it. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 12:56:17 PM EDT
[#29]
If your rifle doesn't have enough power to suit you at your desired range, select a caliber that does, and pay the money to have a custom rifle built to suit your needs. I'd be amazed if a production rifle would do all you're asking of it. Plus, you need to handload to suit your different requirements, and test your loads at each different range you intend to shoot. As far as caliber selection goes, how much energy do you expect you'll need at your maximum range, maybe 1500 ft/lb for an elk? Using Hornady's 180 gr. BTSP, you'll need a muzzle velocity of approximately 3200 fps. This is an ambitious project for a 300 Weatherby, this will take everything the cartridge has to give, maybe more. Top loads in the 300 Ultra Mag might get you there, as would the 300/378 Weatherby. These loads would be gross overkill on a 50 yard whitetail. I suggest you re-evaluate your priorities a bit, and consider a caliber/load/rifle that will do well at the ranges you actually intend to hunt. And I'll be amazed if you find a production rifle that will suit your intended purpose.
Ask these guys what to buy, they'll know what works. http://longrangehunting.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php (edited to add link) |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:09:55 PM EDT
[#30]
Dont like you anymore!  see now I learned something new today! Thanks. ETA: So what did Garand chamber his rifle for originally? |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:14:26 PM EDT
[#31]
.260 Remington will cover your bases.
90 grain bullets will cover any coyote/varmint that needs killing 120 grain bullets lay the smack down on deer/coyotes 140 grain bullets take care of your elk and bear needs. Granted, it hasn't the range of a .300 or 7mm belted magnums, but it isnt the powder eating drunk mule rifle either. .300's are fun, but for GP I want something I can shoot all the time and never tire of it. .260 is the ticket for me. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:15:51 PM EDT
[#32]
it was an experimental .276 caliber round |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:17:09 PM EDT
[#33]
At 800 yards? Bob |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:20:35 PM EDT
[#34]
.308 is a fantastic all-around cartridge and would be well suited for a person who could only have 1 rifle. .30-06 has 99.9% of the same things going for it as .308 has, but I would give the nod to .308 for its slight accuracy advantage. .300 Win mag is a great caliber and has much going for it, but depending on the rifle it is used in, recoil can be harsh, and ammo availability/price is an issue.
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:24:55 PM EDT
[#35]
Ahh, a gun releated topic.
Anyway, if multi use is the most important thing then without a doubt the venerable .308 You can hunt medium to large game, plink with modest cost, and target shoot with extreme accuracy out to 500 yards (and out to 1000 but I wouldn't use the word "extreme accuracy" at that range with any thing other than the high end power houses). It's also not too rough on recoil. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:25:12 PM EDT
[#36]
There's a reason 30-06 has been popular for a century.
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:25:54 PM EDT
[#37]
If I wanted a 3 rifle battery that would allow me to hunt anything in the world, I would get a .22 rimfire, a 30.06 and a 375 H&H. Limited to one caliber to hunt all North American Game I would chose a .338 Win Mag. Of course my decision in influenced by where I live and the big tourist eatin bears that I occasionally run into.
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:27:28 PM EDT
[#38]
300 win mag? psssh 50bmg
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:34:48 PM EDT
[#39]
I'm working on the same thing, but I'm going metric for the centerfires: 6.5X55 and 9.3X62. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:41:24 PM EDT
[#40]
.270. Power of the 30-06, but flatter shooting.
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:42:29 PM EDT
[#41]
 AGNTSA Come out to W Texas and 'stalk' your deer. Your TN, NY KY, etc... hunts are a different game. I wouldn't think twice for taking a 300-400 yard shot where I hunt unless the wind is up. Thats why you see a lot of 300 Win, 300 Weatherby, 300 UM, 7mm UM guns for smaller deer here in the west Texas hunting scene. Go with the .30-06 I have a stack of books and reference material that define the caliber as the hands down most flexible caliber out today. The federal government conducted a study that showed in closer range situations (attacks) the 06 had better lethality on bear rather than the bigger calibers. (I see a lot of guides carrying one as well) I can't remember the theory as to why the 06 worked better in < 100 yds on large game.. I will have to dig up the article off my other PC. If you want to hunt long range get a .300 Weatherby or a .300 Win mag. Long shots are impressive if you make them and subjective if you miss. I enjoy long range game hunting- just bring the right equipment and plenty of skill and practice. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:43:55 PM EDT
[#42]
It was .276 Pederson. That round would have enabled 10 rounds to fit into the en-bloc clip. ETA: We have come the full circle and are back to a caliber that Garand envisioned for the M1 rifle, as far as projectile diameter is concerned. The .276 Pederson is .270 caliber, as well as the 6.8 SPC. Coincidence? 
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Posted: 8/6/2005 1:44:47 PM EDT
[#43]
If it's N.A. and you can't kill it with a 30-06, you shouldn't be shooting at it!
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Posted: 8/6/2005 2:00:23 PM EDT
[#44]
.30 cal of nineteen ought six.
If that ain't doing it for you, you should probably practice some more. I get a kick out of all these hunting rags talking about .300 Win Mag or .338 Lapua for deer hunting and all that jazz.. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 2:05:25 PM EDT
[#45]
no it isnt, it is a totally different weapon system. the M240 is the US military designation for our form of the FN MAG-58 GPMG. it was used first as a coaxial machine gun for tanks and AFVs, then became our standard medium machinegun. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 2:06:23 PM EDT
[#46]
Don't even be thinking of shooting the elk in Tennessee. It's your hide that would be nailed up on the barn door. |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 2:10:28 PM EDT
[#47]
here in the southeast forrests you will be damned lucky to see any game outside 200 meters let alone get a shot. most are taken here under 100yrds.
for what you have listed as needs 30-06 would be my choice followed closely by 308. mike |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 2:10:56 PM EDT
[#48]
.270, 30-06, .308, 7mm.
300win mag is overkill |
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Posted: 8/6/2005 2:14:04 PM EDT
[#49]
But, but, he's gonna shoot an elk at 800 meters?!?! What a doofus. 
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Posted: 8/6/2005 2:21:45 PM EDT
[#50]
Multi-use? meaning everything from rabbits to Kodiaks and elephants? 50 BMG is the only way to go. It gets both rabbits and elephants.
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