What gun would you choose to hunt with?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What gun would you choose to hunt with?

Posted: 4/23/2002 1:35:42 PM EDT

I have a Browning BAR .30-06 that I hunt with and am happy with. I won a Remington 7400 .270 Win that I have the option of trading in towards something else. From what I have learned, the .270 is basically the same, or a little inferior to the .30-06.

So my question is, if you could choose any gun and caliber, what would you buy and why?

It would basically be for deer, and usually shorter distances up to 350 yards. I am considering one of the new short mags.

Posted: 4/23/2002 1:45:14 PM EDT

[#1]

How open is the terrain you are hunting in? I usually hunt in mostly what used to be farm fields with some scattered woods and like my Rem 700 7mm Rem Mag for that, but it's a pain in the butt in some of the more hilly and overgrown areas that I hunt once in awhile. The barrel seems to stick to far above my shoulder and catches on every branch in the woods.

I am tempted by a friends Browning lever action in 7mm-08. It's a pretty gun and light enough to lug around comfortably up hills and through brush.

Posted: 4/23/2002 1:48:15 PM EDT

[#2]

My TROMIX 458 SOCOM at any range out to 200yd with a 300gr Barnes X.

Posted: 4/23/2002 1:49:32 PM EDT

[#3]

If was to get a rifle specifically for hunting, I really think I'd have to go for a .300 WSM, I've heard nothing but good stuff about it.

If not that, probably a rem 700 in .308.

Although my next rifle will probably be a Savage 10FP in .308 for long range paper punching, so if I could find someone to take me deer hunting I'd probably just use that. (Never hunted deer, only grouse and pheasant.)

Posted: 4/23/2002 2:04:55 PM EDT

[#4]

choose any gun and caliber, what:

ME? I like my AR-15 flat top.
it's light
super accurate
relativley quiet

but then i have learned the value of a proper neck or head shot and i keep my range inside of 100 yds.

"WOH, did you see that head come apart"

Posted: 4/23/2002 2:08:02 PM EDT

[#5]

Sell both and buy an AR-10.

Posted: 4/23/2002 2:14:41 PM EDT

[#6]

I hunt with a Win .270 for all big game. I've shot deer, elk and antelope with it. Some say it is too light for elk, but it is all about shot placement. .270 vs 30-06 is like 9mm vs .40 cal. Its all about preference. But when I do decide on a new hunting rifle it will be probably a 7mm mag. Mostly because the older and fatter I get, the less I want to chase after them!

Posted: 4/23/2002 2:17:00 PM EDT

[#7]

I choose the Remington 700 and you get to choose the caliber that you like. Good Hunting!

Posted: 4/23/2002 5:15:03 PM EDT

[#8]

I recently chose an Eagle AR-10 and after only about 100 rounds am able to get 6 out of 10 in a 1" dot and the other 4 within 3" ring, with no damage to the sholder and Brit. surplus ammo... I think I'm gonna love this rifle and hope to try it on Mr Elk this year...

Posted: 4/23/2002 5:29:20 PM EDT

[#9]

.416 Rigby

Posted: 4/23/2002 5:33:26 PM EDT

[#10]

A bolt action 30-06 will do anything that needs doin' and do it quite well. It always amazes me how my 2 1/2 minute bolt action '06 out shoots all my 1 minute and better rifles once you get away from a bench.

Posted: 4/23/2002 5:40:17 PM EDT

[#11]

I would pick a Holland and Holland rifle. Check out the link to see how much they cost !! www.hollandandholland.com/gunrooms/newyork/newguns/mag-rifle.htm I would take it in .375 H&H.

Posted: 4/23/2002 5:52:03 PM EDT

[#12]

Hmmmmm........

...Browning A Bolt Stalker in 30-06.

Geee, I think I got one of those

Posted: 4/23/2002 5:59:35 PM EDT

[#13]

Remington 700 in .308, 150g Sierra Pro Hunter bullets, IMR 4064. Three shots, three deer so far.

Posted: 4/23/2002 7:49:05 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:

Although my next rifle will probably be a Savage 10FP in .308 for long range paper punching....)

Long Range?....Paper?!?!

Paper

Posted: 4/23/2002 7:57:57 PM EDT

[#15]

Hmm. Any?

1- M-1903 National Match USMC Sniper, mounting the 8X Unertil optics. One shot, One kill.

2- Mannlicher /Schoenauer carbine in 6.5X55 Mauser, mounting 4X Ajack optics. Form, and function combined.

3- No4Mk1* SMLE, Long Branch arsenal. (This I own) Iron sights. Tremendously reliable, and with 215, or 220 grain handloads anything I'd care to shoot will die humanely.

Meplat-

Posted: 4/23/2002 8:16:48 PM EDT

[#16]

Swedish M96 6.5x55mm Mauser. A 100 year old MOA rifle that didn't need bedding compound, synthetic stock, or anything else. If you start with a great caliber and follow it up with craftsmanship, everything else falls in place. This is the equivalent of the 30.06 for Scandinavians. Will take all game up to Moose size. Light recoil, superb accuracy and penetration are its pluses. Negatives: hard to find decent factory loads in the States. Surplus ammo is limited, and expensive.

Posted: 4/23/2002 9:07:43 PM EDT

[#17]

Ruger 77R in 7.62x39 with a Simmons Prohunter 2X7 scope.
GG

Posted: 4/23/2002 9:54:43 PM EDT

[#18]

Never have shot one but the ballistics are incredible.
Lazzeroni .308 warbird. One of his rifles of course
130 grn 30 cal going 4000 FPS is pretty incredible.
or the 180 for bigger game, pretty much take any game except for some of the bigger African animals

Posted: 4/24/2002 5:55:51 AM EDT

[#19]

The .30-06 you have is the most versatile cartridge there is anywhere. There are more bullets and loads available than anything else I can think of. .30-06 has been THE premier American hunting cartridge for nigh onto a century. And a BAR in good shape is a fine hunting rifle. One of these days I expect Browning will release a tactical version of the BAR.

If you're after deer why wear yourself out or beat yourself up? If you want a lighter rifle to hunt mulies I'd suggest a Remington Model 7 chambered for .260 Rem. Carry it all day and it's easy on recoil.

A Ruger Model 1 chambered in .257 Roberts or .243 Win is another good choice for the field.

Personally I'd be happy with the .30-06 BAR. You're already fixed for deer. Maybe upgrade the glass if you want to improve the Browning.

If I wanted another hunting rifle I wouldn't try to duplicate the performance of the setup you already have. How about a varmint rifle? Or a new shotgun instead.

Posted: 4/24/2002 11:30:26 AM EDT

[#20]

Next to the .30-30 the 30-06 is probably one of the most popular deer cartridges in the US. As several former posts mention, it will do any job that needs to be done, with proper bullet / load selection.

Further, the .270 actually has some advantage over the 30-06 in the form of higher sectional density of the bullet for a given weight. That means that more energy will be retained downrange, for a bigger thump. The .270 is another popular North American game cartridge that was put in demand by the late Jack O'Connor. He took just about everything with it, including deer, sheep, elk, moose, and bear.

Your weapons may not be chambered for the latest sexy wonder cartridge, but there are tens of thousands of successful hunters each year that use the lowly 30-06 and .270. IMO, even though 350 yards is a stretch I would not trade it, and would use them with the proper loads.

If you plan a lot of 350 yard shots or expect to do a lot of mountain hunting in the US West, you might look at the 7MM or 8MM Rem Mag or the .300 Win Mag or .338 Win Mag.

BRS

Posted: 4/24/2002 11:58:25 AM EDT

[#21]

Out to about 300 yards, the 30-06 is great. If you really want to shoot out to 350 yards, you might want to look into the 300 Win Mag in order to take advantage of the superior trajectory. If you are not planning on anything beigger than deer, you could probably also look at the .270 WSM or 7mm Rem Mag.

As far as which rifle to choose, I like Winchesters but you will not go wrong with a Remington, Savage, Browning or Ruger for hunting.

Posted: 4/24/2002 12:08:57 PM EDT

[#22]

I have had quite a number of hunting rifles in different calibers, and I kept going back to my favorite three: 30-06,308 and 280 Rem. PA residents aren't allowed to use semi-auto rifles so the AR family is not an option for me.

If I could choose one rifle for hunting it would be my .280. I have a Remington 700 BDLSS that has never had a factory load run through it. I use Remington nickel-plated brass, CCI primers, either 140 grain NBT or Sierra's and IMR4831. With either bullet I consistently shoot .6 MOA from the bench and range from .8 to 1.1" offhand at 100yds. I'm sure quite a few of you guys can shoot better than this, but it's about as good as I am capable of, and the best thing is that the only thing I did to the rifle was smooth out and lighten the trigger.

Posted: 4/24/2002 12:09:01 PM EDT

[#23]

How about the Remington Titanium M700 in either '06 or .308? w/22 inch mountain contour barrel, It weighs in at about 5 1/4 lbs.

Posted: 4/24/2002 12:15:02 PM EDT

[#24]

Weatherby accumark in a .300weatherby mag, no finer gun/cal around for what you are looking for.

Posted: 4/24/2002 12:40:18 PM EDT

[#25]

Do you reload? If so, I would look into a short mag. Browning A-bolt stalker in .300 or 7mm WSM would be a great rifle.

Posted: 4/24/2002 5:12:02 PM EDT

[#26]

Thanks for all the replies, lots of different opinions.

I think I've decided to go with either .300 Win Short Mag, or 7mm Win Short Mag bolt. I'll still have the .30-06 which is great for general deer hunting and versatile, and I'll have the new one in a bolt instead of another semi, and if I ever get to go for some bigger game.....

I just didn't see the point in having the .30-06 and a .270 since they are so much alike and I can trade the .270 towards something a little different.

I'd be happy to consider any more comments anyone might have, especially which Win Short Mag they would go for.

Posted: 4/24/2002 5:57:37 PM EDT

[#27]

If you want a short rifle and a short magnum, the fact is that the Remington Model 7 in either of their short mags is, well, the shortest of the short.

Short, short, short.

I'd choose the Remington Model 7 in 7mm Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum.

Posted: 4/24/2002 8:06:40 PM EDT

[#28]

Well...it really depends on what you are mostly going to be hunting and what kinds of terrain you will be hunting in.

But...for Deer up to ranges of 350 yards..
I would say the following calibers would be appropriate.

6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser - an Awesome Deer Cartridge
260 Remington
7-08mm
7 x 57mm Mauser

257 Roberts
25-06
270

These Cartridges will have less recoil, be flat shooting and give you good sectional density for penetration.

For a Rifle: I would use a Winchester Model 70 or a Customized Mauser98 with a 20 inch barrel.

Posted: 4/24/2002 9:33:29 PM EDT

[#29]

I use a Sako Finnbear .264 I haven't shot a deer with it yet because I mainly bowhunt, but it does well at the range. Kicks like a SOB after firing an AR all day.

Posted: 4/24/2002 11:10:28 PM EDT

[#30]

Ruger M77 Mark II .308 Stainless Rifle (Deer and Pigs)
-19” Barrel
-Hogue over mold stock
-Leupold VX-III 3.5-10x40 in sliver
-3.5 pound trigger

Ruger Red Label ALL-Weather over and under 12GA Shotgun (Upland Bird hunting gun)
-Barrels Shortened to 20” and re-treaded to accept chokes

Posted: 4/25/2002 1:11:21 AM EDT

[#31]

ROGERB no truer statement has ever been said.Weatherby rifles are the best hunting rifles you can buy.They cost alot yes but they are so nice.All you Remington,Ruger,Winchester and Browning guys just dont know,a Weatherby rifle is just heads and shoulders above anything else.I know there will be some Nay Sayers but its true.
I own a Mark 5 Deluxe and the bolt just glides home,no other bolt gun can compare im sorry it not an opinion its the gods honest truth!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What gun would you choose to hunt with?

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