Please help a noob pick a deer and elk hunting caliber
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swifter
Member
Once you get past the .30 myths, .338 is the next logical step.
That's my choice.
Tolerable recoil, plenty of power at the 1/4 mile and past. Hell, I use mine as my primary antelope rifle And no, it doesn't destroy a lot of meat if you place your shots well!
Tom
That's my choice.
Tolerable recoil, plenty of power at the 1/4 mile and past. Hell, I use mine as my primary antelope rifle And no, it doesn't destroy a lot of meat if you place your shots well! Tom
I think Steelharp has what your looking for. He's a top notch guy to do business with. I don't think you'll find a better deal for a LNIB. Now the only question is "Is a .308 what your looking for?"
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=128141
Rob
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=128141
Rob
How is that such a good deal? I don't understand. Is the model 10 that much better than the model 110? What is the difference?
See this Savage you mention is used, $450 with a scope and a composite stock, and it's a bolt-action and has Accutrigger. Wal-mart has a Savage model 110 bolt-action 30-06 that comes with a sight also, and also has a composite stock, and has accutrigger, and it is $350.
The 2 guns seem the same. What about the used one makes it worth paying $100 more than buying a new one?
Similarly, a local pawn shop has a used Savage model 110 30-06 with a scope that has a big dent in it, for $350. Worst deal ever, why would I pay new prices for a beat up gun?
The local pawn shops around here have the worst gun prices. It makes me so mad! What is wrong with pawn shops anyway? The ones I see consistently have crappy high prices on everything.
See this Savage you mention is used, $450 with a scope and a composite stock, and it's a bolt-action and has Accutrigger. Wal-mart has a Savage model 110 bolt-action 30-06 that comes with a sight also, and also has a composite stock, and has accutrigger, and it is $350.
The 2 guns seem the same. What about the used one makes it worth paying $100 more than buying a new one?
Similarly, a local pawn shop has a used Savage model 110 30-06 with a scope that has a big dent in it, for $350. Worst deal ever, why would I pay new prices for a beat up gun?
The local pawn shops around here have the worst gun prices. It makes me so mad! What is wrong with pawn shops anyway? The ones I see consistently have crappy high prices on everything.
ID_shooting
Member
After bouncing around with the mags, I went back to the old reliable 30-06. Available in any action style, even some that the others aren't available in, will never go out of style, easy to shoot even for smaller people, plenty of cheep ammo for practice and hunting ammo availalbe anywhere and every where. Forget your ammo at home, stop at any gas station in the woods and 9 out of 10 times there will be a box of 30-06 on the shelf. Capable of killing everything from a squirrel to a moose or bear. The only round more common may be a 30-30 but they are a bit light for the bigger critters. 7mm too much money in ammo, 300 wm too much recoil, 338 wm even more expensive to shoot than 7mm, 308 is good but not as common for ammo in smaller stores same goes for 270.
Gunnutz13
Member
My 2 cents...
my 1st choice...7mm Rem Mag...or the trusty 30.06
my 1st choice...7mm Rem Mag...or the trusty 30.06
brian roberts
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rifles.....
270 Winchester...150grnr whether you're a handloader or not(you don't say) w/a premium bullet(nosler, swift A-frame)
30-'06 165, 180, 200grnrs...same, premium bullets. i don't care too much for the 308s, they tend to run out of steam when you get to 180s & up.
the .338....good luck!!!! (make sure your health insurance is paid up) seriously, i'm not a wuss, (over 6' 2", & no flyweight), but i don't WANT to shoot a .338!! i had to get a wuss-pad when i developed a load for one. between issues w/scopes, brass, primers, & powder, i fired about 340-350rds through one when i was developing a load for it(250 Nosler). its been about 2yrs now, i can still "remember" it, the shoulder still feels a bit "different" somehow(but the client was pleased, he said he could put 3-4 covered by a quarter, before the recoil got to him). the 270, or the '06, loaded properly will do the job, & you won't get so flinchy by shooting them enough times to get used to putting the bullets where they need to be. at the end of the day, proper bullets, properly placed, not cartridge names, are what kills the best. if you got something that makes you wary of shooting it, well, that is sometimes the cause of lost game. if you shoot an elk, & he isn't hit right, you may find him 15 miles away, if you find him. shoot him with something you can handle, you should find him within, say 50-75yds. you don't say how much experience you have, but if its not a lot, i'd buy 5 or 6 boxes of ammo with the proper "cheap" bullet & shoot it over 4-5 weeks to get used to putting it where it belongs, then, buy 2-3 boxes with the controlled-expansion type, sight it in for that ammo, check your drop out to 200-250(y'never know, y'might get buck-fever & not hit it exactly right the first time) then go out to get one. HTH, & good luck!!
270 Winchester...150grnr whether you're a handloader or not(you don't say) w/a premium bullet(nosler, swift A-frame)
30-'06 165, 180, 200grnrs...same, premium bullets. i don't care too much for the 308s, they tend to run out of steam when you get to 180s & up.
the .338....good luck!!!! (make sure your health insurance is paid up) seriously, i'm not a wuss, (over 6' 2", & no flyweight), but i don't WANT to shoot a .338!! i had to get a wuss-pad when i developed a load for one. between issues w/scopes, brass, primers, & powder, i fired about 340-350rds through one when i was developing a load for it(250 Nosler). its been about 2yrs now, i can still "remember" it, the shoulder still feels a bit "different" somehow(but the client was pleased, he said he could put 3-4 covered by a quarter, before the recoil got to him). the 270, or the '06, loaded properly will do the job, & you won't get so flinchy by shooting them enough times to get used to putting the bullets where they need to be. at the end of the day, proper bullets, properly placed, not cartridge names, are what kills the best. if you got something that makes you wary of shooting it, well, that is sometimes the cause of lost game. if you shoot an elk, & he isn't hit right, you may find him 15 miles away, if you find him. shoot him with something you can handle, you should find him within, say 50-75yds. you don't say how much experience you have, but if its not a lot, i'd buy 5 or 6 boxes of ammo with the proper "cheap" bullet & shoot it over 4-5 weeks to get used to putting it where it belongs, then, buy 2-3 boxes with the controlled-expansion type, sight it in for that ammo, check your drop out to 200-250(y'never know, y'might get buck-fever & not hit it exactly right the first time) then go out to get one. HTH, & good luck!!
30-06 in a Savage 110, it's a component rifle. Say later on you wanted to go varmint hunting or you decided that you wanted less recoil on those deer hunts. Just for example, http://www.savageshooters.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1844 the 110 can also shoot short action cartridge like 22/250, .243 etc. If you can do a brake job or install a starter then you can swap that barrel in 15 min. This, and because they are inexpensive and accurate is why I bought a Savage. Plus no matter the hunt the gun is familiar, same stock, scope, trigger.
Richard.Howe
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- 887
It will be hard to ignore all the mumbo-jumbo regarding WSMs, WSSMs, and other magnum configuration garbage and go with an un-sexy round like the 30-06.
The reason it's so mundane is that it is very common.
And the reason it's so common is that it has been so successful.
True, you won't get to brag that your gun pushes a 250gr bullet faster than the speed of light...at the end of the day, it's all about what you're really after...
30-06 is the right answer, especially for a self-proclaimed "noob."
Take care,
Rich
The reason it's so mundane is that it is very common.
And the reason it's so common is that it has been so successful.
True, you won't get to brag that your gun pushes a 250gr bullet faster than the speed of light...at the end of the day, it's all about what you're really after...
30-06 is the right answer, especially for a self-proclaimed "noob."
Take care,
Rich
Smoke
Member
Thats the funniest thing I've read in months.
Smoke
John Deere
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"Ain`t too many things a man can`t fix, with seven hundred dollars, and a 30-06."
Am I the only Cooper fan ???
Am I the only Cooper fan ???
redneck2
Member
I have a 7mm Mag and .300 WM...
but for your situation, I'd go 30-06. For years, the world record elk was held with a .30-30. I suspect the elk are not all that much tougher than they were 80 years ago
As stated above, you can go into any gas station, hardware store, etc that has ammo and get 30-06
The new whiz-bang calibers are made for guys that
(a) need to have something new
(b) need to have something different
(c) need an excuse to buy a new gun
while these are all extremely worthwhile reasons, at the end of the day anything throwing a 180 grain bullet at 2,700 fps will kill most anything you'll ever run into
FWIW...I'd go as moderate as possible on the gun and buy a good scope. If you get a cheapie scope, they'll fog up...trust me on this. I'd buy a $200 Savage and put a $400 Leupold on it long before getting a Weatherby and using a Tasco, etc. If it doesn't say "fogproof/waterproof", it isn't.
If you've not decided on brand of scope, look at Burris, Weaver, or Bushnell. They are moderate cost and waterproof. Be sure to get Butler Creek flip caps.
I helped my friend get an unfired Remington 7400 semi-auto in 30-06 with a Nikon scope/rings for $400. That's the program.
Few things worse than hunting all day in the snow-rain, having a shot at the trophy of a lifetime and having the scope out of commission. Been there, done that...
but for your situation, I'd go 30-06. For years, the world record elk was held with a .30-30. I suspect the elk are not all that much tougher than they were 80 years ago
As stated above, you can go into any gas station, hardware store, etc that has ammo and get 30-06
The new whiz-bang calibers are made for guys that
(a) need to have something new
(b) need to have something different
(c) need an excuse to buy a new gun
while these are all extremely worthwhile reasons, at the end of the day anything throwing a 180 grain bullet at 2,700 fps will kill most anything you'll ever run into
FWIW...I'd go as moderate as possible on the gun and buy a good scope. If you get a cheapie scope, they'll fog up...trust me on this. I'd buy a $200 Savage and put a $400 Leupold on it long before getting a Weatherby and using a Tasco, etc. If it doesn't say "fogproof/waterproof", it isn't.
If you've not decided on brand of scope, look at Burris, Weaver, or Bushnell. They are moderate cost and waterproof. Be sure to get Butler Creek flip caps.
I helped my friend get an unfired Remington 7400 semi-auto in 30-06 with a Nikon scope/rings for $400. That's the program.
Few things worse than hunting all day in the snow-rain, having a shot at the trophy of a lifetime and having the scope out of commission. Been there, done that...
I've read somewhere that the average elk hunter hunts 5 years before bagging an elk. They can be elusive. Assuming this statistic is true, you don't need a rifle for 5 years. If you must carry something, put a rock in your pocket or find a 4-5 ft. stick.
If you insist on lugging a rifle around for those 5 elk-less years, get a 30-06.
If you insist on lugging a rifle around for those 5 elk-less years, get a 30-06.
Hellbore;
I've lived in the northern rocky mts. most of my life. I've been hunting elk & deer most of my life. .30-06. Shot placement trumps caliber anytime.
Practice lots. If you need to, invest in a good recoil pad, but continue to shoot. If it's gonna be one gun, get a good one & use the hell outta it.
900F
I've lived in the northern rocky mts. most of my life. I've been hunting elk & deer most of my life. .30-06. Shot placement trumps caliber anytime.
Practice lots. If you need to, invest in a good recoil pad, but continue to shoot. If it's gonna be one gun, get a good one & use the hell outta it.
900F
litman252
Member
Personally I'd go the same route, for a diffrent reason. If you'r trying to be a better rifleman go with a 308, get some decent surplus and many afternoons shooting at the range. If your strickly a hunter, like my Dad, go 30-06.
Reason- I have a mauser in 308 that I'm using to practice the basics. It has open sights and I can shoot 20 rounds in this heavy gun w/o any pain at all. If your just going to hunt with it after you get used to the gun you won't notice the diffrence in recoil or cost of ammo in the 30-06.
You will win with both callibers.
Tony
Reason- I have a mauser in 308 that I'm using to practice the basics. It has open sights and I can shoot 20 rounds in this heavy gun w/o any pain at all. If your just going to hunt with it after you get used to the gun you won't notice the diffrence in recoil or cost of ammo in the 30-06.
You will win with both callibers.
Tony
Drill Sergeant
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Re-read what Bottom Gun had to say.
I believe that he's right on!
I believe that he's right on!
Bottom Gun
Member
Aw shucks, Drill Sergeant, y'all sho do talk purty. (Blush) (Blush)
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