I'm thinking about getting a new rifle. This rilfe will most likely be a Ruger M77. I've also thought about getting a Winchester Model 70, but these days it seems like you can only find them in "WSM" calibers...
Anyway, I'd be using it mainly for deer hunting and target shooting. However, I may end up taking it elk hunting. I can handle recoil (I can shoot my dad's .338 WinMag pretty well), but I don't enjoy it, therefore I'm looking for something with medium or, even better, mild recoil. I'd also like something a little different. Everyone has a .30-06 or .308
There are several calibers I'm considering:
.257 Roberts
.25-06
6.5X55 Mauser
.260 Remington
7X57 Mauser
7mm-08
.280 Remington
I don't care about long vs short actions, I'll be happy with either. Just looking for something that will get the job done with as little recoil as possible. Accuracy is also an important factor. Ammo cost or availbility is not a factor.
As of right now, I'm leaning toward either 7mm-08 or .280, mainly because I can use a heavy bullet for larger game. This won't be the main pourpose of the rifle, but it would be nice to have that capability. I'm not sure a .257 sized bullet would be heavy enough for an animal the size of an elk. I think they only go up to 120 grains. But, with a .284 diameter bullet, I'm sure elk would be possible. If I were to go with a .284 round, I think accuracy would be the deciding factor. Will the average 7mm-08 outshoot the average .280? I've been told that cases based off the .308 tend to be more accurate than cases based on the .30-06, but I'm not sure if this is really ture...
The .264 diameter bullets have a better SD (better than .257 bullets anyway, the 7mm bullets have a pretty good SD) and you can get them in 160 grains, and everyone I've talked to who shoots a 6.5X55 or .260 loves it. Are these calibers capable to taking elk sized game? I know that if you're a good shot and you are close enough you can kill just about anything with a .22LR, but in a realisitic hunting situation, would a 6.5X55 or .260 be OK?
If .257 Roberts or .25-06 offers me some advantage on deer sized game that the larger calibers do not, I'd be willing to give up on the elk idea for now and go with one of these cailbers.
Anything you can tell me would be helpful, thanks in advance...
Anyway, I'd be using it mainly for deer hunting and target shooting. However, I may end up taking it elk hunting. I can handle recoil (I can shoot my dad's .338 WinMag pretty well), but I don't enjoy it, therefore I'm looking for something with medium or, even better, mild recoil. I'd also like something a little different. Everyone has a .30-06 or .308
There are several calibers I'm considering:
.257 Roberts
.25-06
6.5X55 Mauser
.260 Remington
7X57 Mauser
7mm-08
.280 Remington
I don't care about long vs short actions, I'll be happy with either. Just looking for something that will get the job done with as little recoil as possible. Accuracy is also an important factor. Ammo cost or availbility is not a factor.
As of right now, I'm leaning toward either 7mm-08 or .280, mainly because I can use a heavy bullet for larger game. This won't be the main pourpose of the rifle, but it would be nice to have that capability. I'm not sure a .257 sized bullet would be heavy enough for an animal the size of an elk. I think they only go up to 120 grains. But, with a .284 diameter bullet, I'm sure elk would be possible. If I were to go with a .284 round, I think accuracy would be the deciding factor. Will the average 7mm-08 outshoot the average .280? I've been told that cases based off the .308 tend to be more accurate than cases based on the .30-06, but I'm not sure if this is really ture...
The .264 diameter bullets have a better SD (better than .257 bullets anyway, the 7mm bullets have a pretty good SD) and you can get them in 160 grains, and everyone I've talked to who shoots a 6.5X55 or .260 loves it. Are these calibers capable to taking elk sized game? I know that if you're a good shot and you are close enough you can kill just about anything with a .22LR, but in a realisitic hunting situation, would a 6.5X55 or .260 be OK?
If .257 Roberts or .25-06 offers me some advantage on deer sized game that the larger calibers do not, I'd be willing to give up on the elk idea for now and go with one of these cailbers.
Anything you can tell me would be helpful, thanks in advance...