I can’t decide on a new hunting caliber

I think I would use the 6.5 CM you already have. Its under 7 pounds, and people are putting down elk and moose with the 6.5 CM.

Are you excited about 30.06 or 7mm more than the other? I always try to buy something I am excited to use. Kodiak island ... now that is a nice place to live and hunt!

Can't go wrong with 30-06. It will do everything the 338 will do. I have a somewhat surprising suggestion: the Mossberg Patriot. They do a synthetic and cerakote version, black furniture, grey metal. And they are absurdly light. As I recall, my 375 Ruger was about 5.5 lbs. I added weight to tame recoil by bedding the forend with accriglass filled with lead shot and added a hefty Bushnell scope, I would still suggest bedding the forend for added stiffness, but going with a moderate weight scope you can still have a surprisingly accurate, very durable sub 7 lbs rifle. I will stress, the plastic looks and feels cheesy, especially the magazine, but it's very accurate and the weight is remarkable for the cost.

You pretty well have all the bases covered with what you have. But if you want to add another rifle to the collection 30-06 would be my choice. The 7mm Rem mag is very similar in close to moderate range performance. It shoots the same bullet weights as 30-06 to the same speed, the difference is that the more aerodynamic 7mm bullets hold up better downrange. But you have to start shooting at 400-500+ yards to start seeing any difference.

A 30-06 rifle will be a little lighter, recoil is a little less, 30-06 doesn't need more than 22" of barrel while 7mm RM really needs 26" and depending on the rifle you choose 30-06 will have a mag capacity of 4 or 5 vs only 3 in 7mm mag. I'd imagine that the possibility of bear defense is always a concern and the extra 1-2 rounds is something to consider. And with the better 200-220 gr loads 30-06 has proven to out penetrate everything smaller than 375 mag. That includes the 338 you have.

I'm a big fan of 30-06, ammo is everywhere, usually 5 or 6 different brands, for reloaders, bullet mfg have refined their offerings and powder mfg offers multiple powders that work. Used brass is cheaper. I like to sight mine in at 200yrds.

Got an 30-06! Not saying it is the best but never saw a need to replace it. I sight it in 3' high at 100 yard and after 50 years know what to do out to 400 yards.

907SunDevil said:

I’m looking for a lightweight rifle that I can use for deer, mountain goat and elk. I’ve been looking a lot at the 30-06 and 7mm rem mag.

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DocRock said:

I have a somewhat surprising suggestion: the Mossberg Patriot.

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Yes, I'd say the Mossberg is a pretty good contender for the lightweight rifle category. I like mine although it's in a varmint caliber. Perhaps also the Ruger American would suit your needs at 6.2 lbs. in the right cartridge?

I have to say I've never been a big fan of the belted magnums. (Especially in lightweight rifles) I don't practice to hunt past 300 yards, and even with a scoped rifle the farthest shot I've had on deer has been under 200 yards. (I personally would opt, for example, for a .358 Winchester over a .338 WinMag.) So for my recommendation it would be the .30-06 Winchester. I also like .35 Whelen, and if I had my heart set on something in 7mm it would be a 7mm-08 over a 7mm Remington Magnum.

LD

I’m looking for a lightweight rifle that I can use for deer, mountain goat and elk.

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What’s the furthest distance you would attempt a shot?

I prefer a short action WSM these days but as posted it’s tough to beat a good ol 30-06

Thirty. Aught. Six. It'll do all you want it to do, and will do it well. Had mine for years, and it would be the last of all my firearms to leave my possession.

Mac

I like the 25/06. For deer hunting.

907SunDevil said:

I’m having a hard time choosing a new caliber. I live on Kodiak Island in Alaska. Currently, I own 2 rifles.. the first one is a Browning X Bolt Hells Canyon Long Range in 6.5 Creedmoor. I use this for precision shooting at the range and also for deer. My other rifle is a Ruger M77 Hawkeye All weather in 338 win mag. This is my elk/bear rifle (moose too if I go to the main land). I’m looking for a lightweight rifle that I can use for deer, mountain goat and elk. I’ve been looking a lot at the 30-06 and 7mm rem mag. Any suggestions?

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280ai or 280 or 7 mag.
Eta,
280ai will run the factory 280 stuff if ya haveta, will be edging into the mag turf if you load your own, and will blast/recoil a lil less to make the whole experience a lil more enjoyable. In reality, there are a plethora of cartridges out there that will do what you're looking to do, a 6-284 twisted to run solids, 103s, etc, up to a 375 Ruger. You could very easily use that 6.5 you already have, or maybe grab a larger sibling and get the prc/Norma/win mag. If you've got the .338 and 6.5 I could not personally justify the 06 unless it's a "got to" cartridge in your book. A hot 6.5/7mm is perfect for what you describe, whether you handload (or are willing to start) decides how much you have to worry about the cartridge's popularity.

I’m also looking at an all around caliber for Alaska and I keep coming back to my 30-06 that I already own. There’s just to much versatility in a Mild recoiling package. I have a 30-06 and a .375 ruger between the two I am more than covered for anything I’ll hunt up here. I still keep looking though...hard headed I guess.

You have long range covered well enough. How about something for up close and personal encounters? Marlin 45-70? I know that throws light weight out the window but something along that line fills a hole.

If you can’t decide, now probably ain’t the time. With some of the newer amount out there 6.5 will do you just as well as a 30-06 for most of your applications.

My favorite cartridge of the two is the 30-06. My favorite rifle is my Weatherby Mark V in 7mm rem mag.

I strongly suggest you find a rifle you like first then the cartridges its available in. The 300 wsm is a great round and it in a short action is very handy. All these cartridges will give you the same results. The rifle is the key.

Have fun looking for the rifle and safe hunting !

That 6.5 Creedmoor is/can be equal to the old 6.5 x 55 ....which has killed lots of big game all over the world... Bullet choice would be the factor in which game, which bulket

When you throw Elk in the mix, I'm going to tend to leave out the 6.5s. Assuming since your locale is the same as the name of a notorious people eater, some extra oomph would be a bonus. Hard to beat the good old 30-06 in your case. Honorable mention to the short mags, depending on how much you like recoil. With the '06 you can drop down to a premium 150 for hunting, and walk with a 200 NP or Grand Slam in case you need to shoot a big hole in something about to chew toy you.

I have a bunch of different calibers that might work- pick three you want to try and I'll come hunt with you! And you can try before you buy! Ha! .....I envy your location-

I read what you said and it made me think about your situation, and I give this response by putting myself where you live and what you hunt. I am a die hard 338-06 fan and if I were you and wanted another rifle I would get a 338-06 with a 22 inch barrel, and a 3 to 9 scope with a 40 mm objective were the the weight of the complete rifle is a little over 8 pounds. The rifle should have sling swivel cups instead of studs so it could stand a lot of up and down mountain carrying or moving through thick cover. This would be a great back-up for your magnum and put you in a comfortable situation of carrying a light powerful rifle in all hunting situations. With a 180 grain AccuBond the recoil would be low and you could take animals up to the size of elk out to 250 yards with consistency, and with a 210 grain partition you could handle closer situations with moose and other big animals. I think after using it a while you would leave the magnum back in camp and it would become your favorite rifle.

30-06.

Take a look at the lowly .303. It has takin ever game animal on the planet. Including elephant and lion. If its enough for the big boys.

907SunDevil said:

I’m having a hard time choosing a new caliber. I live on Kodiak Island in Alaska. Currently, I own 2 rifles.. the first one is a Browning X Bolt Hells Canyon Long Range in 6.5 Creedmoor. I use this for precision shooting at the range and also for deer. My other rifle is a Ruger M77 Hawkeye All weather in 338 win mag. This is my elk/bear rifle (moose too if I go to the main land). I’m looking for a lightweight rifle that I can use for deer, mountain goat and elk. I’ve been looking a lot at the 30-06 and 7mm rem mag. Any suggestions?

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The .30-06 is one of the best all-around calibers. It's the second centerfire rifle I bought as I accumulated hunting rifles over the years and still the rifle I have the most confidence in. I'm not sure either of those calibers are going to be great in a lightweight rifle and the game you're talking about is diverse for a single cartridge. Why not a .243 (or the 6.5 you have now) for the mountain goats and deer and the .338 Win Mag (you already have) for the Elk? If you only want to carry one gun, (as though you set out in the morning ready to take any of the game species mentioned) then I'd vote for the .30-06.