All Around Rifle

[WoodchuckAssassin]

I love the 30-30 round, but an 800 yard gun it ain't. Any 308 or varient there of would be your best bet. I saw someone mention the 7mm-08, and I think that would also be a great choice. Not as much bullet selection, but there's always reloading for that

Would you be willing to consider a 25-06? The bullet's a little smaller, but it's one hell of a fast, flat, and fatal round. I'm hoping to add one to my stable some day. Happy Hunting!

 

[Pronghorn19]

I personally love savage products. I would recommend picking up one of their bolt guns in 30-06 if you don't have a specific range/usage in mind. I use mine for everything. I can take pronghorn shots out to 450-500 yards with extreme confidence, hunt close range northern deer in tight brush, and hopefully someday use heavy grain bullets for a moose or bear hunt.

 

[theboyscout]

Thanks to all for the advice, i see a lot of you posted about the 800 yards bit of my original post. i have never done rifle hunting yet but i want an idea of a gun that will kill up close and far.... the chance of anyone seeing a deer that’s 800 yards away is slim and none, it has been done I’m sure but not on a normal hunting trip. Mainly I’m looking to get a rifle that will kill from a realistic distance and not blow a huge hole in my deer at closer range.

 

[W.E.G.]

and not blow a huge hole in my deer at closer range

A good blood trail is under-appreciated by the inexperienced.

Large exit wound is desirable.

 

[CHighfield]

The Savage Hohhunter gets my vote. Come with irons, and you can use the new Nikon scope (Dont remember the name, but is calibrated for .308 out to 800 yards.) The gun has the Accutrigger, maybe get a better stock. Pretty affordable setup IMHO. God bless, good luck hunting.

 

[bracer]

I live in the wide open pasture country with a few trees in the valleys. I have see deer at ranges farther than 800 yards but since shooting my first deer in 1953 may longest shot was about 400 yards. Most often there was a little hill or a depression which I used to get closer. Most all of the deer I have killed were within 300 yards. The 308 Win with a 3-9 X scope will work well for close up shots as well as the longer 400 yard shots. If you can, do some shooting at 300 and 400 yards befor comming out west and learn about bullet drop and wind drift.