Medium to large game caliber for anything up to moose?

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45-70. Been doin the job all over the world for the better part of 3 centuries now.
2010AD-1873AD=300YO confused.gif Also the OP mentions "long range" and as much as I like the .45-70Govt. it isn't great for long range (doesn't even matter what your definition of LR is).
 
In your own words the Savage is is pretty much worthless to you, it's the rifle and not the cartridge. I would opt for another flavor of 30-06, if what you say is true you ought to have plenty of 30-06 ammo and supplies to to try out in another rifle in the 06.;)
 
HOWITZER! Nuff said :) 375 H&H has already been suggested/mentioned so I figured another shoulder bustin' round :)
 
I kinda like odd-ball sorts of things. So if you're a re-loader and also kinda like being an odd-ball this may work for you.

My dedicated deer rifle is a CZ-550 in 6.5x55mm. My dedicated elk (and moose if I ever go hunting for one) is also a CZ-550 but in 9.3x62mm. Either can (and has) been brought along as a backup to the other. Never needed that backup, but the 6.5, while perhaps a little light for elk or moose will do the job very effectivly within it's range and shot geometry limitations. The 9.3 is overkill for any deer, but hey - dead is dead.

Bottom line is you should get different guns for different game. At least that's my excuse with SWMBO.
 
You need to try another rifle. Hell send that one back to Savage for a look over. My Stevens, really cheap Savage, shoots better than that with the cheapest ammo I could find. The 30-06 can be a very accurate round. Carlos Hathcock killed many people at long range in Vietnam using it. Same with all the American snipers back till WW1.

Now if you just want another rifle, just say so. No need to convince any of us you "need" it.
 
rifleman14, the last time out with my old '06, I put three shots into an 0.4 MOA group. The rifle has somewhere in the vicinity of 4,000 rounds through it, with lots and lots of sub-MOA five-shot groups. I loaned it to Justin, and he went out and killed an elk with it.

Your problem is not the cartridge, it's the rifle.

I figure that a decent rifle in '06 + 180-grain GameKing = Moosemeat.

I know the 150-grain is good for Bambi to 450 yards. :)
 
thanks for all the great input guys! ive never gotten this kind of feedback or as many friendly members as there are here! ive had some bad experiences with other forums...caugh caugh gunandgame caugh caugh :rolleyes:
and you guys are right, it probably is just the rifle not the 30-06 round itself, im just scared to try it again in fear that i might stumble upon another bad rifle and have the same results. so out of these selections that im baseing upon the info you guys have given me, which of these rifles in either 30-06, 270, or 7mm-08 would you suggest for hunting anything from deer to elk(i gave up the moose theory because as someone posted, i say that i want a big caliber in case i ever go moose or bear hunting...but lets face it, i probably never will get around to it and if i do i'll just get another rifle! :) ) out to about 500 yards?
1. Marlin XL7/XS7
2. Remington 700 CDL
3. Remington 700 SPS

Any calibers or rifles that i am missing/should consider/would be better than what i have listed?
Again, thanks for all the great help, its really appreciated :)
Dylan
 
...which of these rifles in either 30-06, 270, or 7mm-08 would you suggest for hunting anything from deer to elk...
Without a doubt, the .30-06...best rifle on your list is undoubtedly the Marlin (and it is the cheapest to boot)...and you can even use those fine Savage barrels on them. :neener:
 
alright it looks like i'll be going with the marlin xl7 in 30-06...although i love the looks and reputation of the remington 700 cdl. BUT!!...if i have another bad 30-06 experience its on you guys' heads ;)
 
Relatively few meese to be found near Mishawawka, IN. For WT deer, .25-06 up through all the 7mms will work fine if you don't like .30 cals. I do a fair amount of shooting with thin profile ss barrels...they're fine for the first three shots. If you need more, spend more range time.

If you're serious about moose, a fast .30 through .338 WM are good choices...and if you're gonna be in places where you might stumble across a brown bear while looking for his herbivorous friends, a .375 Ruger or H&H or .416 Ruger might be a good choice.

FH

EDIT: I just read your second post. I have a reasonably new (2009) Savage 116 FHSAK with accutrigger and accustock in .30-06...it delivers to <0.7 MOA out to 300 yds off a Caldwell Leadsled with Federal GMM. I'm working up loads with a variety of powders...preliminary indications suggest this Savage will deliver 0.5 MOA. Every company makes a lemon now and then...1-1/2 MOA is good hunting performance...that's 4-5/8" at 300 yds. I have a few M1 Garands that will only do 2-3 MOA...with M2 ball and I'd bet my life on them.

My next will be a Savage 111 LRH in either .25-06 or 6.5x284. YMMV
 
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A Thompson-Center Venture is about $400 street and TC guarantees it will shoot 1 MOA or less. In this price range they are the ONLY manufacture that guarantees MOA accuracy. Nice insurance it you’re afraid of getting burned again on a rifle that won‘t shoot. I don’t have one, but it looks like a nice rifle and has some pretty cool features.

http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/venture.php

Otherwise, of the few choices you give, I like the Marlin.
 
hows the recoil of a 300 win mag compared to a 30-06? i will be shooting this rifle for plinking as well as hunting so i dont want it to be painful to shoot
 
yes my762buzz it does. ive freefloated the barrel and done everything possible, theres something wrong with the rifle.

I had a friend that used to own a savage in .30-06 with a hollow plastic factory stock and his accuracy was not that great no matter loads he used until he got rid of the stock. We both figured the hollow plastic stock was not keeping the receiver from slipping slightly enough upon recoil and the receiver was changing position enough. He got a Choate aluminum block drag stock and his rifle suddenly didn't suffer accuracy problems no more. Amazing change for just a stock. It started shooting sub MOA unlike before.
 
In this price range they are the ONLY manufacture that guarantees MOA accuracy.
The accuracy guarantee means exactly nothing.

hows the recoil of a 300 win mag compared to a 30-06?
Significant difference, I would say in the neighborhood of 50% more felt recoil. I'd recommend that you try before you buy a .300WM hunting rifle as many folks don't, and shortly thereafter decide they don't care for the extra recoil, then the rifle gets sold with only a few shots fired (magnums are great to buy used).

:)
 
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