Need suggestions for a rifle

[alaskanativeson]

As the late, great Townsend Whelen (the Dean of American Riflemen) used to say, "The .30-06 is never a mistake."

You know, it's easy to hate the 30-06 round. You really wouldn't call it the perfect round for anything, but it does damned near everything well. You can shoot light game like antelope or whitetail with it just fine without worrying about overkill as long as you're up to putting the shot in the right spot. It's actually near the top choice for a large mule deer, hogs, or caribou. It's certainly a capable round for elk and moose. While it wouldn't be my first choice for large dangerous bears, I'm confident enough in my skill to carry one up here in Alaska if it's all that's available. I wouldn't hesitate.

So what's the problem with it? Well, that's just it: It's so damned versatile. If you have an '06 you may have a hard time explaining toyour spouse why you need to get another gun.

Yup, gotta hate the 30-06. On the other hand, don't ask me to give mine up. It just has to be in my lineup.

 

[VingThorr]

here's a second vote for the Marlin 444, as it has a flatter trajectory than the 45/70, especially if you use the new leverevolution stuff.

 

[308sc]

.45-70 will suit your needs, but won't really have a lot of range. I mean it will, but the bullet drops alot ofter a certain amount of yardage. So I must agree you would be better off going with a .30-06, or even a .300 Winchester Magnum, or .338

 

[alaskanativeson]

I have to add one thing for the OP, I'd certainly suggest you consider Shawnee's advice. Get a rifle to do specifically what you want it to. If deer is what you're after, get the best thing for that purpose. Yes, the day may come when you need another gun for a trip to big bear country. When that future day comes, look at buying another gun or at least trading the one you have.

Getting too much gun for the sake of a future possible need, or even if it's just because it's really neat to have a big monstrous gun can really hurt your firearms experience. Bigger guns kick more, sometimes LOTS more. The ammo is more expensive and sometimes more difficult to get. Consider what its main purpose is going to be and select appropriately. From what I've seen of Virginia (I used to live in D.C.) I'd seriously consider a slug barrel on a shotgun. For a rifle I'd consider a lever action in 30-30, .44 Magnum, .454 Casull, .444, or 45-70.

One other suggestion is a multiple caliber rifle. My wife has a Thompson Center Encore. She can shoot everything from .223 up to .375 H&H. Thus far she's only used her 7mm-08 barrel, I'd certainly recommend that as a really good caliber as well.

 

[TCB in TN]

I have two comments, about things I have noticed on threads like this, not pointing fingers just things I have seen over the years. 1st is there is almost always someone who will mention carrying a 44mag for protection in "bear country" that will scoff at the notion of a 30-30. And 2nd that big bullets destroy to much meat. The 1st is obvious bunk, and the 2nd should be considered such as well.

I have hunted with a .243, a .270, and a 30-06 and can conclusively say that a shot into the shoulder with any of the three will destroy the meat. A good heart/lung shot with them is a clean kill with pretty much no further fuss and muss. The last time I checked a 45/70 was only 2 times the size of a .243, and about 1 1/2 times the size of a 30-30 or 30-06, meaning that if you put the bullet where you want to (behind the front shoulder exiting either out the front of the chest or out behind the other front shoulder then you really shouldn't experience this GREAT destruction of meat that everyone talks about. The key with deer etc is to put the bullet in the right spot, dead is just as dead either way, and a shoulder shot screws up meat either way. Hitting major bone stops'em pretty quick but it isn't what you want if you want to fill the pot (or the freezer for that matter). Get the gun you want and learn to put the bullet where you want, and you oughtta be pretty good to go.