weigh in on my next rifle

[crunch14]

I currently use Federal Premium 180grn Nosler Partitions in my Rem. M700 .30-06 for Deer and Elk, and carry a few rounds of .30-06 tracer ammo for grouse in the trees.

I was thinking of getting an AR-10 in .338 federal for Elk with a .308 upper for deer. In the area I hunt Elk the longest shot we'll see is 200-250 yds but mostly 50-130yds, where it seems the .338 Fed excels. But where we hunt Deer shots could be anywhere from 50-400 yards.

I was thinking of getting something new for a couple of reasons... I am more familiar with AR style from my military days. LOTS of reliable/accurate experience in Iraq. The .338 will be harder hitting than the .30-06 and just as accurate out to 250yds, from what I've read.

With the .338 was thinking of a fixed 4x scope.

With the .308 it's a bit flatter shooting and I can get steel NATO ammo for birds easier. Was gonna get a NIKON Buckmaster 3-9X scope (have one on my -06 and love it).

What do y'all think? Any questions, comments or snide remarks are appreciated.

Almost forgot I will not be getting rid of my .30-06... ever.

 

[emerson]

Do you need a .338 Fed for elk at 200-250 yards? I'd think a 180gr .30-06 would be sufficient...

Deer shot at 400 yards? That's pretty far out there, no?

I've never held an AR-10, but I've heard they are heavy. I wouldn't want to carry a (12lb?) rifle around all day. I'd prefer a rifle that was designed for the hunting task (i.e., Rem 700).

That is my opinion, FWIW.

 

[PT1911]

Seems like the .308 would be completely sufficient if you just want to get an AR format... the 338 is cool, but not NEEDED for elk as the .308 will reach out for as long a shot as you need on deer and has plenty of knock down for an elk.

 

[natman]

I currently use Federal Premium 180grn Nosler Partitions in my Rem. M700 .30-06 for Deer and Elk, and carry a few rounds of .30-06 tracer ammo for grouse in the trees.

Tracer ammo in the trees????

The hard cold truth is once you have a good 30-06, it pretty much preempts a large portion of rifle work. The 338 Fed would be a great elk round, but your 30-06 has that covered. I can't see any advantage to an AR10 platform in either 338 fed or 308. Feel free to get one if you want, but IMO you might as well get something truly different, like a varmint or dangerous game rifle.

 

[Sport45]

Tracer ammo in the trees????

I wondered the same thing.

Shotguns are better for birds and you're not launching a bullet (possibly flaming) on a ballistic trajectory to who-knows-where. Firing a high powered rifle into the trees sounds a bit irresponsible to me unless you know without a doubt that nobody is downrange for the next mile or so.

Or are the grouse on the ground around the trees where only the tracer (and high-powered rifle) part is in question?

And by the way, crunch14, thank you for your service!

 

[Sav .250]

" .....tracker ammo for grouse in the trees."

 

[Mr. Chitlin]

Back to the original question...

Why not just get the 308 and use premium bullets. You can buy a lot of bullets and do a lot of practice for the price you'll pay for a second upper. Also, it an elk showed up at 350 yards, you'd be able to take the shot with the 308 with no problem.

 

[GodGuns&Guitars]

It's just an excuse to buy another gun and I happen to agree with that line of thought.

 

[CoRoMo]

Just don't start another thread in a couple years asking which rifle you should sell because both are not being used as much as you thought they would.

 

[bad_aim_billy]

Shotguns are better for birds and you're not launching a bullet (possibly flaming) on a ballistic trajectory to who-knows-where. Firing a high powered rifle into the trees sounds a bit irresponsible to me unless you know without a doubt that nobody is downrange for the next mile or so.

In the mountains, "downrange" is a bit different than in Texas lol. We've taken several grouse this year with an /06, works fine if you aim high and don't get a full body shot.

As far as to the original poster, if your /06 is fairly light, I wouldn't change, you're gaining minimal energy with a .338...

 

[bpl]

If you want an AR-10, get an AR-10! But don't kid yourself that it will do anything hunting-wise your M700 30-06 won't do, and probably do better, or at least in a lighter package.

 

[Sport45]

In the mountains, "downrange" is a bit different than in Texas lol.

How is it different? Is it easier to see who or what is down range?

Seems to me that it would be harder to tell if the bullet you are launching into the air will land in a safe location if you're sending it over a hill (or mountain) or over a grove of trees. Keep lol'ing if you like, it's just that I've been to the mountains and don't know why the rules would change there.

 

[bpl]

Hopefully they mean shooting at a downward angle at grouse in trees and using the rising ground on the opposite side of a ravine or small valley or saddle or hollow or whatever as a backstop and not actually shooting up into the trees. Hopefully this tracer ammo is being used in the coastal rainforest of WA and not on the other side of the mountains where the arid west begins!