caliber advice for big game
#12
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Matador, Texas
Posts: 284
RE: caliber advice for big game
ORIGINAL: younggun243
I've heard that it recoils less than a .338 Win. Mag., if that's true, then what does it recoil like? A 30-06, or more?
ORIGINAL: ipscshooter
......a .338 Federal.
......a .338 Federal.
I've heard that it recoils less than a .338 Win. Mag., if that's true, then what does it recoil like? A 30-06, or more?
#13
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: MN USA
Posts: 1,392
RE: caliber advice for big game
For whitetail deer for 200 yds or under, I'd take .30-06 anytime. For Elk, which you may be taking shots out to 300+ yds, I'd recommend .300 WM or one of that family of calibers. It's going to shot flatter and with the .30 slug in a variety of types (e.g. Accubond, Failsafe, etc.) you'll get excellent penetration and expansion through boken and vitals.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Dark and Bloody Land
Posts: 40
RE: caliber advice for big game
ORIGINAL: dr. bullseye
I'd also like something for an elk or moose hunt that I'm saving up for in a couple of years. I'm considering .30-06, 7mm mag, .300 WSM, and .300wm. I'm also planning on getting started on reloading soon, and so I thought the combination of a 7mm-08 and 7mm mag would let me use the same bullets for both, or atleast try the same for both.
I'd also like something for an elk or moose hunt that I'm saving up for in a couple of years. I'm considering .30-06, 7mm mag, .300 WSM, and .300wm. I'm also planning on getting started on reloading soon, and so I thought the combination of a 7mm-08 and 7mm mag would let me use the same bullets for both, or atleast try the same for both.
#15
Typical Buck
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 585
RE: caliber advice for big game
I've been shooting a .243 and .30-06 for many years. If you exclude brown bears, the .30-06 is adequate for all North American game. While the .270 and .280 can take an elk, most of the experts will tell you a .30 cal is preferred for elk sized game. Have plenty of experience with the 06, I would highly recommend it.
This spring I bought a .300 WSM (Stainless Model 700). The new R3 recoil pad makes it a pleasure to shoot. It kicks harder than the .30-06, but not as hard as the 12 gauge with 3.5 inch mags. The .300 WSM has the best of both worlds. The same .30 cal bullet as a .30-06 but with better trajectory than the 7mm mag and more power than both the .30-06 and the 7mm mag.
This spring I bought a .300 WSM (Stainless Model 700). The new R3 recoil pad makes it a pleasure to shoot. It kicks harder than the .30-06, but not as hard as the 12 gauge with 3.5 inch mags. The .300 WSM has the best of both worlds. The same .30 cal bullet as a .30-06 but with better trajectory than the 7mm mag and more power than both the .30-06 and the 7mm mag.
#16
RE: caliber advice for big game
I have a 300 win mag, a .243, and a 280 Rem. The .280 may be my favorite gun, you can load up to 170gr bullets or as low as 125 I believe. The gun is pretty flat shooting and the recoil isn't bad at all, it's plenty big enough to handle all the hooved animals in North America. I like my 300 as well but I'd rather tote the 280 around for sure.
#17
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 38
RE: caliber advice for big game
To be honest, I don't believe that I have ever shot a larger caliber rifle that had a decent recoil pad on it. Hopefully I'll have the chance to do that in the near future so that I could go with the .300win mag because that's what I think I would like for the elk/moose/caribou gun. Thanks for all the advice and comments.
#20
RE: caliber advice for big game
I like my 308 so much that when I wanted another big game gun in a different action I bought another 308. The recoil is tolerable, and its fine for moose or elk, just pass on the mile long shots.