Folically Challenged

FWIW, when I went for elk in BC this Fall, the outifitter,as well as every one of his guides,expressed a preference for the .30-06 over the 7mm Rem Mag. Their reasoning was that they'dseen many 7mm mag. shots penetrate without much, if any, expansion at 10-40 yard shots in the black timber they have in that area. I'm not trying to be inflammatory: I'm just relating what I heard.

I was at just this same decisionback in August of '05, when I decided that I finally oughta go chase some elk. I did a stupid amount of research on boards like these, but I finally came to the conclusion that I would have to make a choice that I could live with. Everyone was going to make fun of me no matter what I ended up choosing. As long as the elk don't laugh, I guess that'sall that matters tome!

I ended up going with the .30-06. I liked shooting that caliber more than the 7mm mag. that I'd tried, and I was confident that the '06 would do its part if I did mine. Plus, I found it to be comfortable enough to shoot that I was able to consistently makethe bullets go where they oughta.

It sounds like your '06 has your trust, and that's about the highest compliment you can pay a gun (or a person, for that matter!). If you haven't been shooting premium bullets thus far, then try a few different kinds to see which ones group best in your M70. Then you should be good to go. Or, take the advice of those suggesting a scope upgrade: that may give you a whole new outlook on things (pun intended).

Now, if you're trying to justify buying a new gun, then just go out and buy it! We ALL need more guns! Just don't go saying that your faithful companion, yourM70, doesn't have what it takes!

And most importantly of all, send us pics when you get back from the trips!

FC

Chantecler111

Yeah, we've had a lot of domestic disputes on my street, over the past week

Nord QC Bouman

Model 70 is the best gun and I have these in 30'06, 7mmRMAG and 338WMAG. As far as distance and a good flat shooting round I would say a 165g Nosler in 7mmRMag. By going to the Accubond the own range accuracy is impoved and I shot 2 caribou this year at 400 and 600 yards.

ShatoDavis

Folks, thatsums it up assuccinctly as possible. Its all about personal preference at some point. The 30-06 well do the job no problem, so too will the 7mag, 300 mag, 338 mag etc. I prefer the 338 when I go but its just that a preference.

My opinion: skip the 300 and step up to the 338. Not because your 06 or the 300 won't do the job because it will.rather,with a 338 in the cabinet you can go brown bear hunting down the road, which I wouldn't take a 30 cal. for

Doe Dumper

Come on guys....lets look at this rationally. When in doubt...buy them all!!!

SwampCollie

Thats what I did. And I only use three of them with any regularity.

zrexpilot

Why would you need to shoot that far, I never hunted caribou but by the looks of them on TV, one could walk up to it and put a .22 in the head of one. They look pretty stupid.

Goober35

stuped quetion why spend the exstra cash on ammo when Ballisticly a 300win mag has the same knock down power at 300 yards. Unless you plan on just walking up to the it an shooting it then a 338 has 500lb more at muzzel but starts to drop like a rock at 500.

Nord QC Bouman

I have been shooting Caribou in Laforge for a few years now. Sometimes they are close and I could use my bow. THe past 4 years they have not been and all shots have been in excess of 300 yards. They are actually skidish - not like whitetails, but they will move into the woods fast and the shot window can be brief. The fall hunt is generally the one you see on TV and here you get placed right in the middle of the static herd - once they start migration they can move 125 miles in a day or 2.

Nord QC Bouman

The 300 Win Mag @ 180g has about 5-7% less energy at 3-500 yards andwith close velocity.Compared tothe 338 NP 210 the drop at 50 yards is 47" vs 43" - not a big delta.