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I AM PRETTY SHURE I WILL BUY A SAVAGE 16FxP3. however I do not know what the best caliber for my cause is.....
Caliber 223 Rem., 22-250 Rem., 243 Win., 308 Win., 270 WSM., 7mm WSM., 300 WSM., 204 Ruge
I plan on long range target shooting and then mountain hunting as well as small game for that damn varmits....what has the most value (price vs. ability) and what one will fit my cause the best???
thank you for the help
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Red Lion

Without knowing more specifics about what your range of animals and distance will be, I vote for a .270WSM, as it should cover what you want, short of being ideal for the real big stuff.

BRIZBO

im in the same boat as red lion, dont have all the info i need but for long range and varmits the 22-250 is a real hot round, and 243 win is good too but not quite at flat, however you can get bigger projectiles with the 243 and that will cut down on some wind drifting that a 22 cal can have plus be better suted and leagle for deer, pronghorn, and some say elk.....i might think it would be a little on the small side myself but there are some people who do use and have put alot of elk down with it. i have a 25-06 and am getting a 308 win to cover up the rest of my bases. thats about as much help as i can be. i have no expereance with the wsm at all, you shoud read if you havent all ready the post " best short action" it helped me decide. BRIZBO

Duckbutter48

If you are looking for cheaper priced and more readily available ammo then I'd go with the 308. The 22-250 and 204 arent ideal for deer sized game hunting. I love the WSM's but the ammo does cost more and has less selection then was you'll find with the 308.

The same can prob be said for the 243 also. THat would be my 2nd choice in your situation.

JagMagMan

That is a wide range of uses for one gun! For the ranges of applications, and bullet selection, you can't beat the 30-06! And this is from someone who doesn't own, or plan to own an '06!!!!!

thndrchiken

Go with the Savage in 30-06 or 308. The 7mm-08 would be a good choice as well.

seattlesetters

scope eye - You don't give us much to go on...please define "mountain hunting" and it would make things a bit easier.

The only thing you really describe a need for is long-range target shooting, small game and varmints. These applications scream ".223" or ".22-250". Of these, the .223 probably represents the most value in terms of ammo costs.

If you're going to throw a bit of deer hunting in the mix ("mountain hunting"?), a step up to the .243 would be logical.

If deer hunting is equal to varmint control, then a .25-06 or .257 Roberts are fine dual-purpose cartridges.

If deer hunting is a priority, then start with the .25s mentioned above and include the .260, 6.5x55, .270, .280, 7mm-08, 7x57, .308 and .30-'06 in your search.

If you might take on something a bit bigger than deer, start with the .260 mentioned above...and keep going on up past the .30-'06...

SwampCollie

You need a .460 Weatherby. Nothing less will kill those pesky ground hogs....

.:SCOPE:EYE:.

sry for that ....basically i want a shot that has formost acurracy 200+ yards and has a punch to knock down a wide range of big animals at far distances...im thinking the 30-06 ???? just have a fealing thats my best bet...(i really dont kno)

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also i found out that the 16fxp3 did not come in 30-06 but the 116FXp3 does....any bad words about that gun..?