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Need Help Choosing Caliber for New Rifle

7mmremmag said:
A little slower, a little heavier bullet. At some point down range the 260 will be going faster than the 243 due to the inherent weight/ballistic coefficient advantage but that is way, way, way beyond hunting range. 243 has higher velocity at relevant ranges. Although, there are enough super high BC bullets for 6mm's now that it is kind of mute. The trend has been going towards 6mm in long range, timed competitions due to the slightly lower recoil and higher velocity. Quicker to be back on the next target. For all but the extreme upper echelon of shooters there is no difference in that. Both are great.
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Another thing to concider with a factory rifle in 260 is twist rate. Part of the issue with the early Remington 700 and 7’s were a 1/10 twist rate. Too slow! Some others like Savage used 1/8 twist which helps stabilize heavier bullets like 140 or 143 gr. I have a Savage 16 in 260 with a 22” barrel that will keep up with any 6.5CM you could put against it.
 
fbwguy said:
Another thing to concider with a factory rifle in 260 is twist rate. Part of the issue with the early Remington 700 and 7’s were a 1/10 twist rate. Too slow! Some others like Savage used 1/8 twist which helps stabilize heavier bullets like 140 or 143 gr. I have a Savage 16 in 260 with a 22” barrel that will keep up with any 6.5CM you could put against it.
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I forgot about that. The creedmoor was designed and marketed around 140s from the beginning.
 
I'm in a restricted area, so 450 bushmaster is king. Im sure it would kill what your after at those distances. The other guns you mentioned are good for further if the shooter is. Personally I wouldn't want a rifle with a brake. Your asking for hearing damage if not wearing protection.
 
kenn1320 said:
I'm in a restricted area, so 450 bushmaster is king. Im sure it would kill what your after at those distances. The other guns you mentioned are good for further if the shooter is. Personally I wouldn't want a rifle with a brake. Your asking for hearing damage if not wearing protection.
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The perfect brake is on the Savage Bear Hunter or it’s predecessor the Weather Warrior. Turn it on at the range with hearing protection and turn it off when hunting.
This is my 30-06
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Its the eternal debate, but for good reason, while I would always advocate to buy em all, unfortunately you can typically only choose one.

I grew up hunting out west (from Alaska to California and everywhere in between), life circumstances find me living in MN, so now I spend a lot of time at deer camps. Here is what I see, the 7mm Rem Mag, it is on every pack and gun rack.

I shoot copper bullets (150 grain Barnes TTSX), shots have ranged up to 400 yards, the entry wounds are small, the exits are devastating. Bullet choice is a big consideration whatever caliber you decide to go with, the 7mm RM has a good range of weights from 140-175 grains.

Good advice all around, you won't regret any of the 30 cal choices mentioned, but the 7mm RM is a solid all around caliber, I would even take it Moose or Caribou hunting.

My buddy had to put down a charging sow grizzly, he will tell you the 300 win mag saved his life. So if you envision hunting Elk in MT, WY, maybe even ID or hunting Alaska, consider the 300 win mag, otherwise the 7mm RM is a solid choice.
 
TNbowhunter said:
I'm primarily a bow hunter here in Tennessee, and I also have my childhood .243 and a muzzleloader to use for hunting whitetails around here. But, I'm ready to purchase my first "big" hunting rifle, and I would love to hear from y'all about what caliber to choose. I plan to use it on everything from whitetails to mule deer to antelope to elk (nothing bigger than elk, such as moose or grizz), and I'm planning to get a Weatherby Vanguard. I want something that will pack plenty of punch for elk at 300 yards, while also being pleasant enough (relatively) that I'll enjoy practicing with it, and also not overkill for whitetails and antelope.

I've done some research (Google, MeatEater, etc.), and it seems the best choices are 30-06, .300 Win Mag, and .308. What do y'all think?

Thanks in advance!
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I bought a Browning BLR chambered in 25-06 - it is the flattest shooting caliber you will find. Perfect for out west. The gun is an absolute tack-driver but they only made 150 of them (I believe I bought the last one); however, there are plenty of guns out there chambered in 25-06, I recommend you researching that caliber!
 
VFL said:
I bought a Browning BLR chambered in 25-06 - it is the flattest shooting caliber you will find. Perfect for out west. The gun is an absolute tack-driver but they only made 150 of them (I believe I bought the last one); however, there are plenty of guns out there chambered in 25-06, I recommend you researching that caliber!
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My wife and son both hunt with the ole 25-06. Using 117 or 120gr ammo it’s a deer slayer for sure
 
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TNbowhunter said:
I'm primarily a bow hunter here in Tennessee, and I also have my childhood .243 and a muzzleloader to use for hunting whitetails around here. But, I'm ready to purchase my first "big" hunting rifle, and I would love to hear from y'all about what caliber to choose. I plan to use it on everything from whitetails to mule deer to antelope to elk (nothing bigger than elk, such as moose or grizz), and I'm planning to get a Weatherby Vanguard. I want something that will pack plenty of punch for elk at 300 yards, while also being pleasant enough (relatively) that I'll enjoy practicing with it, and also not overkill for whitetails and antelope.

I've done some research (Google, MeatEater, etc.), and it seems the best choices are 30-06, .300 Win Mag, and .308. What do y'all think?

Thanks in advance!
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If you want something that packs “plenty of punch” for elk at 300 yards then you are looking at magnum calibers: 300WM, 300 Weatherby, 300WSM, maybe 270WSM or 7mmWM on the low end. You’ll want something that can hurl a larger projectile with a decent muzzle velocity.

An ideal western mule deer rifle will be very similar to an ideal elk rifle. Not because you need a 180 grain+ projectile to kill a deer but a magnum caliber and heavy bullet will retain the required energy foot pounds at longer range; 300+ yards. This is where the 300WM, 300 Weatherby etc shine. There are lighter options like the 7mm STW that are designed for long range mule deer.

*Google ballistic coefficient if you’re not familiar with the term.

Any of the above calibers will most definitely kill a whitetail from 5 yards to 300+ but some might consider them overkill. Realistically the style of Whitetail hunting and the specific habitat are important factors. If you’re hunting wide open terrain in west Texas or field edges anywhere the magnum calibers aren’t overkill at all. A wood lot with 10-50 yards shots is a different story.

Someone above mentioned 30-06. If you really want one rifle for anything there aren’t many calibers as versatile. You can hand load 110-220 grain bullets and factory Ammo is easily acquired 150-200 grains just about anywhere. It’s not the best caliber for long range shots on elk or brushy woods of the east but it do just about anything well.


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Opinions vary, but I have a Remington sendero 7mm mag, I dropped a little extra coin to get a good muzzle brake and a Jewell trigger. After I developed a great hand load for it I can shoot one ragged hole at 200 yards with no wind. If you can find a sendero, it is the most accurate production rifle remington ever put out. With the muzzle brake and the weight of the rifle it is a *****cat. I have a .243 with more recoil but.......... the person sitting next to you at the gun range will hate you. Works out well for me, After a few shots at the range everyone moves away from me. I have a close friend who shoots long range competition that dropped a bull elk in its tracks at 989 yards with his 7mm rem mag. 300 win mag is probably the most versatile long range round for larger game, but more expensive to shoot than the 7mm rem mag. I currently load 168 gr berger hunting VLD’s out of my 7mm. My rifle loves to eat those rounds.
 
As you can see everyone has an opinion and most have pros and cons. Your best bet is to reach out to some respected guides. Ask them what they recommend. I spent time in Alaska and most guides would not even leave the dock with someone that brought something less than a 300 win mag. You can do a lot with smaller calibers, but should you?
Remember most times when you are hunting elk or other big game, you are in GRIZZLY country. Do you really want to be pulling the trigger on a charging grizzly with a pea shooter. At that point you are not shooting a bear broad side. You are shooting an angry, charging 1000 lb animal at 10 yards! Any farther away than that, he really isn't charging you.
 
300 winmag, shoots like a laser, holds well with wind and carries energy at distance. I wanna say it carries 700ft/lbs out past 700 yards which is what’s suggested at minimum for elk. Common caliber and Ammo isn’t super expensive. I’ve smacked targets at distances over a mile with one and easier than you’d think.
 
SnakeEater said:
300 winmag, shoots like a laser, holds well with wind and carries energy at distance. I wanna say it carries 700ft/lbs out past 700 yards which is what’s suggested at minimum for elk. Common caliber and Ammo isn’t super expensive. I’ve smacked targets at distances over a mile with one and easier than you’d think.
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But wow the kick..... Heeeeehawwwww!
 
SnakeEater said:
No, but I do plan to start. Trying to wait for a good time because I get a little obsessive with hobbies so when I start I’ll probably go all in on it but it something I want to do.
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It is real hard to find reloading supplies right now, but I can reload match grade rounds for my 7mm mag for right around .90c each
 
gameflogger said:
It is real hard to find reloading supplies right now, but I can reload match grade rounds for my 7mm mag for right around .90c each
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That’s awesome, can’t beat that price for good match rounds! And the added fact you made them is something that I find appealing too.
 
I haven't read all the responses but I'm prone to the short action cartridges off the .308 case like the 7mm-08 and the .243 which are all just necked down .308's. I believe the .358 win is also based on the .308 short action but necked up. 7mm-08 in a Model 110 Remington Handgun or a TC Contender would be an awesome saddle hunting package. No need for a pull up rope just wear a chest holster and climb with it.
 
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