all around caliber

[missjordan]

I'd go with the 300 win mag, got lots of different options on how you can load your rounds. My personal go to gun is a .338 win mag shooting 250gr Bergers and it's a tack driver at long range. Recoil is extremely manageable, even being a female I'm comfortable with it. Gun is muzzle broke though which the noise can bother most people, you'd have to make that decision yourself. The 06 is such a traditional round and is a driver for sure but I personally like to have a caliber that delivers a good bite. Overall, It's all going to boil down to your wants/needs and your expectations for the caliber of choice.


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[rammont]

I have a Viper Pst FFP 3-15 x 44 I will post a picture when I get it all set up...

any good scopes rings you all prefer?

I'm using a 30-06 with a Vortex Viper PST Gen II 3-15x44 with FFP and the EBR-2C MOA reticle and I love the combination. I've used my rifle out to 400 yards and that scope tracks perfectly. I use the Vortex Precision Rings and have never had a problem with the scope moving. Inexpensive rings always cause headaches, scope movement and misalignment with the bore are the two most common problems I've seen.

 

[hoshour]

Really, all are popular for a reason - they're very close and will do the job from antelope to elk.

At 400 yards with a roughly 145-150 gr Hornady Precision Hunter bullet, the velocity, energy and drop are:

6.5 Creedmoor 2206, 1587, -21.9"
7mm-08 2173, 1573, -21.6"
.270 Winchester 2306, 1714, -18.8"
.30'06 2216, 1636, -18.9"

The bullets are not exactly the same in each case, which hurts the comparison, and the differences are pretty small, but the .270 has the most energy at 400 yards (my max comfortable range) with the least bullet drop and it is comfortable to shoot. And, I can get it in the Savage Lightweight Hunter at 5.65 lbs plus scope. Ammo is easy to find and I can cut holes with my .270.

But, the .30 '06 is really close and you can go up quite a bit in bullet weight, so for flexibility, I can see why people choose it and I have one of those too.

The Hornady table went to a different format for the 7mm Mag and .300 Win Mag so I couldn't include them, but they are significantly heavier to carry and unless I were hunting grizzly or moose, I wouldn't worry hunting anything else with a .270.

 

[Tim McCoy]

ok well I'm going go with the howa 30-06 rifle 22 inch barrel thanks for the help everyone.

you all ever tried a Howa rifle?

Have two. Excellent rifles. New trigger is VG. Both are moa with favored factory fodder.

 

[Tim McCoy]

I have a Viper Pst FFP 3-15 x 44 I will post a picture when I get it all set up...

any good scopes rings you all prefer?

My two fav systems are the Talley Alloy mounts where the base and bottom half of the ring are one piece, and S & K Kontoured rings/bases.

 

[BuzzH]

I often wonder if anyone reads the question before they start recommending rifles?

Why would anyone recommend a 300 WM when the guy is primarily hunting whitetails, with the occasional elk?

A .243 would be a better recommendation than a 300.

 

[Daubs]

I often wonder if anyone reads the question before they start recommending rifles?

Why would anyone recommend a 300 WM when the guy is primarily hunting whitetails, with the occasional elk?

A .243 would be a better recommendation than a 300.

When I was deciding on a caliber a friend kept saying, "get a 300 Win Mag...you need the extra power." I looked at the ballistics tables, and calculated weight and recoil. I will fully admit i'm a complete panzy when it comes to recoil at the range. Even purchased a LeadSled (good GOD, love that thing!!!). In the field I never feel the recoil...but on the range...no bueno.

My farthest shot to date has been 267 yards on a whitetail. Dropped like a stone. Most of my shots are 150 yards or less, but I do have my rifle set to 250 yard zero.

For me, the -06 is pretty much the perfect gun.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Personally feel that a .243 is a shade light for elk. My son has one that is a tack driver and has killed several elk with it, that being said, you need to be a really good shot to get point of impact in the correct spot. My son hit a bull a little forward of the chest and hit a front shoulder. Bullet exploded when it hit the shoulder bone. Broke the leg, but took us awhile chasing it down. Bullet did not penetrate into the chest cavity. It would have eventually died, but who know how long it would take and how far it would have gone.

Just sayin...........

 

[BuzzH]

Yeah, you need to hit about a 12 inch bulls eye on an elk...pretty tough with a tack driver.

Just sayin'...

Oh, and bullet selection matters too.

 

[Winchester]

Personally feel that a .243 is a shade light for elk. My son has one that is a tack driver and has killed several elk with it, that being said, you need to be a really good shot to get point of impact in the correct spot. My son hit a bull a little forward of the chest and hit a front shoulder. Bullet exploded when it hit the shoulder bone. Broke the leg, but took us awhile chasing it down. Bullet did not penetrate into the chest cavity. It would have eventually died, but who know how long it would take and how far it would have gone.

Just sayin...........

Yeah, I agree CC. A .243 will certainly kill an elk but big bulls are plenty tough and a .243 doesn't provide much margin for error. Much less chance of wounding one with a larger caliber.

 

[JimP]

The problem is that if you miss that area on a elk or are not offered that perfect broadside shot then what are you going to do.

While a lot of elk have been killed with the .243 how many have been wounded that you never hear about? Granted other calibers also wound elk but with the extra power that other calibers provide the margin of err is a lot greater.

 

[Winchester]

The problem is that if you miss that area on a elk or are not offered that perfect broadside shot then what are you going to do.

While a lot of elk have been killed with the .243 how many have been wounded that you never hear about? Granted other calibers also wound elk but with the extra power that other calibers provide the margin of err is a lot greater.

Very well said.

 

[BuzzH]

Yeah, I agree CC. A .243 will certainly kill an elk but big bulls are plenty tough and a .243 doesn't provide much margin for error. Much less chance of wounding one with a larger caliber.

For the record, how many elk have you shot, and how many with a .243?

I'd take a .243 for elk all day long over a muzzleloader or arrow...yet rarely does anyone say a word when those are used on elk, big bulls and otherwise.

The irony...

 

[BuzzH]

The problem is that if you miss that area on a elk or are not offered that perfect broadside shot then what are you going to do.

While a lot of elk have been killed with the .243 how many have been wounded that you never hear about? Granted other calibers also wound elk but with the extra power that other calibers provide the margin of err is a lot greater.

I'll do the same as with any other rifle, not take the shot if I cant make it...and if something goes to chit, track a wounded elk, just like with any other rifle.

It matters not in the least what rifle you make a bad shot with, and the whole "room for error with a bigger rifle" is also pure BS...seen it.

 

[Winchester]

Since you ask, I've taken a number of elk. I've used my 30-06 for all of them. Here's my latest from 2 weeks ago.
The shot was quartering away at 440 yards. I knew my 30-06 would drive the bullet up into his vitals. I would not have tried that shot with a .243.
But to each his own. If you like a .243 I have no issue with that. It's a great caliber, it just wouldn't be my first choice for elk..

 

[BuzzH]

...but none with a .243.

Again, read the question...the OP is primarily hunting whitetails, not elk.

For a guy that is going to hunt whitetails every year, for the next few decades, and elk a couple times, how much sense does a 300 WM make...about as much sense as a soup sandwich.

The .243, 260, 7-08 would all make wayyyy more sense, and by a landslide.

 

[Winchester]

Yes sir, I read the question, and recommend a 30-06 for whitetails and the occasional elk.
I never said anything about a 300 WM.
I guess we disagree about a .243.
Have a great day.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I am sure the bull my son shot with his .243 would probably have died pretty quick with a 30-06. It has a lot more energy and penetration (especially with Partitions) than the .243. My -06 probably would have gone thru the leg bone and penetrated the chest, right at the heart.

 

[Winchester]

I am sure the bull my son shot with his .243 would probably have died pretty quick with a 30-06. It has a lot more energy and penetration (especially with Partitions) than the .243. My -06 probably would have gone thru the leg bone and penetrated the chest, right at the heart.

I imagine you are correct CC.

 

[BuzzH]

I am sure the bull my son shot with his .243 would probably have died pretty quick with a 30-06. It has a lot more energy and penetration (especially with Partitions) than the .243. My -06 probably would have gone thru the leg bone and penetrated the chest, right at the heart.

Hard telling not knowing...

What I do know for sure, is that lots of calibers get lots of bum raps, when the nut behind the trigger is fully to blame...seems your example is no different.

For the record, 100 grain partitions, of the .243 variety, have a reputation for busting bones and digging deep...seen that too.