I am looking to get a new rifle but not sure what is best. I'm wanting something that I can ethically take every thing from an elk to a pronghorn. Plus I would like to have enough punch that I can take an animal at a longer distance if I must( 500-700 yards). I will be hunting off of my back most of the time also. Does anyone have any gun and/or caliber suggestions?
Best all around gun
- Thread starter Hawkes11
- Start date
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
I suppose you are asking about caliber, and not a rifle make/model?
Many cartridges will work for your stated uses if you and your equipment are up to it.
The easiest recommendation is 7mm Remington Magnum, and I heartily recommend it.
Many cartridges will work for your stated uses if you and your equipment are up to it.
The easiest recommendation is 7mm Remington Magnum, and I heartily recommend it.
packer58
Very Active Member
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
I'd say a .280 AI...nipping at the big 7's heels, with way less powder & recoil. Just my opinion.
xtreme
Very Active Member
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Somewhere between .264 and .280 is probably where I would want to be if I only owned ONErifle! I shoot a 25-06 for deer and antelope size animals and have a 30-06 and a 300 Wby for elk. I'll be getting a .375 H & H as soon as I find the right gun. Why....just cause I want one!
7mm mag is just about right IMHO for a single gun to do the most with.
7mm mag is just about right IMHO for a single gun to do the most with.
Kevin Root
Very Active Member
Multi-SpeciesHunter
Member
Have heard 7mm can be "wild", as far as accuracy and my friend can't get his to group for the life of him. But as you can see, it is a VERY well liked cartridge. I'm partial to the .300 winnie myself. But that's because that is what I own...not a 7mm.
You also say you will be hunting "off your back" ,so I assume you want a light rifle. Maybe a .270 WSM would do the trick. Them eastman boys seem to like it, and have killed several elk with it. And many many long range shooters are making it their #1 caliber.
So my vote is .270 WSM.
You also say you will be hunting "off your back" ,so I assume you want a light rifle. Maybe a .270 WSM would do the trick. Them eastman boys seem to like it, and have killed several elk with it. And many many long range shooters are making it their #1 caliber.
So my vote is .270 WSM.
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
I respectfully disagree with most of this. The 7mm Magnum is not an inherently inaccurate cartridge. I have loaded for several that have been boringly accurate, including my current one.
The .300 WM is a great cartridge as well, but offers little ballistic advantage in factory twists and noticeably more recoil than the 7RM.
I have also owned several 270 WSMs that I really liked. The cartridge is certainly capable of your uses, when loaded correctly. However, both of my 270 WSMs were tough on throats and long range bullet selection is tiny in comparison with 7mm.
I actually think the 270 WSM is a great MPBR cartridge since it shoots flat out to moderate ranges.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Bitterroot is correct. I have never (in my experience) seen a rifle that couldn't be made to shoot well. I'm sure there are plenty out there tho. Bedding, barrel fit and reloading can all help. I'll bet there are literally a million or more of them out there and I have yet to find one during our clubs hunter sight in days that was a problem rifle....owners yes, rifles no I had one on a custom mauser action that I let my Brother inlaw talk me out of. Still shoots great 40 years later!
I had one on a custom mauser action that I let my Brother inlaw talk me out of. Still shoots great 40 years later!
Old Hunter
Banned
Multi-SpeciesHunter
Member
That's alright haha I like these types of debates/conversations. But I don't mind recoil. So my 7 3/4 pound (scoped) 300 WM is great. I'm just saying my friend loves his, but can't get tight groups with any ammo. And I have HEARD it is wild. That is just what I HEARD. It is obviously popular for a reason. I have even considered a 7mm just because it is so popular.
And for long range uses, .270wsm is great. I was assuming he reloads, since it seems like everyone does on here. The 7mm drops slightly more down range, but nothing too drastic. The short action would be a plus (in my mind) if he is "hunting off his back", in a mountain rifle setup.
If a guy reloads, the bullet selection isn't that small. But still gotta stay 130-150 grain, matrix etc. But you may need a different barrel twist with those bullets. I'm sure you have more to play with in a 7mm.
I do think both cals in a 24 inch barrel setup, the wsm takes it. It's ballistics will be equal, if not a bit better in usually a smaller rifle.
Now if you are talking 26" barrel or more, that's another story. 7mm would beat it at the range.
Like I said, I prefer my 300 win mag. But with either of these cals, the elk/deer/hog/lion etc etc will all be dead the same and not know the small differences.
Old Hunter
Banned
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
MSH,
I don't mind recoil. I use a 300 RUM often, but I have grown extra fond of my lightweight Savage 7RM.
There aren't any pills available for a factory-twist .270 WSM that can keep up with the 7 way out there with a slick bullet like the 168 Berger VLD. Then if we allow for faster twist barrels, the 7 mag will really start to shine with the 190 VLD.
Like I said, I liked the cartridge, it just isn't as good all around as the 7RM. It is shorter though, as you mentioned.
OH,
There are plenty of bullets available for the 300 winny that won't tear apart an antelope. I have knocked them down with the 300 RUM (Barnes TSX), and you could "eat up to the hole" as you old-timers say.
I don't mind recoil. I use a 300 RUM often, but I have grown extra fond of my lightweight Savage 7RM.
There aren't any pills available for a factory-twist .270 WSM that can keep up with the 7 way out there with a slick bullet like the 168 Berger VLD. Then if we allow for faster twist barrels, the 7 mag will really start to shine with the 190 VLD.
Like I said, I liked the cartridge, it just isn't as good all around as the 7RM. It is shorter though, as you mentioned.
OH,
There are plenty of bullets available for the 300 winny that won't tear apart an antelope. I have knocked them down with the 300 RUM (Barnes TSX), and you could "eat up to the hole" as you old-timers say.
Multi-SpeciesHunter
Member
Yeah I love the RUMs. They're barrel burners, but I think by the time im 20 (I'm 17) I'll own one of each haha. And yes, after 50 rounds of my light 300 WM, shooting a light 223 felt nice haha.
And yes I plan on shooting some pronghorn with my 300, 168gr barnes tripple tipped shock with reloader 22 powder. That'll scream through the poor goat 3300 fps haha.
And I forgot to add that a 270 wsm does only have roughly 18 lbs felt recoil where the 7mm is more 21ish and a 300 is 26 pounds. (I believe these are all in 8 pound rifles)Not a big difference but I had forgot to mention it in my rant about the .270 wsm. haha. I'm done now with this debate, both are great cals.
And yes I plan on shooting some pronghorn with my 300, 168gr barnes tripple tipped shock with reloader 22 powder. That'll scream through the poor goat 3300 fps haha.
And I forgot to add that a 270 wsm does only have roughly 18 lbs felt recoil where the 7mm is more 21ish and a 300 is 26 pounds. (I believe these are all in 8 pound rifles)Not a big difference but I had forgot to mention it in my rant about the .270 wsm. haha. I'm done now with this debate, both are great cals.
jarheadhunter
Member
- Jun 11, 2013
- 56
- 0
Eberle
Veteran member
I vote 7 mag! Got one, love it. I also shoot a 25-06 for antelope & have killed several deer with it. But don't feel comfortable hunting elk with it.