Cartridge & rifle choice - game specific !

[280ackimp]

Perhaps a new version of the time tested question !

What do you shoot for the following, gun, cartridge and load ?

Antelope (pronghorn) - I shoot a ULA mod 20 in 257 Ack with 115 gr AB

White Tailed deer (east) - Wild west Guns Guide gun converted to takedown in 45-70, 350 gr Hornady FP
ULA mod 20 in 284 Win 140gr AB

Mule deer - ULA mod 24 in 280 AI (non Sammi) 150 Scirocco or 160 Part

Elk - Jarrett in 300 weatherby 180 gr Scirocco

 

[Daubs]

~20 years ago, with limited funds and limited vacation time, I opted for a gun that could safely "do it all."

That gun was the tried and true 30-06, in Browning A-Bolt (lefty). It has served me well.

I did manage to win two fantasy football leagues in the early 2000's, and used that $$ to purchase a rare find for a lefty...a Winchester Model 70, 7MM Rem Mag, stainless with red-ish wood stock. Beautiful gun.

Those two are what sit in my gun safe. I figure with different bullets / loads, I can kill pretty much anything that walks North America.

Nope, not sexy...but practical...and economical. (although my Brother's plan of getting a Springfield Armory M1A1 in 6.5 Creedmoor has me interested...)

 

[JimP]

My first go to rifle was a old 06 that a uncle had given me. It was used on everything from rabbits up to elk, mostly deer but it worked on all of them. When I retired it I went to a Ruger 77 in 7mmRem mag. That one was used on everything from rabbits up to elk and served me very well.

Now that I have had time to accumulate a few other rifles I'll take along what suites me for the occasion. For deer and antelope it will likely be a .25-06, for elk and anything larger it will be my .340 Weatherby. I'll relegate the old 7mm Rem mag to the safe.

 

[go_deep]

Antelope-Browning A bolt Medallion, chambered in .270 Rem. with 130 grain round.
Deer-Browning A bolt Medallion, chambered in .270 Rem. with 130 grain round.
Bear-Browning A bolt Medallion, chambered in .270 Rem. with 130 grain round.
Elk-Browning A bolt Medallion, chambered in .270 Rem. with 130 grain round.
Any other big game I could actually afford to hunt-Browning A bolt Medallion, chambered in .270 Rem. with 130 grain round.
I do how ever have a back up rifle, just in case something happens to my primary rifle. A Browning A bolt Medallion, chambered in .270 Rem. with 130 grain round.

 

[6mm Remington]

30-06 in a Ruger 1B for antelope to elk or more using 165 gr. Nosler Accubonds or Partitions.

280 AI in a Winchester Model 70 Classic Sporter using 140 gr. Accubonds or Partitions for antelope to elk or more.

6mm Remington in a Ruger 1B for antelope up to elk on occasion using 100 gr. Nosler Partitions.

 

[swampokie]

Antelope 220 Swift 60 gr hornady ruger m77
Marlin 336
Whitetail 35 rem 200 grain corelokt or ruger m77 270 130 gr corelokt
Bear ruger m77 270 130 corelokt
Mule deer Remington 700 cal 300 rum 180 scirrocos
Elk 300 rum 180 gr scirrocos.
Mix n match in different conditions and terrain.

 

[sneakypete]

Winchester model 70 7mm 175 gr corelokt,
Moose, elk, mule deer. I'm a believer of " if it ain't broke, why change it"

06, I shoot 168 nosler trophy grade

 

[nv-hunter]

elk deer antelope .308 ruger m77 or .300 win mag rem bdl
Depends on who im hunting with and cover / terrain
Have everything from .223 to .300 ultra and I do love an ar for yotes but I was told once watch out for the guy who only hunts with one gun he probley know how to shoot it.

 

[Catahoula12]

Deer and Elk....
270 Winchester/140g Accubonds
30-06 / 165g Accubonds

 

[Gr8bawana]

A 35+ year old Rem. model 700 in 7mm mag. Using 150 grain Core-Lokt ammo for deer and antelope and 175 for elk.
I've never needed more gun or thought it was too much and it has never let me down.

 

[hunter25]

I generally use 1 rifle for everything. Remington 7 mag 27" barrel with Barnes 160 tsx.

Otherwise if sitting in a blind or hunting close timber a Ruger 22" barrel 35 Whelen.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[Fink]

Antelope-Browning A bolt Medallion, chambered in .270 Rem. with 130 grain round.
Deer-Browning A bolt Medallion, chambered in .270 Rem. with 130 grain round.
Bear-Browning A bolt Medallion, chambered in .270 Rem. with 130 grain round.
Elk-Browning A bolt Medallion, chambered in .270 Rem. with 130 grain round.
Any other big game I could actually afford to hunt-Browning A bolt Medallion, chambered in .270 Rem. with 130 grain round.
I do how ever have a back up rifle, just in case something happens to my primary rifle. A Browning A bolt Medallion, chambered in .270 Rem. with 130 grain round.

What he said. Except mine's a Tikka

 

[Winchester]

I use 1 rifle for everything.
Winchester pre-64 Model 70 30-06, normally with 165gr Nosler Ballistic Tips which it shoots really well.

 

[Hilltop]

I own several calibers but love my ruger 30-06 with 165 grain Hornady interbonds when I'm not bowhunting.

 

[mallardsx2]

All species - 300 WSM 150 grain bullets

Exception:
Hunting in Georgia I use my game-master 760 in 30-06 with whatever random bullets I can find lying around. (I know that sounds bad but the shots are under 75 yards) I need the fast followup shots to blast the piggies when they start running. If I can hold a 3" group at 100 yards with that gun thats good enough for down here...It will hold a really tight group with the right ammo I just have so many random 30-06 ammo lying around that I use whatever I grab first.

 

[Bonecollector]

Unless bowhunting, I use my Browning LRH 7mm mag for western game hunting.

 

[mcseal2]

Most anything smaller than elk I use one of my two 264 win mag rifles built off Winchester M70 actions. One is a heavy rifle for when walks are shorter and shots are longer. It is very easy to shoot well from a bipod. The other is a medium weight rifle that is just a good all around hunting rifle. I don't look for long shots but often hunt in windy areas and the sleek 6.5mm bullets at good velocity work for me. The heavier gun I currently shoot a 143gr ELD-X at 3250fps and the lighter one I shoot a 140gr Berger VLD at 2915fps.


When I decided I wanted to hunt Alaska I decided I wanted a rifle more powerful than my 264. Actually I always wanted to hunt Alaska but when I decided I was GOING to hunt Alaska I decided to get a new rifle. Since I already had the 264 I went past the 7mm's to the 300 win mag. I really have no plans to hunt big bears and I thought it would be a solid choice for mountain muleys, elk, a moose, and hopefully a caribou. It is a LW 70 built by Rifles Inc with a few modifications. I have shot 180gr Accubonds from it in the past but it is shooting the 180gr E Tip bullets just as well and to the same point of aim so I might make a switch for the moose hunt.


Antlerless season deer hunts I mainly use my 25-06 with a tough 100gr bullet. The Barnes TTSX or Swift Scirocco II have performed well.


I really don't plan to add anything I'll use a lot unless it's a 6.5mm in a light rifle for mountain muleys. The 300 win mag works well though so I don't know if that will ever happen. The newish 6.5PRC looks interesting to me but I want to see if it is going to last first. I recently heard a lot of the PRC shooters are moving back to the 6mm so it might not.

 

[Joseph]

During the early part of the season while elk are still open (until October 20) I carry a Tikka T3 Featherlite s/s in 270win or my daughters' 7mm-08rem, once elk season is over I alternate among my 25-06rem, the 7mm-08rem or the 270win.

 

[muleyfool]

Been with the accumark chambered in 300 wby for 20 yrs now, 210 grain pills are what she loves. I'm really trying to like the 300RUM but it's not there yet..

 

[muleyfool]

Been with the accumark chambered in 300 wby for 20 yrs now, 210 grain pills are what she loves. I'm really trying to like the 300RUM but it's not there yet..

I too only hunt with one rifle for all big game, although I have a few more that I do tinker with...