Gonna give my 30-06 700 ADL to my son to use for hunting and gonna get a new gun for myself. Was thinking on getting something different. it will mostly be for whitetail, but would like to be able to go out west in the mountains for a hunting trip, and would like a decent gun for it. only have about $500 to use. I would get another bolt action and probably the black synthetic. considering the 7mm, 300 Mag, or maybe 270. which would be better ? which manufacture?
Looking for something new
- Thread starter JJT10
- Start date
.300 is overkill for whitetails and hard on the shoulder to shoot. Ammo is expensive too.
.270 is a little cheaper to shoot, much nicer on the shoulder, and much easier for most people to shoot well. A .270 can be loaded with a premium bullet like a barnes TSX for elk or a much lighter load for anything as small as prairie dogs or yotes.
I would go .270, the only reason i have a .300 is because it was only $175.
.270 is a little cheaper to shoot, much nicer on the shoulder, and much easier for most people to shoot well. A .270 can be loaded with a premium bullet like a barnes TSX for elk or a much lighter load for anything as small as prairie dogs or yotes.
I would go .270, the only reason i have a .300 is because it was only $175.
I would even go smaller.
243 Win is plenty enough medicine for deer and anything smaller. Very easy on the shoulder compared to 30-06, much less 300 Win Mag.
Makes a great varmint or target gun with lighter bullets, and a great deer gun with heavier.
Remember to budget for the scope, which is at LEAST as important as the rifle. (unless you're keeping the scope from your ADL?)
I'd probably try to find a Browning.
Another thought; how about a nice 30-30? Traditional, easy-handling. Spitzer bullets out for them now for a bit of extra range. It would challenge you to get better at stalking instead of going for 300+ yard shots.
243 Win is plenty enough medicine for deer and anything smaller. Very easy on the shoulder compared to 30-06, much less 300 Win Mag.
Makes a great varmint or target gun with lighter bullets, and a great deer gun with heavier.
Remember to budget for the scope, which is at LEAST as important as the rifle. (unless you're keeping the scope from your ADL?)
I'd probably try to find a Browning.
Another thought; how about a nice 30-30? Traditional, easy-handling. Spitzer bullets out for them now for a bit of extra range. It would challenge you to get better at stalking instead of going for 300+ yard shots.
Keep your .30-06 it is all you will ever need to hunt out here in the West. The only rifle you could actually improve on over what you already own is the .300 Win Mag for Western big game. The 7mm Rem Mag isn't going to offer you any real gains in power or trajectory, nor will the .270 Win even though I hate to admit it. The .270 is my favorite cartridge to hunt with, and would be a good rifle to have in any case either for you or your son.
How old is your son and is he capable of handling the .30-06?
How old is your son and is he capable of handling the .30-06?
He's 14 and does well with the 06 just thought of getting a new one for myself and was leaning towards the 7 mm mag for the versatility and long range capability if ever needed. I'll reload my own ammo once I build up a supply of brass. Hoping to go to the gun show this weekend to look at a few. I can probably work with $ 650 max but the closest I can stay near $500 the better.
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Longdayjake
New member
I own a lot of rifles. Included in my collection is .30-06, 6.8 spc, 6.5 grendel, .25-06, a couple .223's, .308's etc. There is one that I want to buy that I just can't seem to find around here. In my opinion it will do anything that I want it to do with very low recoil. That is the .260. I have taken elk with my 6.5 grendel and a 100 grain bullet. I would love to have a rifle that can throw a 140 grain bullet even faster. That will get you the range of the 7mm with a fraction of the recoil. White tail are extremely easy to kill and I think 7mm mag is way overkill on them. If you like getting smacked by your gun then the 7mm mag will do the trick just fine though.
The .260 is a little less common and it sounds to me like you aren't a reloader so depending on the stores you have available to you the 7mm mag could be more available in factory loadings.
Also, if you do reload, 7mm mag brass does not last more than 3-4 firings.
The .260 is a little less common and it sounds to me like you aren't a reloader so depending on the stores you have available to you the 7mm mag could be more available in factory loadings.
Also, if you do reload, 7mm mag brass does not last more than 3-4 firings.
Funny,,, That very thing happened to me three season's ago!!! I got tired of getting beat up at the range behind that old 700. The wife let me spend some of her bread on a Weatherby Vanguard, (7mm Rem Mag) and it's sweet I have already taken a doe with it. The 7mm would be a great "out west" caliber. Mine shot under an inch when it came out of the box, but with some synthetic stock massaging, I persuaded it to just under a half inch...At 100 yds of course. Also I just installed a Timney, and set that sucker right at 2lbs! It's beautiful man, no creep and very crisp. Cant wait to get to the range. ( before anybody starts scratching their heads about the 3006 banging me up more than the 7mm, its all in the recoil pad man.
Hey man good luck in whatever you choose but take a good look at the Weatherby, And the Howa's!!
Hey man good luck in whatever you choose but take a good look at the Weatherby, And the Howa's!!