I'm looking at getting a bolt action rifle. That must be bigger than a .308. I just decided I dont want a .308, because every one of my friends has one, and I want something more powerful. I'm looking at spending up to and including 1500. I want your opinion on a nice big caliber, thats good long range. I'm reloading, so ammo price has already been considered. What would you recommend and why? Thanks!
Opinions on next rifle!
- Thread starter bjones870
- Start date
Depends on how you define power and what you will be using the gun for?
I would go down not up in bullet size, a 243 or 6.5 or 6.8 would be faster. My favorite is the .277 270 but you could look at the 30-06 but not sure why, a 300 Win Mag or 7mm Rem Mag will give you more power, but like I said not sure why you want more power, farther range?, hunting Elk or Bear? or what.
Good Luck
Jim
38superhero
New member
7mm Remington Magnum....ftw
My father recently bought a Marlin that had some custom work on it to chamber it for a 50 alaskan.
I think if you can find a used one you should be able to get it for 1500.
or you could buy a used marlin in 45/70 for about $600.00 and then have http://www.wildwestguns.com/customshop.html upgrade it for $450.00 to a 50 Alaskan
50 Alaskan Ammo - 450 gr. L.F.N.G.C.(2,100fps/M.E.4,406ft.lbs.)
Buffalo Bore
I think if you can find a used one you should be able to get it for 1500.
or you could buy a used marlin in 45/70 for about $600.00 and then have http://www.wildwestguns.com/customshop.html upgrade it for $450.00 to a 50 Alaskan
50 Alaskan Ammo - 450 gr. L.F.N.G.C.(2,100fps/M.E.4,406ft.lbs.)
Buffalo Bore
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warbirdlover
New member
.300 Win Mag. Best there is.
Edward429451
Moderator
I'd get a 45/70. It's easy to reload for and you can easily load them to have more power than your buds. It would make more sense than some new super ultra goober magnum too...
BusGunner007
New member
7mm Remington Magnum.
It'll put a grin on your face.
.300 Win.Mag. is a great choice, but it's got that .30 cal. THUD of the .30-06 on steroids.
That quickly becomes annoying.
7mm Rem.Mag. has almost the same measured recoil as the .30-06, except it's less annoying than the .300 Win.Mag.'s much more harsh recoil.
The 7mm Rem.Mag. has a pleasantly powerful recoil impulse without being obnoxious.
It has reach, power, accuracy and it's fun to shoot.
Try it. You'll like it!
It'll put a grin on your face.
.300 Win.Mag. is a great choice, but it's got that .30 cal. THUD of the .30-06 on steroids.
That quickly becomes annoying.
7mm Rem.Mag. has almost the same measured recoil as the .30-06, except it's less annoying than the .300 Win.Mag.'s much more harsh recoil.
The 7mm Rem.Mag. has a pleasantly powerful recoil impulse without being obnoxious.
It has reach, power, accuracy and it's fun to shoot.
Try it. You'll like it!
todays world..
what you need is a short case like either 300 s.a. ulta mag or a 300 short magnum.. 30 cal has the best selection [if you reload] you can have..
instead of getting beat up at the bench shooting with an 7mmag or an -06 or 300 Win.Mag
being different is costly... the .308 is a great round an economical to boot compared to all the others mention barrel life in the 308 will also out last plus accuracy because you can control it better too
just my 2cts.
edit:.... forgot the 300 WSM
go wild an build a .338-06
what you need is a short case like either 300 s.a. ulta mag or a 300 short magnum.. 30 cal has the best selection [if you reload] you can have..
instead of getting beat up at the bench shooting with an 7mmag or an -06 or 300 Win.Mag
being different is costly... the .308 is a great round an economical to boot compared to all the others mention barrel life in the 308 will also out last plus accuracy because you can control it better too
just my 2cts.
edit:.... forgot the 300 WSM
go wild an build a .338-06
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zombieslayer
New member
I second the vote for 7mm mag.
ndking1126
New member
Certainly some good advise already given.
I'll tell you, a caliber that recently caught my eye is the .270 WSM. A little off the beaten path, but reportedly a little less recoil than the .30-06 and a little more power.
The only draw back I see is cost of ammo, but you reload so it won't be so bad.
I'll tell you, a caliber that recently caught my eye is the .270 WSM. A little off the beaten path, but reportedly a little less recoil than the .30-06 and a little more power.
The only draw back I see is cost of ammo, but you reload so it won't be so bad.
The real question is what do you plan on using it for. For hunting most anything in North America, I'd suggest 30-06. If you need a little longer range, then 300 Win Mag. To me, 30-06 is a good all around hunting cartridge for most anything I'll be hunting, except varmint. If I'm going to be hunting varmint, then I'll borrow a friend's .22 magnum.
Some times, I think folks get too caught up in the nuances between the various rifle cartridges. Sure, its fun, but when it comes down to it there isn't a whole lot of difference between 30-06, 308, and 300 Win Mag, in terms of what you can hunt with it. Of course, I'm thinking deer and pig. The only bear that I might run into are shy black bears in the smokey mountains or Florida and there's not usually any reason to shoot those. No Elk around these parts.
Some times, I think folks get too caught up in the nuances between the various rifle cartridges. Sure, its fun, but when it comes down to it there isn't a whole lot of difference between 30-06, 308, and 300 Win Mag, in terms of what you can hunt with it. Of course, I'm thinking deer and pig. The only bear that I might run into are shy black bears in the smokey mountains or Florida and there's not usually any reason to shoot those. No Elk around these parts.
kaylorinhi
New member
If you want it as a show piece, a manhood measure, get a 45/70, 375 H&H, or some other African Big 5 Type. If you want better get a 260 Rem. Same action, same stock, same optics, Better bullet, better speed, better wind drift characteristics. As mentioned earlier the the 6/6.5/7mm, .257/.270/.280 all great cliber put if it is just raw POWER start with either the 45/70 or 300 Win Mag and work up from there.
PS, my Rem M700SPS will be rebarrelled in .260 as soon as I can save the money! Which takes a few mins when feeding a daughter wife two dogs one cat a 5.56, .308, 12 gauge... you know how it is
PS, my Rem M700SPS will be rebarrelled in .260 as soon as I can save the money! Which takes a few mins when feeding a daughter wife two dogs one cat a 5.56, .308, 12 gauge... you know how it is
CPTMurdoc30
New member
I have been looking hard at building me an F-class rifle around either a 7mm wsm 300wsm or a 7-300wsm.
While not that popular the cartridge design is great. It is efficient design. You get a rifle in a short action with large action performance.
Short actions are a touch more accurate do to the fact that they are stiffer.
While not that popular the cartridge design is great. It is efficient design. You get a rifle in a short action with large action performance.
Short actions are a touch more accurate do to the fact that they are stiffer.
I agree with ndking. I like the 270WSM because its fast and flat. Last year I killed a doe at 460 yds with one shot. For the money you want to spend you could get a Remington XCR and put a VX-III Leupold on it and have a killing machine with money to spare.. The 300 Win Mag and 7mm Rem Mag are excellent rounds also but I just like the speed and trajectory of the screaming .277!!! Hope this helps
My next bolt wil be a 338 Lapua mag... more power, long reach, standard loads available.
Will need a good muzzle brake and straight line stock for recoil management.
Can handle anything on this continent and probly win most bragging contests.
Other than that, my favorite caliber has proven to be and still is the 308/7.62x51.
Easy to shoot, load and plenty of nice accurate rifles. Probly why your buds shoot it.
My favorite actions... M1A, FNAR and SSG69 bolt.
Will need a good muzzle brake and straight line stock for recoil management.
Can handle anything on this continent and probly win most bragging contests.
Other than that, my favorite caliber has proven to be and still is the 308/7.62x51.
Easy to shoot, load and plenty of nice accurate rifles. Probly why your buds shoot it.
My favorite actions... M1A, FNAR and SSG69 bolt.
"Nothing you can't fix with $600 and a 30-06."
The .270 Win, with hot handloads does it for me out to 450 yards, but I still recommend the .30-06 to most people. It's got enough beyond a .308 Win to be noticeable and you have the widest variety of lower cost ammo than any of the short or long magnums. It kills everything except the shooter.
JP
The .270 Win, with hot handloads does it for me out to 450 yards, but I still recommend the .30-06 to most people. It's got enough beyond a .308 Win to be noticeable and you have the widest variety of lower cost ammo than any of the short or long magnums. It kills everything except the shooter.
JP