What rifle/caliber do you recommend?

The Winchester EW in 300 WSM is the way I'd go for everything. I found one of the stainless Classics recently and put it in the same B&C stock that comes on the EW. I ended up with the same gun, except no flutes on the barrel. I have only about $400 in the rifle. I also have one of the EW's in 308. Both are absolute tackdrivers, running 1/2 groups at 100 yards for 5 shots.

If you don't handload it will be almost as expensive as the 338 you have. But it will take any animal in North America, and with the range to take deer at 700-800 yards, if the shooter can do it. The 7mm Rem mag will have little flatter trajectory, but not enough to matter until you get beyond 600 yards. The 300 WSM will give you the option to use heavier bullets, better suited for larger game at closer ranges though. Your 338 will become expendable.

I wasn't completely sold on the WSM until after buying mine and using it. I'm a believer. The older 300 Win mag will beat it ballistically, but just by a hair. Only about 50 fps with most loads. I like 2 things about about the WSM over the belted versions. The rifles come in smaller, shorter, lighter packages and get their velocities from shorter barrels. Because the WSM cartridge burns powder more efficiently, you get 300 win mag velocities, with measurably less recoil.

I ran the numbers through one of the on-line recoil calculators and the best 180 gr loads in 8 lb rifles show the 30-06 at about 20 ft lbs of recoil, The 300 Win mag at about 26 ft. lbs and the 300 WSM at the same velocity as the 300 Win mag was 23 ft lbs. I can barely tell the difference in the 3 extra ft lbs of recoil over my 30-06. Going from 20 to 26 ft lbs is manageable to me, but I do notice it.

The other nice thing about the 300 WSM and handloading is that if you don't need the power, you can always load it down to 308 veocities and recoil levels.
 
7WSM or .284 winchester paired with 180gr Berger VLDs. I've seen people post kills of elk @ 1380yds, Bighorn sheep at 600yds, Black bear at 560yds, the list goes on. Seen the guy shoot to 2000yds. My point being those two or a 7mm Rem mag paired with a 180gr berger are a deadly force for any LR situation within 1500yds.

Abel said:
I would suggest getting to within 200 yards of your deer. Its called hunting. You can use your Sako "something" in 30-06.
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Hell he doesn't need that much gun at 200yds. I took a 250+ buck at 253yds this year with a .308 using a moderate load.

As for the hunting part, some people have a fetish for long range i'm one of them. And would honestly like the ability to claim a kill due to a well placed shot at 500yds or so.
 
If ranges beyond 300 are a definite probability, I suggest a laser range finder. It doesn't matter what cartridge is used if the range guess is off by fifty yards. In new and different terrain, it's very easy to misjudge by that much.

I say this because I've seen people guess a hanging plate at 186 yards called 250, and people say about my 500-yard plate, "That looks like a half a mile!" Others have under-estimated boulders that I've lasered by as much as a hundred yards.
 
This is a silly thread, IMHO. I don't think anyone capable of shooting well at 600 yards would need to ask the question to begin with.:(

But you should know that pretty much every sporting round starts dropping like a rock at around 300 yards (some sooner). Knowing the EXACT yardage and drop are critical.
 
Yup, you want a rangefinder. Your own range estimation, without the rangefinder, can be way off and more so if you are hunting unfamiliar ground. When I moved to central Texas I found that I was overestimating distances badly. I grew up in Louisiana, and the trees there are bigger, as are the deer. Moving here, seing smaller trees and smaller deer apparently gave me the impression of longer distances. Makes sense to me now, but it was a surprise back then.

Back when I played a lot of golf, I was great at range estimation.
 
I live in New Mexico, lots of long distance shots made out here on elk, antelope, and mule deer. The favorite of most hunters I know is the .270. Easy to find ammo anywhere you go if you need it. The more exotic rounds may be "better" in some ways, but if you don't take all the ammunition you're going to need for the trip, finding the more exotic rounds can be difficult.

Even something that one would think would be easy to find like 7mm-08, 25-06, or 7mm can be hard to find. I see the .270 ammunition everywhere in a variety of bullet weights.

The .300 calibers are difficult for follow up shots because of the recoil. If you want to go with a .300, I'd suggest putting a muzzle brake on the rifle. Doesn't do much good if you can't follow up rapidly at long distances.

There is a huge difference between 300 and 400 yards, with a lot of terrain considerations (places to hide) - and the difficulty increases expotentially as the distance does. If you can't make that follow up shot quickly, the larger round won't do you much good.

My choice - .270 with a muzzle brake and a really good variable power scope.
 
Muzzle brake on any hunting rifle= Bad idea.

None of the calibers mentioned thus far recoil enough to justify a muzzle brake. On a rifle used in competition where hundreds of rounds may be fired in a day then the efffects add up after time. When 1 or 2 shots are likely to be fired the noise, and extra weight are simply not worth it.
 
For any big game in the lower 48
go with the benchmark of all
rifles. The 30-06.
You'll never look back.
One doesn't need these magnum
guns, alot of marketing hype they are.
'06 ammo is very common and in a variety
of flavors to suit your needs.
Ron
 
If the 600+ is an actual reality, any of the guns will probably do.

Since most hunters do not shoot over 300, a 6.8SPC or 6.5G would do the job. Synthetic, stainless, and durable. Plus, you are assured that you can put a second shot downrange within a split second - no deliberate delay operating a manual action, reacquiring the trigger and target often many seconds later.

And if 600 is a definite possibility, the AR10 in .308 can do that. Same advantages. Food for thought.

Don't forget, the modern bolt action started as the 98K Mauser.
 
Im going with the tikka in 30-06 for the sensible choice. I do own a 300wsm, but more and more i dont see any reason to own anything other then an 06 at ranges of 400 or less yards.
 
It's funny you say you already have so many rifles yet you need help I'n choosing your next? Just send me the money and let me go purchase you something! Corny Thread!
 
I have hit targets with my 45/70 at 500 yards (from a bench) and this gun drops like a rock (wind is not "as" much of an issue) but it is not some thing I would do hunting. When I am hunting I limit my shots to 150 yards with my 45/70 and 100 yard with my 357.

I agree with may other people that the primary problem with long distance shooting is the shooter not the rifle.
 
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