New "All Around" Bolt Action

[JonVan]

I am looking to purchase my first rifle within the next few years and I'm interested in the 7 Prc, 7RM, 270 Win and 300 WM. I want to get used to one caliber that can ideally take down most game up to elk and moose at 500 yards though more often than not I'd be dealing with Mississippi whitetail. I have every intention of reloading likely with Hornady Bkstp Interlock.


I am curious what rifle and caliber would be a good option below $1250 with tight grouping, the ones I've been looking at most are the Ruger American Go Wild and Ruger 197_ Model 77.

 

[Hawk-in-Wi]

last summer i picked up one of these Bergara B-14 Ridge 6.5PRC
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/978604041 ( just using this auction so you can see what it looks like )

that rifle is very smooth, nice trigger and shoots really well , little bit on the heavy side IF you plan on doing much walking ,,, they use Remington 700 scope mounts or rail ,

 

[kmoore]

Really having one of anything to do most of everything is not the best of anything. You name it guns/ automobile's etc.
Reading about ballistics or what uncle Joe used to kill a deer is a start but can be overwhelming.

So, your first rifle. You will be far ahead to get a small caliber rifle and learn shooting skills by someone that will help you do it right. You mention rifles in bolt action, so pick out a small caliber bolt action, maybe even buy used. If you can shoot a few hundred rounds from a bench with help from an instructor. You might become really good. You will be understanding recoil and learning ballistics firsthand. Then sell that rifle and buy bigger.
Recoil and muzzle blast is something each person has different limits. It does not matter your size or age how it affects you. But, if your 1st rifle is a mag type caliber, your chance of liking to shoot and developing proper shooting skills probably won't ever happen.
If you want to know what smaller calibers, rifles, types of actions, scopes and ammo just ask.
Good Luck, I just hate to see another 1st rifle owner hate the gun he so badly wanted after he/she squeezed the trigger and got a bruised shoulder.

 

[JonVan]

I have shot rifles before. I shot marksman with a m4 Carbine. I am also used to at least some recoil from shooting a 12 guage and although I know it's very different. I also have shot 44 mag with a hot load.

 

[hittman]

My favorite bolt gun is the Weatherby MK-V. Not sure they’re in your price point though, either new or used.

 

[NikA]

Among the options you suggested, I would go .270, given it's the only one with reasonable cartridge availability and cost. I'm not certain about hunting elk @500 with it, but I see that as more a possible range limitation.

If you weren't concentrated on a "do-all" rifle, I'd suggest something like a .308 or .30-06 with excellent ammunition and component availability and suggest you borrow/rent a gun for your hypothetical elk hunt.

 

[BBarn]

Elk @ 500 drives the choice toward the 300WM. Otherwise any of the others would be much more pleasant to shoot. I'd probably choose something from 30-06 down to 6.5mm, with a possibility of acquiring another rifle if long range elk hunting becomes a reality.

 

[rexp47]

do not over look the Ruger american predator have 308, 22-250, 6.5 creed all shoot as good as any $1500. rifle i ever shot

 

[KS25-06]

I would buy two rifles. A smaller caliber for game up to deer size, and a 300 or 338 magnum for elk and moose. My favorites for years were 25-06 and 338 Win Mag. The 338 seemed to kick less than the 300. Used the 25-06 for everything from prairie dogs to deer. Too old to hunt elk anymore, used to love it though.

 

[Hankus]

I have been hunting all across the country for everything from Florida Whitetail to Colorado Elk using the same Remington Model 788 in .308. It’s now 40+ years old and will still drive tacks at 300 yards. .308 will take pretty much any North American game. I only use it for hunting, but take it to the range every year before deer season and fire three rounds to verify zero, then fire 3-4 rounds a season while hunting.

 

[dobegrant.45]

.308, .270,.30-06 any of them will work and you can find ammo for any of them anywhere, the Ruger American will work well, you need decent optics in the 3-9x40 range.

 

[recumbent]

A 30-06 loaded properly can take any game in North America.

 

[JonVan]

A 30-06 loaded properly can take any game in North America.

After hearing a couple of people mention the 30-06 in torn between the 270 win or the 30-06 in an older Ruger or Winchester, possibly a new Bergara. I'm curious what the effective range is of the 30-06 after reading the 270 win has a slight edge on range and the 30-06 does in energy (although with modern bullets I hear the difference in takedown energy is less). Otherwise they are both very similar because they use the same parent cartridge 30-03.

 

[Cal30 1906]

After hearing a couple of people mention the 30-06 in torn between the 270 win or the 30-06 in an older Ruger or Winchester, possibly a new Bergara. I'm curious what the effective range is of the 30-06 after reading the 270 win has a slight edge on range and the 30-06 does in energy (although with modern bullets I hear the difference in takedown energy is less). Otherwise they are both very similar because they use the same parent cartridge 30-03.

You can't go wrong with either, I have numerous rifles chambered in each cartridge. I have killed alot of game over the years with the. 270 and it's hard to beat for an all around rifle but I have a cartridge for every niche it seems.
I guess I just like playing with a variety.

 

[Mobuck]

You've set some extremely lofty goals for yourself. I'd suggest you start with something easier to handle like the 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm08, or .308. Any of those will handle big game at reasonable ranges. Frankly, I don't feel you should even consider 500 yard shots at game until you have much more experience.

 

[JonVan]

I think some people are misunderstanding. I want a gun able to do that because I don't have interest at least now getting used to more than one cartridge. I'm really considering the 270, 30-06 and 7 Rem mag and if for some reason I can't take the recoil I'll research a good muzzle break. I want to stick with two main calibers for now since buying ammo in bulk is expensive and I intend to reload the cartridges. If my first rifle I own wasn't an elk gun I'd just as soon by a Henry in 357 mag. Then I'm only buying one type of ammo for both my rifle and my primary handgun.

 

[Cal30 1906]

All 3 are great calibers, I have packed and harvested with all 3 and in my opinion and mine only... I have always thought the 7mm Remington was an overrated cartridge and I reload for everything I have ever owned and was never able to get the velocities that was claimed for the Remington and with 130-150 grain bullets I was within 100 fps to it with my .270 and burned less powder at that. The .30-06 is a better heavy hitter in my opinion with 180 grain and heavier bullets. Like I said I have a cartridge for every niche from the. 223 to the .458 Winchester and I generally load that down to warm 45-70 velocity due to my getting older and the substantial recoil it develops. In my mid range category I have a. 338 Winchester and a 9.3x62 that is the American version of the 35 Whelan but better in my experience. I have owned many others but the 270 and 06' always did what I needed done.
Good luck with what you choose and if you decide to keep your shots under 300 yards which is vise actually, I would probably just go with the 9.3x62 or the .338-06 and call it done.
As a reloader the components are readily available.

 

[sharpblade7777]

How bout this one.

 

[Coyote56]

Pretty much all the rifle(s) anyone might need in the real hunting world for medium to large game.
Henry .30-30
Browning A-Bolt .30-06

 

[the_leper_colony]

Everyone has different needs (real & perceived) and different opinions, and the following is just another example of that! Years ago, I bought a .30-06 (at a good price from a friend), and it's done everything I ever asked it to. BUT if I had to do it over, I would probably shop around a little more and get a good .270 instead. I think it's kind of interesting that the new US military cartridge (6.8x51mm Common Cartridge, a.k.a. .277 SIG Fury) is basically a 'souped up' .270 Winchester running at much higher pressures in a shorter case.

What the heck, I might buy myself a .270 just for grins! I've got a little brass & some dies on the shelf, and I shoot 6.8SPC already.

As always, FWIW, IMHO, YMMV, etc., etc.

 

[hittman]

The great things this thread brings to light is the large number of options available in both gun brands and calibers.

The calibers I already have are pretty obscure by todays standards. Not a lot of guns and not much factory ammo available now for things like 222 Remington Magnum, 257 Weatherby Magnum and 340 Weatherby Magnum.

 

[Coyote56]

Had a .270 Remington ADL once. Nice rifle. Sorry I sold it. I’d love to have Browning BLR in that caliber. Maybe some day…..

 

[BBarn]

For elk or moose @500, none of your preferences are especially good. If you must have one such rifle, get a 338 Win Mag and develop some reduced H4895 loads for deer and such.

Then if you want to attempt those bigger animals quartering away @500 with stout loads, you'll have enough gun. If you don't mind passing up shots due to poor angles, you can use one of your suggested calibers.

Also get good at using a rangefinder. Big game at 500yds will be missed if your range estimation is off 40 yds or so due to bullet trajectory.

 

[jgt]

I have used a thirty caliber for fifty years. My first was a 30-06 and I chose it because I could load light bullets and match the ballistics of smaller calibers for varmints, a medium weight bullet for deer, antelope, and such, and heavy bullets for elk, moose, and the like. The idea worked for me and I had success with that. After a while, I just used a medium weight bullet for everything but the larger animals. I still used heavy bullet loads for them.
I later added a custom 300 WM with a muzzle break for long range work. The 30 caliber has so many bullet choices and loading data that I was able to get along with the 06 for one all around rifle and have less dies and components to stock for reloading good useful cartridges.
I also used a twelve gage for all my shotgun needs. For most of that time I used a 44 for a handgun round. I have since added a 45 acp because of the civil unrest. Also I fell in love with the 444 marlin rifle and justified it because like the thirty caliber rifles, It used the same bullet (although a variation) as the marlin 44 magnum and my 44 handguns. My molds are used for the same guns, only the sizing dies are different diameters.
I also swage thirty caliber and 44 caliber bullets to fit my needs for jacketed bullets.
To be completely honest, I probably still have as much reloading stuff as other people, but because I stuck with one caliber, I believe I was able to have more top quality tools and stuff to address making top quality ammunition than had I chosen many different calibers. Primers were much more simple to stock also. It is not for everybody, but I get your intention and for me it worked out just as I had hoped.

 

[MHtractorguy]

I have 30-30 lever action rifles and one 30-06 Remington 700 bolt action. 30-30 will take anything within 100-150 yards. '06 will do nice work out around 300 on a good day. both are 30 caliber and I can use some of the came components for loading both.

 

[Cal30 1906]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned a 6.5 creedmoor yet as the ultimate cartridge.
If they do don't drink the koolaid. Lol

 

[oldwolf]

I have 30-30 lever action rifles and one 30-06 Remington 700 bolt action. 30-30 will take anything within 100-150 yards. '06 will do nice work out around 300 on a good day. both are 30 caliber and I can use some of the came components for loading both.

I am pretty much the same as MH above, having a M700 30.06 and a 30-30 lever gun. Although last month I added a Ruger Hawkeye Predator 308 for a reasonable price.

 

[BearBiologist]

I've taken 1 elk and 1 deer @ 400+ yards. Passed up a LOT more! Few marksmen can hit at 300 yards, much less 500. In both cases, the animal was in the open and I knew that I could get 1 or more follow up shots. I also had someone backing me up if it didn't go down (Both only took one shot to anchor and one more to "kill")

That being said, get a good 30-06 (Howa, Weatherby Vanguard, etc. with basic Mauser controlled feed), with a QUALITY 3x9 scope (I prefer Leupold) AND LEARN TO SHOOT IT!

BTW: I shoot a 300 Win Mag almost exclusively. I am recoil tolerant and, after 20+ years of shooting everything from ground squirrels to trophy bull elk, I know where it hits. I also guided through grad school on wild pigs and deer and having to go into thick brush after a large, wounded hog because somebody said he could shoot is not fun!

 

[Cal30 1906]

The great things this thread brings to light is the large number of options available in both gun brands and calibers.

The calibers I already have are pretty obscure by todays standards. Not a lot of guns and not much factory ammo available now for things like 222 Remington Magnum, 257 Weatherby Magnum and 340 Weatherby Magnum.

I have alot of trigger time behind the. 340 myself, it is a wicked cartridge and definitely not for the timid. Even seasoned shooters get bit in the forehead with it.

 

[noahmercy]

As a handloader, I'd have to give the nod to the 300 Win Mag cartridge. I've downloaded it to near 30 Carbine levels with Puf-Lon or Super Grex for filler and 110 grain HPs for varmints, and up to almost 300 Weatherby duplicates and all points in-between with excellent accuracy. 200+ grain low drag bullets make it a capable performer on targets at 1000 yards or farther, and it works great on big game at 500 without requiring exotic bullets if you go with 180 grain bullets.

I'm not saying any of the other choices wouldn't be as versatile, but I know from experience that Win Mag will deliver the goods.