Hunting rifle suggestions needed.

[blueline541]

After a very long hiatus I have decided to get back into hunting deer and seriously pursue my dream of bagging an elk out west. So I'm now searching for a gun to fit my needs.


I have decided to go with a 7mm magnum in a stainless/synthetic set up. I'm already leaning toward a specific gun, but I'm curious as to what y'all would recommend.

[Dark Horse]

One you Like!:biggrinjester:

In all seriousness I'm partial to Savage. I bought my 1st one cause of the price. I still have that 1st package rifle and it still shoots better than I can.

[BoltNut]

I have a couple buddies who hunt'em every year, and one has a 30-06, the other a 7mm mag like you're mentioning. According to Creo, I'm an idiot for wanting a .308, since apparently 30-06 has more reloading options available than Carter has little liver pills.

[creophus]

I have a couple buddies who hunt'em every year, and one has a 30-06, the other a 7mm mag like you're mentioning. According to Creo, I'm an idiot for wanting a .308, since apparently 30-06 has more reloading options available than Carter has little liver pills.
What?! I never said you're an "idiot"! I might have suggested something along the lines of "wuss" for not dealing with the recoil of 30-06. :rm_frog:

The 308 literally does the exact same thing as the 30-06 up to about 180gr bullets. And 308 and 30-06 use the very same bullets, so the reloading options are certainly there.

If you want elk, the the 30-06 does give you a bit more oomph for the larger bullets that you will probably want to use. It's fine for deer too.

The 7mm Mag and the 30-06 are about neck and neck on most things from what I read/hear. I'd go with the 30 because of bullet availability (that I'm familiar with).

It's no secret I like Savage along with many others on this board. Bud's has one for a great price $391.00!!!! for the Blued
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/73/products_id/78608

$612 for the SS and Synthetic
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/73/products_id/78530

Of course you DO have a couple 45-70s that will knock an elk on his hind end, so why not just skip this rifle, grab a scope and go hunting?

[ASH]

So far what I can tell the Tikka T3 I bought seems to be a very nice hunting rifle. I have not shot any animals with it yet, but the trigger and action are sweet on it and it shoots like a dream. It did not break the bank either under 600 dollars.

[CZ93X62]

30-06.

180 grain Nosler Partition @ 2700 FPS, maybe a bit more.

7mm Rem Mag is a LOUSY cast bullet caliber, and few mould designs are available. 30-06 is a GREAT cast bullet caliber. 30 caliber magnums aren't much better than the 7s with castings. I'm thinking cheep off-season practice here, or even local whitetails with softpointed castings (Lyman #311284) at 1700-1800 FPS. Bang/flop.

LOTS of good 30-06 bolt rifles out there. CZ, Tikka, Remington (CDL, drool.....), Savage, Ruger.

Elk aren't armor-plated, just big. Similar species in Scandinavia fall right over to the 6.5 x 55 and 140 grain bullets all season long.

[BigSlick]

30-06

You'll thank us.

As creophus says, reloading options compared to the 7mm, it's a no brainer. As Dep says, lotta low dollar options for practice, plus it a certainly get the job done. Plus, you a get a LOT more use out of a 30-06 cause of the simple bullet versatility alone, and, it a be easier ta sell if ya decide to dump it.

Aside from that, 30-06 brass all over the place, whole lot cheaper than 7mm anything, same with some bullets.

PLUS, if ya ain't got a 30-06 in da stable, sooner or later you gonna have one anyway, so why not now ?

30-06 is cool, 7mm is compensating for somethin :whistling1:

Jes sayin...

[swingpress]

Of my factory rifles, I'm happiest with my Savage - But I'm done buying factory rifles.

My Weatherby 7-mag bolt almost hits me in the face when cycling offhand and hits when cycling prone. I feel like I should have chosen something on a shorter action.

[TwoShot]

I have killed elk in Montana with both 06 & 7mm. I prefer the 06 but the 7mm killed him just as dead as the 06. Both were Winchesters,I sold the 06 and gave the 7mm to the kid.:blackdog::insane:

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Remington 700 in -06, dunzo. I have a SPS Stainless and wouldn't doubt for a second that it wouldn't knock an elk on its butt.

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

Id say 30-06 or 6.5X284. those would be my first choice's Right now I have a 30-06 and love it, it dropped my big mulee with it two years ago. If I had to choose now it would be a close call between 30-06 or 6.5X284. the 6.5X284 is pretty impressive for sure. Im seriously considering it for my next build. but right now I need to burn the barrel out of my 6X284. 7mm mag is good but man it uses some powder. another idea would be a 284 Win, those are mighty impressive as well.

[Jayhawker]

I would also agree with the '06. I have heard good things about the Savage rifle line, but haven't traded off my Remington 700 as of yet.

[Brass Nazi]

There is nothing wrong with the seven except for the stupid belt. Although like others have said the 30-06 is more versatile. I have tried to load reduced loads for the 7 but accuracy goes to crap.

For off the shelf rifles if money is not a large factor look at a few Sakkos. If money is a factor you cannot beat a savage.

[gjk5]

I love my Win 70 7MM mag, it is accurate and flat, have had it forever. That said I think my next rifle is going to be a .30 of some sort and more than likely a .30-06. I have seen no need for a .30 magnum caliber and haven't seen much that a .30-06 will not put down.

Plus they are dirt cheap since everyone up here thinks that they need to trade in thier beautiful old '06 for a .300 win mag or some such nonsense. And components are cheapr and brass is more plentiful as said.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Like the .300 Ultra Mags, that Remington then came out with lower level ammo equivalent to the -06. :dunno:

I have a -06 that will do anything from coyotes to elk and black bear with no problem, now I need a small caliber .20 or .17 for those rabid squirrels.

[CZ93X62]

I have a -06 that will do anything from coyotes to elk and black bear with no problem, now I need a small caliber .20 or .17 for those rabid squirrels.

Dunno about a 17 or 20 in those Washoe Zephyrs, Monte. The 22-250 gets blown all over the place, even with the 60 grain Sierras. I go 243 for most of my NV rat-strafing these days. 75 grain V-max at 3300-3400 FPS doesn't go galley-west like the 22s do. Not as much, anyway.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

If the winds are up I do have some 110gr V-Maxs loaded up for the -06. Hit a jack with one of those one day and it got turned inside out.