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9.3 x 62

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Originally Posted by Jamesd1187
... a ... Marlin in ... .45-70 is an avenue I should look at.


There you go!

Getting my first Marlin (.375 Winchester) merely whetted my appetite for a .444 or .45-70. After a couple years of looking I found a 2 year old Marlin 1895 in .45-70 at a price I couldn't pass up. Over the next couple of years I worked up 17 different loads for it.

On the economical side there are Oregon Trail Laser Cast 300g and 350g hardcast loads over 13.5g HS-6 for 1167fps and 1097fps respectively. (See gmdr.com for similar options.) These have half the recoil of many factory .30-30 loads. My girls and I love to shoot them. At the time I developed them (2003-ish)I could reload a box of 20 for about $2.50. Great fun and small game load and very accurate. These gentle-on-the-shoulder loads will penetrate 12 one-gallon water jugs.

The next power level up is standard .45-70 loads and Cowboy Action loads, including 300g and 350g hardcast at about 1560fps. These were also very accurate, putting 3 into one ragged hole at 50 yards with a 4x scope.

On the upper end were my hunting loads using Speer 300g JHP (2247fps), Speer 350g FN (2147fps), Horndady 350g FN (2200fps), North Fork 350g FN (2181fps), Remington 405g JSP (1732fps to 1901fps depending on powder used), Cast Performance 460g WFNGC (1812fps, a load I call my "Rhino Blasters") and even a Speer 500g African Grand Slam Tungsten Solid (1554fps).

There are currently several 50-count boxes each of the cast plinkers, 350g North Fork and a 460g hardcast sitting on my ammo shelves. The North Fork get used for hunting, the plinkers for plinking and the 460g devils for breaking shoulders, detaching retinas and backyard rhinos.

I've found the Marlin 1895 to be accurate enough for 300 yard shots on game, easily printing inside 6" at that range with a 2-7x scope and multiple 300g and 350g hunting loads. The 350g North Fork FN I put into a 6x6 bull elk at 213 lasered yards obliterated sections of the near-side leg bone and a rib and shattered a far-side rib. The bull remained standing but went down before I could fire a second shot. Calculated bullet impact was at about 1600fps with over 2000fpe retained.

If I ever go up north to hunt moose or big bears (both cases doubtful), my .45-70 will be one of two rifles I consider taking, the other being my .338WM. In the meantime the .45-70 is, like my other lever guns, way more fun than my bolt or semi-auto rifles.








Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!

No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.

A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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Originally Posted by Jamesd1187
My current big game rifles are a .30-06 and 7mm-08.
Moose and black bear are the most likely quarry other than whitetails.


Pretty hard to argue for need when already owning those two chamberings.
But this isn't about need. Of the four you've been offered, I would go 7mm Mag without hesitation.

Going off the menu a bit - given your quarry and locale, a self-shucker in 35 Whelen would be high on my list.


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Where you're hunting, I'll go with a Browning BLR in .358 WIN.
From what you listed, just go with the rifle that you like the best, regardless of caliber.

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I have 2(two).375's(an H&H and a AI). They are and have been my "only" hunting rifles since around '82. That said, if I were starting over, I'd probably go with a .338 win. Mag. With it you need nothing else in North America! JMHO memtb



You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel

“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
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I like the .300 fo a flat shooting hard hitting rifle.. But elks point about the .375 is a good one.. I have used mine on antelope, elk, and moose!!


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For variety I'd get a lever action if all you have are turnbolts.

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Personally I can't fathom going beyond your 30-06 and 7-08, unless to add a 223.

Put your money into optics...


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I agree Brad. I've pretty much settled on a 7mag, 7-08, and 22-250. I'm more of an optics junkie anyway.


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Your way up North!

Do you have a stainless steel rifle? If you don't then I like mine for the bad weather.

The Kimber rifles have 'modern' synthetic stocks and good actions.

Kimber Montana rifle

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I used a 6mm as a kid hunting midwest whitetails.

Moved out West and got a .308 made and liked the power/recoil balance. Lots of ballistics info since the .308 is used by military types.

Got a 338Win Mag made and run 225 grain Fusion ammo through it. There is nothing in North America I would not hunt with the 338WM. I have taken pronghorn, deer, elk, goat and sheep. Will hunt for a Shiras moose this fall. Shot placement and getting close does wonders. I have no interest in 600 yard shots so flat-shooting is not a priority. I prefer a heavier bullet to buck the wind but want a reasonable recoil.

Works for me.


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Originally Posted by Esox357
9.3 x 62


+1


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Of those I would do the 264. Although if one had a good shooting 7-08 you could pretty much get rid of anything else.

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I have all of the rifles you have plus the possibles, if I had only one rifle it would be a 7 Rem mag. I don't think there is any difference in recoil between a 7 mag and a 300 win mag. I have 264 win mags too. I think they all kill the same. Just depends on what you want. In time you can have all three. Some if us gun nuts have 3 or 4 of each caliber. I only have three 7 mags right now. The Kleinguenther is my favorite.

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Originally Posted by BobinNH
Originally Posted by elkhunternm
.375 H&H


If you got a 30/06 and 7/08, that's the answer.


I agree. Everyone needs a good 375 H&H.. cool


Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.

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Originally Posted by memtb
I have 2(two).375's(an H&H and a AI). They are and have been my "only" hunting rifles since around '82. That said, if I were starting over, I'd probably go with a .338 win. Mag. With it you need nothing else in North America! JMHO memtb




I agree..


Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.

BSA MAGA
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Originally Posted by Esox357
9.3 x 62


This


“Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils.” - General
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I'm with Coyote Hunter, the .45-70 is a blast!

Mine is a TC Encore Prohunter. Have a 7mm-08 barrel too.

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"All around big game rifle". That just screams good ol 30-06. Doesn't get much better than that for "all around"...Just sayin..


Originally Posted by raybass
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style.
Originally Posted by Pharmseller
You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole.

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Originally Posted by Brad
Personally I can't fathom going beyond your 30-06 and 7-08, unless to add a 223.

Put your money into optics...


^ that is the direction I'd head if it were me.

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