Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Looking for something with a little more horsepower.

Hey guys,
In the middle of the great 6mm / 85 Grain TSX test this hunting season, I have become aware of what I feel is an opening in my hunting battery.

At present, I have a .280 bolt gun and a .30-06 autoloader in the safe. I own another .30-06 in a bolt gun, but my little brother has carried it off.

Anyway, I am thinking about bringing home a new rifle chambered for a cartridge with a shade more horsepower. There are three cartridges in the running, and I will list them in their present order.

1. 7mm Remington Magnum. As common as dirt. Has the ability to reach 3,000 fps with a 160 grain projectile. High BC, strong velocity, should equal a very good hunting cartridge. I am thinking about one of the sps models with the 26 inch barrel, that should help squeeze all the potential out of the cartridge.

2. 300 WSM. This cartridge has a great deal going for it as well. The short action is a good thing in my opinion. Factory ammunition is a tad more expensive than 7mm rem mag, but available. I like the fact that I could run 165 grain bullets at 3,000 plus, and still be under the ceiling for the rifle.

3. 270 WSM. Much like the cartridge above, except the ability to load 110 grain accubonds or TSX's to scary velocity. I am talking whitetails here.


I am interested in a cartridge that factory ammunition is readily available for. I handload now, but I have no idea whether my son will ever pick up the habit.

I am talking whitetails here.

I'm with a couple others with the "If you already have an '06..." angle. If you want to do something other than an '06 just for the hell of it what you listed seems a little, well, redundant. Fine cartridges all to be sure but if you're going to upgrade from 'Ol Reliable there doesn't seem to be much point in being incremental about it. As others have said a .338 is one option. (I actually went for the steroid version .340 Wby)

Other interesting options could be a .338/06 or .35 Whelen. For that matter if you handload a .375 H&H has lots of panache and can be loaded down to your needs. There's even a thread about the .375 and deer here:

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/3429755/375_H_H_for_deer#Post3429755

Have fun regardless! (any reason is a good reason to need another rifle)

I'm not sure I'd get anything else unless it was a 375H&H.

I know to many this sounds crazy; but I spent years and piles of dough to fill that gap between a good 7mm and the 375,and IMHO for most of the stuff we hunt,a good 270,280,7mag,or 30/06,especially with todays bullets,does about anything there is that needs "doing",especially if the bulk of your hunting is deer sized stuff.

And a 375 (H&H or Ruger,take your pick)with todays light bullet technology does whatever the 338's or 8 mags were formally intended to do. You can pile up a lifetime of game and never go near a 300 magnum.

Now I fully imagine all the guys saying, "you're covered, you don't need another gun" have no duplicity in their gun safes............NOT! Sounding like your wives, IF they only knew.