Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles All around hunting rifle

I have been an avid Bow hunter for the past 12 years, I still love it to death but I want to give rifle hunting a go. I hunt it all, from boar to deer, elk, bear, moose, atilope so I need something that is pretty versatile. I do have an old remington 30-06 that I got from my dad a few years back it shoots great and I know that it would do anything I needed it to do, I just know there is alot better choices out there. I have done some research on calibers and balistics and so far I seem to be leaning toward the 7mm WBY mag. Any input on caliber and exact rifle set up would be greatly appreciated. I not new to guns or hunting just for using guns to hunt.

Use the 30-06.

Buy a new stock for your old gun and maybe a new scope and you'll be good to go for anything on your list.

Wouldn't go the Weatherby route if you don't reload, or take a look at a 7mm Rem Mag.

I'm not so sure about that.....

If you are a good bow hunter,you will become among the World's top predators with a 30/06 in your hands.Nothing will stand a chance. Almost unfair, really

I'm with the others, dress up your '06, maybe in a McSwirly stock or an edge to lighten it up, maybe some new glass depending on what is on it, and rock on.

+5.

30.06 and go kill stuff.
If you still insist on a 7mm, forgo the WBY.

What he said.

It's not clear to me that there are a lot better choices out there. Add a FX-3 6x42 and you are good to go.

As long as your Remington isn't problematic in some way or you just want a new rifle,I agree with everyone else.

Apologies to the original poster, I didn't even think about my 'go-to reason'. Sorry.

I'd be proud to hunt with dads 30-06. Maybe update the glass and stock but otherwise it's good to go.

Whats great about your topic is that we can switch choices and change our minds with not much cost and still satisfy that want.

To me the rifle itself is as important or more important than the chambering. Also that the chambering be 'enough gun' and not to use a minimum.

The 30-06 Springfield is the center of whats tops for most of us for the so called big game we hunt. Its ammo is available everywhere it seems and its proven.

Most of us rifleman want a longer range magnum also. Both the 7mm's and 300's are popular for that.

Thus while a Weatherby chamber would turn me off for its design features and its lack of ammo availability some other hunter might jump at one. So be it as its easy to change.

Start with a popular chambering. Once you have lots of rifles you can pick the chambering right from your safe.

At a local store here the only ones with longer range that they carry are the 30-06, 270, 7mm RM and the 300 WM.

I'm wondering if his dad was a "one gun man", probably finding out a loooooong time ago that the 30-06 was all he really needed (all anyone really needs for that matter, especially when hunting north america). I'd do like the others said and change the rifle up a bit and give it a makeover with a mcmillan stock (mountain rifle) and leupold VX3 3.5-10x40 and hunt the sumbeesh....

My dad's favorite saying was, how dead do you need to kill em? He seemed to do just fine with his old 721 30-06. If you want to shoot a LONG ways or can't kill anything on your list dead enough, maybe you NEED the mag., but probablly not. As everyone has said the ole 06 is hard to beat, although it's not a new wizzem or the top of the cool factor list, it just works. However if you want to buy a new rifle that's cool too.

Good luck, Guy

As long as the '06 shot well, I wouldn't even consider changing the stock. I personally would consider it an honor to shoot my daddy's rifle as it was. And I happen to like a rifle with character, i.e. a wood stock. I inherited my daddy's '06 last year and even though he had put a Nikon on it, I remember as a child him using an old Weaver 2.5K. I also got the old scope and have put it back on it and will use it like that. And I agree with others who say the venerable '06 will do just fine for all you are going after.

You are, IMHO correct, the .30-06 will do anything you need to. From a reasonable position using it might be your best choice.

The 7mm WBY Mag would certainly identify you as one of us. It is relatively rare, expensive to shoot, known as "flat shooting", you won't have to put up with seeing cartridges in just any store.

I scratch that itch by owning the likes of 7x61 S&H's, 308 Normas, 35 Whelen and 250-3000 Savages. Then I take '06's hunting.

You are, IMHO correct, the .30-06 will do anything you need to. From a reasonable position using it might be your best choice.

The 7mm WBY Mag would certainly identify you as one of us. It is relatively rare, expensive to shoot, known as "flat shooting", you won't have to put up with seeing cartridges in just any store.

I scratch that itch by owning the likes of 7x61 S&H's, 308 Normas, 35 Whelen and 250-3000 Savages. Then I take '06's hunting.

Oh Puh-LEEZE.

Not another 'All around hunting rifle' thread.
We all know how the story ends.

Well restoring my dads 06' was something I had already wanted to do. So I'll guess Ill just get it dressed up and save a lil money. I have a Zeiss Conquest 3.5x10 x 50 that I won in a raffle that I was planning on putting on something new but I can always use it for this too.I know it definatly needs a new stock regardless cause its beat up pretty bad. What kind of stock would you recomend?

...this IMO.