Looking to add another big game rifle to the line up. I've been offered my choice of .264 win mag, 7 rem mag, .300 win mag and Weatherby. Now the .300's don't particularly excite me but I've turned to the learned here for advice. My current big game rifles are a .30-06 and 7mm-08.
Moose and black bear are the most likely quarry other than whitetails. Nothing that my current two can't handle without a sweat, but variety is the spice of life.

I would spend my money on something else.

.375 H&H

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

This. If you can't get it done in North America with a .30-06 or 7-08, then another rifle isn't going to solve your problems.

If you're looking for variety but also practicalness, elk's suggestion above is spot on.

Lots of folks are surprised at the .375 H&H's relative lack of recoil, effectiveness on smaller game without excessive damage, and availability of rounds. I've settled on the 260 Partition in mine, and while not exactly a long range setup, it has proven ridiculously effective on black bear, elk, whitetail, wolf and antelope. Never shot a moose with it, but would not be concerned about it's ability to.

The OP specifically said "Nothing that my current two can't handle without a sweat, but variety is the spice of life"...he's looking for an excuse to buy another rifle for the hell of it, not because he thinks he needs one.

Nothing wrong with wanting another rifle. I've gotten away from magnums lately but I keep a couple of 7Mags in the safe. I tried a 300 Win Mag but it was more than I wanted. A 7Mag is about the top of my comfort level. It's similar recoil wise to the 30-06 with flatter trajectory. If the chance to hunt something really big ever comes along, I can load it up with a 160 TSX or 175 Partition and not feel a bit under-gunned.

I've never tried a 264 Win Mag, but it does interest me. Maybe some day.

Out of what you've been offered, I'd go .300 Win.

A .264 will recoil about like your .30-06 and produce a significantly flatter trajectory with similar sectional density. It will certainly need at least a 24" barrel and could easily use one 26" or longer. Since I usually go with after market I would use a 28" barrel in that cartridge.

Although I would wear out the factory barrel first!

Yeah.... SURE you would...

The 300 and then rebore/rebarrel it to 338 Win Mag

Those calibers tend to be bolt action. Since you already have a couple, maybe consider a different package like a lever action or pump. Maybe a 45/70, 444 Marlin or perhaps a Remington 7600 in .35 Whelen.

I was thinking .264 if the seller will come down some on the price. Then I have the option of working my way up to the .375 CT one rebore at a time.

Other than what chambering, maybe a different style of rifle would add some variety to your lineup. If you have standard weight rifles, maybe a lightweight 264 or 7RM? I had an ULA 7RM that was a joy to carry and was more pleasant than you'd expect when the trigger was pulled.

300 Weatherby all the way! I like 180 grain Nosler Partitions.

why are you limited to those four calibers??

264's are fun!

The 7-08 is a lightish weight rifle. Model 7 with a 24" aftermarket barrel. Next step will be fluting and getting a synthetic stock for it.
The cartridges listed are just the ones I've been offered that intrigue me either due to rifle, perhaps a 760 series in a .35 Whelan or Marlin in a .444 or .45-70 is an avenue I should look at.

Of the ones you mention in your original post unless you handload the 264 Win Mag (which I have and like) isn't a good option so I would go with the 7mm Rem Mag instead since you can get cheap shells at Canadian Tire. The 300 will only add recoil to the equation.

Since you have a 7mm-08 and 30-06 I would look at a 223 instead or one of the ones you just mentioned, the 7600 35 Whelen or a Marlin. The Marlin lever guns have pretty heavy recoil so if the stock doesn't fit well (like it does with me) it isn't fun to shoot.

9.3 x 62

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.

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.

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.

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 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!!

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

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

Put your money into optics...

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

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

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.

+1

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.

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.

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

I agree..

This

I'm with Coyote Hunter, the .45-70 is a blast!

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

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

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

Get them all one at a time for the next 5 years then you will never wonder if you picked the wrong one.LOL

Another vote for the.264 win mag if you hand load. Great round with mild recoil and something different.

Of those listed, go with the 7mag. But mostly you would do better to have just one really good rifle, and get to hunting hard.

Well I'm just glad no one made a hard argument for the .300 magnums. I'm going to pass on the guns I've seen so far and focus my search on a 7mm mag, .338 and .375. For now between a brace of .223's, a 243(next fall rebarreled to 7mm-08) a .30-06 and a .270(I know, the humiliation but it was free) not to mention a few levers and many shotguns and bows I should be able to kill my one or two bears and hopefully one whitetail this fall.

I would agree with Esox357 and Ned. The 9.3x62 would complement the two calibers you already own very nicely and will take anything in NA and beyond. The 358 Win. is a great caliber as well....if you reload.

Your 06' with a 200 grain partition will kill anything in North America, right away if you hit what you are aiming at.

So, going down-in-size to a .223 might be a fun thing to do. It would give you a great long range varmint gun, and it's cheap to shoot/reload/shoot-again.

Just an idea...

You spelled .280 wrong.

I'd get up into the .338 range or down into the 257 range. Otherwise there's too much overlap. I also like the idea of a 45-70 if you handload. If you go down, it's hard to beat a fast twist 22-250.


https://www.cdnnsports.com/338rcm-hkm77rfp-22-m-sts-syn.html?___SID=U

Looking back if it was me I would put the money in my IRA or a savings account and someday take my existing rifle on a nice hunt for something and somewhere I didn't normally get to hunt.

I like that idea. Yesterday I received an Aero M5 upper (.308 size) to match my Aero M5 lower. As I contemplate cartridge options for the build (primarily 6.5 Creedmoor and .308) I wonder why I need another rifle at all. A pig hunt in TX or elk hunt in NM would be nice...

35 Whelen or 9.3x62. Whatever you can buy or make your own ammo for cheaper. Plus whichever gun your like the fit of more.

This! I know I appreciate the memories of my hunts more than the "stuff" I have.

same here , collections are futile , experiences are invaluable.