Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Wanting a new rifle

Ok guys you helped me pick a rifle once before now I am looking for some more advice. I may be wanting more out of a rifle than can or should be done but Im not sure.
I don't care what caliber as long as I can get it easily in stores. I will be walking with said rifle when I hunt with it so hopefully not a heavy rifle. I will bench shoot with it some so I will probably put a bi pod of some kind on it also
Max price of stock gun around 900 unless I'm just using the action off it and having it customized.
I will probably have it black ice coated so I don't need stainless.

1. I want to hunt with this rifle. Just North American game. deer, elk, black bear, along those lines.
2. I do not reload so factory loads only, I tried once with a 22-250 and could not get the gun to shoot at all. I plan on trying again just not right now.
3. Close to 300 yds point blank.
4. I would like to try shooting to 400-500 yds probably would be the max that I would ever shoot only at targets right now to help me learn.
5. I am willing to customize the rifle but not having the knowledge or anyone I know of around to help I would have to send it off to have some of it done.
6. Preferably only one weight of bullet for all game and ranges. This might be the hardest part of it all? lol
I want only one weight so I can practice and hunt with that same weight.
7. Would prefer least amount of recoil to best ballistics so it can be fun to shoot with for a day at the range.

Im
I was looking at a few different rifles but i don't know a lot of people that have hunted much more than deer so I was hoping you guys would help me.
Thanks in advance
lunchbox

Tikka T-3 in 7mm-08 or 30-06 or 270 or.......

lunchbox -

How bad do you want a new rifle? Here are 3, each is 270 W and meets your requirements.




Take your pick. Can't go wrong.

Jerry

Those are very nice!

Never knew you were one of "those" guys. I was going to suggest the same cartridge, but I'm not quite ready to "come out" publicly.

Pappy

YES ![/b I am a [b]Full Fledged, JOC, Unabashed, Flag Bearer, Band Leader FOR the 270 Win. I have a few in house.

Unfortunately, those in the PIC are NOT mine.

NYrifleman is offering to sell TWO of those -- This Forum --

IM experienced opinion there is NO lesser cartridge equal NOR better than the 270 or its Handloaded Sister - 280 Rem.

***experienced *** many, many years of using, handloading, AND comparing 'lesser' cartridges. The 270 & 280 will OUTdo the lesser ones with 150 gr and heavier bullets.

That is MY opinion and I will not debate it HERE - So as to NOT hijack this thread.

Jerry

I don't know how you could go wrong with a currently made Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 30-06, or a Kimber Montana in 30-06, topped with a Leupold 2.5 x 8 or 3 x 9 scope. Tremendous selection of cartridges available from all makers in many different bullet weights and bullet styles. For what you want to hunt you just couldn't go wrong with that set up.

If you are not going to hand load go with a cartridge that is very popular so you have many brands of factory ammo available. You are more likely to find one that shoots well from your rifle. I never have and never will own one, but it would be difficult to best a 30-06 for that reason.

If you hand load there's better choices.

What he said.

Typical 270 owners

For common cartridges, start with 270, 308, 30-06 for slightly less common, 7-08, 280, Where are the 6.5 do-it-all Creedmor guys? There are a whole bunch of common cartridges that fit your criteria so find a rifle that fits you in any one of the chamberings available at your LGS and be happy. We all try to make this rocket science but it isn't really.

Which one is YOU ?

Jerry

I'll second this.

Since he is using factory ammo only, compare prices of cartridges if this is a factor. $25/box for .270 or -06 vs $35 for 6.5 or 7mm-08 can weight the scale. I'd think .270 fits his bill best. Maybe .308 , also, - haven't noticed how this ammo compares in price. Certainly all he needs, but so are the others.

.270 should have slightly less recoil (other things being equal) with 130 or so gr. bullets (all he needs, especially if using premiums- which needlessly, IMO - jacks cartridge cost up) than an 06 using 150 -180 gr bullets. Slightly more recoil than the short-action rounds, again depending on weight, fit, etc.

Dunno if he is planning on hunting really remote areas, but generally .30-06, .270, .308 would be best bets for finding ammo if things go awry. Except maybe in North country - our Eskimos think a .243 is a "big gun"..... :), but still a box or two of above might be found in a village store along with .22-250 and 243 offerings. Forget 6.5, 7mm, .280, etc even here in Kotzebue, a "village" of 3,000 and hub to over a dozen others.

If I wanted to shoot a big elk, 30-06.

If I wanted a rifle for just in case I might maybe possibly plan an elk hunt someday, and I wanted a lightweight rifle that didn't kick too hard, the 6.5 Creedmoor edges out the 7-08 due to ammo price and availability.
A tick up in recoil and power gets you to the wildly popular and widely available 270 and 308.

I’m in the middle, I have four 270’s

Guys, I am NOT pushing any cartridge over another BUT

if you're planning to hunt in "remote places" here is GOOD advice to consider.


Jerry

Hard to argue with the 30-06 or 270 choices for the criteria set out. Huge selection of factory ammo in just about every manufacturer's offering. Some of it so accurate, you'll wonder why you even considered hand loading, IMO. More important, find a rifle that fits you well and handles like you want it to. I have my bias, so keep that in mind, but I would first look at the Model 70's and the Remington 700 in all the different models available and handle a bunch of them. Each model will come with a different stock, barrel length, finish, etc... and you will need to fondle them in person to decide which is best for you. For your purposes, the cartridge is almost secondary as those aren't particularly difficult parameters to meet with most cartridges. Find a rifle you can practice with a lot, which is much more important than what cartridge you choose, IMO.

Bob

If you want to take up to elk size game & desire light recoil I can recommend a 6.5CM, 260 Rem, or 6.5x55. I have been shooting 6.5's since 1964. Have had a fair amount of experience with large deer & elk .We take them every year with a 6.5. I use the Barnes 120gr TSX. Will completely penetrate a mature elk. Light recoil, flat trajectory. Factory ammo available with the mono bullets. 260 Rem from Barnes , 6.5CM from Hornady... Hornady list their 6.5CM loaded with their 120gr GMX mono suitable for game up to 1500lbs. Those who have not tried these 6.5's have a difficult time understanding their capabilities. The 6.5 for over 125 years has taken every type of heavy big game around the world. The 6.5x55 for over 125 years has successfully brought down moose in Scandinavia. They work.

You can go anywhere in the world and find 270 Win and 30-06 factory ammo. At gas stations, truck stops, restaurants...
I was hunting up in Carrot River Saskatchewan and my buddy was shooting some wildcat something or other. He was like a cat on a hot tin roof until his luggage came out on the carrousel down in Saskatoon with his special ammo in it. If my ammo didn't show up, I'd have just stopped and picked up a box of 30-06 anywhere along the ride up to Carrot River.

Thanks for the replies. I already have a 30-06 I love. So it kinda sounds like a toss up between the 6.5 creed, 7-08 and 270. Now to find a rifle I like and try it out.