Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles If you were buying a new rifle today for antelope, deer, and elk...

Watch Guns America for a deal. My last centerfire bolt was a 7mmWSM Howa (same as Weatherby Vanguard) SS/SYN with SS mount and rings shipped NIB to my dealer for $340. Great rifles for the money. Good luck.

George

This is another great idea, a very good no nonsense rifle. I can easily get behind the idea of this rifle in either an 06 or a 06 Improved (what I call a .270...grins).

Mark D

.300 WSM

Another vote for TIKKA T3, 270 or 30-06 with Burris 3X9.

One of the Savage rifles in same calibers will work also. Shop in KMart or Walmart for their specials in these calibers.

270

30-06 I could live with a Ruger, Vanguard or the SPS for
price. Best deals on the market. Add a Leupold VXII
in 2-7 or 3-9 and he's set for life

To that I would just add the Tikka T3, which is my fav of the cost effective lot.

Mark D

A 7x57 loaded with 160/162 grain bullets, and loaded to modern pressures will, I think, produce a result on elk that is practically indistinguishable from the 30-06.

For deer and pronghorn, 140 grain bullets pretty much duplicate what you can do with a good 270.

The net result can be a rifle that can be both lighter than the 30-06, and more pleasant to shoot. My 7x57 has a lighter contour barrel than either of my 30-06's, and is easier to carry. At the same time, it produces less recoil. So it is a rifle that is pleasant to take to the range, as well as being effective for hunting. You can shoot 50 rounds through it, and still be enjoying shooting.

One good recipe: Yugo M48 Mausers are fairly inexpensive, because the action and magazine are a bit too short for the 270 or 30-06. However, they are just right for 7x57 and 6.5x55. Put a new trigger and a #1 contour Pac-Nor barrel on one, drill and tap for a scope, fix the bolt handle, change out the safety, and enjoy.

Nearly perfect answer in my opinion. I might or might not recommnd a Tikka rifle, or other favorite brands and models, all bolt-actions.

As for the cartridge, I'd pick in order - .30/06, .280 Rem or .270 Winchester. I have taken "elk, deer, and antelope" with a .270W, which is more than adequate for the tasks asked about when used by a careful hunter who chooses good shots and takes his time. Personally - however, I prefer a heavier bullet than those available in the .270. Plus most reloaders know the .280R will do ANYTHING the 7mm mags will do.

Heck a .308 win is perfectly capable of doing the chores asked about, but the .30/06 is a little more powerful, MUUUUCH more popular and easy to find ammo for (with heavier bullets, possibly), and been killing elk longer than all the other cartridges discussed on this thread.

Hard to beat success!

CZ-550 American in 30-06

The Tikka is nice for the price, but I hate the plastic magazine on wouldn't care to pay $50 for another one - if you can get one.

Savage if you are really on a budget.

Just tell him what I tell everyone who balks at the cost of a gun.

"A well made gun is about the best deal going. It will easily last 50 years. If you amortize the cost over that time, even a $1500 rifle is only $2.50 a month. Buy once, cry once."

The CZ is a slightly modified Mauser 98 action. That action has been in use continuously for over 100 years. Most of use have probably fired Mauser that were near 100 years old and still going strong. How many other rifles can claim such an illustrous pedigree?

I'd get a Ren 700 ss in a .264 win mag and never look back!

What's too expensive?

Respectfully, you just touched on this subject in another thread. You mentioned someone who had 13 Elk rifles who complained about money for hunts and those who continuously drop loads of cash on multiple custom projects. This fella states up front that his bud wants to stick to the one-rifle arsenal. Between $1000-$1100, considering what you get, I find the Kimber Montana to be a bargain.



I'm guessing that a VERY small precentage of hunters, who get the chance to hunt these three, would find the cost of the Montana overwhelming.

Start-out like you want to end-up! Most folks will look back and realize that lots of $$ would have been saved that way.

Clay, to me that sounds sub $650 but I could be wrong?.?.?

I'd go 7mm Remington Magnum, 30-06, or .270. They are all in the same ballpark and you can easily find ammo in a small town if you have to. If I was going to just one rifle, I would build a stainless 700 or re-stock a Sako 75 SS. I've never killed an elk, but I have seen them up close. I'd think a good 150 grain bullet from a .270 would suffice. A good medium weight .270 that fits you well would be hard to beat. I like the .300 Win Mag but I don't think it is required here.

Ain't read any of this, but whatever Brad recommends is good enough for me...

Will you marry me?!

I recommend you throw back another whiskey, log-out and never come back... since you always agree with what I recommend.

Where should we meet

I'm just trying to learn from you. I've finally realized there is much to learn from....

A rem 700 ss/syn in 7mm saum shooting 140 tsx's. They can be had for 400 or less. Lupy 2.5x8x36 and your done , go hunting and kill things.