Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Rethinking My "Big Gun"

For nearly 20 years I've had my .338-06 as my "Big Gun". It's taken elk and recently two moose in Newfoundland and has worked beautifully. Deer duties have been handled by a variety of cartridges, but mainly with my Montana 7mm-08.
In 2019 I was in a car accident that resulted in a concussion, torn rotator-cuff and something undetermined with my neck. Bottom line, it's really uncomfortable shooting the .338-06 anymore.
This gives me a clear reason to build / buy something new!
I have a pretty good guess what the answer to this question is, but what do you consider the lowest recoiling cartridge that is perfectly adequate for elk and moose? Put another way, what's the smallest cartridge you would happily use the rest of your life for elk and moose? May as well throw in the bullet combo, too.

Thanks!

Your choice of rifle maker. I’d go with a 30/06…. But you know in your heart that’s the correct round. 180 grain Partitions and you’re goody go.

So sorry to hear about your wreck…..glad you’re ok.

270/280 would be my choice. Bullet, well, just pick a Barnes, Nosler, Hammer, etc and have at it.

Nothing much I’d feel hamstrung with a good 280 or 270. Plus they’re pretty pleasant to us shooters.

270 or 280AI would not leave me wanting. As has been said time and time again, it is bullet placement not displacement.

For the record, I have had 2 shoulder operations, I am not fond of recoil either.

.338 Federal might be a decent downsize if you are fond of .338 bullets. Still lobbing the same bullets, but with less punishment behind the trigger.

I'm a fairly short range shooter, so I'd be quite content potting everything short of the big bears with my 300 Savage using 130 and 150 TTSX loads.

The 7mm-08 with 140gr Barnes TTSX has lower recoil than anything mentioned so far.

As for its effectiveness on big game, see the multiple pages of praise in the "7-08 in Africa" thread from a few days ago, which includes animals bigger and tougher than elk.

The 7-08 should work fine for you. Don't discount stock fit and a GOOD recoil pad to lessen felt recoil. At one time I had a post 64 M70 with an old Pachmayer recoil pad that weighed about 9 1/4 lb. I had a rifle built and fitted to me with a Decelerator pad that weighs 7lb. With the same 180gr 30-06 load the new rifle had much less felt recoil. So some work on your 338-06 may make it more comfortable to shoot.

308 or 7mm 08.

I'm thinking of running the 7x57 loaded to modern pressure levels. You know to about 7-08 level or a hair higher. A 150 gr. Partition at about 2800 would put the hurt on anything I'm liable to hunt. May go for a 160 gr. cup and core for deer sized game and switch to the 160 gr. Partition for elk. Just might have to sneak in just a little bit closer.
Paul B.

Probably this. Yep. I could as easily go with .280 or .280AI with 160 partitions or .270 Win with 150 or 160 grain partitions.

Or just use the 7mm-08 already on-hand. It is an extremely capable little killing machine.

Tom

6.5 x 55 swede, handloaded with the proper bullets.

7mm-08.

I’ve killed bulls, seen bulls killed, and read about bulls getting killed by the Mighty-08.

I’m a believer.



P

If your 7/08's recoil doesn't bother you then you have the obvious answer, no point in searching further. The 7/08 like its older sibling the 7x57 performs above its paygrade and does so with minimal fuss and muss.

drover

Smallest I'd happily use for the rest of my life for elk and moose? Well, I'd do it with a 6mm of some sort, but I'd be happier with a 6.5. So I'm going to say the 6.5 CM.

In your case, I'd take the Montana 7-08 and start filling freezers. In fact, I just killed a medium-sized AB bull moose a few weeks ago with my Montana 7-08 and 140 TTSX. Shot was broadside at ~150-175 meters, bullet entered the ribs behind the front leg, and about halfway up the chest (a high double-lung shot). The bull ran off about 70 meters and then collapsed. The blood trail was sparse at first, but quickly became a garden-hose trail. The lungs were fairly soupy, and the bullet exited with about a 1.5" wound in the offside rib cage. Last year I witnessed another bull moose drop in his tracks to a 6.5 CM and 127 LRX. Elk and deer season is now open, so the 7-08 and 140 TTSX may yet see more action this fall. My oldest has a WT license for the first time this year, so helping him fill his tag is my priority for the fall. He'll be using the 6.5 CM and 147 ELD. These days it's tough to find a reason to use more rifle than the 6.5 CM or 7-08 for the critters I chase here in AB, though I do still break out the 7 Mag/WSMs on occasion. The right bullet put in the right place trumps all else.

You are getting lots of advice to go with your 7-08. Don’t underestimate it. I started the “7-08 in Africa” thread in anticipation of a trip that was postponed due to Covid. I resurrected that thread in September to report on what actually happened. My PH was a bit concerned that I didn’t have enough gun. But I made a one shot kill on a Waterbuck which is a 550-600 pound animal. I was shooting 140 grain Accubonds. Surveying things at the skinning shed the PH said, “That’s a good bullet.”

The 7x57 is always the right answer.

I took 4 rifles to the range today, .338 Winchester, .30/06, .280 Ackley and a 7x57.
Any reader here would pick through that lot and find something for elk and moose but the discerning would pick the 7x57 because it is the most user friendly of the lot and shoots with the best of them for accuracy.

7mm08. Only shot one bull elk with it and that was with the 140gr TTSX. Would a 150gr partition work just as well? Probably. If it were me, I'd pick those 2 bullets if elk and moose were the target..

I'm wondering what the recoil difference would be? All based off the 06 case, just necked up or down... Wondering if a step down to 308w parent case would take the cake better for his application?

Thanks, guys. Keep it coming.

Link to the "7-08 in Africa" thread?
I don't see it and it didn't come up in a search.