Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game What caliber do I consider?

I'd revisit your 06' as it's got family history, then likely keep that and sell the wsm and put that money into a big game hunt out west.

Go with the 06!

A few comments:

Swamplord claims the .300 WSM is 300 fps better than the .30-06. This defies the basic laws of internal ballistics. When loaded to the same pressures, the difference is bout half that--about what most bullets from either round will lose within the first 50 yards.

Aside from that, my wife and I have killed 100+ animals up to big-elk size in North America, Africa, Europe and New Zealand, with various .30-06s. No problems. (Would include moose-sized as well, but but neither of use have taken bull moose with the .30-06. But we have with the .270 Winchester and 7x57 Mauser, with no problems.)

Ernest Hemingway, back in the day when bullets were far more primitive, took not only Cape buffalo but a rhinoceros with the .30-06 with 220-grain "solids," also with no problems.

My friend Phil Shoemaker's sig-line here is: "Anyone who claims the 30-06 is not effective has either not used one, or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship." Which has been my experience as well, after using the old round in over a dozen rifles for close to 50 years.

Yep. Same could be said for the 7X57.

You can afford an big game hunt. The most affordable is black bear and you can get tags OTC. You can also get an second non res bear tag for like $35. Go and try it and see some country, take a bear maybe and at the same time scout elk territory. You 300wsm and 30-06 will be great.

I don't know about his, but I have my dad's old Rem 721 30-06. He bought it in about '52 when I was 4. Just for the fun of it, I used it 3 or 4 years ago and got a cow elk with it. 15 years ago, I did the same and got a moose with it. It shoots great but needs some work on the safety. It just flops on and off.

You have all the big game rifles covered.... I'd keep a .270, if I felt the need for something bigger. I've owned and hunted two different 30-06's and simply like the .270 a lot better. It'll kill anything an 06' will and is more pleasant to shoot.

What I would do if I were in your shoes, is buy a good fast twist .223.
Scope it, shoot it, hunt it..... it'll soon be your absolute favorite rifle.

Sell everything , buy the 270 of rifle of your dreams and a really comfortable fold up camp chair. Then you will be all set up for sitting telling lies or hunting.

You can get support to buy a new rifle here anytime. But your existing 2 gun battery 25-06 & 300WSM works perfectly well for deer, elk , etc. and as most have mentioned the 30-06 does it all.

Bigger deer will still drop dead shot with a 100-115 grain bullet in the right place out of the 25-06. Your 300WSM is a perfect longer range elk gun. If you need to play with your arsenal treat your rifles to new scopes, stocks, gunsmith work - trigger, trued action, muzzle brake, whatever makes them work for you.

You can never go wrong with a 30-06 but my safe never lacks a 270.

I have killed xtra large moose, large bears, deer of all sizes, and some grouse with a 30-06, from about 25 yards on out to 400 yards since 1965. Never needed more rifle -- never shot more than 2 rounds.

I handload my ammo, and the one I have settled on for the last 15-20 years is a 168 Barnes TSX going 2900 fps. Accuracy is very good, and bullet is very effective.

I also like my Tikka T3 in 6.5 Swede, but hard to leaave one of my old -06s at home. They Just Git er dun.

Buddy of mine kills the living crap outta western wash elk with a 25-06 and a 110gr tsx. Kalama Washington family I'm friends with between grandpa, father, two sons have taken over 60 elk between them with a 25-06. I'm a huge fan of a 115gr Partition in a 25-06!!!!!! Some times less is more. Recoil sucks azz...

Shag: I don't see a 110 257 TSX bullet on Barnes website. What am I missing?

I like GUNS so caliber is often not all that important to me. I shy away from some because I love shooting too and if I can't get brass or bullets I will not be as interested. An example is the old Remington M8 rifles which were made in 25 Rem 30 rem 32 rem and 35 rem. I ONLY would buy the 35 Remington. I can make 25 Rem, 30 Rem and 32 Rem brass from 30-30, but I don't really want to.
So I don't get overly concerned about calibers. I like the guns, and what every caliber they are is usually OK. Not always, but most times.

Find a new gun that you like and don't worry about the caliber unless it's one you can't or won't use

Apparently I'm missing a brain cell... lol my bad 115gr TSX

gotcha, thanks

280 ai

.284

I knew a man who could afford any rifle, any caliber, and retired from Remington as an executive.

He owned a ranch in Montana with big mule deer, pronghorn and elk. He could shoot rifle, pistol, shotgun, whatever... a natural. For example, when he wanted a challenge he shot wild pheasant on-the-wing with his .45 ACP 1911 pistol. And even hit some.

For a retirement gift he was offered anything from the factory. He requested a M700 in 25/06 stainless in a synthetic stock. The gun liked Nosler Partition 120 gr. It was the only gun he hunted big game with the rest of his life and the last time I had a chance to speak with him, he never failed to collect a shot animal.

Which is all to say, I'm not sure you need another caliber than your "coyote" gun.

If you are buying new....go with a .35 Whelen. Can use it for deer in Iowa and it is a great elk round.