New rifle

[LaMott Cowan]

I need help deciding what cal. rifle to get for large game hunting ( Deer, elk, moose, black bear.) All of my hunting friends use .270's or .308'S what about a 7mm or 300 how do they compare for knock down, distance & accuracy. what do ya'll reccommend?

[TAB]

Any of those would be a good choice.

other good ones to look at are the 7-08 , 30 -06  any of the 30 short action or ultras mags.

308 30-06 and 270 are going to be the most common and cheapest too sho0t( factory ammo )  while a 270 would work for everything on your list, I think a little more knock down power would be nice for things like elk and moose.( as a 1500lbs moose charging you is a very bad thing.)

[m25operator]

Welcome, LaMott

I see this is your 1st post.

Tab is giving good advice, but I'm as usual going to ask more questions to qualify my answer.

If your able to hunt all these species in your home state, you must be north, very north perhaps. If I needed a rifle for all of the above, I would probably go at least 7mm magnum, and maybe up to .338 winchester magnum. Magnum cartridges are expensive compared to the more common, 30-06, .308, .270, and these lower powered cartridges have done handsomely for a very long time.
If I was chosing from these, the 30-06 would be the first choice due to the wide variety of bullet types and weight available. But if you get into premium ammunition, the cost will be very close to the magnum calibers. Knock down is combination of bullet construction, velocity, and shot placement versus animal tenacity. Faster and heavier is generally better. Accuracy has more to do with the rifle/shooter potential than the cartridge potential. Give me a 30-06 in the heart over a .460 Weatherby in the ass, everytime. Trajectory, with good medium range to the biggest, baddest cartridges, ( the .50bmg, and all the chey tacs excluded)
the worst to the best are only truly 100 yards apart for the point blank 0, where the bullet will rise and fall within an 8" circle without adjusting your sight. If you are willing to learn your rifle/cartridge and scope, learn some distance judging, and wind doping, thats when you really start to see and understand marksmanship. For most hunting with a good medium to heavy cartridge, and a proper zero, you'll be good to 300 yards with no holdover.

[LaMott Cowan]

Welcome, LaMott

I see this is your 1st post.

Tab is giving good advice, but I'm as usual going to ask more questions to qualify my answer.

If your able to hunt all these species in your home state, you must be north, very north perhaps. If I needed a rifle for all of the above, I would probably go at least 7mm magnum, and maybe up to .338 winchester magnum. Magnum cartridges are expensive compared to the more common, 30-06, .308, .270, and these lower powered cartridges have done handsomely for a very long time.
If I was chosing from these, the 30-06 would be the first choice due to the wide variety of bullet types and weight available. But if you get into premium ammunition, the cost will be very close to the magnum calibers. Knock down is combination of bullet construction, velocity, and shot placement versus animal tenacity. Faster and heavier is generally better. Accuracy has more to do with the rifle/shooter potential than the cartridge potential. Give me a 30-06 in the heart over a .460 Weatherby in the ass, everytime. Trajectory, with good medium range to the biggest, baddest cartridges, ( the .50bmg, and all the chey tacs excluded)
the worst to the best are only truly 100 yards apart for the point blank 0, where the bullet will rise and fall within an 8" circle without adjusting your sight. If you are willing to learn your rifle/cartridge and scope, learn some distance judging, and wind doping, thats when you really start to see and understand marksmanship. For most hunting with a good medium to heavy cartridge, and a proper zero, you'll be good to 300 yards with no holdover.

Some answers to your questions are. I live in North Carolina, But I have family land in upstate NY. & Missouri. so I love to hunt different locations. I was in the Marine Corps for 6yrs & qualified expert (Highest qual)  for 5 of 6 yrs. I shoot well..9mm,40mm,45mm, .223, 7.62& 50mm. I just have a hard time with the knowledge (distance, knockdown, etc.)of the hunting rifles. I currently have a TC. Encore prohunter 50 cal. muzzle loader, but I really need to buy a all around cal. rifle. Oh Did i mention that I haven't a ton of money..

[TAB]

well I would look at savage then.  For the money you can't beat them, they shoot well under a inch at 100 yds with factory ammo.   They are ugly as sin, but they will drive tacts.    If your really on a budget the remington 770( or the 710 the gun it replaced)comes with a bore sighted 3-9X40 scoped(bushnell I beleave) already mounted for around 500.   its not pretty or highly refined, but they work and work well.  If I was  looking to get into hunting on the cheap, its what I would buy.

[Sponsor]

[Hazcat]

If you need to go even less expensive look at Stevens models on the Savage site.  Basically they are older model Savage at a real bargain.  Good shooters but I will say the triggers are stiff and a bit gritty.

[HAWKFISH]

They are all good. .270/30.06/.308/.300/7mm all great. I prefer the 7mm Remington Magnum. It shoots a little flater and hits a little harder than the 30.06. .308 is a classic and either that or the 30.06 would be my next choice for big game. That is just me though. I know several guys that use 7mm Mag's and they have easily brought down elk and bear with their's. But, I'm sure others have been successful with their favorites too.   

[Bidah]

Hazcat has you on the right track.  You can find them used for a good bargain as well, and most of them will have been shot very little.  Get common calibers in .308 and above and you will be fine.  For moose, choose a good 180gr bullet and put it where it needs to go.  The .270 is also an excellent choice, and with the proper bullet will do just as good.  It is a very popular caliber, and for years was the one that was usually the first one released for a new rifle.

-Bidah

[Hazcat]

LaMott,

My personal caliber for a "do all" is 30-06.  The 30-06 has been "doing it" for 100 years and you can get ammo any where.

Savage is the most accurate out of the box production rifle and Stevens is probably next best and either will put it in the 10 ring all day at 100 yards.  I'd get a fixed power scope ( 3 or 4 power, 3 is best I think) and you're in business!  I have a TASCO 4 power on my Savage 111F and though  the scope only cost about $70.00 it has stayed tight for 500 round so far!

Here is a link to a down-loadable program that is easy to use to see ballistics for all common rounds. It's from Federal.

http://www.federalpremium.com/default.asp?br=1

[Bidah]

.308 and .30-06 are mine as well.

-Bidah