need help picking a caliber

[jlane709]

hi i am new to lrh and i was hoping some of would be able to help me choose a caliber for the howa m1500 varminter with the knoxx axiom stock. i have been looking at the .300 win mag and the 7mm rem mag, and have shown a little interest in the 30-06. i am going to use it for hunting. i live in oregon so i mostly hunt deer and elk but i have also hunted bear and shot at them for that matter so i want something big enough to bring one down. i will be doing some target shooting and varmint hunting as well. cost of ammo is not an issue. i would love to hear from anyone who has advice for me, and if anyone has anything to say about the knoxx axiom stock would be appreciated as well thanks.

[justgoto]

If I was going to hunt grizzly and had the 3 choices of cartridges you have listed, I would choose the .300 Win Mag. I would rather be over-gunned hunting varmints than under-gunned hunting grizzly.

[trebark]

+1...

justgotoRe: need help picking a caliber
If I was going to hunt grizzly and had the 3 choices of cartridges you have listed, I would choose the .300 Win Mag. I would rather be over-gunned hunting varmints than under-gunned hunting grizzly

[Limbic]

Hard to pick one cal for all those applications. Get a 25-06, 7mm or300WSM, and a 338 win or lapua.

[Grunt]

Of the three I would go with the 300 mag. Personly im waiting in a 338 edge but that a bit big for coyotes. with the 300 I would say you are going to have the biggest selection on bullets my second choice would be the 7mm rem but that just my two two cents.

[cross]

I don't think that a 30-06 is a long range elk gun, they have their place and work well but I think most folks around here would say that it runs out of steam a little too soon to suit them.

Both the 300WM and 7mm RM are good long range calibers for what you suggest but for my money, the 300WM kicks a little too much to enjoy an afternoon of shooting unless you're going to put a muzzle break on it and then if you're going to muzzle break it you should maybe consider a 338 because with a good muzzle break on it, one of the larger 338s can still be very comfortable to shoot.

Therefore, the outstanding advice of somebody about 2% as competent as the competent folks around here suggest a 7mmRM. The recoil isn't unpleasant, the high BC bullet selection is fantastic, I get 100 rounds to the pound, and the number of elk, bears, and deer that can vouch to it's effectiveness are ever-increasing.

[angus-5024]

I know that it isnt optimal for us, but one caliber cannot do it all. So If your gonna be going for more elk and bear, I would go bigger, 7mm being on the light end and a .338 being my choice. If your going for more varmint and deer, hard to beat the 25-06. For just deer, the 7mm. I personally shoot a .338 rum and find the big .338's very versitile in my neck of the woods (B.C interior). I personally am not a fan of axiom stocks but each to his own. Just my $.02.