New Rifle

[Huvik]

Hi Guys,
I'm looking to build a rifle to take me out to ohhhhh 600 yards on caribou and paper targets. I have my eye on the Stevens Model 200 and building it up from there. I have lots of experiance working on rifles, and I've substance hunted for my entire life so i know my way around a gun. I'm looking at a long action possibly a .270 win, 30-06, 7mm rem mag, or 300 rem mag. I can't decide which one to choose and I thought i would inlist your guys's help to convince me....

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Didnt know Remington made a 300 Rem Mag??? You probly mean 300 Win Mag right? Anyways to better answer your question, all 4 cartridges will easily get you to 600 yards on bou and paper. With the .270, stick a 140g AB or good 150g Boat tail and you'll easily make it to 600 yards and have enough punch for bou. I dont like the 30-06 personally, Id rather own a .270 anyday. I like the 7mm bore for the high BC bullets and less kick then the .30 cal magnums. They dont hit as hard, but they fly flatter and drift less. The 300 Win mag is a great round as well, but I dont think you need it for 600 yards on caribou IMO. I've owned and shot everything but the 30-06 out to 800 yards with great results. I currently own a 7mm RM and a 300 WBY and there both great shooters, but for bou size critters, I dont think you need anything over 7mm. I would go with the .270 w/140g AB or the 7mm w/160g AB and be done with it...

 

[MTNRaine]

Well welcome! im fairly new but ill give u MHO. 4 a caliber choice 300 win mag or a 7mm rem mag. these will easily get u to 600 yds with out no problem an if u wanna reach a little further u have that option. as far as a gun i wont advise u because theres a lot of options, so ill let the pros out there handle that question.

 

[grit]

Can't really go wrong. I like them all. Still, I'd pick the 7mm. I think it offers a significant ballistic advantage over the 270 and 06. While offering as much as the 300 win mag with a lot less recoil. Of course 600 yards is a comfortable range for all of 'em.

I bought a Stevens as a gift for a new shooter. The stock and trigger are junk. A Boyds stock and a better trigger would go a looong way for not a lot of doe. Have fun!

PS. Looks like three of us typed at the same time. Looks like 25-06 said things better than I did. I second everything he said.

 

[AJ Peacock]

I can't disagree with anything everyone has recommended. I'll throw a fly in the ointment though. If 600yd Caribou is what you are looking at, and you'll probably be walking a bit, how about a short action (300WSM?) It's more efficient, and will easily get you to 600yds on bou. A little lighter etc etc.

Regardless, all the calibers listed will be great, I'd choose the 7RM if I were picking a Long action (that is if I didn't choose a 300RUM).

AJ

 

[Derek M.]

I will assume you either meant the 300 WIN mag or the 300 Remington ULTRA mag, or the 300 Remington SHORT ACTION ULTRA mag. All are fine calibers. I have or have shot all as well as the 270, 30.06, and 7mm Rem mag.

Personally I've been thinking of my first bou hunt as well and I would either take the 7mm mag or my 300 RUM and I'll tell you why. WIND. Since I've never hunted them, I have watched a few videos and have talked with friends that have killed them. In each case except for 2-3, WIND was a huge factor. So, I want as much bullet as I can get. It is a no brainer that a 270 and 130 gr bullet will kill a bou but I want as little wind drift as possible.

So, my choices when I go will be either my 7mm Rem Mag/168 VLD or 160 AB or Scirocco(24" Shilen #4) or my 300 RUM/200 AB or 180 AB, Scirocco or 210 VLD (28" Shilen #4).

There's my 2 cents.

 

[PEI Rob]

My advise would be to find a stock you want first, then get a rifle to fit it. Sounds odd but very often getting your ideal stock takes MONTHS.

I build Stevens 200 up for target comp, they work great if you are on a budget. Otherwise I would go to a full custom action. BTW, I have a beutiful long action stock to fit a Stevens 200. A hunting style stock came but I thought it was a tactical style so its for sale. Much ligher than laminate and already finished. PM me for info if you like.


Just to add more than two cents,

I think punching paper requires a heavy barrel and if I were to make a 600 yard rifle for paper and hunting big game, it would definately be a 7mm or 300 win mag. I think Marlin at fronteirtaxidermy has win mag heavys in stock at a VERY good price, I know he did awhile ago.

Cheers,
Rob

 

[Huvik]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I was leaning towards the 7mm rem mag myself...and I agree and would rather own a 270 over a 30-06. I should have pointed out that I live in the Nothwest Territories and have hunted Caribou my entire life, only it's been with my trusty Marlin 30-30. Not quite long range hunting....hahaha. And yes i ment the 300 WIN mag.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

I would go with the WSM's. They're reported to be more accurate than the other cartridges. 270, 7mm or 300, all will do the job, but each step up is a little more flexability and authority.

The ammo will be tough to find in NWT, so you'll probably have to handload unless you can figure out a reliable source of supply and if I was shooting out to 600 yds, I wlould be hand loading anyway, which I do, lol.

 

[Derek M.]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I was leaning towards the 7mm rem mag myself...and I agree and would rather own a 270 over a 30-06. I should have pointed out that I live in the Nothwest Territories and have hunted Caribou my entire life, only it's been with my trusty Marlin 30-30. Not quite long range hunting....hahaha. And yes i ment the 300 WIN mag.

I see you are in Inuvik. There's a show on the History Channel here in the US called "Ice Road Truckers." This year they've been going in and out of Inuvik quite a bit, and "Tuk" and Langley.

 

[Huvik]

Yeah I met alot of the people working on the series. I have alot of buddies who helped film a bunch of budwiser commercials for ice road truckers, I have a friend who is engaged to on of the producers....It seems like it's going to be a good show this year.....lol so a 7mm Mag then....

 

[teddy12b]

Read this to understand my love for my 30-06. It's few and far between to find others that like that old cartridge the same way I do, but oh well.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f23/110fp-30-06-range-report-bullet-advice-needed-pics-29503/

Part of the reason I like the 30-06 is the versatility that I think it has over most of the others by selection of bullet styles and weights. My last trip to the range I was firing handloaded 168gr tipped triple shocks at over 3,000 fps without the slightest pressure sign. I shot out to 800 yards and hardly had to touch my scope for wind adjustment.

I've never been Carribou hunting, but I'd like to and if I get the chance I'll take my 30-06. With 220gr handloads I'd dead on at 100 yards. Without touching my scope and using 168gr handloads I'm dead on at 200 yards and have my chart for adjustments for farther out.

One last reason to consider the 30-06 is that ammo is easy to find. When I travel to middle of nowhere places to hunt I look for the general stores that have some ammo and usually it's 30-30, 308, 30-06, 300WM. Just something else for you to consider.

 

[davewilson]

Teddy, what powder are you using to go over 3000 with those 168's? what length is your barrel?