New, looking for advice on new rifle

[Just a hunter]

Hello everyone. I have lurked around for probably two years but have never participated until now. I am looking to buy a new hunting rifle in the near future and would like some opinions from the experts. I'm not necessarily looking for a long range rifle but the calibers I am considering are long range cartridges so that's why I came to you guys. I currently own rifles chambered in 243, 257WBY, 270, 280, 7mm mag and 300 WM. All are Remington 700's. I'm looking at buying a plain hunting rifle. In other words, no long range stocks or heavy barrels. It will be a hunting rifle so hopefully once I have the scope zeroed I'll only be shooting one time at game so no issues with heat buildup. I feel like I am rambling so I will get on with it. I like different and faster calibers. I'm currently looking at 26 Nosler, 6.5-300 WBY and 338 RUM. I plan on buying a factory rifle instead of building one so my options are somewhat limited rifle choices. Looking at Montana and Remington for the 338, Nosler and Browning for the 26 and Weatherby for the 6.5-300. Recommendations on which caliber and rifle and why please. I do handload and am leaning towards a muzzle brake for whichever caliber. Some of the rifles I mentioned offer a brake from the factory. Thanks for any and all help.

 

[Seymour]

You didn't mention what you plan to hunt, but the rifles that you listed that you currently own should cover any game you plan the hunt In North America anyway. Not being rude or trying to prevent you from buying a rifle but if I owned that list I'd be look in house before I went further.

Welcome to the madness!

 

[Just a hunter]

You didn't mention what you plan to hunt, but the rifles that you listed that you currently own should cover any game you plan the hunt In North America anyway. Not being rude or trying to prevent you from buying a rifle but if I owned that list I'd be look in house before I went further.

Welcome to the madness!

I appreciate the response but like most, ever so often I get the hankering for a new rifle. I enjoy the breaking in, working up a load and then finally getting to take an animal with it to see if the bullet choice was a good one and then try another one. No offense taken whatsoever. Either of the calibers I have or have mentioned will definitely have no trouble handling the deer we have here where I live. Like I say, just like different calibers and have the hankering for something new.

 

[Seymour]

I can respect that. I am always looking for a reason to get a new rifle. Your reasons are as good as any. Kinda makes me rethink my next build. I don't own a 338 anything so I think that will have to be my next. Thanks for the insight!!

 

[bkillion28]

I dont know much about a 338 rum, but if you want fast the 26 and 6.5x300 are definitely that, since you reload I would do the 26 you can neck down 28 nosler brass and there are alot of people making brass for it, I've never messed with a nosler action so I cant say about them, but Browning and Montana are both nice from when i looked at them, Christensen also makes a 26 in their Ridgeline, I've had good luck with them, I believe I read somewhere that nosler made their actions a little short so so cant run the bullet out as far in them could be something to consider if you were to rebarrel to a different round later. Good luck

 

[Just a hunter]

I dont know much about a 338 rum, but if you want fast the 26 and 6.5x300 are definitely that, since you reload I would do the 26 you can neck down 28 nosler brass and there are alot of people making brass for it, I've never messed with a nosler action so I cant say about them, but Browning and Montana are both nice from when i looked at them, Christensen also makes a 26 in their Ridgeline, I've had good luck with them, I believe I read somewhere that nosler made their actions a little short so so cant run the bullet out as far in them could be something to consider if you were to rebarrel to a different round later. Good luck

Thank you so much for the insight. I had forgotten about Christensen. I'll give them a look.

 

[WildRose]

Hello everyone. I have lurked around for probably two years but have never participated until now. I am looking to buy a new hunting rifle in the near future and would like some opinions from the experts. I'm not necessarily looking for a long range rifle but the calibers I am considering are long range cartridges so that's why I came to you guys. I currently own rifles chambered in 243, 257WBY, 270, 280, 7mm mag and 300 WM. All are Remington 700's. I'm looking at buying a plain hunting rifle. In other words, no long range stocks or heavy barrels. It will be a hunting rifle so hopefully once I have the scope zeroed I'll only be shooting one time at game so no issues with heat buildup. I feel like I am rambling so I will get on with it. I like different and faster calibers. I'm currently looking at 26 Nosler, 6.5-300 WBY and 338 RUM. I plan on buying a factory rifle instead of building one so my options are somewhat limited rifle choices. Looking at Montana and Remington for the 338, Nosler and Browning for the 26 and Weatherby for the 6.5-300. Recommendations on which caliber and rifle and why please. I do handload and am leaning towards a muzzle brake for whichever caliber. Some of the rifles I mentioned offer a brake from the factory. Thanks for any and all help.

If fast is your goal the .338 Rum is out but the .300 Rum is definitely an option.

I shoot everything from the .204 Ruger to the 6.5's, 7mm STW's, .300wm's and .300 Rum and .375 Ruger.

I have a 6.5LRM that would be ideal for what you're planning, the 26 Nosler is about 100-175fps faster.

I've owned now two factory Montana Rifle Company rifles and have a custom built on one of their actions and I've been very impressed by all three.

The X2 in .264wm, 26 Nosler or .300 Rum could be well worth looking into.

 

[Just a hunter]

If fast is your goal the .338 Rum is out but the .300 Rum is definitely an option.

I shoot everything from the .204 Ruger to the 6.5's, 7mm STW's, .300wm's and .300 Rum and .375 Ruger.

I have a 6.5LRM that would be ideal for what you're planning, the 26 Nosler is about 100-175fps faster.

I've owned now two factory Montana Rifle Company rifles and have a custom built on one of their actions and I've been very impressed by all three.

The X2 in .264wm, 26 Nosler or .300 Rum could be well worth looking into.

I guess I am using the term fast a little loosely. To me, a 200 grain bullet travelling 3,200 or better is pretty fast. I don't know how accurate that speed is but I would think that would be attainable from a 26" barrel. Without getting into the exit/no exit hole argument, how well do the 26 caliber bullets open on whitetail sized game?

 

[TangoOscarMike]

Your rifles will do just about anything that you need to do in North America. What is it that you want to do with this rifle? I don't have a problem giving you my opinion about what I would get, but I don't know what it is that you want to do. Based on what you have, the .338 would be your best choice. It is something that you don't have now and it would allow you to do things that you currently couldn't do. I can't make a real opinion without knowing what you need the gun to do.

 

[DUSTY NOGGIN]

i really like 700s . it may feel like a new gun if you try a new type of action ..
if you went with a weatherby 6.5-300 you"d be fast

 

[Coyote_Hunter]

Tightly define your needs/wants and the answer will come much easier.

Are you concerned about rust? Go stainless. Eliminates a lot of options.

Synthetic, walnut or laminate stock? Maybe an aftermarket like McMillan?

OK, no heavy barrels, but just how light do you want it? Is this going to be carried far or just short distances?

How much recoil do you want to put up with? Do you want a factory brake or are you willing to have one added later?

Budget for the rifle and scope combo? Is gently used an option?

Is ammo or component cost a concern? Are you OK with cases that run nearly $2 each?

 

[Just a hunter]

Tightly define your needs/wants and the answer will come much easier.

Are you concerned about rust? Go stainless. Eliminates a lot of options.

Synthetic, walnut or laminate stock? Maybe an aftermarket like McMillan?

OK, no heavy barrels, but just how light do you want it? Is this going to be carried far or just short distances?

How much recoil do you want to put up with? Do you want a factory brake or are you willing to have one added later?

Budget for the rifle and scope combo? Is gently used an option?

Is ammo or component cost a concern? Are you OK with cases that run nearly $2 each?

I definitely want stainless or cerakote to help prevent rust.

Synthetic stock.

I'd like to keep the weight reasonable but i don't have to have a ridiculously light rifle. All of my current rifles are 700's with synthetic stocks and stainless barrels except for the 257 which is a CDL with wood stock and fluted stainless barrel and action. Only gun with less than 24" barrel is the 270. So whatever those guns weigh is what I am accustomed to. Never weighed one of them to be honest.

As far as recoil goes, none of my current rifles have a brake and I am okay with the recoil they deliver. I feel pretty confident that I will want/need one on the 338 RUM but the other 2 choices I don't know about.

Cost of brass is not an issue for me. Not that I am rich by any means, I just don't shoot a tremendous amount and expect the brass to last me for quite some time.

As far as what I want or need the gun to do, I don't need it to do tricks or anything. I don't need it to shoot a 1" three shot group at 2.63 miles. I'm not trying to be smart when I say that, I just want a good solid rifle that I can break in fairly easily, work up a good round as I am doing my break in and then go to the woods or fields and kill a deer or whatever else I decide to shoot at with it.

As far as price goes, for the rifle alone I would like to stay at or below $2,000. I have been looking online at the Montana Xtreme X3 and it looks like a solid gun. I have zero experience with Montana, Weatherby, Browning etc. I have two friends with Savage rifles that have been solid for them.

I am leaning towards a 338 just because I don't have anything in the 338 family. I need to see what bullet options are available for it.

If anyone has experience with either of the 3 calibers I mentioned or any others that they'd recommend then please do so. Same goes for rifle recommendations.

Sorry for the long post, just trying to clear things up a little.

 

[Rick Rooney]

There are so many great guns!

With that budget off the top of my head I would say consider:

.240 Wby Mag on a Weatherby Mk V action. Fast and will smack down any deer on the continent.

Cooper's, Sako's, Sauer 101's and Mauser M12's all can be had under $2k and you will love every one of them.

I'm partial to wood stocks and would encourage you to consider one too. Nostalgia if nothing else!

If you didn't care about speed but cared about neat then consider a single shot. Dakota, Browning/Wnichester 1885, Ruger #1 or a lever action classic like Savage 99 in .308 or .243 or some rifle that shoots a .357 or .44 mag.

Man, we could talk about guns all day like this!

 

[Just a hunter]

There are so many great guns!

With that budget off the top of my head I would say consider:

.240 Wby Mag on a Weatherby Mk V action. Fast and will smack down any deer on the continent.

Cooper's, Sako's, Sauer 101's and Mauser M12's all can be had under $2k and you will love every one of them.

I'm partial to wood stocks and would encourage you to consider one too. Nostalgia if nothing else!

If you didn't care about speed but cared about neat then consider a single shot. Dakota, Browning/Wnichester 1885, Ruger #1 or a lever action classic like Savage 99 in .308 or .243 or some rifle that shoots a .357 or .44 mag.

Man, we could talk about guns all day like this!

I really want to stick with a bolt gun I think. I don't abuse my guns by any means but I do like the forgiveness of the synthetic if I hit it against the tree stand or whatever else my clumsiness finds. For some reason I keep getting drawn back to the 338 RUM. Someone talk me out of it.