One Gun?

[memtb]

I disagree. It should read "Beware the man with one gun, for he is a newbie."

I fervently and respectfully disagree! I started hand loading @ 14 without any adult help…..that was 56 years ago.

There's been a lot of loading for various rifles and handguns, as well as casting for most of those!

I find that one rifle/cartridge for hunting, works just fine for me! memtb

 

[PApa Black]

Obviously an impossible question but.....
I have a fair collection of interesting rifles.
I HAVE a VERY good 30-06....
Do i "need" a new/different ONE GUN for that potential short notice go to the remotes big game hunt? I.E. short notice fill in for elk/moose to prime area.
Im good to 500yds.
Thinking a 7mm Rem or 300 Win?
Love the STW but looking at availability of factory ammo.
Heavy for caliber bullet guy, not especially susceptible to recoil but a 7 does kick less than a 300....and of course 300 hits harder on the downrange end.
Thoughts?

"VERY good 30-06...." works on everything from mosquitoes to elephants...........

 

[Buffalobwana]

Obviously an impossible question but.....

Yes. Obviously!

Do i "need" a new/different ONE GUN for that potential short notice go to the remotes big game hunt? I.E. short notice fill in for elk/moose to prime area.

338 Win Mag will get you a pretty good range.

375 H&H … one gun, one planet! You can shoot it a pretty fair distance.

I have killed game at 355 yards with a 416 Rem mag. The idea that big bores (with 308 velocities) can't be used at longer ranges is silly.

 

[tomsd]

Obviously an impossible question but.....
I have a fair collection of interesting rifles.
I HAVE a VERY good 30-06....
Do i "need" a new/different ONE GUN for that potential short notice go to the remotes big game hunt? I.E. short notice fill in for elk/moose to prime area.
Im good to 500yds.
Thinking a 7mm Rem or 300 Win?
Love the STW but looking at availability of factory ammo.
Heavy for caliber bullet guy, not especially susceptible to recoil but a 7 does kick less than a 300....and of course 300 hits harder on the downrange end.
Thoughts?

Whichever you can shoot best. The Odd Six - with today's ammo - is still one heck of a rifle. How far are you realistically planning on shooting ?

 

[Hummer70]

If you are only going to be hunting and not be out burning 50 rounds of magnum ammo at a shot the 300 WM will do just fine. Barrel life as compared to 30.06 is only about to be about 10% of what you will get running magnum loads. It gets worse with 7MM mag and the copper fouling will likely go up. I set my 30.06 target rifle barrels back every 2500 rounds. I have one rifle that I have set back three times and it is still doing fine.

 

[Mr1Fixit]

I know....but then how do i justify a new gun!?!?!?

At some point you will need to give that .30-06 to a son, daughter, or grandchild. Then you will need something to replace it. You should easily be able to justify the need for higher accuracy, better optics, lighter weight, etc. as your years increase. If you have more than one offspring that needs a rifle, all the better to acquire one, and use if for a while yourself (to be sure it is worthy of handing down.)

 

[sturner]

I WANT a new gun..
Is all the justification you need
Get you a lever 45-70 stays in the truck and tractor kills everything from rabbits to moose and oh my

 

[Eric H]

Bought my 06 back in 83' "used" and it hasn't failed me yet.

 

[Upsidedownjack]

You simply say you want another gun....what's to justify?

Want! Not a matter of Need, Just WANT!

 

[pony doctor]

Obviously an impossible question but.....
I have a fair collection of interesting rifles.
I HAVE a VERY good 30-06....
Do i "need" a new/different ONE GUN for that potential short notice go to the remotes big game hunt? I.E. short notice fill in for elk/moose to prime area.
Im good to 500yds.
Thinking a 7mm Rem or 300 Win?
Love the STW but looking at availability of factory ammo.
Heavy for caliber bullet guy, not especially susceptible to recoil but a 7 does kick less than a 300....and of course 300 hits harder on the downrange end.
Thoughts?

Whenever our government starts up the gun confiscation subject, I just go buy another!

 

[pony doctor]

Whenever our government starts up the gun confiscation subject, I just go buy another!. Everyone needs s 300 Win Mag!

 

[Lenny Foffa]

Sure , you can make your excellent 30-06 do 95 percent of everything you need. ...........And YES!!! ,Loading todays 30-06 is lightyears ahead of dads old 06 loads from the 50's. The new selection of bullets and powders make that great old classic round into a much more modern round capable of hitting harder at longer ranges. BUT!!! Sometimes getting a new rifle in another caliber has nothing to do with "Need". Sometimes a shooter just wants another rifle , in a new and interesting caliber. This has nothing to do with "Sense," or "Practicality." You just really want one. For me, When I get that urge, I start the cookie jar approach, and also I see if there is rifle I own that I could bring myself to sell, to get the next addition to my safe. Good Luck Buddy

 

[awalkawalka]

06 should be fine with the right bullet selection.

As for 7rm vs 300wm I have both. The 300 collects dust because my 7mm shoots flatter and retains energy down range all while kicking less. I use the 180 berger hybrid, 70.2gr rotumbo @2905fps. Switch to the 175 elite hunters for smaller game like whitetail. These round really woke up my 7mm and it hits like a hammer.

That being said if I was buying today it would be a 7prc. Pretty much the same performance as the 7rm but you'll be able to use some newer powders and get a bit more velocity than the 7rm plus it's setup for the heavier bullets that really make the 7mm class shine. All without the belt.

I would have zero issues picking up a 300wm for my do it all gun though. .30cals are great hunters and the bullet selection gives you way more options. Good luck on your hunt.

 

[Munch]

I hunted out west for bigger game animals for years with the 300WM. 300WM was my "go to" caliber for nearly a half a century.

3 years ago I moved from 300WM to 300PRC. The projectiles offered for the 300PRC have significant advantages offered over the 300WM. G1 and G7 data will illustrate such. The 300PRC has the potential to increase both the mindset range (all of us has a different ethical shot range regardless of caliber) and actual distance one is willing to take a shot on a big elk or moose.

I procrastinated between choosing the 300PRC or the 300 Norma Mag. Went with the PRC.

The 300PRC will "shoot out" the barrel much faster than a 300WM. But it's not a target or competition rifle, so no worries ever reaching 300 rounds in my life time, remaining! I have an early 80s Remy 700 Mountain Rifle in 270WIN that has only 73 rounds through the tube and it was my primary white tail, bean field rifle for nearly 20 years. None of my hunting rifles I purchased new have more than 167 rounds through the tube. Yep, I log each shot because I handload my ammunition.

The bottom line, I'd go for a new rifle in one of the newer calibers offering high BC bullets.

Just be aware that the felt recoil of any of the 30 Mag calibers will be significantly more than your old "06"!

I suspect if you're concentrating on the shot and go through your pre-shot routine and follow through, you really don't even feel or aware of the recoil...and I weigh less than 150#.

As for factory ammo...can't help you there. My grandfather started me out handloading when I was 13. Using the Lee one stage at a time hand tools. I'm nearly 70 and still develop/tweak and shoot my own handloaded ammunition.

Good luck with the hunt for your new one rifle!