Long time Hunter, planning on buying a new rifle this weekend and need some advice on these 3 calibers. Also open to suggestions on other calibers.
Ill be using the gun only for hunting and will be hunting mainly mule deer, antelope, an occasional elk or two, and desert bighorn when I draw the tag.
Also, I don't reload so I'll be using factory loads.
I have been told by a few people to avoid the 7mmRUM unless you reload, because the caliber will likely be phased out due to its unpopularity.
With this new rifle, my main concern is getting something that is capable and best suited for possible shots between 300-500 yds. Hunting out west in the big, open country often presents shots of this nature. The areas I hunt year in and year out shots are often not closer than 200 yards.
I looked at some different guns last weekend, in particular the Remington 700 SPS Stainless and the Tikka Lite Stainless. I have been reading a lot and both brands seem to get good reviews. When I picked up the Tikka my initial thought was that it was kind of "cheap" feeling. I know it's probably not fair to judge a book by it's cover. I own a few Remingtons, and am kind of leaning that way at the moment.
This will be my first Synthetic in a larger "big game" caliber. I like the idea of having something a little lighter for those long days on foot.
Any thoughts, advice, or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Justin
Ill be using the gun only for hunting and will be hunting mainly mule deer, antelope, an occasional elk or two, and desert bighorn when I draw the tag.
Also, I don't reload so I'll be using factory loads.
I have been told by a few people to avoid the 7mmRUM unless you reload, because the caliber will likely be phased out due to its unpopularity.
With this new rifle, my main concern is getting something that is capable and best suited for possible shots between 300-500 yds. Hunting out west in the big, open country often presents shots of this nature. The areas I hunt year in and year out shots are often not closer than 200 yards.
I looked at some different guns last weekend, in particular the Remington 700 SPS Stainless and the Tikka Lite Stainless. I have been reading a lot and both brands seem to get good reviews. When I picked up the Tikka my initial thought was that it was kind of "cheap" feeling. I know it's probably not fair to judge a book by it's cover. I own a few Remingtons, and am kind of leaning that way at the moment.
This will be my first Synthetic in a larger "big game" caliber. I like the idea of having something a little lighter for those long days on foot.
Any thoughts, advice, or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Justin