What rifle to get???

[djbar2]

I've never been hunting before and I am interested in going with some friends. I am looking a buying a pre-owned rifle and trying to decide between a 30-06 or 7mm Rem Mag. I'm looking for versatility in a single rifle with the ability to go from antelope to elk with a simple change of bullet grain. Any advise is welcome. Thanks.

[ray1970]

I'm a fan of the 7 mag. Although, the 30-06 isn't a bad choice either. I'd go with a Savage or Remington and you should be good to go.

[4gunfun]

Simple bullet grain changes are not really easy. Your scope will be way off if you go from a 140 to a 165 grain bullet in the 7mm mag. But I would go with the 7mm mag and a 150 gr bullet and use on all your hunting trips. My boy just got his elk last year with one shot with my 270 and a 150 gr soft point.

[Great-Kazoo]

waxthis had / has a winchester 270 with optics in the TP forum.

[Zombie Steve]

I've never been hunting before and I am interested in going with some friends. I am looking a buying a pre-owned rifle and trying to decide between a 30-06 or 7mm Rem Mag. I'm looking for versatility in a single rifle with the ability to go from antelope to elk with a simple change of bullet grain. Any advise is welcome. Thanks.


If you want a jack of all trades, it's tough to beat the .30-06. 110 to 220 grain bullets. There's faster, there's better trajectories, and there are more efficient cartridges out there, but the '06 has been uncontroversial for a century. With the advent of bonded bullets, it is still improving in my opinion. Load it up, down, wood chucks to black bear. Boring, cliche... I guess. Just works.

7mag is no slouch, and honestly, either will serve you well. I personally hate belted cases, but it's not the end of the world. Most likely will work better for long range shots.

[MarkCO]

.270, .30-06, 7mm-08 would be three I recommend. While my Dad uses the 7mmMag, I see little benefit in more difficult reloading and less barrel life for the slightly better range.

[XC700116]

depends if you're going to use it for a range gun too or just for hunting. Basically if you're going to put a bunch of rounds down range for the sake of shooting, I'd go with the 30-06, if hunting only I'd go 7mm mag.

BUT as some of the others have mentioned a 270 would suit your purposes well and there's a good deal on a nice Winchester Mod 70 in the Trading post. I've thought about jumping on it myself but my truck sucked up that portion of my fun budget.

[Great-Kazoo]

depends if you're going to use it for a range gun too or just for hunting. Basically if you're going to put a bunch of rounds down range for the sake of shooting, I'd go with the 30-06, if hunting only I'd go 7mm mag.

BUT as some of the others have mentioned a 270 would suit your purposes well and there's a good deal on a nice Winchester Mod 70 in the Trading post. I've thought about jumping on it myself but my truck sucked up that portion of my fun budget.

The one you're referring to is a very nice rifle, for the price.

[djbar2]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I'm a cheap bastard so I'm gonna keep my eye out for a screaming cheap deal. But I will be asking for more advice on hunting next year.

[Zombie Steve]

If you're a tightwad, maybe the question you should be asking is what to look for in a used rifle. There are always used rifles in circulation after hunting season... many with less than 100 rounds down the bore.

[XC700116]

the big box stores have remington model 700 rifles in .223, 308 and 30-06 (maybe more calibers) with "scope" for right around $400.

That's pretty much what I bought (700 ADL .308 @ Cabela's for $439.99) to get the donor action for my rifle build. Great deal when a new stripped action is $459 now that Brownell's has the exclusive on them.

[jmg8550]

If you want a jack of all trades, it's tough to beat the .30-06. 110 to 220 grain bullets. There's faster, there's better trajectories, and there are more efficient cartridges out there, but the '06 has been uncontroversial for a century. With the advent of bonded bullets, it is still improving in my opinion. Load it up, down, wood chucks to black bear. Boring, cliche... I guess. Just works.

7mag is no slouch, and honestly, either will serve you well. I personally hate belted cases, but it's not the end of the world. Most likely will work better for long range shots.

That and the 30-06 has had more research and development than any other caliber in the world. There is a ton of info on that caliber. It's also the first caliber a manufacturer chambers in for a new rifle line.

My vote goes for a 30-06.

[duke_39a]

I own a 7mm Mag and have told everyone that has asked to get a 30-06. Versatile, common, easy to load for, tons of reloading supplies and commercial ammo. Good enough terminal performance to take almost everything in North America.

[djbar2]

Thanks to everyone for the input. I went with the 30-06.