Caliber advice
- Thread starter Peter.james
- Start date
You don't need magnum but if you like it go for it. I prefer to go for a calibre that is available anywhere (if you somehow forget/lose/use all your ammo) I like 308. 270 shoots flat and is good for everything you listed. 30-06 is good too and ammo is available pretty well anywhere.
I bought a 260 Rem for my all round rifle, from coyotes/fox to moose here in Ontario, been a dandy caliber with bullet options from 85 gr right up to 160gr, I load the 85's for varmints, and 125gr partitions/130Accubonds for deer, bear and moose. I would recommend a 7mm-08 / 308, if not focusing on varmits as much and mostly sticking to big game, lots and lots of factory ammo availible for 308 if you don't re-load, and lots of rifle options to choose from in that caliber, cant go wrong,
I agree. Availability is also a factor.
What neck of the woods are you in? Certain municipalities have calibre restrictions on anything over .275 for small game. If you're in one of those areas the .270 would be a prudent choice. I prefer the original to the WSM, but whatever floats your boat.
Hi peter;
i'm an old guy, [71], i have been around firearms since i was a kid.
I've shot moose with a 300 savage in 99, 308 winchester, 30-06, 270 winchester and 7mm remington magnum
my favourite is the 7mm rem. Magnum. I used sierra 160 grain boattails bullets.
I never lost a moose that i shot at, or any other animals.
I have shot over 35 moose with the 7mm.
Mostly bulls and 1 cow moose.
I still have a new 30-06, that never gets taken out, I really like my 308's in savage 99's, i have 2 of them.
I use my rem model 7 when i walk the bush.[308].
When i'm serious out comes the 7mm magnum.
In a savage with accutrigger, accustock and detachable magazine.
Never buy a big game rifle without a detacahble magazine.
It cost me a calf 2 years ago.
i'm an old guy, [71], i have been around firearms since i was a kid.
I've shot moose with a 300 savage in 99, 308 winchester, 30-06, 270 winchester and 7mm remington magnum
my favourite is the 7mm rem. Magnum. I used sierra 160 grain boattails bullets.
I never lost a moose that i shot at, or any other animals.
I have shot over 35 moose with the 7mm.
Mostly bulls and 1 cow moose.
I still have a new 30-06, that never gets taken out, I really like my 308's in savage 99's, i have 2 of them.
I use my rem model 7 when i walk the bush.[308].
When i'm serious out comes the 7mm magnum.
In a savage with accutrigger, accustock and detachable magazine.
Never buy a big game rifle without a detacahble magazine.
It cost me a calf 2 years ago.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Don't worry too much about which cartridge your rifle is chambered for, since most modern chamberings are extremely capable; rather find the rifle that grabs your imagination, then choose the most effective cartridge from the ones that its chambered for, that is within your ability to shoot well. That said the .270 and the .270 WSM are both capable if they're chambered in a rifle that really grabs you. When it comes to rifle selection, consider where it is that you intend to hunt, and the conditions that you'll be out in. In difficult country, the north shore of Lake Superior comes to mind, you might prefer a lighter, shorter rifle, and there is much wisdom in colome's post to that effect. I don't think there is much point in telling you what I shoot, because my circumstances, tastes, tolerances, and personality are all different.
Where I differ with colome is on the subject of detachable magazines, the inexpensive ones are junk, and end up lost, I discovered this back in the dark ages with a 788 Remington. This rifle had an oversize magazine release just forward of the trigger guard, inevitably the release got bumped and magazine was released, never to be seen again; my solution was to tape it in place while in the field. I traded that one off fairly quickly. You might lose an expensive magazine too, so have several with you, but it won't be because the retaining latch wouldn't hold it. Be sure to have a magazine attached to the rifle at all times so that it doesn't get left at home. I prefer a hinged floor plate since there is nothing to lose, and you can still load and unload quickly. I'm not a fan of blind magazines since you have to take the rifle apart to clear a jam.
One area that is seldom discussed anymore is that of iron sights, mainly because scopes are affordable and easier to use well. But there are two good reasons to consider iron sights; one is that the rifle is not out of service if its dropped and the cross hair breaks, the scope fogs up, or suffers some other damage that makes it unusable. The second reason is if your rifle does not readily accept scope mounting, or mounting a scope spoils the rifle's handling characteristics, although these examples are becoming rare.
When choosing a scope, consider the range at which you intend to shoot, and the size of your target, and choose appropriately. Many, myself included, prefer low powered variable scopes, but a visit to Dogleg quickly lets you see that in his neck of the woods more magnification is a good thing. Keep in mind though that the purpose of magnification is to enable you to see your target. You don't need 16X magnification to see a moose at 25 yards, and worse if that's what you have, you won't find the moose in your small field of view. If you're as likely to not see you moose at 500 yards, then 16X comes into its own. So magnification is not the primary advantage of the scope sight; in the scope the reticle and the target on the same focal plane, that is the advantage, because both target and aiming point are in simultaneous focus, whereas with irons, once you're on target, you must focus on the front sight, allowing the target to blur. Then there's choice between aperture and open rear sights, and the correct choice of front sight, but I won't get into that now, because you might not even want irons on your rifle.
While we're on the subject, purchase good quality scope mounts. Now "good" covers a lot of ground, but if your budget is tight the old time Weaver rings with the big windage screws and spring steel rings mounted on a slotted base are better than they get credit for. They can be a bit of a pain to mount, since the scope tends to roll as the rings screws tighten, but before long you figure out how to index the scope so that it rolls into the correct orientation as the screws tighten. I like Timney and Warne QD rings, Leupold's duel dovetail arrangement, and I'm a fan of the excellent, if comparatively expensive, Near mounts.
Decide if your rifle will wear a sling, and if it does, will the sling be simply a carry strap, or if it will also be a shooting aid, this will dictate the type of sling you purchase. If you're going to shoot from supported positions, and intend sling up there are many good choices from military loop slings, to Ching Slings to Rhodesian slings. If your rifle generates significant recoil, it might be prudent to locate the forward sling swivel further forward. On hard kicking rifles I put mine on the radius of the forend tip which eliminates the possibility of my support hand being gouged by the front swivel stud.
Where I differ with colome is on the subject of detachable magazines, the inexpensive ones are junk, and end up lost, I discovered this back in the dark ages with a 788 Remington. This rifle had an oversize magazine release just forward of the trigger guard, inevitably the release got bumped and magazine was released, never to be seen again; my solution was to tape it in place while in the field. I traded that one off fairly quickly. You might lose an expensive magazine too, so have several with you, but it won't be because the retaining latch wouldn't hold it. Be sure to have a magazine attached to the rifle at all times so that it doesn't get left at home. I prefer a hinged floor plate since there is nothing to lose, and you can still load and unload quickly. I'm not a fan of blind magazines since you have to take the rifle apart to clear a jam.
One area that is seldom discussed anymore is that of iron sights, mainly because scopes are affordable and easier to use well. But there are two good reasons to consider iron sights; one is that the rifle is not out of service if its dropped and the cross hair breaks, the scope fogs up, or suffers some other damage that makes it unusable. The second reason is if your rifle does not readily accept scope mounting, or mounting a scope spoils the rifle's handling characteristics, although these examples are becoming rare.
When choosing a scope, consider the range at which you intend to shoot, and the size of your target, and choose appropriately. Many, myself included, prefer low powered variable scopes, but a visit to Dogleg quickly lets you see that in his neck of the woods more magnification is a good thing. Keep in mind though that the purpose of magnification is to enable you to see your target. You don't need 16X magnification to see a moose at 25 yards, and worse if that's what you have, you won't find the moose in your small field of view. If you're as likely to not see you moose at 500 yards, then 16X comes into its own. So magnification is not the primary advantage of the scope sight; in the scope the reticle and the target on the same focal plane, that is the advantage, because both target and aiming point are in simultaneous focus, whereas with irons, once you're on target, you must focus on the front sight, allowing the target to blur. Then there's choice between aperture and open rear sights, and the correct choice of front sight, but I won't get into that now, because you might not even want irons on your rifle.
While we're on the subject, purchase good quality scope mounts. Now "good" covers a lot of ground, but if your budget is tight the old time Weaver rings with the big windage screws and spring steel rings mounted on a slotted base are better than they get credit for. They can be a bit of a pain to mount, since the scope tends to roll as the rings screws tighten, but before long you figure out how to index the scope so that it rolls into the correct orientation as the screws tighten. I like Timney and Warne QD rings, Leupold's duel dovetail arrangement, and I'm a fan of the excellent, if comparatively expensive, Near mounts.
Decide if your rifle will wear a sling, and if it does, will the sling be simply a carry strap, or if it will also be a shooting aid, this will dictate the type of sling you purchase. If you're going to shoot from supported positions, and intend sling up there are many good choices from military loop slings, to Ching Slings to Rhodesian slings. If your rifle generates significant recoil, it might be prudent to locate the forward sling swivel further forward. On hard kicking rifles I put mine on the radius of the forend tip which eliminates the possibility of my support hand being gouged by the front swivel stud.
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CreamySmooth
CGN frequent flyer
Read back on the 200,000 plus caliber advice threads. You’ll see it’s been fairly established you’ll need at least a .375 H&H, though a .375 Ruger is the new king, so maybe try that.
All good advice, but if you want a rifle that you can also use in southern Ontario for hunting, then look at something in the 6.5mm or .260. Respectfully, .375 is over-kill for Ontario; even 300 mag; ammo is very expensive, and in order to get enough practice for your shooting to become instinctive, these high powered loads will hurt you. With heavier bullets, both the 6.5 X 57 and .260 will out perform the "trendy" 6.5 Creedmoor; the Creedmoor has a slight edge with lighter varmint bullets. Even the good old .243 could do it all; loaded right, and practice to place shots well.
I despise detachable mags. I've seen too many lost, go missing. Expensive to replace, sometimes impossible. I've never had an issue with a fixed, staggered column magazine with a hinged floorplate.
I've only ever had detachable magazines in my rifles, but the next gun I'm eyeing only comes with hinged floor plate. Am I wrong to be concerned about noise when loading it in a deer stand? The magazine is just a tiny click and it's all loaded up. Loading one at a time from the top seems to me that it might make way more noise.
I bought a spare mag with my current rifle. When hunting, I'll fill both and carry one in each pocket until legal shooting time. I've never come close to having one fall out of either my pocket or the gun. The thing I like most about them is it's a breeze to unload and I'm not fumbling around with cold hands and a handful of cartridges.
They are expensive though.
