looking for some advice

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jp123

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Hello all...I am in the market for a new big game hunting rifle. I am looking at a Browning BLR in 300win mag, or a Browning X-Bolt White Gold Medallion in 300 win mag. Both rifles are at my local gun shop for good prices, and I am looking at mounting a Vortex Viper 4x12x40 scope on which ever rifle I get...having said that, I have read soime reviews that the BLR is not accurate out past 300 yards. I havent had to make that far a shot yet ( I hunt moose and bear in NL...and usually get close) but I have had chances to take a bigger bull out as far as 450 yards...Whats everyones input? for the cost that id be spending on this package...is there a better alternative package to get???
 
Levers aren't meant for long action calibers imo. Go with the bolt. Personally, i'm a little leery of vortex. Everybody seems to love their warranty but, to me, the best warranty is the one you never need. Take a look at the Tikka T3 hunter. Good deals to be had on them and they can shoot! Winchester model 70 ultimate shadow is another nice rifle priced below the extreme weather model 70. I'm not a magnum fan so i won't comment on .300 wm except to say the 7mm rem would be another consideration.
 
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You truly are a Brave Soul!! (asking for advice on which rifle to buy) Firstly, lay in a supply of aspirin..for the ensuing headache that will occur trying to make a decision after the range of responses you are bound to get..MINE included!!..LOL!!) As to the choice between the 2 guns YOU mention..go with the BOLT action all the way. As already noted by nomad68, Lever guns and long magnums not a good fit for so many reasons! A 4-12x is on the high end of magnification I would use for a hunting rifle, especially given your statement that you are usually closer than long range. In the thick stuff, for bears and moose, I prefer a variable in the range of 1.5-6x, or 2-7x. 3x-9x variable is the accepted norm/compromise! The high magnification is ample for any hunting shot within the rifle & hunters capabilities on game the size of bears & moose. The lower magnification allows for visibility at the closer ranges..especially if following up a wounded bear!

Outside of the fact that there are two '300 mags' available at your local store..I will throw in one more personal comment. For the purposes you state, I would opt for a .338 Win Mag over the .300. Can't speak to the VORTEX..never owned one. I prefer leupold for ALL my rifles from .22lr to 585 Nyati!

good luck with the selection
hope you have had a good Christmas so far!!
cheers
loren
 
Is there a better outfit for you?
There sure is! I agree with some of the opinions coming from Crossfield, AB, but not all of them.
Bolt action, yes, for sure.
Lower magnification, yes. Only I would go with the lower end of what he suggests and get a 1.5 to 4 or 5 power. The 1.5 is actually about no magnification, which is absolutely perfect for close range hunting of big game. Leave both eyes open and see everything in front of you. The fastest big rifle sight you will ever use.
And that big bull you want to get which is out there at 450 yards? The cross hairs on that 1.5 to 4 power scope, even at 1.5 power, will easily go right on the spot you want. If you miss, or make a poor hit, it will be for some other reason, but not because the magnification was too low to let you aim where you wanted to.
My choice of calibre, without the slightest doubt, would be a 30-06. A 30-06, especially if you hand load and load them up to the velocity they were designed for, is more than enough power to be completely adequate to kill any moose or bear that ever walked the rocky lake shores of Newfoundland.
 
decisions...decisions. I think the lever is going to be out of the question for a couple of reasons...some as stated before. the other is that cleaning all the moving parts will be a tangle if they all fall out on the floor! The vortex optic has a BDC...which I also like to have the option of using...if need be! Im not overly fond of the "look" of the Tikka...which was what first attracted me to the gold medallion X-bolt...its a real beauty for sure! Caliber wise...I have a savage 30.06 now that I am trying to sell to help fund the purchase of this new rifle. I was leaning towards the .300 because it was in stock...but could go bigger i suppose. I dont reload, and would be shooting all factory loads.

Now...optics...i love the clarity and quality of the vortex...are there other suggestions there?
 
For big calibers I always go with bolt actions, as for scope I can't see needing anything bigger than 2.5-8 Leupold.
Rock solid built with great optics and life time guarantee can't be beat!!
 
jp123 said:
decisions...decisions. I think the lever is going to be out of the question for a couple of reasons...some as stated before. the other is that cleaning all the moving parts will be a tangle if they all fall out on the floor! The vortex optic has a BDC...which I also like to have the option of using...if need be! Im not overly fond of the "look" of the Tikka...which was what first attracted me to the gold medallion X-bolt...its a real beauty for sure! Caliber wise...I have a savage 30.06 now that I am trying to sell to help fund the purchase of this new rifle. I was leaning towards the .300 because it was in stock...but could go bigger i suppose. I dont reload, and would be shooting all factory loads.

Now...optics...i love the clarity and quality of the vortex...are there other suggestions there?
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LOL.... I don;t think anyone is going to present a good argument for going BIGGER than the .300 .... Definitely go with a bolt and try out a few to see what fits you.... a pretty rifle isn;t worth squat if it doesn't fit you right.... As for optics, you can't go wrong with Leupold... If you are on a budget take a look at the Redfield revolution line of scopes.....

I have a Vortex diamondback I love that has worked flawlessly for me... that being said, it is on a .223 so it doesn't have to take much recoil...
 
I have owned BLRs in virtually every chambering in which they were offered, and I do like them. I do not think that a BLR is a good choice for the hunting you describe, as you have already heard loud and clear. I agree strongly that a bolt-action rifle is what you need. And it sounds like you already have a rig that is a good one - so maybe you want to spend your money on a good scope and ammo.....

I have personally found that Burris scopes are very good value for money, and have more Burris scopes mounted on my rifles than any other brand. Yes Leupold is very good, yes the higher-end Bushnells are very good, and yes the Vortex scopes I have seen and used are very good. All four of those companies have very good warranties and service.

And Doctor Doug says take two aspirins and call him in the morning...............;)

Doug
 
I'm not a fan of the aesthetics of the White Gold...too much bling. But given what you're looking to do I would go with the bolt and throttle back just a hair on the power of the optics as sheephunter suggested. Don't fret about the 300 Winchester, it'll do nicely and 180 or 200gr bullets have excellent SD which (given proper construction) will yield very good penetration. I had a 180gr NPT go side to side on a nice bull moose in BC and end up under the hide. Normally I prefer complete penetration, but he didn't take a half-dozen steps before he keeled over. Kufa sana is kufa sana.
 
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