The Most Dangerous Game

Been looking at rifles for a good long while now and I'm having trouble making my mind up. For now I'm really digging the CZ 557 Ranger/Range Rifle, seems like it would make for a great "do it all" rifle. That being said, the search continues...

The search is half the fun , eventually you'll pick up a rifle and know , this is the one ............. unfortunately that happens to me several times a week haha .
 
"The Most Dangerous Game" made me think of the 1930's movie by that name. To Count Zaroff, the most dangerous game was hunting humans!:runaway:

I remember that movie...the crazy Count and his "Tartar War Bow."

Anyway, I vote for a .308 Blackbear...I see lightly used ones on EE at significant savings....roughly 2/3 the cost of new...

My Black Bear 30-06 fits me like a glove. When I throw it up to my shoulder the sights (or the the scope) are instantly aligned. The adjustment of the front sight is fast and easy. It took me three shots to zero the front sight to the Talley peep. The fluting of the barrel is both useful, lightening weight, assisting cooling, and good looking. I like barrel band sling swivels. They lower the rifle on the shoulder to avoid snagging on bushes. The Black Bear also takes another Q-D sling swivel in the conventional stock forend position, just in case you prefer that or want to shoot using a tight "hasty sling" or a bipod. I have sling swivel bases in both locations. I use Talley bases, peep sight and rings, a workable combination that allows me to easily switch from open sights to a scope. I first tried an original Sako peep and vintage Sako rings, but found that I prefer the Talleys. I have two Swarovski scopes set up for this rifle, plus the peep. I have had no ejection problems with either scope, one a straight 4X (A bit beat up, but its a lucky scope and has seen a lot of game on a variety of rifles) and the other a big 3-12X. Very smooth bolt with positive ejection and short throw bolt handle. The trigger is great, breaking around 3lb. just like the proverbial icicle. The safety is silent and locks the bolt handle down. A detachable magazine that can be ignored and fed from the top provides the best of both worlds. The stock isn't Circassian walnut and of course I wish it was but like I said, it fits me perfectly and aligns the sights instantly, and it is light, so that trumps walnut. The overall matte black finish on the rifle is both useful and good-looking. However, I stripped the blue off the bolt handle. I can't stand blued bolt handles. This is a great rifle that consistently shoots both discount brand factory ammo and my warm hunting reloads into less than an inch. What is there to complain about? The relatively high price? I think its worth every penny. I use a 30-06 because I always have. I have shot plenty of deer (of all 3 species), bears, and regular Western moose, plus coyotes, etc. with a 30-06. I know the trajectory and I know I can rely on it to put the game down. Also now that I have quit reloading (after 4 decades) I like being able to buy 30-06 ammo nearly anywhere. The safe is full of classic vintage European rifles: Mannlicher-Schoenauer, Brno, Sako, Tikka, Husqvarna, Oberndorf Mauser, etc....much more fun than another savings account...but the Black Bear 30-06 is my reliable frontline hunting rifle.

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how it all started for me first moose gun was bought way back at woolco
303 $69 lee enfield lumber jacket wool sweaters socks and long johns rubber farmer boots. then
7.62x54r $50 mosin then army surplus $30camo jacket $20 pants i made a wool liner for them out of
old wool sweaters. sewed them in by hand (had to teach myself how to sew ) then jumped to
308. $300 rem bolt action canadian tire camo jacket and pants then i moved up to
30.06 $2289 Heckler & Koch model HK940 + bushnell scope my first scoped rifle. sport chief insulated jacket and pants. then
300 win mag $3369 benelli R1 + Leopold scope rocky mount gear jacket and pants boots

there is a low down on what some of us started with not a cheap passion this moose hunting
we moose hunters have a spirit and passion for the hunt that we count the days till we
start the long trek north to moose country (2000 kilometers form home for me)
to hunt the Great wide wilderness our great vast country has to offer
no other place like it wish i could go this year
only a calf tag not going all that way for little calf WMU area 3 ontario
 
how it all started for me first moose gun was bought way back at woolco
303 $69 lee enfield lumber jacket wool sweaters socks and long johns rubber farmer boots. then
7.62x54r $50 mosin then army surplus $30camo jacket $20 pants i made a wool liner for them out of
old wool sweaters. sewed them in by hand (had to teach myself how to sew ) then jumped to
308. $300 rem bolt action canadian tire camo jacket and pants then i moved up to
30.06 $2289 Heckler & Koch model HK940 + bushnell scope my first scoped rifle. sport chief insulated jacket and pants. then
300 win mag $3369 benelli R1 + Leopold scope rocky mount gear jacket and pants boots

there is a low down on what some of us started with not a cheap passion this moose hunting
we moose hunters have a spirit and passion for the hunt that we count the days till we
start the long trek north to moose country (2000 kilometers form home for me)
to hunt the Great wide wilderness our great vast country has to offer
no other place like it wish i could go this year
only a calf tag not going all that way for little calf WMU area 3 ontario

Lol, yup, the cheap moosehunt ended long ago. Worth every penny. Nothing I would sooner do than a moose hunt.
 
I fall into the .30-06 for anything and everything camp. A good bonded 180 grain pill loaded to close to max will fit the bill for anything on this continent. That being said, I should have just kept the .30-06 I got as a Christmas present 30+ years ago and just went with that - but you know how it is, your eyes begin to wander and then you next start reading gun mags .....
 
The 06’ gives you a bit more where you shouldn’t be using it , pls don’t make long shots until you are very familiar with your gear in all situations. The .308 is the number 1 hunting round in the number 1 hunting country in the world for a reason . Personally believe Canadians on average are better hunters but the numbers support the States.
 
I vote for a .308 Blackbear

A bit over what I'm willing to spend, but I'll look into it. You made a good job on selling the idea to me :) The whole bear series is quite appealing...

how it all started for me first moose gun was bought way back at woolco
303 $69 lee enfield lumber jacket wool sweaters socks and long johns rubber farmer boots. then
7.62x54r $50 mosin then army surplus $30camo jacket $20 pants i made a wool liner for them out of
old wool sweaters. sewed them in by hand (had to teach myself how to sew ) then jumped to
308. $300 rem bolt action canadian tire camo jacket and pants then i moved up to
30.06 $2289 Heckler & Koch model HK940 + bushnell scope my first scoped rifle. sport chief insulated jacket and pants. then
300 win mag $3369 benelli R1 + Leopold scope rocky mount gear jacket and pants boots

there is a low down on what some of us started with not a cheap passion this moose hunting
we moose hunters have a spirit and passion for the hunt that we count the days till we
start the long trek north to moose country (2000 kilometers form home for me)
to hunt the Great wide wilderness our great vast country has to offer
no other place like it wish i could go this year
only a calf tag not going all that way for little calf WMU area 3 ontario

It wont be too expensive for me since I'm finally back on my home turf. I'm lucky enough to own a few woodlots with decent traffic for moose and said lot is in walking distance from my house. Only regret is that I didn't get into hunting sooner, but my old job didn't allow for it.

You said you will get an old .330 brit. Try that out first, most of them old guns shoot very well

I'll have to look at it and asses it's condition before using it as a primary gun for hunting. It's a old Parker-Hale Lee Enfield Sporter (Custom No1 I believe). I have a Bushnell Scopechief VI scope along with it but it didn't stay aligned for some reason.

I fall into the .30-06 for anything and everything camp. A good bonded 180 grain pill loaded to close to max will fit the bill for anything on this continent. That being said, I should have just kept the .30-06 I got as a Christmas present 30+ years ago and just went with that - but you know how it is, your eyes begin to wander and then you next start reading gun mags .....

The 06’ gives you a bit more where you shouldn’t be using it , pls don’t make long shots until you are very familiar with your gear in all situations. The .308 is the number 1 hunting round in the number 1 hunting country in the world for a reason . Personally believe Canadians on average are better hunters but the numbers support the States.

Still undecided on 30-06 vs .308... No need to worry about me trying to land a shot farther than I can shoot. Most of the opportunities should be rather close range and I aim to practice and get confident enough before I try my luck.
 
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Well I finally pulled the trigger on a CZ 557 Range/Ranger in .308. Found a decent deal and went for it. Now the begins the arduous task of selecting a scope f:P: Been eyeing Nikon and their first focal plane scopes (prostaff/monarch). Seems like good optics for the price (research ongoing though).

Thanks to everyone for the tips and support :d
 
Winchester 70 or Tikka in either cartridge will do the trick, I prefer 30-06 as it’s a little more versatile overall for hunting but the .308 may be a little more forgiving at the range if you plan on shooting lots,

I’ve used lots of Leupold scopes without issue, VX3i 3.5-10x40 or VX3i 4.5-14x40 30mm tube would work perfect.
 
Don’t forget about the Steyr Prohunter. Clay has them in stock. If I was hunting bog donkeys one in .300 mag would be my choice, however that Vanguard for under $500 would be hard to beat.
 
This is just me but I use a .50 Cal roundball for hunting including big game as crazy as it may be.

It's got nothing on any modern bullet but it's cheap to run, fun and you can pretend to be Jeremiah Johnson while your at it lol.
 
Well, your CZ in 308 is a great choice for what you are going to do with it.

Do not worry about the FFP vs SFP scopes. Out to 300 yards, you will not realize the advantage of the FFP.
The scopes mentioned above are all good.

I have more Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x40 scopes on my rifles than any other, but also have a few of the 2.5-8x36's as well. Great scopes with lifetime warranty to any owner. Service center is in Okotoks, AB and is good, and quick. Have only used once in 30 years, and it was not the scopes fault; I fell in the mountains and landed scope first on the rocks. It was mailed out fixed, mailed back and back on my rifle in 11 days! Still on that 338 Win Mag, 20 years later.
The B&C reticle is a good choice in these scopes. Sight in the main crosshair for about 2" high at 100 yards (depending on load), you'll be dead on with the main crosshair at 200 yards, and the next hash mark down will be dead on at 300 yards (with the power ring set on the right magnification for the 308 as found in the owner's manual). No need to guess hold over for 300 yards.
For target practice at the range the other lower hash marks are for 400 and 500 yards. This practice will make you more confident in the field at 300 yards.
 
Well, your CZ in 308 is a great choice for what you are going to do with it.
Do not worry about the FFP vs SFP scopes. Out to 300 yards, you will not realize the advantage of the FFP.

I know I should have gotten a Leupold but I fell settled on FFP and ordered a Nikon Mornarch 3 3-12x42mm. I guess the BDC reticle isn't all that great compared to others but on a FFP scope at those magnifications, I think it'll be serviceable. Plus it was so cheap I just couldn't resist... If push comes to shove I'll just get something else and sell it/put it on some other rifle.

I read somewhere the CZ 557 doesn't like cheap surplus ammo. Something about the throat expanding a tad too much and causing some problems on extraction. What would you guys suggest for cheap plinking ammo?

Also looking for insight on good bullet weight/construction for Moose hunting between 1-300 yards.
 
Hello

I personally own a T3 in 3006 recoil was not bad but muzzle jump was a beast limb saver tamed that right now
With a165 gr hornady interlock I have taken moose elk deer and bear with this all within 500 yards
Gun is topped with a Leupold Canadian 4-12/50
I could only afford one gun and have only felt under gunned when meeting a grizzly on the trail
 
A year ago I was in your shoes having to make the same .308 or 30-06 decision. Hopefully, a rookie perspective will be of some value with all the experienced voices.

For me, recoil has turned out to be a big thing. I ended up going for a 6.5 caliber cartridge for this reason. If you have shot enough to know this is not a big deal for you then fly at it, but if you are new like me I would look at 6.5x55, .260, 7mm-08, creedmoor, etc... Folks will debate these cartridges margin for error on large game, but they are pretty universally seen as more than adequate for deer.

BTW, I have been happy with my Weatherby Vangaurd S2, Blued in 6.5CM. Cheap, not that heavy, and I have used it on a number of winter overnight hunts and a week strapped to an atv in the mud with no concerns. (edit: also no feeding issues and tons of after market options for the action if I want to take the rifle in a different direction)
 
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A year ago I was in your shoes having to make the same .308 or 30-06 decision.

At least I'm over that hurdle. I went for a CZ 557 Range/Ranger in .308. I'm far from being an experienced shooter but I did shoot a few calibers for fun a few times, .303/.270wsm/30-06/.300wm. .300wsm is the only one I wouldn't consider shooting a whole afternoon with. All in all I think recoil will be more than acceptable on this gun since it's rather heavy and stout. I'm happy with my choice for now but there's no telling if that's the gun I'll bring on a hunt for the next years to come. Might just buy something else eventually.
 
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