What cal. would you take??

scott_r

scott_r

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 99.6%
223   1   0
Location
Behind a .204 Ruger
I have been shopping for a big game rifle for the upcomming season and have pretty much narrowed it down to 2. The first is a used Sako 75 s/s ($1050)in mint shape in the fast 270 wsm and the second is a new Sako 75 Finnlight ($1300)in the 300 win mag. As you can see the 270 wsm is cheaper by a bit.
I'm looking for a rifle primarily for whitetails and mulies but am wanting to hunt elk and moose this year. Should I save $250 and have a great deer rifle but marginal elk gun or get a 300 mag which is a bit big for whitetail but great for moose and elk (which I less then deer):confused: :confused:

I know there are different calibre out there but Im more so interested in this gun. If I could find one in 7mm mag I think my problem would be solved but I can't :runaway:

Cheers!!
 
While I much prefer the 280/280AI/7 Rem Mag, there is NOTHING I wouldn't tackle in N/A with the 270 WSM and 140gr TSX....elk included!

Not much to say about the 300 Win mag, it can do it all!

I wouldn't be in a panic, something will show up. Nothing worse than dropping over $1000 on a "compromise"... get the one you want.

Worst case (best case actually) you could pick up the 300 WM and rebarrel w/a Gaillard tube in something 7 (if that's what ya crave)...just be sure you'll keep this one forever and the cost will be WELL worth it!

280_ACKLEY
 
You don't need any magnum for deer, elk or moose. However, if you insist on having too much gun, go with the 300. You're far more likely to be able to find ammo if you get off hunting only to find you've left the 270 ammo on the kitchen table.
 
Between the two, I'd probably go 300. However, both cartridges are far from the top of my list. Personally, I love the 338 so I'd use it.
 
Go with the finnlight, even in the mag cartridge, it's nice to shoot & carry. The regular 75 S/S is quite a bit heavier to lug around on an elk/moose hunt.
 
Last edited:
although Ive been known to tongue in cheek rag on a guy for shooting a 300 mag for deer etc, I wouldnt actually go as far saying it is "too much gun", especially since Scott is hunting elk and moose, and he is not new to guns. Besides, the 300 is nice to have when "yogi" comes to eat your ass ;)
 
sunray said:
You don't need any magnum for deer, elk or moose. However, if you insist on having too much gun, go with the 300. You're far more likely to be able to find ammo if you get off hunting only to find you've left the 270 ammo on the kitchen table.
Click to expand...


After seeing that video here on CGN of that fellow hammering that moose with 50 cal 340 gr. slug and getting right up and running away I think Id feel better shooting a moose w/ a magnum vs a standard cal. Even though Im sure umteenth million gunnutz have done it with a .243 or .270.

Cheers!!
 
I don't think either of these guns are "to little" or "too much" gun for deer, elk, or Moose. If we aren't careful here this could turn into the typical magnum vs. non magnum threads that are rampant these days.

That .300 WM in the Finnlight sounds nice I would prefer it to the other rifle regardless of cartridge. It is a great carry rifle and that is important to me, with a good limb saver pad you should be fine. The 300 isn't "too much gun" for deer you don't need it to get the job done but considering that this is an all-round rifle for larger class game as well go for it. I recently switched to a 7mm rm as my primary rifle in a fairly light gun and don't really notice much difference in recoil between it and other .300wm guns that I have fired.

I have no experience with the 270 WSM other than what I have read but the cost and availability of ammo and the ultimately shelf life (hasn't been around very long? Cartridges come and go I don't think this will be the case with this cartridge but who knows?) are all considerations.
 
Last edited:
You don't need a magnum rifle to reliably take Elk or Moose. Collectively, between my father, myself and my brother, we've harvested close to 50 moose over our hunting careers using nothing more than a sporterized Lee-Enfield No. 1 MK III SMLE or No. 4 MK 1/2 chambered in that blisteringly "hot" caliber.....303 British! :eek: Lots of our big Woodland Caribou have also run afoul of this "deadly" cartridge!:D

Not to give you a hard time, but if more guys spent more time learning to shoot the rifle they often times already own well... rather than looking toward something bigger and "better" to compensate for muffed shots, there wouldn't be so many muffed shots! :) ;)

The .270 WSM is a fine cartridge and you won't be able to detect any real world difference between that and the .300 Win Mag assuming all other variables being equal. An inch or two difference in bullet drop etc...isn't going to mean a row of beans under field conditions, while shooting at elk or moose. Simply choose a well constructed, premium bullet, of sufficient weight and you can't go wrong. The vital area of elk and moose are a lot bigger than you would think. Go for the .270 WSM and spend the rest of the cash you'd save and buy ammo!:)
 
scott_r said:
After seeing that video here on CGN of that fellow hammering that moose with 50 cal 340 gr. slug and getting right up and running away I think Id feel better shooting a moose w/ a magnum vs a standard cal. Even though Im sure umteenth million gunnutz have done it with a .243 or .270.

Cheers!!
Click to expand...

I saw that video too, and I would say that the moose wasn't hit seriously enough the first time, though it did drop. The way it ran off and continued to run causes me to suspect that it wasn't well hit. A moose shot through the lungs does not run far. I've killed quite a few with a 30-06 with 165 to 180 grain bullets, and been on many more kills with the same ammo/rifle combo. You don't need a magnum to kill a moose. The only real reason for a magnum is to get a little flatter trajectory for the longer shots, and even that is a minimal thing. Having said all that, at present I have a 300 WinMag, and love it. I would not feel under gunned with the 30-06.

As has been said previously, ammo availability may be a concern, and so perhaps a reason to stay clear of the 270 WSM.
 
Of the 2 you mentioned,I'd take the 300, but mostly 'cuz I'm not a 270 fan, 'specialy if it's going too fast. Hit a bone and you'll find your moose or elk the next day with the front shoulder blown to bits. (I can feel the 270 fans tensing up as they read this, so please lets not turn this thread into a 270 vs 30-06 debate) A good used stainless '06 might be a bit harder to find (why would anyone want to sell one?) but if you're mostly hunting whitetails and the odd moose and elk a cann't think of anything better...Unless you have grizzlies in your area then the 338 win mag.
 
A 30 calibre is by no means overkill for whitetails etc.

Alternately, I'd prefer a 30 cal over a 270 on a moose or elk.
 
Flip a coin on the cartridges. Either will get the job done. I'd make the selection between the two rifles. If you want a rifle that will be heavier to carry around but will recoil less then choose the 75. If not then choose the Finnlight. It's lighter but will recoil more.
 
I'll just throw my two cents at you. The .270 WSM is more than capable of dropping any elk or moose. They key is a premium bullet. I'm not saying a cheap bullet won't work, but bullet failure is very likely. Especially considering the added velocity. As for the .300, a great all round cartridge for anything that walks, crawls, swims or flies. Load it down, you got a deer rifle. Load it up, a great big game rifle. That's if your staying with a Sako. I'm sorry, I don't think their worth the extra cash. otherwise, you have almost a year to pick the cartridge of your dreams. And that's the best part. Good luck.
 
Go with the proven caliber - 300 WM.

The combination of bullet weight and powder choices for the 300 is extensive and you can load for just about anything except maybe for the larger bears.

As far as a Sako model, I've owned the 75 and don't like it as much as the earlier models. I had a Sako 75 S/S in 300 WM and sold it and ended with a number of 300 WM including a Browning Gold Medalion, a Tikka M65 Deluxe, a Tikka T3 Lite, , Remington 700 BDL an Antonio Zoli, etc, and my favorite rifle at the moment for moose is the Tikka T3 Lite S/S synthetic in 300 WM. I did use it for deer hunting last year but this year decided to go with a 35 Whelen for deer because I'm hunting in dense wood with all shots less than 50 yds.

Of course, a lot of these choices are very personal and in my case, I have to feel confident that the rifle is going to do the job and not let me down. In my days of hunting, I have never fired on a game and not killed it, and the maximum number of shots taken being 2 or less. And for the occasions where more than one shot was taken, the animal was basically dead but still standing or showing signs of life.

Duke1
 
The 270WSM is hardly a marginal elk and moose cartridge.
150 or 150 grain bullets will do a fine job on a moose or elk, as well the 130 .
Hit the danged animal improperly and it doesn't matter if you hit 'em with a .375H&H, he's gonna run.
That being said, either would be fine.
You will have to make that decision based on how each feels.
Cat
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom