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Offline ihuntbucks

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Which Gun???
« on: May 14, 2005, 09:44:33 PM »
Ok guys,I have a question to ask.I have a .30/06 that I use for whitetail hunting here in Alabama.Was thinking of getting another deer rifle.The choices are between .300 Win. mag,.308,.243,.338 Win mag,and .257 Wby. mag.These all being the "cheapest" lot of Wby.Vanguard at Wally World.Which one do you think would be best?Also keep in mind a will be using factory ammo as I do not reload..............Rick
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Offline EVOC ONE

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Which Gun???
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2005, 01:33:34 AM »
Holy Cow!!! A 300 Mag; .338 Mag; 257 Wby Mag for deer.  Expensive to shoot and more recoil than you probably need for your intended game. Especially for a non-reloader.  Reloading would provide the opportunity for reduced loads in those calibers.  The .308 and .243 would be my suggestion.  But, I would give the nod to the .308.  Factory ammo is plentiful, cheap and can be purchased at just about anywhere ammo is sold.  The .308 also provided ample power and is suitable for brush or open terrain.  The debate about as to whether the .243 is a marginal deer class caliber will be the subject of discussion forever.  But the fact that there is a debate at all is an indication that there is much controversy in its capabilities as a viable deer class caliber.

On the other hand, if you can purchase .338 Mag at Wal Mart prices in a reputable firearm, that would be hard to pass up.  But I'm still not sure I would use it for whitetail deer.  Certainly would kill one good though and deer wouldn't know the difference, but your shoulder would.

Good Luck

EVOC ONE
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Offline 1911crazy

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Which Gun???
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2005, 02:17:04 AM »
I had the same problem years ago, I hunted with my '06 for eons too and i wanted to bump up to a larger caliber more powerful gun.  I wanted to buy a gun that i could hunt anything and anywhere in North America just incase i went on one of those hunting trips. After looking at all the ballistics and comparing them I chose the 338win.mag.  Its very close to the 300win.mag. but it has a larger bullet. I also has the muzzle energy of a 30-06 at 200yds.  Its my bear gun.  But it has two drawbacks one is the recoil and the other is the over the counter price of ammo.  Since it isn't fun to shoot  and expensive to shoot its a hunting only gun.  I like it for hunting and its quite a stopper for sure. The holes in the bears is quite impressive too it breaks many ribs and leaves one hell of an exit hole too.  If you like to shoot your hunting rifles often and would like a gun with less recoil but it still has the power my suggestion would be to choose the 257weatherby mag. I don't think you can go wrong with the 257 W. Mag.  Its a great all around caliber, many blackbears have been takin with the 270win. and the 257 is right there with it.            BigBill

The 338win.mag. is for moose, elk and grizz and it has plenty of power with long shots too.  While each rifle is different with bought ammo my remington 700 shoots very accurate with winchester 338 ammo it will put two bullets thru the same hole at 100yds benchrest with this bought ammo and it wouldn't group tight with remington ammo.

Thru the years I have had just about all the calibers up to 338win.mag and as i get older "LESS RECOIL" is better!!!!!!  If your looking at a gun with 338 magnum performance  my advice is to get it in a semi-auto like a browning BAR because when your older you will like the semi-auto more while up front it may cost more in the end you'll save from buying another lesser recoil rifle.
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Offline Zachary

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Re: Which Gun???
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2005, 06:54:20 AM »
Quote from: ihuntbucks
Ok guys,I have a question to ask.I have a .30/06 that I use for whitetail hunting here in Alabama.Was thinking of getting another deer rifle.The choices are between .300 Win. mag,.308,.243,.338 Win mag,and .257 Wby. mag.These all being the "cheapest" lot of Wby.Vanguard at Wally World.Which one do you think would be best?Also keep in mind a will be using factory ammo as I do not reload..............Rick


How about none of the above.  I've hunted Alabama on a few occassions and really don't see the need for magnums.  

You already have a .30-06.  Think about a 7mm-08 as it has to be the ideal whitetail cartridge out to about 250 yards, where 90% of all deer shots are taken.

Zachary
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Offline Lawdog

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Re: Which Gun???
« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2005, 08:57:45 AM »
Quote from: ihuntbucks
Ok guys,I have a question to ask.I have a .30/06 that I use for whitetail hunting here in Alabama.Was thinking of getting another deer rifle.The choices are between .300 Win. mag,.308,.243,.338 Win mag,and .257 Wby. mag.These all being the "cheapest" lot of Wby.Vanguard at Wally World.Which one do you think would be best?Also keep in mind a will be using factory ammo as I do not reload..............Rick


Actually I would go with the .243.  Low cost ammo and you can use it for varmint hunting too.  Lawdog
 :D
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Offline Dave in WV

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Which Gun???
« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2005, 10:24:38 AM »
Another vote for the .243. Unless you are going after something a 30-06 won't handle why get the snot kicked out of you???
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Offline 270_Abolt

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Which Gun???
« Reply #6 on: May 15, 2005, 01:03:48 PM »
.243
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Offline Coyote Hunter

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Which Gun???
« Reply #7 on: May 15, 2005, 05:32:56 PM »
Since you have a .30-06 and don't reload I would suggest the .308 if forced to choose betwen the cartridges you listed, with a .243 close behind.  The .308 because there is so much inexpensive ammo available.

That said, a .25-06 would definitely be a consideration if I was free to choose among any calibers.
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Offline mountainview

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« Reply #8 on: May 16, 2005, 05:22:35 AM »
ihunt,

I agree that the 7-08 and 25-06 would be good choices to complement the 30-06 which is exactly what I did. Neither is so close to duplicate the 30-06, are easy on the shoulder, and pack more than enough punch to do the job for deer sized critters. Factory ammo is generally readily available as well.

Not knocking factory loads but why not consider reloading? I love the ability to make different loads and find the combo my rifles like the best without having to file for Chapter 7. Plus it is a nice hobby related to shooting when I can't actually be at the range.

Safe shooting.
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Offline longwalker

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new gun
« Reply #9 on: May 16, 2005, 06:37:01 AM »
You already have a great deer rifle, and with the right bullets a darn good larger game ( moose elk ) rifle in the 30-06.

Why not go a different direction look into a light weight gun. How about a 30-30 lever gun or a Handgun. Very nice to hunt with a light gun. I like the handgun as both hands are free.

longwalker
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Offline Jimi

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Which Gun???
« Reply #10 on: May 16, 2005, 02:26:56 PM »
Your .30/'06 is as fine a caliber as you're going to find for deer or elk. If you want something with less kick I would recommend the .308, or even a .270 Win. If you want to step up, a .300 Magnum doesn't offer you all that much more... but if you want to go in that direction I suggest that you do it right and get a .375H&H Magnum. Single best cartridge in the world.
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Offline muzzleblast525

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Caliber
« Reply #11 on: May 16, 2005, 05:01:41 PM »
308 and then 243
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Offline victorcharlie

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« Reply #12 on: May 17, 2005, 06:36:48 AM »
I'd go with a .243.........this gives you not only a very good deer rifle but also the ability to shoot the eyes out of a ground hog, crow...etc....at 300 to 400 yards........recoil is much less than the weatherby.....and factory ammo is much more available and affordable.............if you took varmiting out of the picture.......then the .308.......also....a .243 is a necked down 308.....same exact case as the .308.........

For Alabama deer, the .243 would be perfect..........at least, none of the 50 or so Tennessee deer that I've take with the .243 have complained........but we all know......those Alabama deer ain't near as tuff as a Tennessee deer!
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Offline deerman12

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Which Gun???
« Reply #13 on: May 17, 2005, 10:01:59 AM »
I would pick a 243 or 25.06
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Offline James B

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« Reply #14 on: May 17, 2005, 10:42:03 AM »
Sure don't need a Magnum for any deer hunting. I don't like the 243 for deer. Its a varmit gun. 25-06, 260,or 7MM-08 would be my choice. I like the 6.5x55 even better but I reload.
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Offline ihuntbucks

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Which Gun???
« Reply #15 on: May 18, 2005, 10:30:35 PM »
Thanks fellows for all the input.I've thought alot about it and I think Iam going to leave well enough alone on another bolt deer rifle.My .30/06 will serve me just fine on anything around here.But I believe I will go the route "longwalker" suggested and go with a lever brush gun.Am thinking of a .44 mag,probably in a Winchester.Why in .44,cuz it could go with my SBH .44.That way I could carry both hunting,with only on type of ammo.Any thougts from ya'll on this?And "vic charlie",don't know if Tenn. deer are any tuffer,cuz most of the deer there micrated north from Bama anyway :lol: ..............Rick
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Offline Zachary

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« Reply #16 on: May 19, 2005, 02:28:02 AM »
I'm a little confused.  You are absolutely right about the .30-06 serving you well on just about anything in Bama (and the entire US of A for that matter), but you already knew that.  Also, if you are already going to carry a .44 pistol in the field, then why would you also carry a .44 lever as well? :?   The only difference is that one just has a longer barrel and thus just a little better ballistics and perhaps accuracy.  If anything, I think that it would be better to have a pistol in one cartridge and a rifle in another, that way you can take care of very short shots with the pistol, and the long(er) ones with the rifle.  That's not to belittle the .44 lever.  In thick brush, like you often have in Bama, it will come in handy, although I personally would opt for the tried and true .30-30 which is the icon of the lever action rifle.

Still, for a bolt action rifle hunting whitetail under 300 yards, it's hard to beat a 7-08. :grin:

Zachary
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Offline robin-hood-90

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Which Gun???
« Reply #17 on: May 19, 2005, 05:28:07 PM »
or you could just get the classic .270 :D
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Offline ihuntbucks

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Which Gun???
« Reply #18 on: May 19, 2005, 10:19:41 PM »
Darn Zach,you have got me thinking again now on another lever action :o .Guess you're right about same cal.I like the SBH.On hitting a little better with long gun....ugh yep :) .Ok let me jump back to "Wally World" website and figure up what lever to buy.Hell,I might just get a .45/70 and take care of it all or a .450 8) .Thanks for making me think again.darn :P ..................Rick
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Offline kenscot

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« Reply #19 on: May 20, 2005, 12:54:54 PM »
I`would look at the Marlin guide gun in 45/70 . Since you do not reload you could use standard factory ammo for deer & order the hot Corbon loads for anything larger This is an option you would not get with the 450 marlin
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Offline jim21

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« Reply #20 on: April 27, 2006, 04:58:36 PM »
Wally World is now selling the Howa 1500s,and you have more choices
then the weatherbys.And did you price weatherby shells?
You better check out if your Walmart is going to keep the sporting goods
department,a lot of them are quitting selling firearms in august 2006 8)
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