I've shot literally truckloads of whitetails with 7mm rem mags, 7mm stw's, and a few with a 300 WSM at ranges from 10 feet to 350 yds, and I've never experienced bullet failure out of any of them. Telling the man that you can't shoot a deer inside of 300 yds is simply bullshit and misleading. The 7mm rem mag probably outsells all others two to one around here for use on whitetails.



If it were me I'd get a gun in either the 7mm rem mag or 300 win mag, pick you choice of a winchester M70 or a remington M700 for $600 or so, and send it to a good gunsmith to be worked over for the extra $700 (trigger job, recrown, polish feed ramp, new stock if synthetic, pillar and glass bed, etc). Avoid the exotic calibers like the 270 and 7mm wby, neither will do anything that the 7mm rem mag won't do just as well, and you don't have the weatherby freebore which is detrimental to accuracy. The STW is fun but again, no better than the 7mm rem mag for actual hunting and it needs a really long barrel to perform to it's full potential. I'd also avoid the ultralight rifles, go for a standard weight hunting rifle and you'll avoid most of the little gotchas that happen when trying to make a lightweight rifle function. Ironically, the sako 75 is too heavy for me, it needs about a pound shaved off and I haven't been that impressed by the ones I've shot. As a rule I'm not that impressed by european made rifles nowadays, too complicated mechanically for no reason, and they're still stuck in the '70's with their styling.

I'd go with the Sako 75 in 7mm-08, I shot a deer at 110 paces a few years back with a load that was equal to a 400yd shot, and the deer was killed instantly with a liver shot, stay away from the Mags. Jay

Of the choices here I'd pick the Kimber in .300 WSM with no hesitation.

FWIW, my neighbor has spent thousands of $$$ on rifles and hunts. He gave away his .270 Weatherby after shooting a good bull elk with it. Said he shot it where he should a few times and his partner followed his last shot with a .338 WM and it tipped over. He has since taken his old beat-up .300 WM ( Rem 700) for his hunts. He even bought a .30-378 and it has stayed home as far as I know.

I guess I'm hinting at reconsidering a couple of your choices. Ultimately you need to be comfortable shooting it. Thats when you'll make your best shots.

I'd take a close look at your number one and your number two choices if it were me in the hunt for a new rifle.



On the number one I'd personally go with the 300 Win instead of the STW but that is just me. If the STW turns your crank which it must because you mentioned it then by all means I'd go for it.



The other option would be to take a look at the Tikka T-3, so far I've sold about 30 of them and all seems to love them and they shoot just great. A nice rifle that will shoot the lights out of most all out there right from the get go for under $500. Just something to think about.



Either way good luck with your project. And personally I would not give a second thought to the notion of getting one of the mags you are talking about. They will not boot you that much, and they will give you a bit of an edge when you come out west. They can always be loaded down a bit if one want also. And lastly my wife is a fairly small gal and she shoots my 7 Mashburn Super as well as anyone I know so I would not be worried about a bit of recoil. Just set it up right and shoot it a bunch!



"GET TO THE HILL"



Dogz



on a side note about the above story about a 270 Wby--personally I feel it is a wonderful round-equal to a 7 Rem which is saying a bunch to me. I just wish I would of been there to of recieved it when it was given away.....grins.

Personally I know it'll do just dandy for elk!

I agree with some of the above posts, you don't need a magnum to kill deer. .270, 25/06, etc. will do just fine. But as we gun-owners know, it's not always about what you need, but about what you want. If we only had guns that we needed, I would definately have fewer guns. So read everyone's advice here because it can be the best around, then use it go get what you want.

Personally, recoil doesn't bother me that much, but I don't shoot 20 rounds through my 7mm STW every weekend either I use it for deer hunting and my 270 stays in the safe because the STW is the gun I like to hunt with. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks guys for all your help. I really see what I need to consider for the caliber of the choice and I really need to consider the primary use of the rifle. However what I am still unsure about is the choice of rifle. Can any comment on which gun has the better action, trigger, stock, bedding, is more accurate, etc. Is the Remington custom shop Mountain Rifle worth $1200, the same as the Weatherby and hunderds more than the Kimber?

Thanks!!

Personally twere it me and I was looking at spending that type of money here is what I'd do. Just a thought now mind you and a bit off of where you were originally going.

I'd buy a good used magnum rifle-just for the action.
I'd buy a good tube (Schneider/Krieger/Lilja...)
I'd buy a good handle in Afican walnut (what I call fiberglass)
I'd have a good smith put it all together and I'd be to the hill-with a incredibly accurate and capable rifle.

Say $350 for the rifle
Say $400 for the stock and to have it bedded and the trigger tuned
Say $450 to get the barrel and put it on and the action trued

You'd be in between 1200-1300 and IMO you'd get a much better rifle..Just a thought now mind you.

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dogz

If you want to go to a store and pick up an outstanding rifle that will need NOTHING done to it (no excuses for its trigger, bedding, stock, barrel, etc) get a Sako 75.

If you don't mind waiting a bit for something exactly to your liking, go Mark Dobrenski's route for a custom.

The only thing I will disagree with Mark on is the caliber choice. If you want a rifle that will do it all, get a 308 Winchester or 30-06. Unless you're into killing elk at 500 yards.

Although I am real fond of earlier Sakos and any Kimber, I would recommend the Kimber Montana 84M in 7-08, or if you need a magnum go with the 8400 in 300 WSM, they're nice, well-built rifles. Since the Sakos and Kimbers are about the same price, I believe you get more for your money with the Kimber - they're much lighter, have CRF, pillar and glass bedded, and a quality synthetic stock or prettier wood stock. Lou

I think you will see that every individual has an individual opinion. Here is mine.
Don't buy anything just yet.
Borrow rifles from your neighbor, friends and relatives.
Take them to the range and shoot them. Try them with different ammo. Spend some money field testing the calibers and pay particular attention to the fit and feel of the rifles. Keep a notebook. Ignore the cosmetics for now. After you have some practical experience with the different rifles and calibers you will have a better idea about the kinds of actions, stocks, sights, and calibers you are comfortable with. Then look for the particular rifles. If you can't borrow enough for comparison, go to every gunshow you can and ask to pick them up and get a feel for them. Don't be afraid to hold them in different positions, point them and really try them out. Go to big gun stores and do the same. In no time at all you will "feel" the one that is right for you. In the meantime decide what you are going to do with it. Will it be your daily shooter or once in a lifetime shooter. Will you enjoy it or dread practicing with it. If that doesn't work for you you will have to try the oldest decision making technique of all.
Nearly all of us have found our favorites by trial and error. Or, we bought one and one only and used that exclusively for everything. I buy and shoot and re-sell different rifles to experiment with them to this day even though when I am headed out for a hunt I grab one or another every time. They are my favorites by trial and error over the years. I love to shoot them all but some are my "GO-TO" HUNTING FAVORITES. It can become a lifetime of trying to choose.
What a great time.
Frank

Just for giggles here is some of my thoughts on the different cartridges out there. There are tons of them-here is what I believe it all comes down to.


*shooters ability, and level of intimacy with his/her rifle

*shooters ability to stay within his/her abilities

*choice of bullet--note I did not say choice of cartridge

*lastly choice of cartridge

Just some of my thoughts-have an awesome weekend!

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dogz