I've been hunting 20 years with shotguns and handguns and just purchased my "heavy" a 416 Rigby. I'm now researching my light rifle to start light, antelope, and end heavy, elk or moose as a backup. My Rigby will be my heavy and be a backup with light bullets for all down to antelope. So many choices, where do I begin? A 270 wsm seems to be an excellent choice, but so would a 7mm wsm, or a 300 wsm shooting light bullets for the antelope and 200's for elk and moose. What I want is a good match for antelope and deer and one that will also be suitable for the bigger game..... Will the 325 wsm have light bullets since I will be reloading I could use the lighter constructed 8mm bullets... so many choices...

"What I want is a good match for antelope and deer and one that will also be suitable for the bigger game....."

You just described is the 30-06.

quote:

Originally posted by trigger:
"What I want is a good match for antelope and deer and one that will also be suitable for the bigger game....."

You just described is the 30-06.

Kazoo, you might as well stop looking right now. Trigger just gave you the best advice you're going to get. If you have a 416 Rigby and a 30-06, that's all the rifles you need. Notice I say need, as opposed to wants. That's a whole other topic, we'll save that for another day.

Without a doubt; .30-06

This '06 advice is very practical!

I have a 7mm RM that fills the middle for me very well although I have a couple that could probably do so just as well! I have my first "real" big game rifle from when I was a teen,('06) a carbine length .308 Win, and just traded away a .280 Rem that was new in the box. Any of the middle ground cartridges will fill the bill.

At this point, if you really want a deer and antelope gun, the .270 crowd should be chiming in shortly and they have just as valid reasons to recommend it. I'd pick the .270 WSM myself if I were to choose a .270 caliber but then again, if my safe is any reflection, I have "needed" quite a wide range of firearms!

7 Rem Mag if you desire a long action, 270WSM if you desire a short action. Both would be very flat antelope carts and both would be adequate for elk. Yes the 06' would work but, it may not be the ideal antelope round.

Good Luck!

Reloader