Gentlemen...

My current battery of rifle consists of the following:

Browning BL-22
Rem 700 .243
Ruger #1 25-06
Rem 700 Mtn Rifle 7mm Rem Mag
Custom Rem 700 .300 Win Mag
Ruger Hawkeye .375 Ruger

Am considering a medium bore bolt gun and want to hear some opinions, please...

Thanks!

The obvious gap can be filled by an 8mm Rem Mag. Alternatively, an 8mm Ruger would make a great wildcat.

there isn't any gap in your battery.
but since you only have magnums, a .308 Win would be a nice and handy rifle

I like the thought of a .308 and will likely pick-up a Ruger when the lefties come out. Am thinking of selling the 7mm Mtn Rifle and buying a .358 or rebarreling to .338...

LA7mm

I think you could find real happiness with the 338 Federal or 338-06...lots of bullets, plenty of brass and load data....Powders that work in your 375 will work in the 338...plenty of free advice from this forum...

You could not go wrong with either of these rounds.

For what it's worth..take a look at the variety of 8mm bullets and contrast to the selection in 338..should provide some insight.

Good shootin...

How about a 338 win mag. I have one its the 338 RUM. I like mine a lot

There is not that much difference in utility between the 7 Rem Mag and the .300 Win Mag.

I would think that replacing or rebarrelling the .300 Win Mag to .338 Win Mag would be ideal if you're hunting in North America.

You've got a nice spread there, that's for sure. I'd look into the gap between the .300 and .375, not that there's any practical reason to do so as they cover most all bases, but I think an imported Husky 8x57mm could make for a fun project if you want something to keep you occupied. They also have 9.3x57mm which is an interesting round. The 8mm is very .308-like without being another .30-caliber. Going up from there, .338 Federal could be fun. Ruger also has some .358 Win bolt guns that would be a fun shoot.

In terms of practicality, the .25-06, .300, and .375 have everything covered well.

quote:

Originally posted by kreyten:
LA7mm

I think you could find real happiness with the 338 Federal or 338-06...lots of bullets, plenty of brass and load data....Powders that work in your 375 will work in the 338...plenty of free advice from this forum...

Good shootin...

I agree about the .338-06, the Federal does nothing for me unless you want it in a lever action or AR platform. Kind of like my .35 Whelen and .358 Win, I went a Savage 99 for the .358 Win and bolt for the Whelen. Couldn't be happier with both rifles, I don't think I would have liked the .358 Win nearly as much in a bolt action since I owned the Whelen before it.

.35 Whelen would be a good choice as well if you don't want a .338 bore.

Then you could always be the first kid on the block to have a .370 Sako! Would kind of do away with the need for a .375 Ruger though and I really like mine.

7mm x 57 roger

I don't see no 6.5 caliber in your current battery.

Everyone should have a 30-06 and a 30-30

Looks to me you either "WANT" a 338 Federal or a 35 Whelen.

I WANT a lot of things, that's for sure.... the 300 Winny is a custom job and is just about complete so re-barreling that really isn't an option. Have a nice MRC 1999 long action w a standard bolt face that could become a 35 Whelan or a 338-06, or an 8mm-06 I suppose!

Lots of options but since I don't handload really, the feasible options tend to dwindle.

quote:

Originally posted by LA7mm:
I WANT a lot of things, that's for sure.... the 300 Winny is a custom job and is just about complete so re-barreling that really isn't an option. Have a nice MRC 1999 long action w a standard bolt face that could become a 35 Whelan or a 338-06, or an 8mm-06 I suppose!

Lots of options but since I don't handload really, the feasible options tend to dwindle.

Since you haven't indicated what you plan to hunt and you wrote that you don't handload, I'd have to go with a .338 Win Mag. Factory ammo is readily available. But I'm biased in that opinion.
Bear in Fairbanks

quote:

Originally posted by LA7mm:
Lots of options but since I don't handload really, the feasible options tend to dwindle.

Obviously, this gratuitous rifle business needs to be delayed. Your choices will be so much broader when this void in your makeup has been remedied.
Then, and only then, can the current proposition be appropriately addressed.

That 8mm Ruger can become a reality. Might have to talk someone into making the dies, though.

Can't feel much of a draft through those small gaps!

Right you are, Bear... I haven't indicated what I plan to hunt. No plans right now to go back to Africa so we're talking all North America and even Continental US.

When it comes right down to it. I could add a true varmint rifle and be covered for everything that roams this continent but what fun would that be? I want the ideal rifle/cartridge for everything! IN time....

Since you don't re-load...have to second the motion for 338 win mag...

A simple re-barrel of the M700 Mtn Rifle to .338 seems like a good idea. I can take the MRC 1999 action and turn that into a .280 Remington and be done with it!

Just add a 338Mag.

Frankly I've always believed that if a 30-06 won't do a particular job then a 300Mag won't do it either, but a
338Mag will.

I kinda like the 7mmMag myself as it kinda "out 25-06's the 25-06" Basically if you have a 25-06 and really want to shoot deer with 120's the 7mm does that particular job a whole lot better, tossing 120's at speeds most 25-06 100gr shooters drool over

and with 140's a 7mmMag will do 90% of everything a 30-06 will do.

Honestly the only other gap I see in your battery is lack of a medium sized 22 centerfire like a 223 (with a 243 you certainly don't need a 22-250)

quote:

Originally posted by TerryR:
Everyone should have a 30-06 and a 30-30

AMEN!!!


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What about a 9.3x62?

Since you seem to have plenty of Magnums and flat shooters, why not a Medium bore rifle with a 20" barrel.

Something short, handy and light.

Candidates would be the 338 Federal, 358 Win, 35 Whelen, 350 Rem Mag [had a Rem Mod 7 in 350 once, liked it], or the 9,3x62.

My current rifle in this catagory is a Blaser R 93 Tracker [19 3/4" barrel] in 375 H&H.

Since I reload I can load the 375 down for use on deer and pigs, or go full power for elk and bear.

not being sarcastic, but with an arsenal like that, the only gap that i see is the fact that you don't handload.

quote:

Originally posted by merlinron:
not being sarcastic, but with an arsenal like that, the only gap that i see is the fact that you don't handload.

X a whole bunch!!! roger

quote:

Originally posted by bert01:
What about a 9.3x62?

Exactamundo! Even though there is no real gap to speak of in your line up, a 9.3 would offer a fine alternative to the .300, when you don't need it's long range capabilities, and the .375, when it's a tad bit too much.

Two that come to mind are the .325WSM and the .350 RemMag. The 350 RemMag is a Remington Model 7 CDL with a 20" barrel would fit between the 300 WinMag and 375 Ruger very nicely.

The hardest kicking rifle I've ever owned was a .338 WinMag.

You have a great medium bore with your .375 Ruger. Go with a .458 Lott or similar and move to a big bore.

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by merlinron:
not being sarcastic, but with an arsenal like that, the only gap that i see is the fact that you don't handload.

Fill that gap after the .243 with a .257 Bob. You have so many that the above reloading deficit isn't important. You can't possibly find time to shoot anything very much! And all those guns but no 30-06? Heresy!

Winchester M70 30-06. Should be in every gun safe.

I just filled a gap with a 10.4 X 38 Swiss Vetterli center fire. roger

What miles58 said ...... or your choice of a bolt action .30-06. Good for lots of things we hunt anywhere, & ammo is also available anywhere.

I would have to vote for the 9.3x62 also. That MRC action would make a nice one I bet!

I think everyone ought to have a .30-06 in their gun case.

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
7mm x 57 roger

Man from Temple City have head screwed on right!!!

Make it a 9.3x62mm!!!

quote:

Originally posted by LA7mm:
Gentlemen...

My current battery of rifle consists of the following:

Browning BL-22
Rem 700 .243
Ruger #1 25-06
Rem 700 Mtn Rifle 7mm Rem Mag
Custom Rem 700 .300 Win Mag
Ruger Hawkeye .375 Ruger

Am considering a medium bore bolt gun and want to hear some opinions, please...

Thanks!

LA7mm,

I don't see any gap til you get to a 416 or bigger!

I agree, you really don't have any "gaps" but if you wanted to add a great med. then the 338-06 would be & is my choice. Put up in a trim action, wood or composite stock & lt.wt.-med.wt. bbl. & it's about as good a NA cartridge as you can get. With 185gr bullets @ 2900fps+ & 250gr @ 2500fps, you can go pronghorn to moose & elk in heavy cover, & do it in a 7-7 1/2# rifle.

I can see about 50 or 60 gaps in your line up.
No .22 center fires - at least 4 or 5 missing
No military rifle cartridges - maybe 15 or 20
No black powder cartridges at least - 6 or so
No deer rifle cartridges maybe 6 or so
No .25-20 or .32-20
No PIA to load rounds
No pistol caliber carbines
No cast bullet only rounds.
No bench rest only rounds
and no wild cats???????
Your education and fun has just started

The only "gap" I see would be filled nicely with a .338 of your favorite flavor.