Well I have a bit of a conundrum. I am considering another rifle in the medium bores and I have not been able to come up with something that would add anything to what I currently have in the safe. This will be used for game from large Black Bears through Elk and Moose. A magnum is not an option for this rifle as ranges will be reasonable and I would prefer a rifle of moderate weight.


I am ruling out the .270 as I have a .260 Rem and various 30-06’s which cover the range of the .270 .I also have a .35 Whelen that shoots 225-250 grain bullets quite well. I am leaning towards something in the 7mm family ( 7-08 .280 or 7x57) The 7-08 is no problem to find the .280 is becoming a rare breed in a factory rifle. 7x57 brass could be a bit of a problem to find in my area. So here I am stuck on third base! For my hunting requirements I do not need another rifle but I sure want another rifle.

Well what do you guys think?

Gee, this sounds so familiar.

I have the following in my safe:

.257 Roberts. (Rem. M7MS)
.350 Rem Mag. (Rem. 673 "sharkie")

And also, a .35 Remington (Marlin 336 ss ltd.) because I love lever guns.


Option #1: I too have been toying with a 7mm. IMO, the logical answer is the 7mm-08. Easy to get brass, easy to load, and easy to find ammo on the shelf. And that's why I don't like it - it's common...

Option #2: .280 Remington. A fantastic cartridge that I'd love to own. But I love nostalgia...

Option #3: 7x57 Mauser - put it in a #1 and I think I may have found nirvana... In the short term, I'm going with a K31 in 7.5 swiss. Great rifle, cheap to buy & shoot... And every bit as effective as a 7-08 or 7x57.


So, my thoughts: Get something a tad different. If ranges are nominal, perhaps a 30-30 or .35 rem lever gun? Or, consider a 7mm-08 Browning BLR lightweight Takedown? Talk about easy transport there...

(and before anyone asks, I'd have no problem with the .35 Rem on Moose, Elk, or Blackie's at 150 yards or less... 180gr. at 2350fps is quite reasonable medicine.)

You have:
260 Rem
various 30-06's
and a 35 Whelen.

The only thing I can think of is a big medium bore, ie 375 Ruger, 375 H&H, 9.3 etc.

The exact same reason you give for not wanting a 270 covers the 7mms also.

Pardon me, but you obviously need a 7mm remington magnum. (realistically you could justify a lot of things here, but you've got the perfect compromise between the 30 cal and .264...)

gd

If magnums are out....the 7mm-08 is a no brainer I'd say.

Be different and go with the 7x64 Bren. Lou

quote:

Originally posted by sheephunterab:
If magnums are out....the 7mm-08 is a no brainer I'd say.

Absolutely.

You got the rifles covered with what you have. I have recently gone with the advise of some of the wise hunters here and started investing in hunts rather than rifles, and I'm a gun nut and love turn bolt rifles. I have found that rifles in the safe are fun to look at and handle but I can only hunt with one at a time. I'm building a 358 Win. and will hold off after it is done before building another to go hunt a little. I love guns but also love to hunt. Shoot what you got and shoot it well and the memory of the hunt will be with you forever.
But if you are after a new rifle, and I know how that goes, I would look at a hot rod 257 to fit in with your battery. JMHO

8 X 57 Now that's a no brainer.With the larger game to which you referre why handicap yourself with a shallow throated short necked POS like the 7-08? You would even be better off with a 6.5 X 55 and 156gr. bullets.JMHO roger

My personal choice is the 7X57, but 7mm08 ammo is more commonly available around here so that"s probably the best choice.

Stop looking for excuses to buy a new gun. Just do it. I don't know why we men find it necessary to explain our urges for more guns.

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
8 X 57 Now that's a no brainer.With the larger game to which you referre why handicap yourself

+1

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
8 X 57 Now that's a no brainer.

I agree. The 8x57 is a great medium bore round.

Well hipster,

With the 260, you have everything anyone could want under 30 caliber covered...

a 7/08 would just be adding the same cartridge as far as I am concerned.. sure you can argue about being able to take 175 grain bullets, but if you need bigger, you have the 06...

and having a 35 Whelen, that kinda covers the non magnum over 30 bore nicely...

while the 8 x 57 is a good cartridge, I can see where it is offering anything the 06 and Whelen aren't offering in a better package...

with a 243, 260, 06 and a 35 Whelen, a rifleman sure has his bases well covered...

if I just had to have a new gun and something I didn't own already... I guess my only two choices would be both stainless Marlins with the laminate stocks in either 30/30 or 35 Remington...

or put together a good long range version of the 260 or 06, in a heavy barrel package with a big scope.... a bear sized varmint rifle if you will...

sounds like you have made some wise choices already... now all you really can do is duplicate them....

ever considered getting rid of one of what you have and replace it with a really really nice upgraded version???

or put an awesome new stock and some great optics on one of the ones you have now???

or like seafire, start looking at the switch barrel route...

Mr. Lexma.. fantastic signature line!!! I was just going over the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence with a batch of Boy Scouts tonight!!!! More citizens should read it!!! maybe they would understand the sacrifices of our founding fathers, and quit abusing their first amendment rights so badly...

with a .260, 30-06 and .35 Whelan you have a good range of rifle calibers. Upgrade an existing rifle is a very good choice. Or buy another "type" of rifle in a similar caliber. If your other guns are heavier, buy a lightweight rifle, if your other guns are light, buy a heavy barreled rifle. The .260 covers varments to deer+ and you could hunt anything with the 30-06, I would just either build a better rifle in a caliber you have. A light weight .308 or light weight .338 federal might also be handy.

Large Black Bear (BC Style), Moose and Elk??? Et All touting .260, might it be suggested that you ask Ray if he'll loan you his 25-35. roger

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
Large Black Bear (BC Style), Moose and Elk??? Et All touting .260, might it be suggested that you ask Ray if he'll loan you his 25-35. roger

So Roger,

where does you 8 x 57 fit into this? do you think it is vastly superior to the 260??

Seems to me the man already admitted to owning an 06 and a Whelen... so just when would he pick the 8mm Mauser over either of those two?

Especially hunting the animals you speak of above...

While I like the 8mm Mausers I have, I still don't see them as superior to the 260 Rems I also have...

I don't think there's anything a 7-08 will do that the 260 won't.

the 8x57, while a great round (as are many of the other rounds mentioned) will be even harder to find brass for than the 7x57.

There is something to be said for putting the money towards a hunt, instead.

But if you have to have another one the 7-08 makes more sense than the 7x57. Although I would never part with mine!

quote:

Originally posted by seafire2:

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
Large Black Bear (BC Style), Moose and Elk??? Et All touting .260, might it be suggested that you ask Ray if he'll loan you his 25-35. roger

So Roger,

where does you 8 x 57 fit into this? do you think it is vastly superior to the 260?? ABSOTIVELY

Seems to me the man already admitted to owning an 06 and a Whelen... so just when would he pick the 8mm Mauser over either of those two?
..

CHECK IT OUT, JOHN. HE'S GOT IT ALL COVERED! HE JUST WANTS SOMETHING HE AIN'T GOT TO KNOCK DOWN THE GAME HE MENTIONED!. Once he has the whatever ,he still my go into the Rockies or wherever with his 06. But he'll have his new roller skate key should he deside to use it.

I have no great "emotional" attachment to an 8x57 as some seem to have for the poorly designed .260. It just was something he didn't have to match the game and that old 8 will do that nicely.

With just a little brain work and some effort 8x57 brass ain't that hard to come by and although I really like the 7x57, the 8x57 brings that much more to the table.

It is a cold and rainy Fri. morning that's why this posting is a little longer than most of mine or I'd be out smelling the flowers. or something.roger

Hipster
GD is correct..
AK

Hey Hipster, What did your close and personal buddy, almost blood brother, and hero - "shootaway" - recommend to you?

I'm kind of surprised at Seafire for not mentioning the 444Mar. So, I will mention it along with the old faithful 45-70. Either (or both) should be in a new Marlin XLR. I can tell you from first-hand experience(not on Moose or Elk though) that the new XLR is one fine, slick, and accurate rifle.

You mentioned "reasonable" ranges, they might make that depending on how far "reasonable" happens to be. "Moderate" weight? Same-E-Same, depends on what "moderate" happens to be. Recoil is not an issue with that fine Pad they put on it.

And you can install some Williams Fire Sights(like I did) if you want to keep the weight down without adding a scope. And if you do go with a Scope, using a Weaver Base allows you to remove the scope, and still see the Fire Sights over the cut-out in the Weaver Base without having to remove it.

270Win, 8x57mouser, 6.5x57mouser - those are for ancient old folks.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
270Win, 8x57mouser, 6.5x57mouser - those are for ancient old folks.

Well gollleee! I guess I'll go out shopping for a grave site tommorrow. roger

I have a 7-08 and a .308 you would love both!!

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
270Win, 8x57mouser, 6.5x57mouser - those are for ancient old folks.

Well gollleee! I guess I'll go out shopping for a grave site tommorrow. roger

yea that old .270 winchester just bent over and needs a walker its so old....just shuffling along at its crippled up 3000+ FPS...I don't own any mousers but the 7 x 57 mauser has always intrigued me as a very efficient albiet crippled up old cartridge, but then I have a .270 win so I don't need one!!

with your 270 and 30-06, you have everything needed for bears, moose, etc. i'd suggest using the money for a hunt. however, if you must buy another rifle, get a 375.

Since you have a 260 and a 30-06, medium sized game such as deer are pretty well covered, and you can get ridiculously picky. If you hunt where the bucks can get very big-bodied, carry the '06 loaded with 165 bullets. When that tag is filled, carry the 260 loaded with 120gr BTs to fill your doe tags. With a 35 Whelen at the top end of the spectrum, another cartridge would only make sense if you split the difference between the '06 and the Whelen. While I love the 7mm's, a 7-08 wouldn't be my first choice for the game you mentioned. While it can handle heavier bullets, it is at its best with 140gr bullets. The 280 would be a better round for 7mm bullets heavier than 140gr, but your '06 would actually be a smarter choice if your intended game was larger than deer.

Since you are not interested in a magnum or a long range cartridge, the 338 Federal makes sense to me. Although I don't own one, it seems to fit the bill quite nicely. With 200gr Speers or 210gr Partitions, it will easily handle the game you mentioned at ranges well past 200 yards with less recoil than the Whelen. It can also be used in a rifle with a shorter barrel, making it a relatively handy rifle.
just my .02.

I think he should buy some golf clubs.

Terry

Very few are discerning enough to appreciate the brilliant compromise that is the 8x57mmJS.

quote:

Well gollleee! I guess I'll go out shopping for a grave site tommorrow.

Roj...

H/C said ancient folks.. not DEAD folks...

Getting a little paranoid? I love the 6.5 x 57 especially! I'm not panicking!

Besides I thought you were to the point that we all get too...." the older I get the better I was!"

Hell I use to have the only granddad in the USA that captured the entire German Army in 1918...

I shoot nearly all the rounds that have been suggested by members and have to say that the metrics are the way to go.
I have two 7x64s and an 8x57IS that shoot so dang well that they are boring.
I also have a 338 Federal and it is a deer dispatching machine.

You need a rifle that does "something" that your other rifles don't.

I vote you get a take down rifle.
Really, really easy to transport, including at the airport, where the case holding the rifle slips into your suitcase or duffel/zip bag.

The caliber? 338 Federal.
I just purchased a Savage 99 takedown that I'm converting to this caliber.

Garrett

quote:

Originally posted by wymple:
Stop looking for excuses to buy a new gun. Just do it. I don't know why we men find it necessary to explain our urges for more guns.

Yup, you are looking to rationalize the purchase of a new rifle, in my opinion unecessary. Want is the only justification needed -- just don't let your wife find out!

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:

quote:

Originally posted by wymple:
Stop looking for excuses to buy a new gun. Just do it. I don't know why we men find it necessary to explain our urges for more guns.

Yup, you are looking to rationalize the purchase of a new rifle, in my opinion unecessary. Want is the only justification needed -- just don't let your wife find out!

Divorce the wife and get the firearm..

I went through a similar situation...I own 25 '06, 257 Roy, 280 AI, 30 '06 and a 375 H&H...I was looking for a non magnum whitetail gun...I ordered the Cooper Excalibur in 280 Remington. Problem is they are 4 to 6 months out.

quote:

...." the older I get the better I was!"

All this wonderful philosophy and sage advice! WOW

Ve groo too tosuun olt und too leight schmart. roger

quote:

All this wonderful philosophy and sage advice! WOW

Well Roj,

since my cousin Al Gore invented the internet, I think it is fair to tell you that I was actually the guy who invented Blue Dot... and then sold the patent rights to it to DuPont, who sold it to Alliant...

In another 5 years I will also become the guy that invented the 223....

IN 10 years I will become the guy who invented rifle scopes, because I had to have somewhere to put my MIL DOT invention..

Guys thanks for all the replies, I got quite a bit more than I was expecting. I already have golf clubs that never get used enough. I don't have to worry too much about saving for hunts as I can buy general tags for bull Elk or Moose One hour driving gets me into good Elk hunting 3 hours for Moose there are bears as close as an hour with the real big boys about 3 hours away. If I drive 3-1/2 hours I am in the rockies amongst the Big Horn's.

I was looking at one of those Ruger Hawkeye's this past weekend in the stainless version in .280 Rem. I was not to overly impressed with the rifle and have not talked to anyone yet who has one. This might be an option as the .280 gives me the horse power in a moderate recoil package that I can have fun handloading for.

Thanks again guys

Well it took a bit of thinking and a bit of picking. But after all was said and done what I have has all the bases covered. Really anything would have been redundant but Damn I still needed a new gun. So I went out and bought one and it was.... yup you Guessed it something I needed a new Shotgun. Not a medum bore ( sorry for that) but I now have access to a lake on private land that is on a goose flyway and teeming with various kinds of ducks.

The 270 is out because you have a 260 and a 30-06...Just about everything else you mentioned is out based on that statement...If you have an 06 that puts everything up to a 338 out of business in the real world...

7x57 brass is pretty much available world wide btw...

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
The 270 is out because you have a 260??????? and a 30-06...Just about everything else you mentioned is out based on that statement...

Well maybe not everything! How about something with an old world Germanic flavor like the 7mm X 66 Vom Hofe Super Express or a 8 X 68Smm.