Currently by only rifle is a Ruger .338 Win Mag. If you were me, what would be the next rifle that you would add? I'm not looking to add anything immediately, but would like some ideas as to what you would do.

Get yourself a .22-250 for varmints. It makes for great off-season practice.

George

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Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!

I think most people would need an idea of what you wanted to do w/ your rifles before we could give an answer.

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May your chambers be true to your bores.

Get a 243 or 6mm Remington in a bolt action. They make excellent varmint/deer guns. You could shoot such a rifle a lot, more inexpensively than your .338, and with less damage to your shoulder and nerves, allowing you to get in a great deal of shooting practice.

Here in Utah, the .243 idea makes a lot of sense. It is enough rifle for mulies, plenty for coyotes, and a reasonable cost to shoot at the range.

For plinking, jackrabbits, coyotes, skunks, and raccoons another good choice is a .223 bolt. Mine is a real pleasure to shoot... can go through 100 rounds at the range, and be wishing I had another hour and another 50 rounds. It's really cheap to shoot.

getcha a 22-250. It'll bust a sage rat a loooong way out and is a very terminal medicine for yotes. I don't think a .223 would have the reach you need west of the big river and you can't buy Swift ammo at every corner store like you can a 22-250.

How about the same rifle in 7 Rem Mag to compliment your 338Win Mag. The 7RM could be used for deer-sized game and as a 2nd or back-up rifle for elk-sized big game that you will use your 338 primarily for. You did post this question in the Big Game forum so I assume you are seeking a second big game rifle. sure-shot

DITTO - SURE-SHOT

Since you didn't specify a particular purpose for this gun, I am assuming that you want it to do something that the 338 can't. If you are looking for longer distances at deer sized animals I think the 25-06 might be worth looking into. Since it sounds like you are just starting to build your collection I would suggest staying away from the exotic or other magnum rounds right now, get something that you can shoot a lot with, and afford to do so. If this is your only gun, I'd say get a 22 LR as your next gun, and start shooting it as much as possible. Otherwise, something in 223 would be a good gun, or even a cheap SKS, hard to beat 500 rds of ammo for $40, and the experience you get shooting a couple hundred dollars of ammo will help you throughout your hunting career.

Sorry I was so cryptic in asking my question, which should have been: What would you add next towards the building of 'stable' of rifles to handle any shooting chore? Thanks for the replies.

IMHO, From squirels to elephant, in that order;
1. 22 lr
2. 223 rem
3. 30-06 gov
4. 338 win mag
5. 375 h&h mag
6. 458 win mag

Good luck and good shooting

I would think maybe a 22-250 or 243 win would come next. This would be a start

I would have to vote for a good heavy barrel .243. A 22-250 would be my second choice. The .243 just gives you a little more versatility. IMHO I think the .223 and less powerful fill to small a niche to be a prime choice at this time.

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May your chambers be true to your bores.

A 6,5x55 is never wrong

Ditto Wachtel or .260Rem.

I just bought a 338 yesterday (BAR)for hunting large game. I have a 25-06 that has gone both ways for me in past years, varmints and deer out of state. I will admit it is not the ALL-DAY dog gun that many use on varmints. I shoot ground hogs mostly, so one is lucky to get a dozen shots an outing. It is a better long range gun than the 250 in my experience. It does a better job on deer than a .243, I know because that is why I got a 270 on trade for that rifle. The 270 was a little much on the varmints, so now comes the 25-06 yes.

I would say the 25-06. Good deer cal. and yet small enough for varmits.

The 243 gets my vote. It's almost exactly "half" of a 338 - 100gr@2960fps vs. 200gr@2960fps (factory loads). I happen to own both, but have not handled my 243 in several years - my Dad has (permanently) "borrowed" it for deer and varmints, and is proud of his string of one-shot running coyote kills....

Bill

Get a .257 Roberts. It would be a great deer gun and could double as a varmint gun. It is easy to shoot and fairly inexpensive to reload. If an elk came along I would have no problem shooting it either.