I find my 300 Win Mag. is the very best all around hunting rifle for game from deer to moose. To get the maximum results from the 300 mag. be sure the rifle you buy has a 26" barrel. The 300 Mag. produces the best velocities with a wide range of bullet weights for hunting from 125, 150, 165, 180, 200, 220, and many more bullet weights that fall between these weights listed. The .308 diameter bullet is in my view the very best game getting bullet you can use at any range you choose to shoot.
The 300 Win Mag is the most well balanced hunting cartridge and produces the velocities needed to drive any weight hunting bullet at the desired velocity to get the job done. The new wave of Ultra mags now being produced only burn more pwoder but will not out perform the 300 Mag at practical hunting ranges from 50 to 500 yards.
The handloader who owns a 300 Win mag would not need another rifle in his gun closet if the 300 mag. were the only cartridge available to him for hunting any game animal. All you need do is buy the 300 Win. mag. and you will soon see I am as accurate as the 300 mag. in the game getting department.

When I first moved to Colorado we had separte deer seasons so I had a rifle for antelope,deer and elk now were into combination of deer and elk and to have the perfect rifle is near impossible. I shot a 7 mag for years and even tried a 7 wby mag and about the last 15 yrs have gone to a 30 cal. I tried the 338 cal alittle too heavy for deer great on elk. I shoot a 30-338 which is close to a 308 norma. I also like the 300H&H and tried a 300 win mag and like the 300 wby used that rifle for about 5 yrs. One year I took my antelope,elk and deer with a 7 mag. I hunt pretty open country and we get some long shots in and I found the 180 gr 30 cal performs alittle better on elk than the 7 mag. I got a friend that hunt pretty timbered country and all he uses is a 308 and he gets his elk and deer and his average shot is less than 100 yds. If I was coming from out of state I would probably want more rifle than needed maybe one of those short mags or a 300wby. Well good luck.

I used Nosler Partitions when they were made on a screw machine, you remember don't you, they had turning marks on the nose and a crimping groove cut into the middle. I even used some Ackley bullets. They were a no quality precurser of the Swift.

Anytime you get something you give something up. While I too like my "special" cartridges I have seen it all and I am just more practical I guess.

I should really write a magazine article and not give away all of the facts. While a good debate is fun I have not learned much new here.

This topic is about a rifle for W Va and the west (maybe). I still think a light rifle with a 22" bbl is where to start. If the money comes up for a western hunt then that rifle in 06 will do it all. Meanwhile I just don't see toting a heavy gun all over the hills in W Va. If a lot of money comes available then another rifle will be fun. Meanwhile the 06 will still be just right.

For me, its an easy choice. 6.5-06 Ackley.

Pecos

Here is how I would decide:

Go anywhere but a shooting bench and shoot a group with your current rifle at 300 yards. If group size is bigger than an elk's lungs, buy a 30-06 and practice. I fall into the 97% of shooters who have no business taking 300 yard shots at game, and the 30-06 handles any deer species inside of 300 yards.

You may be that one man in 30 who shoots 3 moa at 300 from field positions, but consider this: When you get out West, Wal-Mart or the gas station will have 30-06 ammo, should you lose or forget something.

H.C.

P.S.

Regarding ease of handloading, you will find more data for the 30-06 catridge than almost any other.

[This message has been edited by HenryC470 (edited 01-01-2002).]

If you don't have one, my choice would be the 338 Win. The recoil is not that bad and that is the rifle I would choose for all around use. There is also a good variety of bullets available from Barnes 160 gr "X" through the 275 Swifts or the 300 grain Woodleigh.

Steve

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Every man dies, but not every man really lives!!

How about the 7MM STE (Easterner)

COME ON GUYS, the man has all the reasons (excuses) he needs to get two rifles and yet almost everyone is trying to talk him out of it, no man could possibly be happy with just one multi purpose rifle