Love the discussions in the 300wm vs. 257 wby thread, thank-you all. OK, here is what I'm wanting ......... ONE rifle for hunting out to 4-500 yards, Whitetail, Axis, hogs, small chance of Elk ( Texas only ) AND another rifle for stalking/rattling, 100 yards and under but capable to 300 yards if needed.

I traded away the perfect rifle several years ago to a member ( ex member ) on here. It was a Older Rem. Model 7 KS Custom in 7mm-08 with a Swarovski 2-7-44? 30MM tube. Tried to buy it back later and his son took it and said he'd never get rid of it ( don't blame him lol ). Still need my butt kicked for that.

Anyway ..... just wondering what your thoughts are. I would also like to do FiremanJG's class sometime next year but right now don't care about the really long shooting ( not at the moment anyway, that might change too ).

There aren't any right or wrong answers, just wanting your opinions because that tends to make me think out of the box maybe consider something I hadn't thought of.

500 yards up to elk, 300 Win Mag or 7 Rem Mag

100 yards and under, capable of 300 yards = 16"-20" barreled 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, .308 Win.

Also note, I teach precision shooting that happens to include long range. Guys have come out shooting 2" at 100 yards, and left shooting as tight as the equipment can, often sub-MOA. I also teach how to build positions that are from typical hunting shot heights, because we can rarely shoot prone in the field. Shots from 2' off the ground to 4' off the ground.

I would get 1 6.5 Creedmoor and be done with it. I linked up with Fireman and he gave me suggestions on what to get caliber and scope wise.

I ended up building a 6.5 off a Savage actions and I am very happy I did. I took his class as soon as the rifle was done, now I am 100% confident shooting deer out to 500 yards, hogs and coyotes even further.

If you want a light weight 100 yard rifle, I would get a lever action. However, my stalking gun is a Tikka T3 lite .243 win and I love it. I am comfortable shooting that thing long range as well.

6.5 Creedmoor is my favorite caliber. This deer season I have witnessed several deer drop in their tracks including a great 10 point my brother shot with my rifle at 300 yards. With the right scope and knowledge of your bullet drop, it makes things much easier. I taught my brother how to use the scope the same way Fireman taught me. I ranged the deer at 310 yards, he changed parallax, adjusted 1.1 mils, increased zoom, and bang deer down.

Also, all the deer I have shot is with the Amax bullet. That thing is devastating on animals.

24" barrel gun in 280ai, 7mag, or 300 mag

20" gun in 308

Oh, one other thing I forgot, I DO NOT reload. Would have to send it to Chad which is what I'm planning anyway.

Absolute best course of action if you do not load your own, no matter what you are shooting.

All the suggestions so far are easy to make shoot, and there is plenty of mass produced ammo available. But if you have Chad tune a load for the rifle you will never be happy with mass produced ammo, so it's a moot point.

Well since I'm just suggesting based on lots of reading and my own curiosity and bias Id say 7mm RUM( RUM= Remmington Ultra Mag,based on .404 Jeffrey, makes for a non belted magnum cartridge) or 300 RUM For Gun A!
6.5 Creedmoore for Gun B!

That said what are my gun A and B choice I have on hand for hunting?

(A)Ceska Zbrojovka(CZ) 550 American .30-06

(B) Ceska Zbrojovka (CZ) 550 FS(Mannlicher Full Stocked) 6.5 SE(Swede)


A little side note and opinion ... I have owned several CZ rifles and handguns over the last 28 years.... and it my honest impression/opinion not much anything I have shot ,from basic models of Bolt guns,,, ( Remington BDL Model 700,Winchester M70, Savage LE1 110,) can beat them in the area of $$$= Value!

If I only had one gun, which used to be the case, I had a 270. But, today if I wanted to do what the OP has planned, I think the 6.5-284 might be my choice. Or maybe the 6.5-06. Those should do what the 6.5CM and 260 will do, but with more horsepower. Of course the 270 should at least be considered, though the target shooters will say that there is a shortage of match type bullets.

Go with the 6.5-284 and just get the one rifle. Don't really need two. And go with a 20 or 22 inch barrel and a high dollar scope.

I'm beginning to think that maybe .264 Win Mag is THE universal cartridge but for its impracticality for use on small game. Add a .223 Rem and you're there.

Truth be told, though, there are many ways to go that cannot be faulted. Having lots of practical choices is a good thing.

Good timing Ranger Rick as one of the rifles I'm looking at is a CZ UHR that's only made in 300 WM. Just having a difficult time finding reviews on it.
Also I've found out that the Sako 85 Hunter Stainless in 300WM listed on the Sako website is not imported to the US. Europtic folks emailed me back and said don't look at the Sako website because alot of what's shown isn't imported here.

If you don't reload, make it easy on yourself and get a .300 WM and a .308. You'll have a choice of the best ammo in the world for reasonable money, and you can find it anywhere. That is, if you want to spend your time hunting and shooting, not screwing around with gear.

BTW, this is one of those "do as I say, don't do as I do" posts. I have WAY too much gear that's obsolete, rare, unpopular and arcane. Some days I think that I'm really into shooting and other days I just think that I'm an idiot.

LOL! I thought was the only one.

If I were limited to 2 rifles they would both be 300 win mags. One set up for long range stand or bipod type hunting and the other built light weight for walking etc.

Sig line worthy

I ran a 270 & 300WMg combo for lots & lots of years...could always find ammo anywhere if the airlines ate my ammo somehow. 270 130'ers have roughly the same drop as a 300Winnie 165g'er & same same with the 270 150's & 300's 180's....back in those pre Range finder/BDC crosshair days. I hunted all over Texas and some other places on leases, and sometimes more often than my own lease as a guest as an industry rep and never felt undergunned.

Today I could do the same in a 2 gun hunt anyhwhere for everything deal but prolly would choose a lwt 7-08 mebbe carbine length and hammmer NBT in 120 & mebbe NAB's/TTSX's in 140gr'ers for the short barrel under 3-400+ yard gun, and push the Winnie's barrel out to 26" with lots bigger glass to enhance the differences & stay with 180's or mebbe 200's in bullet appropriate situations.

One thing I did learn...was to use the same brand & model rifle...safety in the same place, cheekpiece the same, yadda yadda ...just like a 2 iron & and 7 iron golf club will give the same swing if they are just alike except for the angle of the club's face. BTDT
Ron

^^^^
That sounds about right to me.

Couple of questions... Are you recoil sensitive? Will your grandkids be when they get these guns one of these days? Do you like to be able to go to the range and shoot 50 rounds at a time or are these guns going to be shot a few rounds at a time?



500 yards for deer and maybe elk would be a 280ai
stalking and shorter range would be a 260


Could also change it to this...

500 yards for deer and maybe elk would be a .300 win mag
stalking and shorter ranger would be a .308

Or you could go this route....

500 yards for deer and maybe a elk would be a .264 win mag
stalking and shorter range would be a 6.5-06

Recoil has never bothered me but the last 300 WM I had had a brake on it. I was the guy that usually sighted in my friends 30-06, 270 Wby mag, 300 WSM and 375 JDJ contender lol.

Grandson or son in law will have my rifles one day, already gave the son in law a Rem 700 mountain rifle in 280. He shot his first hog and deer ( 6 point ) with it a few years ago. It's in my closet until he can get settled long enough somewhere to hunt. They're going to Okinawa for 4 years in a couple of months.

I'm starting to lean towards a 7mm-08 and a 300 WM.

Fine choices

Couple of pretty good choices. Can't go wrong with either of those.

OK finalizing a deal on a T3 SS 7mm-08 right now so looks like Alamo will be helping me with a 300 WM. Thanks so much for all y'alls help. I'll be contacting you soon caddo

Saw that for sale. Great rifle!

Excited about it. I think it will be a great lightweight rig. Thanks JG.

260ai and 7mag

300 mag and a 30-30 lever action.