One gun for it all

[FOTIS]

Reloader28,

To date, I have used the 338 RUM to take a 5 pt Bull Elk at 350 yds, 3x4 Mule Deer at 140 yds, 4x4 Mule Deer at 40 yds, 9 pt WT Deer at 40 yds, and a Black Bear at 10 yds. All were DRT kills.
I have a Pachmyer Decelerator recoil pad so the recoil is not as bad as you might think.

I am going to start getting serious with that 6.5 JDJ pretty quick.

JD338

What load do you use?

 

[JD338]

Pop,

Here are the loads that I am using in my M700 LSS 338 RUM w/ a Leupold VXIII 2.5x8 scope. I am using R-P brass and Federal GM215M primers.

210 gr PT
RL22 92.0 grs
MV 3200 fps
best 4 shot group @ 100 yds .425"
best 3 shot group @ 300 yds 1.285" (2 shots were .590")


250 gr PT
RL25 90.0 grs
MV 2950 fps
best 4 shot group @ 100 yds .490"

The 210 gr PT was used on the elk, mule deer, and black bear, all were instant kills and the bullet made golf ball size exit wounds.
The 250 gr PT was used on the WT deer, the 200 lb 9 pt but reared, spun a 180 and fell over dead! Exit wound was the size of a quarter.

Regards,

JD338

 

[clearwater]

30-40 krag or 7mm mauser improved

 

[FOTIS]

Nice Jim!

 

[GooseHunter Jr]

From the list provided I would go with the 30.06.

 

[Guest]

Of the choices, I would have to take the 30-06 with 165 bullets as "out west" means elk to me. The one I would choose in a "standard cartridge" is not listed, but if I were to add one it would be the .280 Remington with 140 grain bullets.

 

[muledeerhunter]

Well I like some of the other hunters coments that a one round for all hunting in the west is a real hard choice. I like my 7mm Mag. But I like my 257 Mag as well. I think it is a persons own preferance. There are just so many thing to hunt. It gives one a reason to buy another gun and like any good hunting all we is one reason to go shopping.

 

[arnstein]

hi

i think the only one is the 376 Steyr and a 250gr swift a-frame bullet for alls

 

[centurian]

270 win, easy choice- gets magnum velocities, tons of great bullets, can go either 130gr for light stuff or 150gr for bigger big game, very flat shooting, no need for a mangelem the 270 will do it all. P.S. i have never owned a 270 but thats because i hunt in the east but its hard to find a better western cartridge.

 

[baltz526]

the best answer, is the 30-06 165gr combo and i'll even go to the point of saying h414 powder and cci magnum primers with the 165gr AccuBond bullet. load up fifty, and 5 years from now you will have killed 5 deer, five elk, 5 antelope, 5 black bear, 5 coyotes and sighted in 5 times. and you will bored to tears on how well it works. here is a list of cartrages that will bore you to tears as one rifle one bullet for western hunting. 270 150gr, 308 150 gr, 7mm rem mag 150gr, 300 win mag 180gr, 280 150gr, 284 150gr, 260 140gr, 7mm-08 150gr, and with all these rifles, once you find the load, load up 50 and put your reloading gear in storage, till you need more in about 5 years. of course that 40 gun safe is going to look silly with one rifle, one shotgun , one pistol in it.

 

[700 bdl 270]

270 winchester. Classic caliber, near or far.

 

[Transvaal]

338 Sabi!!! Faster than 338-06 if needed and very good with 250gr bullets!

Range of 200gr - 300gr bullets availble for plains as well as bushveld!

More or less based on a 9.3x62 Case which gives it more powder space than the 06 based 338!

 

[FOTIS]

again my #1 choice would be my 300 RUM. However given the limitations of your poll I would have to take the 30-06 but make mine in 180 gr Partition flavor.

 

[HondoLane]

Well, I am going to cast a vote for another golden oldy; one that few people use on this side of the Atlantic though. Make my "do it all rifle" chambered for 9.3x64 Brenneke. This round can duplicate 375H&H ballistics from a 30-06 length action and launching 250 grain pills at 2800fps, is flat enough for most shots needed. For those that like heavy for caliber bullets this cartridge will launch 286 grain Partitions at velocities approaching 2700 fps. Another nice feature inherent to this cartridge is the lack of a belt and the gently sloping 17* degree shoulder, which makes for ultra-slick feeding. This selection is adequate for any Western game and will serve superbly if taken to Alaska as well. Make mine 9.3x64 Brenneke please :grin:

 

[Taos]

current baby is a 6.5x.284. Does all I ask of it with good bullets from elk to black bear.

 

[OB1MARINE]

If you can shoot you can shoot but if you cant practice. But remember there is no practice for good ol buck fever. I use to be into bigger and badder. But I have come to an agreement with myself. Boy those mags are not fun to shoot. Who likes to go out and shoot a boxes of magnums. ouch! So what is the best Rifle for out west. Over the last 2years I have wrecked some animal with my Remington 700 in .308 win using a 165 gr AccuBond. What a great bullet. That my 2 cents from Oregon.

Semper Fi

 

[irocbarry]

personally i think a 300 mag with 180 grain bullets is about as much as you would ever need

a 270 is a good choice also, but i prefer a bit heavier bullets

 

[john-brennan]

7mm Rem Mag or a 270WSM for me.

 

[RMiller]

Out of those pics I would go with the 30-06.

What I really have is a 300 RUM.

 

[jmad_81]

I think that I would have to go with the .338 win. mag. Loaded with anything from 180 BT's to 250 partitions it can handle anything any of the western states have to offer including Alaska. I shoot 225's for everything, and have never been let down on a black bear, mule deer and 4 elk. Of the choices available though, I would have to go with the 30-06 and the 165 Partition. With the right shot placement it to could handle anything in the west. It might not have the knock down power but dead is dead.