Best All-Around Gun

U

unlucky

Guest
I'm looking at getting a new rifle and would like everyones input. What is the best overall gun, in your opinion, and why? I have and will never get rid of my .25-06. It is a great deer and antelope gun but I know I need something bigger as well. I'm really considering a magnum but I'm not sure which one. I've got buddies that say to consider nothing but a .300 mag, others say a .300 ultra, while others say to look at the many short mags. I'm a bit concerned about recoil and have considered a break. I've heard good and bad about them. I guess what I'm saying is I'm really confused and need some advice.
 
Depends if you reload or buy factory ammo. For instance a 270 or 280 can be reloaded to perform right on the heels of an average factory load of a 7mm. A 30-06 can be reloaded also to perform right on the heels of a 300 mag if using factory ammo. If using factory ammo, then one of the magnum's could be said to be the best all around guns. The magnum's I'm referring to would be 270 WSM, on up to 300 mags. Custom loaded 270, 280 or 30-06 would be hard to beat for best all around gun.
Now I have a 25-06 also and when I go exclusively for deer or antelope then I use that. If going after elk and deer I take the 300 mag.
 
If recoil is a possible concern with you, then I have to go along with the 30-06. That caliber has probably killed more elk for the past 50 years then most mags.
If you feel that you could handle a little more recoil, then step up to the 300 win. Mag.

Both of the above calibers have a wide range of ammo selection if you do not reload and the price is far better then the short mags and ultra mags.

If you plan to reload, both are great rounds for reloading and finding a good load for your rifle.

With your 25-06 and a 30-06 or 300 win. mag., you are prepared to hunt any big game here or in Canada except for the big bears, and that one is doable with a good heavy bullet in the 300 mag.

RELH
 
I'd go with the 7mm Rem Mag or 300 Win Mag. If you're going to be more large game hunting (elk as compared to deer), I'd get a 300 Win Mag. If your recoil sensitive, then put a break on it. If you plan on using more for deer sized game, I'd go with a 7mm Rem Mag.

I personally have the 7mm Rem Mag and love it. The recoil is very manageable, it's flat shooting, easy to reload for, and is a great all around gun in my opinion.
 
>I'd go with the 7mm Rem
>Mag or 300 Win Mag.
> If you're going to
>be more large game hunting
>(elk as compared to deer),
>I'd get a 300 Win
>Mag. If your recoil
>sensitive, then put a break
>on it. If you
>plan on using more for
>deer sized game, I'd go
>with a 7mm Rem Mag.
>
>
>I personally have the 7mm Rem
>Mag and love it.
>The recoil is very manageable,
>it's flat shooting, easy to
>reload for, and is a
>great all around gun in
>my opinion.


If you have friends with mags ask to shoot them before buying, see what you like.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-23-10 AT 11:21AM (MST)[p]I have to second looking at the .30/06 or the .280 if you don't like recoil. Both offer heavier bullets that will flat out do the job for you and have a great selection of factory ammo available with a wide array of bullets. You don't have to have a magnum to kill most animals out there today contrary to what some will try to tell you. If you live in the lower 48 and most of your hunting is for deer and elk either of these will fill the bill. You'll shoot either of these rounds easily and know you have enough gun to get the job done and both are renown for their accuracy. The magnums advantage usually comes in the form of flatter trajectory for longer shots and they certainly have their place and only you can decide if that's what you need. You can certaily build one that's fairly mild on the shoulder given all the alternatives out there today but most will recoil more than any standard cartridge w/o a muzzle brake. If you move up to a magnum that .300 winny mag is hard to beat.
 
7mm, 30-06, 270, 300win mag, probably in that order. Notice that although I am not a 7mm owner(I shoot an '06) I went 7mm first. I truly believe that these are the 4 most popular and widely used for western big game hunting. I shoot an '06, in my camp we have 2 300's, 3 7mm and 2 '06 and all of them kill elk. I know that there are a lot of big magnum fans and that is cool but dead is dead, most guys are never gonna shoot over 300yds, and recoil is a factor. Plus, ammunition is not exactly cheap and the big mags make them too pricey to practice with. I shoot a a-bolt but again best all around I would go, rem 700, ruger hawkeye, browning, savage. My personal choice and the gun that right now I would buy my son(he is 4 so pretty soon) is a Rem. 700CDL in 7mm.
 
I would go up to .30 caliber-either .30-06 or .300 Win Mag. Like was said above,they will kill anything short of the big bears in North America and the .300 will even kill the big bears.Wouldn't even think about an ultra since recoil is a concern.Personally I can't stand muzzle brakes and would rather back off in caliber than shoot a rifle that sounds like a cannon.
 
>I would go up to .30
>caliber-either .30-06 or .300 Win
>Mag. Like was said above,they
>will kill anything short of
>the big bears in North
>America and the .300 will
>even kill the big bears.Wouldn't
>even think about an ultra
>since recoil is a concern.Personally
>I can't stand muzzle brakes
>and would rather back off
>in caliber than shoot a
>rifle that sounds like a
>cannon.



That about sums it up. Only thing I might add is a reloader can do great things with a 30-06.
 
Jesus....I'm proud of you guys. Not 1 300rum recomendation. :)

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
 
Pretty open Question "best all-around gun"

After a couple days of thought on the matter, i agree with everybody's thoughts above. I will say though that my best all around gun was the gun that i took my first buck with. It was the biggest buck took off our ranch that year and i was pretty darn proud of it and that gun, my Dad's. Dad had just bought the gun a couple years before, i had watched him kill several bucks with it before he allowed me to shoot my first deer, big buck with it, and i watched him take many, many more with it in the years that followed.

About a year before my Dad passed away, he kinda surprised me one evening while i was visiting, him getting it out and giving that old Winchester model 70 in .243 to me with assurances that he wanted me to take and have it. It's not a gun that i use very much, not even what i consider a very useful caliber for what i like to do. But all thing considered, it's by far, my most important and valuable, to me it's priceless, gun i own and i'd have to say, my best All-Around gun.

Joey
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-24-10 AT 10:01AM (MST)[p]Hey Hard, Not even I would argue the .300 RUM as best "all around". I'm exited to use the new Alliant cartridge specific powders or RL-17 and some high BC midweight bullets in my ol '06 this summer. Bet I can get some surprising numbers. mtmuley
 
>LAST EDITED ON Jan-24-10
>AT 10:01?AM (MST)
>
>Hey Hard, Not even I would
>argue the .300 RUM as
>best "all around". I'm exited
>to use the new Alliant
>cartridge specific powders or RL-17
>and some high BC midweight
>bullets in my ol '06
>this summer. Bet I can
>get some surprising numbers.
>mtmuley

I bet you'll be suprised too. I'm relly looking into the new kimber 84L that will be out later this year. A 30-06 @ 5 1/2lbs might put the 308 on the bench :)

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
 
That's a lot of punch in a easy packing rifle. I have a pristine Mauser action I can build on. Not light, but what about a 24 or even 26 inch barrel? Sorry, I just have this thing about velocity. mtmuley
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-24-10 AT 12:37PM (MST)[p]
>If you have friends with mags
>ask to shoot them before
>buying, see what you like.
>


^^^^^^ This

Kyle
"If it moves shoot it again"

 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-24-10 AT 10:47PM (MST)[p]Hell, what is this place coming too? mtmuley thinking of laying down the RUM, and me taking a liking to the 35 Whelen, thinking of leaving the WBY home!

if R17 can get me 2650 (i'm getting 2600 now w/15) That will extend the lethal range of the 35 to 600 yards with a 250 partition! I think I will really enjoy carrying the 7.5 lb whelen!

004.jpg




BTW, with the "big bears" coming up in this conversation, you guys should read what Phil Shoemaker says: "the 30-06 killed the world record brown bear, and will still kill the biggest bear walking" he also put his money where his mouth is, and used a 30-06 as his BACK UP RIFLE last year, and yes, he had to use it!
 
7mm remington or 7mm WSM magnums.

Great high BC bullets, will do anything a .300 win mag will do with slightly less recoil. No need for a brake.

Look for rifles of moderate weight (no lightweights) with at least a 24 inch barrel, 26 is even better.
 
REDDOG, Nice rifle! I have 3 .30-06's, but I have recently wondered what all the new powders coupled with newer high BC bullets in a strong action and 26 inch barrel would make the ol girl do. Oh Yeah, some Lapua brass, pressures may get high. If I'm not mistaken, I saw on TV or read about a gentleman pushing 3000 fps with a 180 gr bullet. I may lay down the RUM for THAT. mtmuley
 
Booger, Gilbert, and the rest of you NERDS, can we not pirate this post with physics, thanks!!! After thinking about this for a couple of days I would say..... why the hell are you thinking about this question for a couple of days??

Obviously the dreaded offseason is here so this is my only entertainment until dove season in Sept.
 
>REDDOG, Nice rifle! I have 3
>.30-06's, but I have recently
>wondered what all the new
>powders coupled with newer high
>BC bullets in a strong
>action and 26 inch barrel
>would make the ol girl
>do. Oh Yeah, some Lapua
>brass, pressures may get high.
>If I'm not mistaken, I
>saw on TV or read
>about a gentleman pushing 3000
>fps with a 180 gr
>bullet. I may lay down
>the RUM for THAT. mtmuley
>


The 30-06AI will ring that 3000fps bell with 180's.

All this time, and the old '06 case just keeps getting better! Heck, I owned a 338 win at one time, It was very hard pressed to hit 2700 with a 250. My Whelen is right on its heels!
 
Hossblur said, "After thinking about this for a couple of days I would say..... why the hell are you thinking about this question for a couple of days??


Lol, No kidding!! My only defense was wondering if or not i was going to reply to this "same old question". So, my answer was not the same ol reply.

Yes, it's the off season and i'm more than ass deep in snow...not a good mix! :)

Joey
 
>Hossblur said, "After thinking about this
>for a couple of days
>I would say..... why the
>hell are you thinking about
>this question for a couple
>of days??
>
>
>Lol, No kidding!! My only defense
>was wondering if or not
>i was going to reply
>to this "same old question".
>So, my answer was not
>the same ol reply.
>
> Yes, it's the off season
>and i'm more than ass
>deep in snow...not a good
>mix! :)
>
>Joey


Amen to that!! For some reason your post made me laugh, thinking about that for a few days was funny, don't know why, was stone cold sober at the time. No harm I hope didn't mean anything by it other than to be a smartazz
 
"your post made me laugh,.."

Take the laughs where you can find them i say!!!

"Smartazz" works for me...at least, most of the time! :)

Joey
 
Because you already have a 25-06, which is a GREAT caliber for anything from prairie dogs to mule deer, I would say go with something a little heavier that will foot the bill for larger critters.

I really like the ballistics and feel of the .338 class of cartridges. A 338 Win Mag is a good choice, but if you get a braked rifle you might opt for the more powerful 338 Ultra Mag. That bugger will push a 250 grain bullet to nearly 3,000 fps. That is outstanding performance! Still, the regular 338 Win Mag will push that same bullet to about 2,700 fps, and that'll knock down nearly anything in the world quite handily.
 
I think Jack o'Conner nailed this question about 40 yrs. ago.
WIN. MOD. 70, PRE64, 270 win. 130 gr. for deer, 150gr. for bigger stuff. still works just as good today as back then! GG
 
I already had 2 30.06 rifles and when checking things out I decided to go to the 7mm remington magnum for a new rifle. I "think" it will be the best all around, but if it disappoints me I won't hesitate to pull out the old .06 and use it.
 
Jack was the man way before his time. My model 70 in .270 win sure seems to do the trick. The 30-06 and 270 have killed more deer and elk than wheaterby owner's have though about.
 
Lots of good choices these days. I switched from 30.06 to 7MM many years ago to keep the heavier bullet and be a little flatter. I didn't reload the '06 but the new technology allows for flatter shooting there now. I would say anything from .270 up but I do prefer shooting heavier bullets at elk and big deer. I had a break on mine originally (A Bolt) but after one season I nearly blew my ears out so I replaced it with a solid piece. No breaks for me EVER. I never notice the recoil when hunting and you can adjust for that when shooting a target. I just won a 300WSM and a friend has the same gun and loves it as well.

Good luck!
 
Not to start an argument,but the "never notice recoil hunting" is a bit of a farce..learned shooting habits dont change because your hunting.
 
>Thats easy 7mm rem mag no
>question 06 are you people
>for real or are you
>only shooting very short distances
>200 yds.

Very true, unless I'm hunting squirells its 50bmg all the way.

PS....Do you know stinkystomper?

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
 
>Thats easy 7mm rem mag no
>question 06 are you people
>for real or are you
>only shooting very short distances
>200 yds.

teh 06 is a dinosaur for sure.



Trajectory
Input Data
Manufacturer: Hornady Description: Amax (Litz)
Caliber: 0.308 in Weight: 208.0 gr

Muzzle Velocity: 2600.0 ft/s Distance to Chronograph: 10.0 in

Sight Height: 1.50 in Sight Offset: 0.00 in
Zero Height: 0.00 in Zero Offset: 0.00 in
Windage: 0.000 MOA Elevation: 0.000 mil
Line Of Sight Angle: 0.0 deg Cant Angle: 0.0 deg

Wind Speed: 10.0 mph Wind Angle: 90.0 deg
Target Speed: 10.0 mph Target Angle: 90.0 deg

Temperature: 70.0 ?F Pressure: 29.92 in Hg
Humidity: 30.0 % Altitude: 4500.0 ft

Vital Zone Radius: 5.0 in

Std. Atmosphere at Altitude: Yes Pressure is Corrected: Yes
Zero at Max. Point Blank Range: No Target Relative Drops: Yes
Mark Sound Barrier Crossing: No Include Extra Rows: No
Column 1 Units: 0.05 in Column 2 Units: 1.00 MOA
Round Output to Whole Numbers: No
Output Data
Elevation: 5.948 MOA Windage: 0.000 MOA

Atmospheric Density: 0.06690 lb/ft? Speed of Sound: 1099.1 ft/s

Maximum PBR: 329 yd Maximum PBR Zero: 278 yd
Range of Maximum Height: 152 yd Energy at Maximum PBR: 2269.4 ft?lbs

Sectional Density: 0.313 lb/in?
Calculated Table
Range Drop Drop Windage Windage Velocity Mach Energy Time Lead Lead
(yd) (Col 1) (MOA) (Col 1) (MOA) (ft/s) (none) (ft?lbs) (s) (Col 1) (MOA)
0 -30.0 *** 0.0 *** 2600.3 2.366 3122.4 0.000 0.0 ***
100 41.5 2.0 9.7 0.5 2480.2 2.257 2840.5 0.118 415.8 19.9
200 -0.0 -0.0 39.8 1.0 2363.1 2.150 2578.7 0.242 852.0 20.3
300 -166.1 -2.6 91.8 1.5 2249.3 2.047 2336.2 0.372 1310.1 20.9
400 -469.7 -5.6 167.1 2.0 2138.8 1.946 2112.3 0.509 1791.5 21.4
500 -925.4 -8.8 267.7 2.6 2031.6 1.848 1905.9 0.653 2298.2 21.9
600 -1549.7 -12.3 395.2 3.1 1927.4 1.754 1715.4 0.805 2831.8 22.5
700 -2361.3 -16.1 552.1 3.8 1826.0 1.661 1539.6 0.964 3394.8 23.2
800 -3381.6 -20.2 740.7 4.4 1727.1 1.571 1377.4 1.133 3989.5 23.8
900 -4635.3 -24.6 963.9 5.1 1630.6 1.484 1227.8 1.312 4618.8 24.5
1000 -6150.9 -29.4 1225.1 5.8 1536.5 1.398 1090.2 1.502 5286.1 25.2

01/03/10 13:02, JBM/jbmtraj-5.0.cgi


Need to report an error?


Get web hosting, starting at 4.95 a month! JBM Small Arms Ballistics. Last update 20 October 2009, Copyright ? 1996-2009 JBM [Privacy] [V]
 
"Need to report an error?"

Well, Yeah!!

41" high @ 100yds
-0- @ 200yds
166 low @ 300

Reboot that rig or give it the boot, something, cause even Core-loct Round Nose bullets fly better than that!! :)

Joey
 
Just FYI, its all fouled up..a few key #'s got entered wrong,,and no, I dont shoot with the chrono @ 10"!
 
REDDOG I don't think my scope can handle the adjustments needed for that cartridge table. I guess if he's at 200 yards exactly I'm OK...

:)
 
>Thats easy 7mm rem mag no
>question 06 are you people
>for real or are you
>only shooting very short distances
>200 yds.

You are mistaken...slightly.

Taking all the loads and powder variations from my reloading manuals and comparing a 150 grain bullet, this is what I find:

7mm Rem Mag - 150 grain bullet
Avg Top Speed: 3078
Avg Low Speed: 2896

30-06 - 150 grain bullet
Avg Top Speed: 3046
Avg Low Speed: 2832

A 30-50 feet per second difference is NO real difference at all.

Then take a look at these numbers:

7mm Rem Mag - 175 grain bullet
Avg Top Speed: 2833
Avg Low Speed: 2674

30-06 - 180 grain bullet
Avg Top Speed: 2851
Avg Low Speed: 2656

The advantage here goes to the '06 because it's shooting a slightly heavier bullet. There's a reason the 30-06 is the most popular hunting cartridge and has been for a hundred years.

And zeroing a 150 bullet at 200 yards and 3,000 fps shows only a 10 inch drop at even 400 yards. The '06 wins in versatility, hands down.
 
>And zeroing a 150 bullet at
>200 yards and 3,000 fps
>shows only a 10 inch
>drop at even 400 yards.
>The '06 wins in versatility,
>hands down.

Huh???? Might wanna re check those numbers yourself. I launch a 150gr bullet at 2900fps out of my 308 and it drops about 20"s at 400......now I'm no 06 hater, but a 100fps does'nt get you 10" of trajectory at 400yds.



"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
 
Sorry, was reading my manual wrong. You are correct:

Straight out of the Nosler 5th Edition Reloading Manual...

150 grain Partition Spitzer
Ballistic Coefficient: .387
Sectional Density: .226
Muzzle Velocity with 59 grains of IMR4350: 3,000 fps

100 yards: +1.5"
200 yards: 0"
300 yards: -7.0"
400 yards: -20.7"

What I meant by posting that was to say that as far as ballistics are concerned, the 7 Mag is VERY close to the '06. The only way it can be slightly flatter is by shooting a bullet with a higher ballistic coefficient (.456 or something), and even that isn't going to get you anything more than an inch higher at 400 yards.

So, my opinion STAYS with the '06 because it can shoot a 125 grain varmint load and go as high as 220 grain or more for the larger beasties.
 
I agree on the 06....I only chimed in to make fun of longshooter338 who thinks you cant shoot anything past 200yds unless you have a 338LM.

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
 
Don't forget about the 55 grain accelerators for the 06, my ruger shoots them very well and i have taken coyotes with them out to 300 yards. So you got from 55 grain up to 220 grain.
 
7mag all the way, for the best all around gun it cannot be beat! The other thing to remember about a brake is that if you are shooting in hunting conditions without ear protection it will be detrimental to your hearing. If you get one make sure you have hearing protection. I always have hearing protection weather or not i have a brake but it is a must when you have a brake on your rifle.
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-23-10 AT 08:05PM (MST)[p]Since he said 'best all around' and didn't place a limit on intended quarry, I gotta lean towards the 375 H&H.

Tone it down with some lite 235 gr TSX or stoke with with the heavy stuff. What can't it do?

Buy ammo in every country for it or handload to your hearts content.

blah blah blah

lol

Bill in MI
 
as much as i like the 06 and i love my .308. I would almost go with the 300 WSM if we talk about best all around rifle also taking into mind not wanting something that rips your shoulder off. The 300 WSM can break the 3000 fps with a 180gr bullet, and even a moderate load is pushing 2900 fps. A 165 gr can creep near the mid 3000 fps. You can get all the performance of the 300 win mag with all the benni's of a short action. The kick is closer to a 308 then a 300 win mag. nice 24 in barrel and you can carry it all day chasing elk in the mountains.



"blaming guns for violence is like blaming spoons for Rosie O'donnell being fat."
 
One thing about History....it always repeats itself and the 30.06 has been around longer than any other cartridge ...over 100 years...and still the most seller....
 
AyA I'm deeply offended by your post.I LOVE my .270 WSM! It is a sweet-shooting and accurate rifle with hardly any recoil.
(And,besides, I can fit not one, but TWO boxes of its cute little cartridges in my purse.)

:)
 
You carry a purse?

I got accused of carrying a purse one time..but it was a satchel. Indiana Jones carries one.
 
I also shoot a 25-06 and love it. I bought 300 win mag and got pounded. I developed a flinch which I didn't relize I had until I was shooting sporting clays with some bigshots at work. I had a few rounds that didn't fire. They laughed the first 2 times. After the 3rd one they made wear "the pink hat" Guess I have to work on that a bit. I wouldn't go magnum, 30-06 will do fine. I use my 280 for anything bigger than deer.
 

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