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buying a rifle...need suggestions...advice...

MN Hunter
im going to purhase new rifle in the very near future. however, every store ive been to, the info ive been getting from the dealers has been subpar....as far as what rifle would best suit me. im looking for a rifle versatile enough to hunt everything from whitetails in minnesota...to caribou in alaska. i realize that there is no 'perfect' rifle, and that some rifles might be overkill for whitetails, but not enough or elk. im just looking for ANY suggestions of what you all shoot/use and what works. ahhh price wont matter much....already got a free zeiss scope lined up...so more $$$ for the rifle [:)]

again, im open to any suggestions and i thank you in advance for all help and input.

"Not many like us, in fact very few, and most of them are dead" LtCol Pratt - USMC
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Comments

13 comments

Date Votes
  • But If Not
    Just for hunting large game? Bolt action, heavy caliber. Make sure that it's pretty.
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  • 1KYDSTR
    As far as calibers go, I would look at 300 WinMag, 8mm-06, and the 7mm RemMag. There s good availability on all (OK, a little less on the 8mm-06) these rounds at most stores where you might need to get that extra box while still on the hunt. Do you reload? If you do, then a $25 set of Lee dies will make any of these very versatile and capable of anything up to Elk. As far as the gun goes, whatever you like and is priced right. I like both the Winchester and the Remington bolt guns. If I were to venture a selection...a Winchester 70 in 300 Winmag.

    "When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
    "When I was 14 I used to marvel at how ignorant my old man was...by the time I was 21 I was truelly amazed at how much the old bugger had learned in the intervening 7 years!" Samuel Clemens
    "History is written by winners"(Patton)
    "You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
    "There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)
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  • Beeramid
    You might try lookin into the Borwning A-bolt line in 300WSM. More then enough for whitetail and enough for elk. Its almost ballistically identical to the 300 winmag but without the long bolt throw(wsm is short action that opens to 60 degrees) and extra barrel lenth. Mine is very accurate and I think it should be adequate for what you need. With that zeiss scope you'd have one mighty fine shootin rifle with enough power.

    COOLBULLETS.jpg You are knuckle-dragging ape with a gun.
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  • But If Not
    I've read up a little on the Remington 700. The cops seem to like em. So do the Marines. I agree with the suggestion to consider the 300 magnum.
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  • ern98
    This may be backwards thinking, but if you already have the scope for the project then make sure that the rifle picked is proportional to it. Meaning that many high end european scopes tend to be on the larger & heavier side, so I wouldn't go and put it on say a Model 7 Remington or other compact or ultra light rifle. For my 2 cents I say buy a rig in 7mmRemMag or 7mmWSM with a middlen contour 24" or 26" barrel. These two calibers will easily handle everything from whitetail to elk reasonably well if you use the proper loading. As far as a rifle itself, I'm fond of the Winchester featherweight, and no it is not an ultralight setup.
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  • Ackley Improved User
    I suggest building your own rifle - see my reply to "accurizing a rifle" above.
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    win. m-70 classic, .338 win. mag.
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  • GPWEAPON
    Browning Stainless with Boss for the hard hitters since a rifle that will be light enough to pack will punch you quite hard and could effect your accuracy if your affected by recoil .I have a Stainless Ruger with skeleton stock in 338 win mag with a Boss type brake on it and it shoots 200 grainers at about 3000 fps with ease and extreme accuracy (1/2moa)
    speer's over RL19 and near nill on recoil. I'm a stainless fan since I don't like worrying about what the weather might do to my rifle
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  • bpost
    I've shot every thing you mentioned. Caribou, moose, fox, deer, groundhogs, squirrel, crows and bear. All of them with a 30-06. Choose the bullet to the job, shoot for the vitals and they all die real fast. If you want to step up in recoil use the .338 win mag. it hits harder, kicks harder and costs more to shoot, but dead is dead.
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  • handwerk
    hello fellow Minnesotian, I can't say enough about the tiika t3. I have one in ss/syn, 7mm mag. Just love it a joy to shoot, very accurate and light. I paid $519 last fall. I got my son one in 7mm-08 and at 11 years old he is comfortable shooting it. I took it to alaska caribou hunting and have always used a 7mm mag for the big whitetails here in n.e. Mn. I think it is a great round for 90% of what you'll be shooting at.How's your winter going? up here it been very cold and tons of snow. Let me know if I can answer any other ?'s Happy trails
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  • duckhunter
    Remington 700 30/06 with a synthic stock. Will do the job on all the critters you listed. Ammo is everywhere

    I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.
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  • MN Hunter
    thanks to everyone for the input.....hand; not much snow here in alexandria....only bout 6-7 inches.....thanks again!

    "Not many like us, in fact very few, and most of them are dead" LtCol Pratt - USMC
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  • steve4102
    I think that the 300WSM would be a good choice. I have a Browning BAR in 300WSM and it is very very accurate. The 30/06 has been mentioned and is a great caliber also, but, for what you have decribed, the 35 Whelen might be a better choice. Rem. chambers the 35 Whelen in the 700. The 35 Whelen is a 30/06 necked up to a 35 cal. bullet. Those that have them love them. My next rifle will be a 35 Whelen, check it out.
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