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Best "do everything" rifle & caliber?

hfwarner3
So now that I am considering purchasing a new rifle, I am looking for suggestions. I have previously owned rifles in .22, .223, and .308. Being in the military, I stuck with military calibers because ammo was so easy to find near the base.

Now that I am starting over from scratch, I am thinking of getting a nice bolt-action in 7mm Mag. I am told this would be a nice hunting rifle that, depending on the grain your are firing, could be used to hunt almost anything. At the same time, with the right rifle and round, it can also be used for competitive shooting out to 1000m. I don't know about that, but I do like target shooting out to about 300m.

Any input on 7mm Mag as a round? How is the kick compared to a .308? Any suggestions on good 7mm Mag rifles for general shooting?

Thanks in advance for your input.




Edited by - hfwarner3 on 05/17/2002 13:17:36
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • Shootist3006
    Not about the 7MM (an adequate though inferior caliber) but about the one military round you fail to mention - the awesome 30-06!!!

    The '06 has been the standard against which all others are compared, why go with less than the standard?

    Able to handle everything from varmints to the biggest game (and 1000 yard targets)!!

    The '06 will rule forever.

    Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis
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  • aglore
    Let's see, competitive shooting ang big game with the rifle, that boils it down to the 6.5X284 or the 300 H&H which did hold 1000 yard records for years.

    AlleninAlaska aglore@gci.net

    How would you rather die, 10,000 foot pounds of muzzle energy in the BUTT or a sharp knife in the HEART?
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  • binder
    I have taken most of my game with 308, 30-06. I have others and while some are really pushing the 7 mm mag and 300 mag on me, I have yet to see a reason for going to these calibers. I have a 338 BAR because I didn't want any surprises while bear hunting, and it hasn't let me down, but then I have only used it once or twice. Besides the fact that there will almost always be 308 and 30-06 ammo cheap and Available everywhere, I can think of a more useful caliber than 30-06. More rifles are available in this caliber than about any other, bolts levers and semi-autos. Also you can take about 95% or better of most North american game with it.
    Don't get me wrong, the 7mm mag, shoots flatter at longer ranges, but here since you are talking best all around, ammo availabilty(usuallly cheaper)generally 1/2 to 2/3 the price of 7 mag., I think you would be hard pressed to find a more versatile caliber.
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  • NOTPARS
    For Shootist3006:

    For two years I was trying to decide on a new bolt action rifle and caliber. I read as much as I could on the various rifles and then an article in the NRA's American Hunter last year settled the issue. The author, whose name escapes me, wrote an article titled "Why I hate the .30-06. The gist of the article was that the .30-06 was the best all around caliber, could take any North American game animal, but, wasn't the best for this or for that animal. After I read it, I realized that based on the author's opinion, you would have to buy one rifle of each caliber to hunt all the different game animals he mentioned. Who but the rich could do that??? And, since the .30-06 was perfect for deer, whitetail, blacktail, mule deer, pronghorn etc., which is all I will probably ever hunt, I got to thinking, what's wrong with the .30-06? In other words, by the time he had finished telling why he hated the .30-06, I couldn't wait to get one. So, I bought a Tikka whitetail hunter in .30-06!

    Now I could use your help. My dad, one brother, and some friends all say the .30-06 is antiquated and nothing less than the 7mm is adequate. How do I counter that?

    Thanks
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  • cpermd
    308
    Unless for big bears.
    cpermd
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  • JustC
    opinions are just that, opinions. yes the 30-06 is adequate for everything, but the 7mag is more powerful with a negligeable recoil difference. It shoots flatter and faster, has almost as many weights available, and can be downloaded for less recoil or varmint hunting. Now, I see no reason to jump from side of the fence to the other, if you have 06 ammo available due to it's military use, then maybe it is the better choice, but for me, the 7mag is my choice. The 7mm mag is a no brainer out to 350yds. Just point and shoot, no holdover. the 06 vs everything else argument will take forever.

    Make your decision based on your needs, ammo availability issues, and any other pertinent facts. I will however go on record as saying that you shoul take a hard look at the 700 remingtons, they are great shooters. If the budget gets better, look at the Sendero. I have it in 7mm mag and it recoils about as much as a pencil barrel 308. Just my .02

    A great rifle with a junk scope,....is junk.
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  • rokkmann
    I have to go along with Shootist.Go with the 30.06
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  • I.Shute
    All these replies have EXCELLENT advice.
    However, here's a hard fact:
    Once you get that "one rifle that does it all",- before long you will have some smaller and faster and a few bigger and louder.
    Guaranteed!
    I.Shute
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  • He Dog
    There ain't no such thing as a single do everything rifle and caliber, period. Best choice for a do most things pretty well is the venerable -06. Best variety of rifles to choose from, best variety of ammo, bullet weights and bullet types, and it is available every where.

    The discussion of -06 versus the world is a waste of time. 7 mag shoots flatter and has more velocity, but ammo is less diverse and less available, I know, I shoot one.

    I can't believe I wrote this, I don't even like the -06 or own one, but it is still the best all around choice for a try to do everything with one rifle rifle.

    Best plan is to admit it is your first rifle and then get more.
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  • Xracer
    To get back to the basic question....best "do everything" rifle and caliber, I'd take a pre-'64 Winchester Model 70 in .30-06.
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  • laxcoach
    25-06 is my personal favorite, but it does not fall in the catagory of "all around" cartridge. In my area, 7mm mag is considered a "western" round, and those here who have bought them can't give them away once they come to their senses or decide that their elk hunting days are over. If you like to punish yourself and make instant hamburger of your target, buy the 7mm--30-06 has my vote also.
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