Building or buying ONE nice rifle. Which caliber and why?

[xnader]

I have never had a “nice” rifle. My current go to rifle is a .30-.06 savage axis with a custom boyds stock. I want to build or buy one nicer rifle that can handle anything in north America and likely won’t ever shoot at an animal over 450 yards (big game not predators or small game). Mostly midwest whitetail hunting but I do go out west almost annually and fully plan to hunt mule deer and elk with this gun. Having a hard time deciding on a caliber, my .30-.06 has not let me down one single time and I love that caliber but I already have a couple of them so that makes me want something else just for variety and a little more downrange energy. Want something in the 7mm-30 cal range, I like the sounds of the 7 rem mag or 7 prc, love the performance of 300 win mag but don’t want a cannon that loud if I can avoid it, .308 seems like a slight downgrade from the .30-.06. I only shoot factory ammo, not a reloader. I am looking at going suppressed as well. Would love to hear your recommendations and why you recommend it!

 

[ShakoMako]

Around here you’ll largely get recommendations for a Tikka action based medium-smaller caliber. 6.5 creed, PRC or a 243 1-8 twist will be a popular recommendation over the big magnums. Sort thru the data-driven threads to understand why- it’s all about shooter performance. Good luck with your search. ETA- suppressed? Go shorter. Consider that 308 in 18-20” barrel won’t be too long but will perform magnificently at the range limitation you’ve set.

 

[Sled]

I'd look at a .260 or .277

 

[Steve300xcw]

I'd be looking at a 223, 243/6creedmoor or a 6.5 creedmoor. Easy,fun,cheap to shoot.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Tell me what's your idea of a "nice rifle". I always say..."If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Sounds to me like you have the right caliber.

 

[BreechFace]

If I didn’t reload I would consider a 18” 7mm Backcountry and buy a nice direct thread suppressor for it.

 

[xnader]

Tell me what's your idea of a "nice rifle". I always say..."If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Sounds to me like you have the right caliber.

Something with a quality stock, threaded muzzle, bolt lock, and good barrel. Looking at some of the Seekins Havak rifles, browning hells canyon, weatherby. $1200-$2500 price range for the gun itself. And yes all the research I do I keep coming back to .30-.06 lol

 

[Q_Sertorius]

If you want a “nice rifle,” I would look at a Sako 90. If you want an “excellent rifle for the money”, I would look at a Tikka T3X or Sauer 100. The ones with wooden stocks are particularly “nice.” You can compare them on EuroOptic and decide whether the Sakos are worth the premium over the others.

Hard to go wrong with a .243, .25-06, 6.5 CM, 7mm08, etc., especially within your range parameters. Larger cartridges just aren’t needed until you get further out there (unless you are insistent on shooting MPBR as far out as possible).

I hunted a lot with a 20” Tikka in 6.5 CM this year. I liked it so much that I went ahead and bought a 20” .243 too.

 

[wind gypsy]

With those parameters - 7mm08. More than that is a waste of $ on ammo, overkill for primarily whitetails, and not all that enjoyable to shoot.

 

[Dave Thomas]

If I didn't reload either I probably would go with a 6.5 prc. I would take a hard look at horizon firearms, I don't have any experience with them but would like to try one. Either that or just buy a Tikka. There's plenty of cartridges that would do what you are looking for. Just pick one that interest you. I really like the 7's but would stick with the 6.5 if using factory ammo.

 

[Chris in TN]

With those parameters - 7mm08. More than that is a waste of $ on ammo, overkill for primarily whitetails, and not all that enjoyable to shoot.

Same.

I mean, I'd try to convince you to go with a 6mmCM or 6.5CM. But staying within your stated parameters, it would be a 7mm-08. And it would have a barrel no longer than 18" to 20".

 

[Chris in TN]

Something with a quality stock, threaded muzzle, bolt lock, and good barrel. Looking at some of the Seekins Havak rifles, browning hells canyon, weatherby. $1200-$2500 price range for the gun itself. And yes all the research I do I keep coming back to .30-.06 lol

You can get the Seekins with a 20" barrel in 6mmCM or 6.5CM. But they have a fairly fat barrel that you don't need.

It is my personal belief that you get nothing from the Browning or Weatherby that you can't get cheaper with a Tikka. I would personally struggle to buy in that price range - you're at the point where I'd rather just buy the Tikka at a lower price point or go a little higher and build something more custom. Or even buy a Howa barreled action and add a Stocky's stock to it and a BDL style floorplate, and you'd be in it for less money and have a rifle I personally would prefer over the Browning or Weatherby.

YMMV, a lot. Gun choices are highly subjective.

 

[North of 60]

With a 450 yd limitation, another rifle isn't really necessary and i would spend the money on a suppressor and lots of ammo to practice.

A 7 PRC would you longer ranges, and suppressed, still be shootable.

Unless you just really, really want another rifle, and i get that

 

[TNHighlands]

Good recs so far.

If one and done, leave room for good glass and a suppressor as well. Will make all the difference in your experience.

6 creed, .243, 6.5 creed, 7mm-08, 6.5 prc, 308 all fit your parameters. Gain very little from going to magnums at ranges you'll hunt.

Hunted my whole life with a 7mag and still love the caliber. I run that in a Tikka Superlite.

Recently consolidated down a few other rifles to a Sig Sawtooth 18" in 6.5 creed. It's a 600 yard gun with 140 eldm's. Even suppressed, it weighs next to nothing. Will likely re-barrel to 6 or 22 creed down the line.