Ideal rifle/caliber combos?

[JollyRoger]

I've been researching a few different rifles and one thing that I'm noticing is a trend for certain calibers for specific rifles. Is there a reason for this or am I just seeing a small portion of internet folks that are talking about their rifles?

For instance, I've been looking at the Winchester M70 Extreme Weather and the Ruger Hawkeye FTW Hunter in 300WM or 30-06 for a new deer/bear/elk rifle. Almost every review I can find for the Winchester is in the 300WSM or 325WSM. For the Ruger most things are about the 300WM (with the exception of the 6.5CM review here on Rokslide).

I thought maybe the Winchester EW with it's light weight might be better for the WSMs, and the Ruger being heavier might be better suited to the 300WM. But, plenty of folks on here seem to like ultra light rifles, regardless of how hefty a cartridge they're firing.

Any theories?



On a side note, if anyone has experience with the Winchester EW or Ruger Hawkeye in 300 or 30-06 I'm all ears! I'd like a rifle that can do MOA or better with the right factory ammo and still feel like a solid rifle (less plastic and MIM, except for the stock. Synthetic is my preference). All my hunts are on foot and I put the miles on in the mountains. I think a set up between 8-9lbs should be pretty versatile?

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

I just bought a Browning X bolt Hells canyon speed. Really nice set up. Been trying to shoot it but its cold and windy. Hope it shoots great but I assume it will

 

[GKPrice]

rifles and cartridge choices are 2 subjects that will bring best friends nose to nose over the campfire and never reach agreement - don't even try

 

[Ranger619]

I have a Winchester Extreme Weather in 300 Win Mag. Pm me if you have any specific questions.

 

[dotman]

rifles and cartridge choices are 2 subjects that will bring best friends nose to nose over the campfire and never reach agreement - don't even try

X2....

 

[hunting1]

I have an EW in 300WSM, great rifle and would say either the 30-06 or 300 WM would be great.

 

[JollyRoger]

rifles and cartridge choices are 2 subjects that will bring best friends nose to nose over the campfire and never reach agreement - don't even try

Yes, I agree. My main question was why some makes/models are talked about so much in certain calibers, but not in others. Doesnt seem to effect all manufacturers (Tikka, Rem, etc seem to have reviews of all sorts of calibers) but the ones I mentioned are only talked about in certain calibers, even though they are offered in many others.

 

[16Bore]

7Mag in a 700 platform is twisted right and has mag box length to kiss the lands with slick bullets. Stock it and shoot.

 

[16Bore]

And rumor is the 6.5 Creed Montanas nailed it too.

 

[wind gypsy]

Possible theory - M70 WSM magazines allow for cartridge overall lengths up to 3.1" so you can load the slick bullets without stuffing them deep in the case and jumping a long ways to the rifling. I'm not sure what the M700's factory mags are at now but I'd guess they limit a guy to less than 2.9" overall length. That's a significant difference in optimizing loads with high BC bullets.

The ruger - well 300 wm is popular and ruger seems like a meat and potatoes company.

I'd say the 6.5 Creed craze is going to continue to be popular in any light weight platform to get good ballistics with low recoil. It also doesn't need a long mag box as it was designed to run long bullets at standard short action mag length where the 260 struggles. It's nice that everyone uses an 8 twist because of this as well.

 

[GKPrice]

I'm REALLY not trying to sound like a broken record but for a marginal lightweight that has certainly proven itself in the hunting AND shooting fields you can spend more and get less than the Tikka T3x superlight in 300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, 30.06, 270 and most all of the usual suspects in short action chamberings - As far as "plastic" parts if you can name me one verified instance of a broken part off one I'm all ears - The new Kimber Hunter is out in long and short choices and it too has some plastic parts as well but seems to be shaping up as an outstanding weapon for the money laid down - The Winchester model 70 EW is an outstanding weapon in any choice - If you want to go less money yet Savage has good stuff and the Ruger American has proven to be a great choice for the money - Howa does good as does Browning with the Xbolt

 

[16Bore]

I don't know of a Tikka that really cares about COAL and kissing lands, for added fun.

 

[Beastmode]

My daughter shoots a m70 extreme and it is a great rifle. That being said as said above savage 11 or 16, ruger American and Tikka make good guns if the feel good to you. I personally don't like the way these guns feel in hand. They feel cheap to me. Not saying they are cheap I just personally don't like they way they feel.

I would go with what feels good to you. Pretty much any rifle on the shelf will shoot at or under moa depending on how much time you have for building loads, if you reload. If you shoot factory go with a popular caliber 06, 300 Wm, 7 mag. All great calibers

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[JollyRoger]

Wind Gypsy.. thanks, that makes sense. I figured it had to be something like that. I dont reload (yet) so I'm not looking at those specs when shopping around.

 

[JollyRoger]

Thanks all for the replies. I realize there's tons of good options out there for both less and much more money, the Winchester EW and Ruger FTW stuck out to me. I have an old Savage that I'd like to rebuild cause it's got issues and doesnt shoot like the rifles I keep reading about no matter what I feed it. Turthfully I just cant help thinking of all my frustrations with it anytime I look at other Savages. The Tikka's are obviously great shooters from what I keep seeing (they should really start paying you, GK ) and are a great price for sure.

 

[16Bore]

All the technical mumbo jumbo aside, buying a rifle is much the same as a guitar. You gotta get the one that talks to you.


It's that simple and you don't have impress or satisfy anyone but yourself.

 

[rileybassman]

All the technical mumbo jumbo aside, buying a rifle is much the same as a guitar. You gotta get the one that talks to you.


It's that simple and you don't have impress or satisfy anyone but yourself.

Amen to that!

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[wind gypsy]

Wind Gypsy.. thanks, that makes sense. I figured it had to be something like that. I dont reload (yet) so I'm not looking at those specs when shopping around.

It was really just a wild ass guess. Being that most people don't reload it's probably not the main reason. But as long as I'm throwing assumptions out there, I'd guess that the extra mag length breathing room helps with feeding the short chubby mags.

 

[LightFoot]

I just bought a Browning X bolt Hells canyon speed. Really nice set up. Been trying to shoot it but its cold and windy. Hope it shoots great but I assume it will

I have been looking to get my hands on one of those. Hope it shoots well. What caliber/scope combo did you decide on?

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[GKPrice]

It was really just a wild ass guess. Being that most people don't reload it's probably not the main reason. But as long as I'm throwing assumptions out there, I'd guess that the extra mag length breathing room helps with feeding the short chubby mags.

I don't think it really does - example being any WSM, some CRF's feed smoothily and some just don't and I'm talking personal experience in the same make, namely Kimbers as I've owned or worked with quite a large cross section of them in WSM than went one way or the other - it HAS to be something simple but can't tell you what exactly - standard cartridge normally feed smooth as butter but other than the 325 WSM I've sort of arrived PERSONALLY that the WSM's are not necessary anyways so I'm leaving them alone - For the record Tikka's feed EVERYTHING the same, flawlessly -