One rifle to do it all

[KenLee]

X-bolt stainless stalker 300wsm or 270

 

[Deerfield]

I’m putting together a 300 WSM with 200 grain bullets as a multi-purpose, go anywhere rifle.

 

[chizelhead]

I've gone down this route and settled on a suppressed 300 WSM. I have a Kimber 300 WSM but couldn't get comfortable chopping the barrel, so I bought a Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT. (sorry, no 300 WSM lefties, but there are other chamberings) I'm still breaking it in, but it's shooting well so far and it has really light recoil with the muzzle brake. All in with scope and suppressor (waiting for ATF) it will be 7.5 lbs with a 27" barrel including the suppressor. A bit long but a fair tradeoff I wanted to try. I could easily lighten it up with a different scope. I also considered the 6.5 prc. I thought it would work almost as well, but with a suppressed, short barreled 300 WSM, I thought I would have a bit more energy and range that I was comfortable with for the same cost per shot. I don't handload but am considering it. I'm concerned about ammo availability. It seems like ammo producers are spread pretty thin to deliver ammo consistently as more cartridges come to market. Right now, it looks like the 6.5 prc is more available. If starting my search now, I would probably pick the 6.5 prc but take a hard look at the 280 AI and 700 PRC. Those strike me as a great balance of features but in long actions and I'm not sure how they would do with a shorter barrel which is again why the 300 WSM came out on top for me.

Another question to ask yourself, is what do you primarily hunt? If mostly deer sized game, but aspire to elk, moose, etc, I would lean towards a 6.5 prc. It's capable for those but really good as a deer hunting daily driver imo and maybe a little too much as well. I hunt primarily elk and deer, which is why I stayed with the 300 wsm.

Good luck on your search. With so many choices, it's a fun thought process and hard to go wrong.

 

[Ecampbell25]

It doesn't exist. In my mind, the closest would be an ultralight 308. The 300 mags and 30-06 are too powerful for nearly all hunting situations and require a heavier rifle. You end up carrying unnecessary weight, spending extra money, and avoiding range time just because you want a caliber to be able to shoot an elk at 600y. You won't see the benefit of the extra power unless you're putting in a lot of range time, and you won't put in a lot of range time because the ammo is too expensive and your shoulder hates you.

You end up sacrificing accuracy and familiarity with your rifle (which helps you with all shots) for a theoretical benefit in 5% of the shots.

Well said @jjjjeremy. 100 % agree.

 

[Nick992]

Tikka 30-06

 

[Nick992]

Well said @jjjjeremy. 100 % agree.

I agree and personally have a light 308 for an almost everything gun, but I know I'll pick up a caliber with more authority if/when I go for true big game.

If I truly only had one gun for the rest of forever, I'd want the extra uumpf of a 30-06, or go the other direction and pull a Jack O'Connor with a .270 and a ton of range time.

 

[Ecampbell25]

I think a good all around rifle would be a 280 Al but finding ammo might be tough. I went with a 6.5 prc and it has put down a handful of elk and it’s an 8 lb rifle complete with suppressor and scope. It’s very nice to carry and ammo isn’t too hard to find. I think it might be a little light for moose and definitely too light for kodiak bears but it’s a great all around caliber. I’d rather have something that I can shoot well with minimal recoil. I’ve owned a handful of magnums and they end up being safe queens. Good luck in your search.

 

[3325]

.308 or .270. I prefer .270 but there are a lot of good .308 options.

If I were a lefty and wanted to shoot .308, I’d consider a Henry Long Ranger. Are you dead set on a bolt rifle or is a lever action an option for you?

 

[FLATHEAD]

.308, 30-06, .300WM

 

[MallardSX2]

X-bolt speed in 300wsm.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

While a 6.5 will do it... it simply isn't a legal caliber in many places for larger game animals like bison and moose.

In what states are 6.5’s illegal for moose?

 

[PNWGATOR]

Don‘t be in a hurry to make a bad decision.

It‘s about the bullet.

Lethal wound channels and wind drift.

Recoil matters.

Build the ideal delivery system after you determine how your killing things.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

I would get a Mesa FFT in 308, 7mm08, or 7mm RM.

 

[MAP1]

Tikka 30-06 or 7mm mag Stainless lite with a nice Leupold vx3 will put you well under $2000. Take the money saved and get a limbsaver recoil pad and a a triad tactical stock pack. Setup will be around 8 lbs with manageable recoil.

 

[Firestone]

I own almost every caliber that's been listed so far. If I was only allowed to use one for the rest of my life to hunt everything in North America, I am grabbing the 7mag. Wouldn't be that hard of a choice either.

 

[49ereric]

how far you wanna shoot at big game?
how long do you want the rifle barrel last?
how concerned are you ammo availability?

 

[Encore4me]

To answer a few questions. I live in Ohio so the gun wouldn’t be used regularly, I have a Savage 110 in 350 legend I use for deer. I have a Savage 110 in 308 also. Both guns shoot ok but I want a nice gun. My son just finished Med school and we are going to start taking out of state hunting trips. The first trip is scheduled for 2025, Alaskan Caribou. We want to go on a moose hunt, elk, mule deer, antelope and black bear. He will be getting a new gun also in the same caliber but his will be right handed.


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[49ereric]

Alaska trip .338 mag just in case grizz appears.
decent barrel life & ammo availability during non panic times
if the range was shorter I might chose a 9.3x62
nothing wrong with savage rifles either a custom stock can’t cure.

 

[HornPorn]

To answer a few questions. I live in Ohio so the gun wouldn’t be used regularly, I have a Savage 110 in 350 legend I use for deer. I have a Savage 110 in 308 also. Both guns shoot ok but I want a nice gun. My son just finished Med school and we are going to start taking out of state hunting trips. The first trip is scheduled for 2025, Alaskan Caribou. We want to go on a moose hunt, elk, mule deer, antelope and black bear. He will be getting a new gun also in the same caliber but his will be right handed.


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You should wait until Spring of 2025 then. People are going to be fanboying a whole new slew of rifles come Spring 2025.

 

[Fartrell Cluggins]

I'll throw something out for consideration. My experience tells me that being able to put the right bullet where you want it to go is a much more critical factor than any internal or external ballistic measure, assuming typical legal big game chamberings.

My experience and observations tell me that most shooters are more likely to put the bullet where they want it to go when they are shooting milder recoiling chamberings.

To that end, unless you know absolutely that heavier recoil does not affect you, I'd lean toward the milder recoiling end of the spectrum.

I would not let the ridiculously remote chance of an adverse encounter with Ursus sway me in any way.