Need knowledgeable advice

[docopac]

I am an old guy and have lived in the east and north central USA for most of my life and have hunted for all of that. I have always used either a .270 or .308 for Whitetail and hogs and the occasional varmint. Now I have moved west and would like to take an elk and there is the possibility of a bear (Black or Griz) all my instincts tell me that I should get a bigger rifle for these.

I am looking at either the 300 win mag or a 7mm rem mag which one would you choose? I would also like to know if you think the Short mag or the orriginal cartridge is better.

the second half of the question is this: I have used Remington model 700's all my life and think they are a very good rifle but I have been hearing about the Tika rifle and that it is a better rifle. What is your oppinion about these rifles.

Thanks for the input
Doc

 

[Pdvdh]

I'd probably get the 300 Win Mag, because I believe it will be a little more effective on elk and grizzly bear. The larger bullet diameters seem to deliver more knockdown effect on the game. I don't own any Remington rifles.

I own two Tikka T3 Lite rifles in 7mm Rem Mag. I put three 168 gr Berger VLDs into 3.6" at 988 yds last weekend. I'm awfully impressed for an off-the-shelf factory rifle. They both shoot 160 gr Nosler Accubonds to about 0.6 moa accuracy, but the one really likes the Bergers. The Tikka T3s are pretty light, have a very smooth action, and the trigger pull is about as good as you'll find in any factory rifle. Plus the price is hard to beat.

If you're thinking of having custom work done on the rifle after your purchase then you might want to go with the Remington 700, as they are a favorite of many custom gunsmiths. But if you plan to shoot it stock from the factory, all I hear is good reports about the accuracy of the Tikka rifles. Mine are both deadly accurate with high quality handloads.

 

[Buffalobob]

Recoil is going to increase as bullet speed and weight increase. The two cartridges you mention are still within the manageable size for shooting without a brake. If you decide to use a brake, you can have "cap" made so you can shoot without a brake; but and however, point of impact will be different and you will need to remember to reset your zero depending on whether the brake is on or the cap is on. Hunting with a brake means hunting with ear muffs. If you go down to the Antelope Section and watch carefully the vidoes in the "3 Stooges" story, you will see that there are ways of wearing earmuffs and that getting them set over your ears is one more step to accomplish when you are in a hurry. You will also see the disadvantages of a heavy long barreled rifle when the shot is going to be up close and quick. Nonetheless when the shot is over 500 yards such a rifle is easy for even new hunters to shoot very well.

Compromises and decisions is what it boils down to. You have too consider what method of hunting is fun for and what rifles you have available.

 

[kcebcj]

The 300 Win Mag is an excellent choice for elk and bear.

 

[johnnyk]

doc,
While both cartridges are equally effective on deer (mulies/whitetails) I'd have to go with the .300 if an occasional grizzly were thrown in. I own both and would feel a little more easy if I were confronted with a nasty bear. JohnnyK.

 

[docopac]

Thank you all for the helpfull advice, I was leaning toward the 300 but this confirmed my choice.

Now the question of WSM or regular win mag ????

 

[Pdvdh]

There isn't much difference between the two, performance wise. Probably why nobody commented.

I went with the 300 Win Mag in order to be able to purchase Lapua brass. Lapua brass is no longer available in 300 Win Mag, but I believe RWS is manufacturing 300 Win Mag brass and it's just as good.

The 300 Win Mag might have a very slight advantage if using the heavier weight bullets.

 

[Supermag]

If you are just looking to take elk and black bears, the 308 and 270 will get the job done just fine. I doubt know of anywhere in the continental US that you can legally take a grizz so unless Alaska is on the menu, I don't see the need for a different gun. I will say that neither the 308 or 270 will be great for longer range shooting of elk or black bears. If it were me and I wanted a new rifle for elk and up, I'd get a 338 WM, Ultra, or Edge

 

[cva54]

I myself live in MN so .06 is just perfick I would have to go with 300 rum is to mutch 270 win is a vary fine round that is what I want in a savage 110 and then do some work on it (1 GOOD placed shot is better than a deer missing 1 or 2 of the sholders) if it were grizz 300 rum