Upgrading rifle and scope. Need suggestions

[Morfitt09]

I'm upgrading my rifle and scope set up for this coming fall hunting season. I am using it to hunt deer and elk so was thinking on sticking with the 3006 but what are your thoughts on the 300 win mag? Budget is 1500 combines tops

[rem338win]

Well, the 300 Win Mag is a 30-06 farther. Both are great cartridges really, so is the upgrade just calibre or are you looking to get a better combo?

[sns2]

I'm upgrading my rifle and scope set up for this coming fall hunting season. I am using it to hunt deer and elk so was thinking on sticking with the 3006 but what are your thoughts on the 300 win mag? Budget is 1500 combines tops

You don't say whether you prefer wood/blued or stainless synthetic.

As for cartridge, you do not NEED the 300 Win Mag, but it also doesn't hurt, if you can handle roughly 30% more recoil.

For scope, I would go Nikon Monarch 3 2.5-10x42 for $465
http://store.prophetriver.com/nikon-monarch-3-2-5-10x42-nikoplex-matte/

and for rifle I would go

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/29391/winchester-model-70-featherweight-bolt-action-rifle?bvstate=pg%3A2%2Fct%3Ar

This would put you above your limit by $65, but you'd never need another rifle. Ever.

[J0HN_R1]

Why bother with 300WM... Nothing short of .338LM is what the rest of the internet recommends.

30-06 is nowhere near powerful enough for deer & elk...


:rolleye2:

[New Hunter Okotoks]

I'd pick up this fine rifle in 300 WSM- It's $50 off with rebate.
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/29421/browning-x-bolt-composite-stalker-bolt-action-rifle

And here's your glass- Tax-free, free shipping right now too!:
http://store.prophetriver.com/leupold-vx-2-3-9x40mm-matte-wind-plex-cds/

[JonnyBoy0919]

3006 will kill it just as dead a 300winmag. I don't thinks there's any game in Alberta, or Canada, that a 30-06 won't do a fine job on. That being said, there's also nothing wrong with the 300wm; personally I couldn't justify the extra recoil for the extra knockdown power that I don't need.
Shoot a 300winmag and make sure you're comfortable with the recoil before you purchase one.

[West O'5]

Moose are obviously far larger,smarter and tougher these days then they were 30 years ago when we used 30-06 and a Honda ATC 185 3 wheeler to get them out of the bush.
Nowadays you NEED a magnum cartridge with $2K+ worth of 16x glass with exposed turrets,a rangefinder and ballistics calculator because apparantley you can't get any closer then 800yards to these educated millenial moose,and minimum 750cc 4x4 to drag them all that distance in one piece,lest the newly abundant wolves and grizzlies will eat half your moose if you can't haul it out in one trip.

[skidderman]

It's called magnum itis and lots of people get it. It's a sickness that is only curable once a person figures out how much magnums hurt. I shoot both the 06 and 300 wsm. The 300 wsm is at the top of my tolerance level. The 300 mag is a bit of a step up from that. Whatever floats your boat. I've seen a few that go to magnum's & can't shoot without flinching. There is also the added possibility of being scoped because of the recoil. Only you can answer the above questions. Everyone's tolerance level is different.

[bat119]

When choosing a cartridge always consider where you hunt, are the shots close or long. Either cartridge has enough power to kill anything so it comes down to trajectory. At 300 yards the difference is minimal, is the extra recoil worth 10" less drop at 500 yards.

http://i.imgur.com/K048jt5l.jpg

[Big Sky]

I'm upgrading my rifle and scope set up for this coming fall hunting season. I am using it to hunt deer and elk so was thinking on sticking with the 3006 but what are your thoughts on the 300 win mag? Budget is 1500 combines tops

What do you currently have for a rifle and scope? That info would provide a starting place.

You're getting some grief from some guys, but just ignore it.
Upgraded glass could very well be a Monarch or a VX-2 in the 3-9 range.

There's nothing wrong with a 30-06.
You'll see that a lot of guys on here do not like vanilla. There are a lot of good, solid choices out there. An '06 would be one of them.

Posts 3 and 5 wouldn't be my choice, but they are good choices.

[58thecat]

When choosing a cartridge always consider where you hunt, are the shots close or long. Either cartridge has enough power to kill anything so it comes down to trajectory. At 300 yards the difference is minimal, is the extra recoil worth 10" less drop at 500 yards.

http://i.imgur.com/K048jt5l.jpg

Nope, keep,the -06...save your cash.

[rembo]

neither,....7mm Rem Mag,...recoil of the '06 with the trajectory of the 270 Win., and more energy than either.

It's a win win.:)

[Moo Snukkle]

Upgrading is good but you're going backwards. Keep the 06 for a thumper and move into a 25-06 for deer and elk. 25 cal 120 Gr bullets were made specifically to take elk. Less recoil will allow you to be on the bench much longer, which is key to extending your effective range. In your case, me thinks less is more. Any 4-12x brand name scope w/out bubble reticles should serve you well.

[EagleEyes]

Keep your -06 and just spend the 1500 on a good scope. I have a swaro z3 4x12 great scope for around 1500. Then later down the road if you still want a new rifle buy it then. I my mind cant beat good optics.

[58thecat]

Keep your -06 and just spend the 1500 on a good scope. I have a swaro z3 4x12 great scope for around 1500. Then later down the road if you still want a new rifle buy it then. I my mind cant beat good optics.

Yup.

Optics are a great thing, your current rifle will do for all North American applications and then some. Don't get caught up in all the other hoopla...:)

['06]

If you step up to the .300 be sure to upgrade your bullets as well. Too many guys shoot the same cheap bullets out of the faster magnums and they quite often don't do what you want them to do.

[Morfitt09]

Currently shooting a savage 06 trophy hunter 111. I'm big into the wood stock feel over the synthetic. But that's just my personal preference. Hunting in the east kootenay with my shots being 200 yard range. I don't need a gold trigger or that fancy stuff. I don't like the flash of it. Do you guys prefer the built in magazine or the removable?

[Morfitt09]

I'm looking to upgrade both my gun and scope. Its currently the savage 111 trophy hunter 3006 with the Bushnell 3x9x40 scope.

[Ice Fishing Maniac]

Buy a Sako A7ss in the pkg deal with scope in 30-06 or 300WM and you are set