what gun to use?

[yzftaco]

Right on guys, thanks..

I have a browning .308 that I have yet to go hunting with...

Love shooting it at the range though....


One gallon jug full of water, at 100 yards and it explodes... Fun.. (outdoor range)

[Cube Dweller]

Used Remington/Ruger/Savage .30-06's are plentiful. Buy one, put a good scope on it and buy 1000 rounds of Greek surplus M2 ball from J&G sales. Then practice. Then find a commercial softpoint load you like and re-zero for that.

[lunyou]

if your definition of long range is 100 yards and you want to kill elk, I would seriously consider a 30-06. Great rifle with a long history meaning many different styles of rifles in this caliber. It also has many different bullet types and loads for different conditions(deer to elk and even larger).

Just remember once you get to shooting you will quickly find out that 100 yards isn't that far and a long distance shot to me is over 300 yards. The reason I consider over 300 yards long distance is this. Most rifles that are made to hunt big game. .270s, 30-06s, etc are pretty much hold on accurate out to 300 yards if you sight them in correctly and realistically. Once you get past the 300 yard threshold you really need to start taking distace into consideration and accounting for that in your aim.

lunyou

[calico kid]

Originally Posted by Skillet

I am for the stinky option.


Love my 7mm mag. A little too much for coastal deer but it knocks the piggies on their collective asses.

Now take this shit to F&H before you get banned.

I have some nice triplex ammo for a 7mm if you need it

[Alz Toy]

Originally Posted by '74 UA FJ

I disagree about only needing a 4x scope. If you are shooting 100-200 yards, a 4x isn't going to do much for you. If you can't see it, you can't hit it.

I don't know. If I took my '06, w/165gr Speers@ 2800fps+, and 4X scope, and couldn't SEE a deer or elk out to 200 yrds, I don't think it would be the scopes fault. NOT trying to bag on you, just see alot of over magnification anymore. Varmints, now that would be different, due to there size. YMMV, Al

[hammer1]

"If you wanted to hunt a large animal (over 200 pounds) at long range, what gun would you use?"

said Lee harvey Oswald

[bigndn]

As mentioned above, a .30-06 or a 7 mm mag would be just fine for what you want. I have both, but prefer my 7 mag, because of its ballistics.

Since I had a fantastic scope (Burris Black Diamond Titanium) just lying around, I bought a Rem 700 XCR in .300 RUM to put it on for my elk gub. However, my 7 mag is my backup for elk and is also my main muley gub.

We hunt in an area where it's easily conceivable to have a 5-700 yd shot.

Also, don't forget that elk/mule deer are considered thick skinned/heavy boned animals, so a little extra energy isn't a bad thing. What ever you end up with, always remember SHOT PLACEMENT IS #1!!!!

[TJDIV]

Take it to H&F boys before I TELL THE MAN!!!!

[Dirty Toad]

Originally Posted by TJDIV

Take it to H&F boys before I TELL THE MAN!!!!

Sorry about that. I always forget that this section is on this site.

So I went and checked out a few that they had at the local sporting store while the wife did some grocery shopping. Really liked the Savage 30-06. Came with a nice scope (don't know the brand name) for $399.95

Sounds like a good price, but I am going to shop around because I am a cheap bastard!

Thanks for the advice boys!

[bigndn]

Originally Posted by Dirty Toad

Sorry about that. I always forget that this section is on this site.

So I went and checked out a few that they had at the local sporting store while the wife did some grocery shopping. Really liked the Savage 30-06. Came with a nice scope (don't know the brand name) for $399.95

Sounds like a good price, but I am going to shop around because I am a cheap bastard!

Thanks for the advice boys!

Some Savage models have the accu-trigger, which I've heard is nice. I don't have any Savages myself. If it's a package deal for $400, I'm gonna say that both the rifle and scope are value based. Meaning, it's far from the most accurate rifle out there, and the scope is pretty low quality.

Don't forget to check your local pawn shops and/or online resources. Check out GunBroker.com Online Gun Auction

[Skillet]

Originally Posted by calico kid

I have some nice triplex ammo for a 7mm if you need it

How can we make this transaction?

[Corbet]

Originally Posted by Dirty Toad

If you wanted to hunt a large animal (over 200 pounds) at long range, what gun would you use?

An Elk is MUCH more than 200lbs.

200 lbs is a better description of a mule deer.

Anyway for Elk a .30-06 would do just fine.

[Corbet]

Originally Posted by Dirty Toad

I am just a weird dude.

I have never been much of a hunter, but lately I have wanted to learn to shoot long distance real well, it just seems like a neat thing to be able to do. I figure that hunting is the way to do it. That or take some military training class for civilians, but those classes are a lot of money.

If learning how to shoot long distances is your goal, hunting is not the place to learn that. The range is. A misplaced bullet at long range is not going to kill the animal. And the longer distance will only make tracking it more difficult.

If your only goal is to learn accurate long range shooting I'd opt for a .308 or .270. Both shoot flatter and have less kick. But if you want an to eventually hunt Elk they may not do the job.

[Tvaldriz]

Ditto on a 30-06. You can pick up a nice used weapon and most
sporting goods and walmarts carry it. You can get ammo from
varmit sabot type to 300gr. Pretty much covers anything on North American Continent you'd likely want to hunt.

[rockrash]

I like to shoot .264 win mag,.270 win,.270 weatherby mag and a .300 win mag on a regular basis.All good flat shooting and can take down all the animals in north america.

[T.U.F.F.]

I agree on the 30-06/308/270/7MM for a "good" hunting rifle. I grew up hunting in WV and in the woods there a 100yd shot was a fairly long shot. Out west tho 100yds is pretty close for where I hunt now. I hunt deer with 25 caliber and elk with 30 and 33 caliber. I primarily use 45 cliber for bear and elk in the thickets.

I also agree the key to successful hunting is being able to put a quality bullet in the right spot will do the job... Accuracy to me is the key element in hunting whatever rifle/scope you pick in the end your profeciency with it will ultimately determine your success wether 100 yds is a long shot or 500 yds is a long shot. Most of all enjoy the outdoors success isn't always measured in the harvest sometimes it is no phones/t.v. or whatever for the time that you are in the outdoors.

Goodluck and let us know what you picked.

[Bighorn]

Originally Posted by Dirty Toad

Sorry about that. I always forget that this section is on this site.

So I went and checked out a few that they had at the local sporting store while the wife did some grocery shopping. Really liked the Savage 30-06. Came with a nice scope (don't know the brand name) for $399.95

Sounds like a good price, but I am going to shop around because I am a cheap bastard!

Thanks for the advice boys!

You really will have trouble finding a better all purpose caliber for big game in North America than a 30-06. A rule good rule of thumb for caliber selection and maximum range for a certain animal is @1000 ft-lb is good for deer sized animals and @2000 ft-lb for elk and moose. So look at the ballistics of the load you plan to shoot and limit your max range with that set up to where the energy drops off too far below those ROT numbers. The 06 with decent high quality loads should be fine to @300yd for elk which is really plenty (I've taken @100 biggame animals in NA and Africa and only needed to shoot over 300yd 1 time).

This old quote always holds true "any gun's good, shoot 'em good"
So get close and shoot well with decent bullets, and often once the first shot has been taken and you should have no problems.

The savage is really a great gun for the money, I was thinking about getting one for a beater on mountain hunts so I don't tear up my nice rifles.

Oh ya I also wouldn't worry about wasting meat especially on an elk, once it's on your back you'll wish you wasted more, haha.

[PHBeerman]

Originally Posted by Dirty Toad

I am thinking over 100 yards.

type of animal would be Elk, or something about that size.

Elk are WAY OVER 200 lbs.

And 100 yards is short range.

[PHBeerman]

Originally Posted by yooper

yep.

Most states now require you to take a hunter safety course to get your hunting license. That's your first step.

In many states there is a grandfather clause.

In Idaho if you were born before Jan 1, 1975 you do not have to take hunters ed.

[netwt12]

Start out small and cheap. get a .22 with a scope and start shooting at can's at 100 yards. the practice is cheap and you'll start to get an understanding of long range shooting. you can then move up to centerfire rifles.

[Stealthmimic]

Assuming your target is within 200 yds, the 30-06 caliber is an incredibly versitile and much ignored caliber. It is available anywhere, loaded for just about any game you could take in No Am and most of Aftrica, and is highly accurate depending on load and fire-arm out to 600 yds. If you'd like a bit more ballistic momentum, I recommend (and personally shoot) a .300WinMag. The .300WinMag, along with the .308 is a "snipers choice" caliber. Don't get caught up in the exotic calibers. Based on you question's level of sophistication you will be fine with at 30-06 from just about any mfgr. and there are a multitude of used guns around in this caliber. Focus on Winchester (model 70) if you can find one, or Browning.