The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Need a new rifle and need some recommendations

jmr40 · June 8, 2015, 04:17 PM

A good bullet from a 30-06 will do what you need, one of the 300 magnums will add a little effective range, but be no more effective. One of these would be my recommendation as an all around rifle. They are on the lower end of acceptable for the bigger animals, about perfect for elk and versatile enough for smaller big game with mild recoil. A 200 or 220 gr Nosler Partition from either a 30-06 or 300 magnum have proven to out penetrate everything else short of 375 magnum.

If I felt the need to have something bigger I'd skip everything else and go straight to 375 mag. It is really more than needed for elk, but with the right loads shoots surprisingly flat at longer ranges and is still capable for anything that walks.

June 8, 2015, 04:17 PM	#7
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,811	A good bullet from a 30-06 will do what you need, one of the 300 magnums will add a little effective range, but be no more effective. One of these would be my recommendation as an all around rifle. They are on the lower end of acceptable for the bigger animals, about perfect for elk and versatile enough for smaller big game with mild recoil. A 200 or 220 gr Nosler Partition from either a 30-06 or 300 magnum have proven to out penetrate everything else short of 375 magnum. If I felt the need to have something bigger I'd skip everything else and go straight to 375 mag. It is really more than needed for elk, but with the right loads shoots surprisingly flat at longer ranges and is still capable for anything that walks.