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01-13-2020, 10:34 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Strathcona County
Posts: 1,905
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I started with a .303 British and then hunted extensively with over more than 45 years with the 30-06 and the .270. Anyone who says a 130 grain pill out of a .270 is the equal of a 180 grain out of the 30-06 just never learned how to use a 30-06 properly on larger animals.
Having said that, if I had to do it all over again I would skip those and go right to the 7mm RM backed up by a .338 WM. IMO the 7mm is just a smidge better than the .270 or 30-06. Like ice cream on the pie.
The .338 WM is in a category all by itself and a favourite if you don’t mind that level of recoil and some people just don’t.
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01-14-2020, 06:15 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Usually the office, but the bush when I can
Posts: 1,308
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As I was explaining to my son after the latest gun show in YYC, you would be best served to drive to a small town and head into the local hardware store. Look at the available shells there for sale. This says a lot.
If the local stores only carry .270, 30-06 & 7mm Rem Mag, chance of finding your .35 Whelan (or some other exotic calibre) on a day trip when you've inadvertently left your ammo at home is slim.
Buy and carry something that you can walk into any small town and find the ammo (my personal choice would be 30-06)
J.
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My $0.02.... Please feel free to take my comments with a grain of salt
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01-14-2020, 06:57 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 386
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluedog
I would personally recommend one rifle in 300 WIN!
Bluedog
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I would second that one! 300 Win.Just seems the right chose for one Big Game Gun.
I just bought a Browning Hell's canyon 300 Win on clearance this year for $870.00 US. heading to northern BC for moose in Sept.
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01-14-2020, 07:02 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: The best place on earth.
Posts: 1,665
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You’re on the right route, if. It was me I’d buy a 30-06 and .243. Both in tikka platforms like you want but I’d be buying Leupold scopes for them both. No vortex.
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Life’s a garden, Dig it! - Joe Dirt
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01-14-2020, 08:51 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 87
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As two others have mentioned there is not enough a ballistic difference between the 6.5 creedmoor and 30-06, unless you get up to 180-200 gr but then at that point you might as well have a 338.
Go with the 6.5 CD for Deer and smaller, maybe Elk and for moose/bear go with something bigger than the 30-06 IMO
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01-14-2020, 01:30 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Beaver County, Alberta
Posts: 259
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300 Winchester Magnum for the long open stuff and a hot loaded 35 Whelen for the shorter stuff. We are talking big game right! The absolute best would be a 25-06 for small stuff, 30-06 for average game and the 35 Whelen for bears and bush hunting, all on the classic case. With handloads they are fantastic.
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01-14-2020, 02:31 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Strathcona County
Posts: 147
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Love my 7mm's for all.
My 7Mag for the large game and the 7mm-08 for the deer sized game. As I get older I'm really starting to appreciate the softer recoiling rounds hence my 7-08 comes out a lot. The Magnums are staying more and more in the gun safe as time goes on. I also enjoy my .270 win, never underestimate that caliber either. Stay warm fellow sportsmen.
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01-14-2020, 02:43 PM
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Gone Hunting
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,708
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If I was down to one rifle it would be my Sako 75 Finnlight in 300 Win Mag.
This one is scoped with Swarovski 3.5-18x44 with BT 4W Reticle.
180 Gr Barnes TTSX for everything at about 3000ft/sec, (2960 IIRC)
I have good Rangefinding Binos to make full use of the optics and ballistics.
I would keep my 30-06 Finnlight as a buck up gun with Barnes TTSX 150 gr.
And as the government sent me a letter this year about applying for Old Age Security I should have something with less recoil.
I am not recoil sensitive but why not I have it already.
__________________
From Wikipedia
"No safe threshold for lead exposure has been discovered—that is, there is no known amount of lead that is too small to cause the body harm."
150 TTSX vs Goat-WOW
http://youtu.be/37JwmSOQ3pY
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01-14-2020, 03:10 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Calgary-Kootenay Lake
Posts: 350
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All my hunts from coyote to moose and sheep get done with Tikka's in 6.5x55 and 223.
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01-14-2020, 04:36 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 23
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I use 243 and 270 and I think that with a 270 or 30-06 that you will have plenty enough power to take any North American game. You could even just use a 243 to take any animal in Alberta humanely out to several hundred yards. But if you want to make shots out past 500 yards you should get something along the lines of 30-06 or bigger.
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01-14-2020, 05:00 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,079
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223
243
308
300mag
Those are the ones I’d pick from. Then it would be how big an animal and how far.
Big game under 300y then 308. 300mag if over.
Varmint under 300y the 223. 243 if over.
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01-14-2020, 05:12 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,061
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ganderblaster
buy a tikka 30-06 and spend the money on a better scope. You can’t hit what you can’t see.
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👍👍
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01-14-2020, 05:17 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Parkland County, AB
Posts: 4,283
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcrayford
As I was explaining to my son after the latest gun show in YYC, you would be best served to drive to a small town and head into the local hardware store. Look at the available shells there for sale. This says a lot.
If the local stores only carry .270, 30-06 & 7mm Rem Mag, chance of finding your .35 Whelan (or some other exotic calibre) on a day trip when you've inadvertently left your ammo at home is slim.
Buy and carry something that you can walk into any small town and find the ammo (my personal choice would be 30-06)
J.
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A good cartridge choice but your reasoning for it does'nt make much sense if ammo availability in out of the way places is a real game changer. How many times does that really happen ? Not many would be my guess. Kinda like going on vacation to far away places and forgetting your wife at the airport, isn't it ?
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When applied by competent people with the right intent, common sense goes a long way.
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01-14-2020, 05:33 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Usually the office, but the bush when I can
Posts: 1,308
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Salavee
A good cartridge choice but your reasoning for it does'nt make much sense if ammo availability in out of the way places is a real game changer. How many times does that really happen ? Not many would be my guess. Kinda like going on vacation to far away places and forgetting your wife at the airport, isn't it ?
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Seen it happen and had it happen to myself one too many times (once was enough)
Luckily, I was using a common calibre and the day wasn't ruined.
And I imagine your wife would scream loud enough that you wouldn't forget her, but maybe the well needed sunscreen?
J.
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My $0.02.... Please feel free to take my comments with a grain of salt
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01-15-2020, 01:43 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Calgary
Posts: 24
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Thanks for all the replies and advice, even though my head is spinning more now than it was before. Too many guns, calibres, cartridges and loads to choose from. I’ve read every single post and what I’ve got from it is that I might be better off to stick with one all around rifle and spend a bit more on a scope. I think I’m going to get the Tikka T3x super lite Cabela special edition stainless steel in 30-06 and throw a limb saver on it. And top it with either the Leupold Vx3i (to save money) or the Zeiss conquest V4.
A question I would have about the scope is that this Leopold does not offer the dialling like the Zeiss scope does. Is dialling and more clarity worth an extra $1000?
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01-15-2020, 06:19 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Airdrie
Posts: 1,490
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MetisHunter
Thanks for all the replies and advice, even though my head is spinning more now than it was before. Too many guns, calibres, cartridges and loads to choose from. I’ve read every single post and what I’ve got from it is that I might be better off to stick with one all around rifle and spend a bit more on a scope. I think I’m going to get the Tikka T3x super lite Cabela special edition stainless steel in 30-06 and throw a limb saver on it. And top it with either the Leupold Vx3i (to save money) or the Zeiss conquest V4.
A question I would have about the scope is that this Leopold does not offer the dialling like the Zeiss scope does. Is dialling and more clarity worth an extra $1000?
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Great choice. Someone smart once said “if you can’t kill it with a 30.06 you shouldn’t be hunting it”. Not sure what you mean by dialling? Leupold has CDS turrets.
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01-15-2020, 06:59 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Rocky View County
Posts: 634
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My 2-rifle combo for big game:
- Tikka T3 in 30.06, stainless. New scope coming soon in 4-16. Main rifle for sheep and elk.
- Browning BLR (pistol) in .308. Bushnell 4200 in 3-9x40. Main rifle for deer, and amazingly compact.
Both are tack drivers.
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01-15-2020, 07:29 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 16,271
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Salavee
A good cartridge choice but your reasoning for it does'nt make much sense if ammo availability in out of the way places is a real game changer. How many times does that really happen ? Not many would be my guess. Kinda like going on vacation to far away places and forgetting your wife at the airport, isn't it ?
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This does happen actually. I remember the component shortage of not too long ago. During that time I bought factory ammunition for the brass alone.
__________________
“I love it when clients bring Berger bullets. It means I get to kill the bear.”
-Billy Molls
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01-15-2020, 07:30 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 604
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Quote:
Originally Posted by huntinstuff
Youve made good choices
Do it
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I thinks so as well.
Osky
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01-15-2020, 08:40 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: At the end of the Thirsty Beaver Trail, Pinsky lake, Alberta.
Posts: 25,284
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22lr, 12 gauge and 06.....set for life.
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Be careful when you follow the masses, sometimes the "M" is silent...
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01-15-2020, 08:42 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Look behind you :)
Posts: 27,818
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 58thecat
22lr, 12 gauge and 06.....set for life.
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I bet you like vanilla ice cream best too
LC
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01-15-2020, 08:47 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,299
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I would keep the .30-30 and then buy a T3 as you mentioned, top it with a very good scope. Spend the rest of hunting, shooting, ammo, components, range memberships etc.
Chambering: I would be equally happy with .308, .30-06, .270, 7mm-08 for an an all-rounder. If keeping the .30-30 I like the idea of a .270 win a complement to that.
If getting new rifles to start on a clean slate I like your idea of a 6.5CM and .30-06. I think 2 T3's and 2 decent scopes will push you well above $3k and with Vortex on a hardworking big game rifle I would not use any model below the Viper. I prefer VX-3' to my Viper.
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01-15-2020, 08:48 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: At the end of the Thirsty Beaver Trail, Pinsky lake, Alberta.
Posts: 25,284
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck
I bet you like vanilla ice cream best too
LC
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yes Sir....cuz you can always adapt it to another flavor if desired.
'06...338-06 cuz we always got a little wild cat in us!
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Be careful when you follow the masses, sometimes the "M" is silent...
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01-15-2020, 09:00 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 617
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.243 and a 30-06 is all you would EVER need.
I know lots of guys that have bigger but can't shoot em well.
Hard recoil has ruined many good shooters!
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winner of the first annual CoyoteHunter.net tournament seiries.
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01-15-2020, 09:08 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,948
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I think bullet choice is probable more important than cartridge choice. Example a 270 loaded with a barnes x bullet is probabaly going to perform better than a 30/06 with a lesser bullet. Or a 30/06 with a Barnes(I'm saying Barnes because thats what I have experience with) would probable out perform a 270 with a standard bullet.
The best cartridge is usually the biggest one you can shoot accurate.
I think the less gadjets and the smaller a scope the better if its going to see rough service
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01-15-2020, 09:19 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: At the end of the Thirsty Beaver Trail, Pinsky lake, Alberta.
Posts: 25,284
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W921
I think bullet choice is probable more important than cartridge choice. Example a 270 loaded with a barnes x bullet is probabaly going to perform better than a 30/06 with a lesser bullet. Or a 30/06 with a Barnes(I'm saying Barnes because thats what I have experience with) would probable out perform a 270 with a standard bullet.
The best cartridge is usually the biggest one you can shoot accurate.
I think the less gadjets and the smaller a scope the better if its going to see rough service
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30-06 Barnes TSX BT 165gr will adequately dispense any game in North America when placed correctly. It just has that added umph and is very manageable to shoot.
__________________
Be careful when you follow the masses, sometimes the "M" is silent...
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01-15-2020, 09:39 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Location
Posts: 4,961
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MetisHunter
Thanks for all the replies and advice, even though my head is spinning more now than it was before. Too many guns, calibres, cartridges and loads to choose from. I’ve read every single post and what I’ve got from it is that I might be better off to stick with one all around rifle and spend a bit more on a scope. I think I’m going to get the Tikka T3x super lite Cabela special edition stainless steel in 30-06 and throw a limb saver on it. And top it with either the Leupold Vx3i (to save money) or the Zeiss conquest V4.
A question I would have about the scope is that this Leopold does not offer the dialling like the Zeiss scope does. Is dialling and more clarity worth an extra $1000?
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The only thing positive about a “light” gun is just that- it’s light. I would buy a regularly weighted T3 and keep better accuracy. My friend had a T3 lite (I believe 7mm) and that rifle was very inconsistent.
I’m sure I’ll be refuted by someone one here, but in general terms I believe myself to be correct. If it’s your all around rifle, stick with regular weight.
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01-15-2020, 09:49 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Somewhere north of Edmonton
Posts: 616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ganderblaster
Buy a Tikka 30-06 and spend the money on a better scope. You can’t hit what you can’t see.
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I have to agree with this. I also think you should hang onto the 30-30 as a bush gun.
Personally, I shoot a .308 and have a really nice Swarovski Z5 3,5-18X44 (ballistic turret) scope on top of it. I favor a .308 for two reasons, one, I find they seem to have less kick than a 30-06. Two, the shorter brass means a shorter throw and faster reload. I use 165 grain bullets and hunt everything with those shells.
I bought a Remington 700, put a Kwik Klip conversion kit into it to get rid of the stupid trap door setup and now have removable magazines. I put in a Timney trigger and spent my main money on the optics. My longest shot was a whitetail at 500 yards and I scored a really nice cow elk at 450 yards. I shoot a lot to keep my skill level up and my average shot is over 200 yards. I rarely shoot anything under 200.
Any magnum is expensive to feed. If you can afford it, fine. But if you're like most of us and don't reload then you might find it wiser to stick to the more popular cartridges......308, 30-06, .270
All have been proven in the field and the variety and availability of ammo makes these your best bang for the buck.
__________________
It matters not how straight the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
***William Henley***
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01-15-2020, 11:20 AM
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: SJ, NB
Posts: 410
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Two guns only? ..... I'd buy T3s in 30-06 and a fast twist 223.
__________________
"The majority is never right."
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