Two guns to end them all?

[MetisHunter]

Hey new to the forum here and relatively new to hunting. I currently just hunt deer with my Marlin 30-30 but I’m looking to broaden my big game options with a couple new lighter rifles. Something for bear and Moose, and then something for everything smaller than that. What I was thinking about was the Tikka T3x in 30-06 and 6.5 creed, each with a vortex diamondback or viper mounted on top. Either that or the Hells Canyon series.
I have a $3000 budget for all this. Any thoughts, advice or alternate suggestions from the all wise ones would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[huntinstuff]

Youve made good choices

Do it

[jespar]

I have a Tikka T3x Lite in 6.5CM and a Sako Kodiak in 375HH as a two rifle battery. If I were to choose again I'd go with a 6.5CM and a .338 Win mag due to more availability of reloading components and loaded ammo and greater versatility. Just my thoughts.

[rembo]

The Tikka choice is a good one.

I'd go stainless, and 25-06 and 30-06 with 3.5-10 Leupolds on both.

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by rembo

The Tikka choice is a good one.

I'd go stainless, and 25-06 and 30-06 with 3.5-10 Leupolds on both.

I knew I needed to get a 30-06 again.

I’m happy with the 1/4 bore which so far is dang fine shooter.

Definitely can’t beat a Tikka. Had several so another nod to your choice on that name. .270 isn’t a bad choice either.
Welcome to AO!

[Salavee]

If you want all the bases well covered , a 6.5 x55 and a .35 whelen will do it.

Either one will do it all.

[Smoky buck]

You are overthinking it if you are thinking an Alberta big game rifle. Truth is your 30/30 could be used to hunt all Alberta big game as a short range rifle even. Lots of guys do will hunt all Alberta big game with just 1 rifle. The 270, 30-06, and 308 are common calibers used for everything from deer up to moose. You may want to choose different grains for deer then you would moose but the caliber will do it

Personally I would keep the 30/30 for short range bush gun and look at the calibers I listed or something similar for longer shot open country hunting. Lots of good options in a mid range caliber that will be good for deer up to moose. I say buy I really nice open country gun instead of two

But if you just want to own multiple guns I fully understand and say giver

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

You are overthinking it if you are thinking an Alberta big game rifle. Truth is your 30/30 could be used to hunt all Alberta big game as a short range rifle even. Lots of guys do will hunt all Alberta big game with just 1 rifle. The 270, 30-06, and 308 are common calibers used for everything from deer up to moose. You may want to choose different grains for deer then you would moose but the caliber will do it

Personally I would keep the 30/30 for short range bush gun and look at the calibers I listed or something similar for longer shot open country hunting. Lots of good options in a mid range caliber that will be good for deer up to moose. I say buy I really nice open country gun instead of two

But if you just want to own multiple guns I fully understand and say giver

Well said. Well said.
And from my way of thinking, again only mine, and Smoky Bucks I guess.
Love my 30-30. Watched my dad take his bighorn with iron sights in the same.
I have 4 big game rifles, or select tools as I call them.
.06, 30-30, .270 short mag, and .308

All I have or ever owned.
Can be confident daily shooters, all week long.
Can't go wrong with your choices, for moose and bear at least the odd six
Good luck

[ganderblaster]

Buy a Tikka 30-06 and spend the money on a better scope. You can’t hit what you can’t see.

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by hayseed

Well said. Well said.
And from my way of thinking, again only mine, and Smoky Bucks I guess.
Love my 30-30. Watched my dad take his bighorn with iron sights in the same.
I have 4 big game rifles, or select tools as I call them.
.06, 30-30, .270 short mag, and .308

All I have or ever owned.
Can be confident daily shooters, all week long.
Can't go wrong with your choices, for moose and bear at least the odd six
Good luck

I agree with Smokey buck, and most of this, but having shot a pile of moose and deer with the .270 win and the 30-06 I have never seen the 06 knock anything down any faster than the .270. Infact, if you really put me to it I would say that I've seen more dramatic kills from the .270, even on moose. Yes I realise there are other factors at play, but the fact remains that those factors make way more difference than the ballistic difference between most of the popular "all around" cartridges. And even with all things equal, you can go shoot 10 animals with each and still end up doing less tracking with the slightly less powerful cartridge, its just that close. Those numbers might look significant on ballistics charts, but in the real world it takes a very large boost in killing power to actually make any noticeable difference. Just my observations.

That said, if I owned only one rifle in either of those calibers and a 12 gauge shotgun I would be confident hunting pretty much any game animal or bird in the province. Keep the 30-30 as a bush gun/ spare and you are well set up.

[CptnBlues63]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

You are overthinking it if you are thinking an Alberta big game rifle. Truth is your 30/30 could be used to hunt all Alberta big game as a short range rifle even. Lots of guys do will hunt all Alberta big game with just 1 rifle. The 270, 30-06, and 308 are common calibers used for everything from deer up to moose. You may want to choose different grains for deer then you would moose but the caliber will do it

Personally I would keep the 30/30 for short range bush gun and look at the calibers I listed or something similar for longer shot open country hunting. Lots of good options in a mid range caliber that will be good for deer up to moose. I say buy I really nice open country gun instead of two

But if you just want to own multiple guns I fully understand and say giver

Agreed. I hunt with a .308 I use 165 grain bullets and I've taken moose, elk and many deer with that caliber. I would suggest though that you stick with one weight bullet. If you swap between 150 and 180 say depending on game, your point of impact relative to your point of aim is going to be different. Which is to say, if you zero with 150's, then swap to 180's, your bullet is not going to hit where you've zeroed for the lighter bullet. My hunting partner does this and I noticed a significant enough difference at 100 yards that I decided to split the difference with my .308's and I use 165 grain bullets for everything.

Keep the 30/30 for close in work, like in the bush, and your other one for open field. Any one of the 3 calibers Smoky Buck mentions are a good choice for open country. I opted for .308 for two reasons, shorter brass than a 30-06 and it's the most commonly used caliber by snipers. I figure there has to be a reason that many skilled long distance shooters choose that caliber.

Originally Posted by MetisHunter

I have a $3000 budget for all this. Any thoughts, advice or alternate suggestions from the all wise ones would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Following the above advice, I would say spend around $1,000 on the rifle of your choice and invest the other $2,000 in good quality optics.

I spent $1,500 on a Swarovski Z5 3,8 - 18 X 44 (ballistic turret) scope and I love it. You just can't compare a cheap scope with a good quality piece of glass.

[Osky]

Originally Posted by huntinstuff

Youve made good choices

Do it

I thinks so as well.

Osky

[JeanCretien]

Your plan sounds spot on. Never had a bad experience with the 06 and a 6.5 sounds like fun.


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[gramps73]

7-08 is always a good choice for this province

[BorealBucks]

7mm Mauser - 8mm Mauser

Das firearm

[Lefty-Canuck]

If I could pick two, .300WBY and a .260Rem Improved

LC

[harv3589]

270 win and use the rest for hunting trips...

[Mountainaccent]

We have a bunch but I have a 300 wsm for sheep/elk/moose and deer also a 7mm rem 140 ttsx for the deer and open field

[jayquiver]

First off, I would re-think your scope choice. Look at, Leupold VX-3i, 3.5-10 or Leupold VX-5HD 2-10 or Swarovski Z3 3-10 or Z5 2.4-12. You can either get a dial or reticle option for shooting longer distances.

If you are set on the Tikka you could upgrade the stock if you don't like it down the road or look at a Sako or Christensen arms.

If it was me I would put the $3000 into 1 set up. Cartridge choice - I would stick with a 30-06 or 270, sometimes I wish I did. Animal won't know the difference. Less recoil in the 270 in the same rifle.

[Who Da Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

If I could pick two, .300WBY and a .260Rem Improved

LC

My pick 7mm REM Mag & 243, well that's what I have so I guess I already picked LOL.
WDF

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by Who Da Fisherman

My pick 7mm REM Mag & 243, well that's what I have so I guess I already picked LOL.
WDF

I have the two I mentioned too

LC

[Skyline]

I shoot a 7mm rem mag with 140 grain Remington e tip, shot my moose at 350 yards and my mule deer at 145 yards both ran about 15 yards. I shoot a Sako 85 with a Swarovski z3 on top. Absolutely love this set up. My next rifle will be a Sako Finlight in 25-06 with a Swarovski on top. The key is to shoot what ever you have as much as you can, get comfortable with your equipment and practice! I’m luck enough to live close to a rifle range and try to get out at least once a week in the summer to shoot, and shoot 4-6 shots a night. The key is to trust your equipment and your self

[Buckhead]

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.

[270person]

Originally Posted by MetisHunter

Hey new to the forum here and relatively new to hunting. I currently just hunt deer with my Marlin 30-30 but I’m looking to broaden my big game options with a couple new lighter rifles. Something for bear and Moose, and then something for everything smaller than that. What I was thinking about was the Tikka T3x in 30-06 and 6.5 creed, each with a vortex diamondback or viper mounted on top. Either that or the Hells Canyon series.
I have a $3000 budget for all this. Any thoughts, advice or alternate suggestions from the all wise ones would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Lots of one gun solutions will cover all species but imo you can't go wrong with a 7mm or 300win as that one all round rifle. Plenty of good thoughts on 30 cal bullets so the 300 win likely wins out. Lots of smack for big bears and lots of reach for antelope. Everything after that is just a hobby....and there's not a damn thing wrong with that.

Spend what you would have on the second rifle + a bit more on good glass. Call it a day.

[Double Dropper]

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.

[Dudes2010]

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.

[Andrzej]

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.

[straight]

All my hunts from coyote to moose and sheep get done with Tikka's in 6.5x55 and 223.

[Guy1000]

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.

[Fwee6]

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.