Long range affordable rifle caliber?

[MaryB]

Looking to fill in the hole I have for a rifle for 500 yard + shots. Suggestions for calibers that are affordable. 50bmg is out for example, to expensive both to buy and shoot. Want knock down power also. Might get to moose hunt in AK with my nephew next year and that would be the biggest game I am looking at. Elk in MT is a maybe too, I have a friend out there I could go stay with.

[hunterfreakhd]

7mm Remington mag.

[raytex]

.300 Winchester Magnum. Have taken game, antelope to moose, @ greater than 400yds. Affordable & ammo available.

[OldmanFCSA]

I shoot quality reloaded 50BMG ammo that is less expensive than 300Remington Ultra Magnum ammo purchased.
A light-weight 50BMG with an efficient muzzle brake would fit the bill.

But a good 300 Winchester Short Magnum in a Tika 7 pound rifle would be better for rough country carry. I load Nosler 180's to just over 3100 fps in that rifle. A little sharp recoil in such a light rifle when load testing, but when hunting you will never recognize it when it goes BANG.

Have FUN, be SAFE.

[NorthrenMN]

I use 7mm mag and 300 win short mag

[Rip Van Winkle]

308 WIn or 30-06 are more than enough for any big game in North America short of big bears. Both can be shot accurately out to 1000 yards, every ammo manufacture has loadings to hunt just about anything, you can find ammo for them in any drug store out in the toolies and the recoil won't beat the snot out of you..

I tend to favor 308 because it can run toe to toe with the 06 up to 180gr bullets in a smaller package.

[farmerj]

What rIP said

And take an appleseed class

[Tronster]

It used to be that a 30-30 was plenty for deer and a 30-06 would take everything else in north America. Did the animals get bigger recently? Too much recoil makes people develop a flinch and thus a poor shot.

[BigDog58]

I wouldn't hesitate to hunt anything in North America with my 30/06 even out at long range. Of course I load my own ammo, which allows me to load specific loads, for specific game and expected shooting range.

[brad3579]

Hunted about 25 years with a Remington 742 30/06 always worked great, added a Browning A-Bolt stainless stalker 300 WSM to the collection about 7 years ago and love it.

[highwarden]

If I were going on my own my primary rifle would be 6.5x55 with 160gr bullets with a 1903 Springfield 30-06 as a backup rifle. If you are going with an outfitter, check with them to find out what they recommend. Some outfitters require a 300 win mag or equivalent as a minimum.

There is a lot of good information at http://www.longrangehunting.com and a fairly active forum. There is also a fair bit of advertising.

[farmerj]

What rIP said

And take an appleseed class

As luck would have it for you...

One coming up this month.
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=41764&p=486372#p486372

[Holland&Holland]

It used to be that a 30-30 was plenty for deer and a 30-06 would take everything else in north America. Did the animals get bigger recently? Too much recoil makes people develop a flinch and thus a poor shot.

This was before the steroid era. Most Elk these days are juicing like you would not believe. If you do not have a .458 Lott you are in trouble.

[farmerj]

sure you won't need the .577 T-Rex.....I mean it is an elk afterall....

[MaryB]

308 was one I was leaning towards, can get a Savage under $500 and ammo is common. Should have added that, prefer to stick to easy to get calibers. I could use my Mosin but accuracy from mine is not great after 200 yards.