Help me figure out a rifle

[BeeMaa]

Bum shoulder, but wants elk capability...the 35 Whelen is about the most efficient round I know that really kills above its weight with animals that size. Wonder if ANYONE around here could chine in support for it?...nah, probably have to go all the way to Australia for that to happen! (wink, wink)

No such thing as “killing above its weight”, physics apply equally to all cartridges.

However, I do agree that the 35W would be a good choice for most people. With the OP’s limitations taken into consideration, the 30-06 offers less recoil and has killed a hell of a lot of elk. If he really wanted to move up, one of the 8mm’s or 325’s would be a logical choice.

 

[MS 9x56]

Sticking with ascending order of caliber and recoil.
1) 7x57 in a commercial mauser 98 rifle.
2) 338-06 in a custom Springfield 1903.
3) 9.3x62 in a CZ 550 or BRNO rifle.
All classics that have been there and done that without excessive recoil and no muss, no fuss.

 

[sureshot375]

The longer I hunt, the more I am convinced that caliber selection really doesn’t matter except for the extremes.

If you plan to hunt in Africa where it may be thick, I would shy away from a light fast easily deflected bullet. .308 would probably be my choice on the low recoil side.

If you are going to hunt more open areas, any non magnum 6.5 or 7mm will do fine.

I just put together a low recoil setup for my sister who can’t shoot for crap due to her terrible flinch. I went with a Bergara Premier Approach in 6.5 PRC and a suppressor.

The best thing you could do is get a modern rifle that is suppressor ready. This is the best way to reduce recoil.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

No such thing as “killing above its weight”, physics apply equally to all cartridges.

However, I do agree that the 35W would be a good choice for most people. With the OP’s limitations taken into consideration, the 30-06 offers less recoil and has killed a hell of a lot of elk. If he really wanted to move up, one of the 8mm’s or 325’s would be a logical choice.

@BeeMaa
As you say so well " the 35 Whelen would be a good choice for most people."
Does that mean you have a Whelen barrel on order for your R8 finally mate. I'm so happy for you to join the 35 club finally seeing the light.
Next will hopefully be @CoElkHunter. Even if the rebores that silly little 338WM to 358 Norma.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Sticking with ascending order of caliber and recoil.
1) 7x57 in a commercial mauser 98 rifle.
2) 338-06 in a custom Springfield 1903.
3) 9.3x62 in a CZ 550 or BRNO rifle.
All classics that have been there and done that without excessive recoil and no muss, no fuss.

@MS 9x56
What no 35Whelen. It's been there done that without excessive recoil as well. No fuss no muss plus class.
Bob

 

[rookhawk]

Another catridge that is easy to make, has no recoil, and punches above its weight class is the 7-30 waters. Take a 30-30 which is a wonderful cartridge with terrible bullets, neck it to 7mm, shoot a 140gr barnes TTSX, at about 8 lbs of felt recoil its a great killer inside of 200 yards.

At one point that caliber was very popular in single shot falling block and break action rifles. You could carry them all day due to their lightweight.

 

[Jetjockey]

7mm will give you so much more ammo availability in the US, and is about perfect for plains game and elk. With that said, it really does nothing a 270 won’t do, with less recoil. I was in Zambia in June, and both Ph’s in camp said their favorite cartridges for PG was the good ole .270. They also said most Americans bring 300WM’s. I’ve got a Pre-64 .270 that’s killed close to 30 Rosevelt elk, which are bigger than Rocky Mountain elk. My point? Get a .270 for ammo availability, low recoil, and phenomenal killing ability. This coming from a rifle loonie who loves the 7mm.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

Re-reading the first post, I will still suggest the 275 Rigby, 7X57, 7mm Mauser, or whatever else it’s called And a 7-1/2lb rifle! It’s a great ctg. with mild recoil, with a great selection of bullets!
My second suggestion would be a 6.5X55. I do not hesitate to hunt Elk with either of these, with suitable bullets for the game hunted.

 

[WAB]

Re-reading the first post, I will still suggest the 275 Rigby, 7X57, 7mm Mauser, or whatever else it’s called And a 7-1/2lb rifle! It’s a great ctg. with mild recoil, with a great selection of bullets!
My second suggestion would be a 6.5X55. I do not hesitate to hunt Elk with either of these, with suitable bullets for the game hunted.

Hard to find fault with your recommendation.

 

[akrifleman]

No such thing as “killing above its weight”, physics apply equally to all cartridges.

However, I do agree that the 35W would be a good choice for most people. With the OP’s limitations taken into consideration, the 30-06 offers less recoil and has killed a hell of a lot of elk. If he really wanted to move up, one of the 8mm’s or 325’s would be a logical choice.

I've come to the conclusion, that the phrase has its roots in something that was observed (making it true, but mislabeled). But, I think it had a lot to do with cartridges that for various reasons, were just easy to shoot. You rarely see it applied to magnums, but more often to things like a 6.5x55 or other cartridges that people were shocked to find shot easy and accurately. I think it does exist, but not as a representation of sectional density or some other magic formula, but simply cartridges that were historically accurate, easy to reload, easy to shoot, and did the job because of pleasant recoil levels. I think the phrase "killing above its weight" really meant... "I'll be damn, this little thing does a fine job without magnumitis."

 

[gcbailey]

I would skip the rem mag and go with 7x57 or better yet 7x57R. One shot with my .275 Rigby (7x57) was all that was needed for impala, warthog, sable, and gemsbok...though I admit, I shot at the sable a lot due to my scope being off. lol

 

[BeeMaa]

I've come to the conclusion, that the phrase has its roots in something that was observed (making it true, but mislabeled). But, I think it had a lot to do with cartridges that for various reasons, were just easy to shoot. You rarely see it applied to magnums, but more often to things like a 6.5x55 or other cartridges that people were shocked to find shot easy and accurately. I think it does exist, but not as a representation of sectional density or some other magic formula, but simply cartridges that were historically accurate, easy to reload, easy to shoot, and did the job because of pleasant recoil levels. I think the phrase "killing above its weight" really meant... "I'll be damn, this little thing does a fine job without magnumitis."

That's an excellent way of explaining the phrase and I agree with you. Magnumitus is hilarious as well. Cheers.

 

[Art Lambart II]

If your a reloader the 7x57 is a great choice, if not look at the 7mm-08. In the USA the factory loads for the 7x57 are cup & core bullets, the 7mm-08 is factory loaded with everything under the sun (Cup & core, bonded bullets from Nosler, Swift, TBT, it come in Nosler Partition and Mono metals from Barnes) in weights from 120 to 160 grains.

P.S. If your going to but a Rigby Highland Stalker forget everything I said about the 7mm-08 and go with the 275 Rigby.

 

[MS 9x56]

@MS 9x56
What no 35Whelen. It's been there done that without excessive recoil as well. No fuss no muss plus class.
Bob

I just figured that would get your attention Bob. Being as how the 35 Whelen and 9.3x62 are kissing cousins I figured I had it covered.

 

[CoElkHunter]

@BeeMaa
As you say so well " the 35 Whelen would be a good choice for most people."
Does that mean you have a Whelen barrel on order for your R8 finally mate. I'm so happy for you to join the 35 club finally seeing the light.
Next will hopefully be @CoElkHunter. Even if the rebores that silly little 338WM to 358 Norma.
Bob

Bob,
Maybe a .35/.338WM? I wouldn't have to travel to Norma's factory in Sweden to get .358 Norma brass. LOL BTW, Norma's website has an excellent video on how they make their cartridges and ballistic testing. Quite impressive and I'm not easily impressed.
CEH

 

[7x57Joe]

FYI, I just recently discovered that Sellier & Bellot have a mono metal bullet loading for the 7x57.

7x57 Mauser 150 Grain TXRG Sellier & Bellot Xergy Blue Ammo - SB757XA​

 

[okie john]

I am looking to get a rifle that I can shoot deer in N America and possibly an elk but mostly deer as well as plains game in Africa. I’m open to most anything but leaning towards a 7mm RM or .275 Rigby (7x57mm) if I’m not mistaken. I am stuck between them and I have asked everyone I know and I’m still stuck. So I’d love to hear whatever y’all’s opinions are!
Thanks in advance,
Swampy

PS I have a shoulder that isn’t to great so that’s why I’m leaning towards a smaller rounds.

Logistics over ballistics.

Shot placement trumps everything, so you have to practice a fair amount to get things done properly especially if you use smaller cartridges on larger animals.

A handloader with the right components can weather almost any storm but it's another story if you rely on factory ammo. US ammo makers load the 7x57 about like the 30-30. It's effective but nowhere near the cartridge's potential. In the Pacific Northwest where I live, 7x57 is scarce and expensive. 7mm RM is not as scarce but selection is limited and none of it is cheap. It's worse for the 300 magnums or anything larger.

Around here, 308 is common and available in cheap soft-point loads, ultra-precise match loads, premiums loads with monolithic bullets, etc. I also recently tested several types of military surplus and bought 1,100 rounds of the best of them for practice. This cost me about half of the price of a similar amount of factory ammunition.

I never thought I'd write this, but availability and selection of 30-06 where I live is somewhere between that of 308 and 7mm RM. Same goes for another great choice, the 270 Winchester.


Okie John

 

[F. Vaccaro]

I am still suggesting a good 7X57 or 6.5, all this flat shooting hoopalah is meaningless till you cross the 300 yard mark! Pick a mild recoiling rifle zero 2-3” high at 100 yds, & forget the unimportant details. Past 300 it matters, up to 300 it doesn’t
remember swampbilly1231 has a shoulder that bothers him.
I suggest heavier calibers than these are out except maybe the .308!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I am still suggesting a good 7X57 or 6.5, all this flat shooting hoopalah is meaningless till you cross the 300 yard mark! Pick a mild recoiling rifle zero 2-3” high at 100 yds, & forget the unimportant details. Past 300 it matters, up to 300 it doesn’t
remember swampbilly1231 has a shoulder that bothers him.
I suggest heavier calibers than these are out except maybe the .308!

@F. Vaccaro
I too brave a shoulder issue after shoulder surgery. The Whelen is manageable to me but with a muzzle brake it's a real joy to use.
Bob