Advice on a new big game rifle

Question

I have a 270. win model 70 but i want a bigger calibre for moose and bear and elk. My neighbor is trying to sell me a 30-06 with a leupold scope for $950. The gun has only been shot a couple times and has been on 1 hunt. My dad told me i could buy a new 300. wsm for $759. and a new scope for $200. I was wondering what i should get.

Answer 1

i shoot a 30-06, i highly recomend you buy that it is worth the money i mean the scope is probably 300 something dollars and the gun new is probably 400 so buy it

Answer 2

The model of rifle and model of Leupold scope could make the .30-06 a bargain or highly over priced.  

I second the suggestion that you get a .300 Win Mag.  The .300 WSM has a great disadvantage in that it can not shoot 200 grain and heavier bullets well which are nice to use with the larger and potentially dangerous game.

A new Remington 700BDL is in that mid $500 range and a Weatherby Vanguard or a scoped Savage Synthetic package are even less.    The minimum scope I would recommend for a .300 is the Nikon Team Primos 3-9x40 which is a version of their Monarch and is selling on the internet for only around $200.  It is crazy cheap compared to Monarch labeled scopes which are well over $300.   It has a built in BDC (Bullet Drop Compensating) reticle.

Answer 3

Do the math, a used '06 for $950 vs. a new .300 WSM for $759.  Even with the two-hundred extra for a new scope you're only paying nine dollars for for a new rifle in a more powerful caliber.  Of course, the Model 70 Winchester is an excellent rifle and the .30-06 is suitable for any big game in North America.  On big bear I'd sooner go with something bigger.  A .338 Winchester Magnum wouldn't be too big for big bear.

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Answer 4

What brand and model rifle is the .30-06? What model Leupold scope?  

Answer 5

Type of rifle (as specific as possible) and series name of leupold scope is necessary before we can give a good answer.

Leupold mark 4 = 899.99 brand new

Leupold Mark 2 = 499.99 brand new

Leupold VX-L, VX-III, FX-III = 399.99 brand new

Leupold VX-II, FX-II =299.99 brand new

Leupold VX-I, FX-I  = $219.99 brand new

Leupold Rifleman = $199.99 brand new

If the rifle has a Mark 4 on it, good deal! buy the gun, take the scope off of it, and sell the gun!

The Leupold Rifleman is an okay scope, but really

you can get a new rifle for $750, just spend the $220 to get at least a Leupold XV-I if not just $300 for a Leupold XV-II which I think is really worth the extra $300.

Even if his gun has a nice Leupold XV-II, the gun nor the scope is new, so I'd definately take a brand new gun and brand new scope for just $100 more.

Also, the 270 and the 30-06 are basically the same, as the 270 was made by taking the 30-06 and re-necking it to take a .277 bullet rather than a .308 bullet

I think stepping up to either a 7mm remingtom magnum or a 300 winchester magnum would be a much better choice than the 30-06.  Also, while 'short magnums' are all the rage, being brand new, do you really think you need to have a short action rifle? is the 1 inch you save in overall length worth 1 less round in the magazine? More importantly, is it worth exotic expensive ammunition, that maybe hard to find 10 years from now?

Pass on the short mags, at best they duplicate the traditional true magnums, stick with the classic 300 winchester magnum

Answer 6

i agree with with the other fellas in here the .300 win mag is one badass gun but there is a few other good calibers out there. a 7mm rem mag or 7mm ultra mag are both big enough to do the job. a .358, or .375, all big enough for the bigest bear or moose you can find. well .375 is a little big but some people like that over kill.

Answer 7

On the 30-06 you are paying for the leupold scope. I consider leupold to be the best.  If you plan on hunting big game, get the 300 winchester mag.  Even with a lesser scope you can site it in and be accurate.  I love the 300. Just make sure you get a good recoil pad or even a recoil stock.