Okay, I love 30.06 rifles and have four of them. I would like to purchase another rifle in a different caliber that I'll use mo

[Bull Elk]

Okay, I love 30.06 rifles and have four of them. I would like to purchase another rifle in a different caliber that I'll use mostly on mulies and elk. If you have about $800 total to spend on a rifle and scope, what would you suggest and in what caliber?

[BowHuntingIsMyLife]

Well most savages cost around that much i'm not sure if they come with scopes but umm might i suggest a 300 Win Mag

[charlie elk]

Ruger Scout Rifle in 308 outfitted with Leupold scope. This is fast handling fast shooting little rifle.

[Kody]

I say it is time to step away from those 30 caliber bullets and get wild and crazy with something like a 25-06 or a .270 or a .280. Your 30-06 rifles will not bad mouth the new guys because they are offspring of the 30-06. If you are a handloader you could resize your '06 cases to any of these new rounds. How perfect is that my friend.... I think I have just given some good advice. I wish the rest of my day had gone as well!!
Charlie Elk's judgement in this regard is clouded as he wants to own the Ruger Scout rifle himself....or he already owns that rifle and is wishing you the same enjoyment.

[the captain]

I like Kody's recommendations. I really enjoy my .280, and I think I could get a lot more out of it if I were reloading. To break the .30 cal trend, I would go with the .270 or the .280.

[Cgull]

Savage 25-06 or a Remington BLk gun in 223

[www.dropjhook.com]

have you ever tried muledeer hunting with a lever action 30-30 open sighted? It's a challenge especially when they do the muledeer hop up the hill, it's not going to get'm all but it sure is fun brings back memories of the open sighted bb gun as a kid.

[tybostev5]

I Would go with a Reminton model 700 in 7mm Rem Mag, as for the scope, no suggestions haha :-)

[Pheasant64]

Alot of poeple think that you need a monster gun to take elk. Not so. I have a lever action marlin in .30-30 Winchster that i have used all my life and have taken just as many deer and elk with it as anybody else. I do agree that you may want more gun if you plan on shooting out past 200 yards. A .270 is one of the most versitlile of guns and effective on any animal. You can get a new winchester model 70(best gun around) for around 700 dollars and a good used leupold VX1 scope for 150. I think this would be the perfect rig for what your looking for.

[Johnnie]

The new Savage Edge in .270 Winchester. $329.00 for the Savage Edge with black synthetic stock without a scope or the Savage EdgeXP which includes a 3-9 x 40mm scope for $379.00.
Buy the Savage Edge with black stock without scope for $329.00 and a Leupold VX-II Rifle Scope 3-9 x 40 mm for $300.00 and (not including sales tax) you will have $171.00 left over for ammo, sling and tags.
Or buy the Savage Edge with scope for $379.00 and you have $421.00 left over for ammo, sling, and tags. We know you won't have to spend all of the $421.00 for the ammo, sling and tags. So, with the extra money why not go out to dinner?
I read an article in a gun magazine on the Savage Edge and the review was positive.

[Bull Elk]

Kody, you're recommending a 25-06 for elk? Isn't that a bit on the low end caliber wise?

[charlie elk]

Kody is right I own the Ruger and am wishing you the same enjoyment. His point of owning a lot of different guns is a day dream come true...

In my humble opinion-
Anyone who chases elk and mulies in and out of black timber or busts whitetails out of tight brushy cover needs a fast shooting easy handling rifle. My Ruger Scout has proven itself worthy.
For the game we are talking the .30 calibers are the way to go for reliable clean kills.

Leupold makes a scope specifically for the Ruger Scout the combo sells new for $800. With the forward mounted scope you can shoot with both eyes open making it an excellent choice for moving targets.
later,
charlie

[Uncle John]

I like the 30-06 so I wanted a good jump in power with little recoil (most will say it doesn't exsist). It does, it is the Browning X-bolt in 325 WSM, kicks like a 30-06 hit like a 338 Win Mag.