New Rifles!

[Behler17]

In Iraq and addicted to gunbroker.com. I'll be back in PA for good in November and just bought 2 rifles to hopefully fullfill my hunting needs for the next couple years. Since the fiance loves me more everytime I buy a new gun...For the smaller critters coyotes/white tail I picked up a Marlin XL7 in 25-06 and topped it off with the new Nikon Coyote Special scope in 3-9x40. Will probably add a bipod when I get back. For the bigger critters white tail/elk/black bear. I found a Savage 111 FHNS in .338 Win Mag and put a Bushnell DOA in 3-9x40 on top. I'd post pictures but I'm still overseas. Anyway I was hoping all of you would let me know how these rifles/cartridges work out in Pa woods and if there are any moans and groans about em. Hopefully there are more good experiences than bad. I'm sure I'll hear about all of your 30-30's and 30-06's for dear but these are the calibers I'll be working with. I look forward to the input.

[Guns4Fun]

My opinion, 25-06 is plenty good for anything in pa. 338win mag might be a little overkill. But it never hurts - well except for your shoulder and wallet .

Get home soon.

[fingers80002]

My opinion, 25-06 is plenty good for anything in pa. 338win mag might be a little overkill. But it never hurts - well except for your shoulder and wallet .

Get home soon.

What? .338WM is only hard on the wallet. Hell, you shot mine.....

[Guns4Fun]

What? .338WM is only hard on the wallet. Hell, you shot mine.....

Correct but even you said yours shot a lot softer with the comp on it. I agree, yours shot no harder than an 30-06 maybe less. I was very surprised because prior to yours, i had never shot a 338 wm. I also agree that it wasn't even close to being "too" much kick. But I think it does kick harder than a 25-06 or at least the ones i've shot.

So, the wallet yes the shoulder maybe - well at least more than the 25-06 . At least to my uncalibrated shoulder, anyway.

[culpepermm]

I don't know much about .25-06 but a friend of mine purchased a Marlin XL-7 in .270 a year ago and is very pleased with it so hopefully it will be a nice rifle for you.

.338 win mag, lot of gun for pa just my two cents.

[levib]

25-06 will kill almost anything in PA. .338WM is good for deer and bigger in the area. Little expensive to shoot like others said, but with a good rifle, optics, and rings it shouldn't take many shots to zero. Really, a .22LR is big enough to kill a lot of the critters around so that's what I use mostly being as it's so inexpensive. Around the house I get a lot of raccoons and possums and the like, which I dispatch with buckshot.

[fingers80002]

I don't know much about .25-06 but a friend of mine purchased a Marlin XL-7 in .270 a year ago and is very pleased with it so hopefully it will be a nice rifle for you.

.338 win mag, lot of gun for pa just my two cents.

Depends on where in PA you hunt.
Where I hunt, 1k yds. is possible.

[mrnyman]

You picked 2 nice calibers, they pretty much cover everything in North America and most of Africa, dont worry if you hunt west the .338 is great for Brown bear, Elk, Moose Buffalo etc.

I'm looking at a Tikka in .338 too, Dealer wants $767.

Nyman,

Oh, get home soon.

[mojo]

Can't really say anything more than what has already been said.

25-06 ... can take pretty much anything in PA
338 ... You can take it and shoot pretty much anything in North America

You should definitely be covered. Nice job, get home and post some pics

[shermdo]

Thank you for your service to our country. God Bless and Be Safe.