help me decide

[killer]

im turning my encore pistol into a rifle. its a blued frame, should i go camo stocks or eabco laminate stocks? and what caliber 30-06 or 300 mag? i cant decide and its driveing me crazy.

[Davemuzz]

Killer,

Stock type (wood vs laminated vs plastic) is really a personal choice. I have Contender rifle stocks in wood that I really like and I have the new Pro Hunter stock that I really like as well. I don't think you can go wrong with your selection.....just go with your gut and pick what you like. If you hunt a lot pick the camo. If you like "real wood", you can never go wrong with that choice. MHO

Now, as far as caliber, you got to tell us what your hunting!!!??? If your hunting primarily whitetail, then the 300 mag may be too much. Of course, there are ammo makers that now make reduced loads for the mag that give the 300 mag the fps of the 30-06. But if your huntin deer under 200 lbs, the mag may be too much. If your huntin Moose or Caribou, well, that may be a different story. MHO

Dave

[Grumulkin]

I like composite stocks for their weather resistance and particularly like the camo stock with a blued frame/barrel.  It is just personal preference though.

As for the cartridge to go with, either the 30/06 Springfield or the 300 Winchester Magnum is capable of taking anything in North America.  If you go with the 300 Win. Mag., you might consider a muzzle brake; not so much for recoil reduction but to keep down muzzle rise and lessen the chance of getting a scope wound on your forehead.

As for the 300 Win. Mag. being too much for deer; I don't think so.  Why is it too much???  Will it kill them too dead?

[manofthe45]

It comes down to a cost/reward issue.  Like Dave said it depends what his quarry is and what his ranges are.  Here in Pa our long/short shot ratio usually leans more to shorter ranges.  IMO the 30/06 and 300 are both 30 cal weapons and out to 300 yds with equal grain bullets the recoil and price per round in a 300 do not give it an advantage over the 30/06.  Now if I lived out west and my shots would lean more towards farther out The 300 would have an advantage.

Overkill: Before a torn rotorcuff I hunted deer using a 458 lott

[tlyne]

Pro hunter butt stock is the best way to go. Reduces felt recoil by 43%.

[30-06man]

Pro hunter butt stock is the best way to go. Reduces felt recoil by 43%.

thats what they claim. 300winmag is a good deer round and its not too big. i mean you can kill a deer with african rounds and its overkill but if it gets the job done.... your decision

[Davemuzz]

Pa hunting. Use a 7-30 Waters from a 14" barrel with Pachmyer grips. Kill any buck deer or doe deer out to 200 yards. That will get you 99% of any shot here in Pa.  And that's with less recoil than a 44 magnum.

Dave

[jw4570]

I'd also vote for the prohunter stocks too.  Camo or balck up to you, but black are cheaper!

As for caliber, both are great.  The 30-06 is cheaper until you get to really premium ammo.  I agree that unless you are going beyond 300 yards, the 30-06 is probably a better all around choice. 

Heck, Start with the 30-06 and get a 300 later.  One thing is that you need to buy a good quality scope on that setup.

30-06 blue here:

http://www.wholesalehunter.com/asp/saleprod.asp?productid=20391&title=Thompson+Center+Rifle+BBL+24%22+30%2D06+Adj%2E+Blue

300 blue here:

http://www.wholesalehunter.com/asp/saleprod.asp?productid=20398&title=Thompson+Center+Rifle+BBL+300Win+Hvy+N%2FS

I have only 1 purchase from this company but it was fine.

JW

[killer]

well guys i think i decide to go with the pro hunter flex stocks in camo. even though they are a bit pricey. and a prohunter 30-06 barrel. i too like camo on blue. thanks for the input. denny