I moving to alpine texas in december and i need help deciding on a rifle to use. I own a 700 7-08 and a 7600 30-06 so far and i was looking to buy a gun that would be the best fit for hunting in that area. im sure the 7-08 could do the job for a lot of stuff but any excuse to buy a new gun is a good one in my book. What do you guys recommend i get first? animals in the area are mule deer, pronghorn, and audad.

7-08 is fine as is the 30-06


But since you just got to buy a new gun....257 wby... Or 264

270wsm
280
300wm
257wby

I like 25-06 of the ones you have mentioned, good for any game in Texas...Don't expect to be hunting any bighorn sheep anytime soon but you also have whitetail, free-range elk, auodad, and other exotics in the area. Congrats on moving to Alpine, beautiful country

25/06 great caliber.

Since your buying a new gun I would definitely go with a 257 weatherby.

.270 remington or Sako 85!!

25-06 or if you want to spend a little more 257wby

+1

2506 or 257 weatherby

You will or wont be far from auodad and elk so power and able to buck the wind will be a good thing

If you reload .257 weatherby.......otherwise I'd probably fall in line with the 25.06. Unless you don't have a .223 for varmints.

As much as you can handle. Bigger is better.

The 7-08 will suit you just fine, but if you're looking for another gun I'd go with the 7mag.

Probably need to think wind & high B/C out there

7SAUM is a good caliber too if you're looking at magnums.

7mm

Never been a magnum fan in ANY caliber. Never saw the need for a magnum when there are so many others out there that are just fine. The 30-06 can be a very versatile caliber- can be loaded light at 110gr (or if saboted- 46gr)or heavy up to 220gr depending on your target.
As you can guess, 30-06 is the caliber of my centerfire cartridge 'shootin iron'.

With the 7 Mag, there is no need for anything else.

If you don't already have a coyote, javelina, and prairie dog gun, I would buy a .223 or .22-250 first. This gun will likely get more use than even your 7mm-08.

Afterwards, I would go big, maybe a .300 WinMag or .338 WM.

With a 3-gun battery of a walkabout .223, a light and handy 7mm-08, and a thumping .338 WM, a guy is about set for anything North America can throw at him.

FWIW, I own and shoot both the .25-06 and 7mm RM. But the performance of these 2 rounds are too close to your 7mm-08, IMO

It's funny that you give two choices and how many other variances folks spout out in lieu of your two provided. based off what you already have in the cabinet I'd go ahead with the 7 mag as you already have great mid range caliber (7-08) and getting a 25-06 would be similar IMO. The 7mm would be my choice between the two.

I have most of those listed above but my favorite for most things in North America is my 7mm mag. Plenty of umph, flat shooting, accurate ... use my 22-250, 25-06 & 30-06 equally for anything in TX, but still fall back to my 7mm mag as I tend to stretch some shots out to farther distances where the trajectory of both the '06 tend to drop more & the 22-250 lacks knockdown at distance. The 7mm mag lets you know when you shoot it though.

Since you already own two nice bolt action rifles, I would buy a AR in 223 or 308.

How many of you people actually read what the op asked? He said pic one of two.

He only has one bolt gun of the ones he listed, the 7600 is a pump action.

I would go with the 7mag because I dont care for a 25/06 and i like knock down at range which it seems you may need.

matt

I vote for the 25/06. Flat shooting, low recoil, and will work for anything in Texas. I have both. Use my 25's a lot. The 7Mag hardly ever emerges from the safe. IMO, the 7Mag is overkill for Texas hunting...except maybe for nilgai.

25-06