1. I like to target practice at long distances.
2. I want to shoot larger game, but not at 600 yards--150 yards at the most.
But I want one rifle that can serve two purposes.
It all boils down to bullet placement. I have used a 30 calibre weapon in Africa with a 165 grain bullet that has taken everything from elk sized game down to coyote sized game.
The recoil is relatively mild and ammo is less expensive than the whiz-bang magnums.
Which make? Go to a gun store and try different weapons and see which one fits you best as far as price, cheek placement, etc. Be careful though, you may end up with a safe full of weapons.
30-06 comes in a wide variety of weight and chambered by virtually all manufacturers. It always was the workhorse for hunting and is plentifull and relatively cheap. Keep the range back to 150 yd max as another FReeper said. In practical terms most shots worked out to about to 80-100yds. Good hunting skills coupled with carefull shot placement goes a long way.
Don’t let these people fool you. I also guided in Alaska for all species. There will be times when you will take a 600 meter shot. You will either wound one, and won’t have a clear shot until they get that far away, or the conditions won’t allow a closer stalk.
If you are skilled enough and have your equipment tuned correctly, 600 meter shots are not difficult. Especially with the new range finders available. This new technology has saved many animals from being crippled, as well as, satisfied many a hunter. They are an absolute requirement and the best money you will ever spend on equipment.
If you are not skilled or well trained in shooting, then you should not be in the field anyway. Even a 100 meter shot coming from an inexperienced, poorly prepared hunter, is unethical.
“... I like to target practice at long distances....”
Google “.260 Remington”. Find the article: “The case for the .260 Remington”. Then read it. Personally, one of my favorite combinations for long distance work is a the old bolt-action Remington 700 rifle originally in .243 cal, that I replaced the barrel with to a varmint 6.5mm (.260 Remington) purchased from Lilja Barrel, MacMillan stock, Nightforce scope, Jewel trigger, everything precision-machined, squared, etc. along with a few other goodies such as a Benner Cooley muzzle brake. I shoot a 123gr. HPBT Lapua Scenar bullet in a necked-down .308 military case...precisely custom-loaded specifically for my barrel. I easily and consistantly drop coyotes at over 500 yards with one shot with this combination but basically bench-rested when I do and sighted in for it. I do not take shots unless I know for sure I got a good clean kill. Some will argue that’s not a “hunting bullet” and it’s inhumane. Tell that to the pile of sun-bleached bones in the back corner of my property. I’ve only had one that I had to dispatch with a 2nd shot. I hate what they do to deer and livestock.
LMAO at some of the responses on here, but hey, to each his own. I just know the combos that what work for me.