So I’d like to have rifles for antelope, whitetail,
mule deer, black bear, elk and moose.
I figure I can do a great caliber for antelope, whitetail and mule deer, then another for black bear, elk and moose.
I’m sure you could go on both extremes and go a different caliber for all of them or a single caliber for all of them. I’d imagine 2 should do it.
My next quandary is that here in N Idaho, shots are often either 300-600 yards or 20-30 yards. So I’d like to keep in consideration that these rifles should be able to carry energy a long ways, but should also be able to expand at short distances. Perhaps this is more in bullet selection, but I’ve been told that something like a 6.5 Creedmor would be too hot for short range. I don’t know if this is accurate or no
I live in South Idaho and would recommend ONE, really GOOD "accurate" and "SHOOTABLE" Rifle with 2 LOADS ! The 7 mm Rem Mag with 140-150 grain loads for the smaller stuff and 154 to 175 grain for the Moose, Elk ! You can "Build" a Model 700 Rem SPS with a Glass Bedded "Free Floated" Fiberglass B & C stock ( use Factory bbl ! ) Timney Trigger and a 3x9 or 4.5x14 Burris scope for about $1,500.00 ! Mine shoots SUB MOA groups and has very manageable, Recoil ! I would personally use Accubonds or Hornady ELDX Bullets in the 154 to 168 range to do "IT",.. all ( as Dead, is DEAD ! ). PS the 6.5 Creed is maybe a 400 yard Max Cal for Elk and the 7 MM Mag. will reach out to 700-800 yds, IF you can "DO" your part ! the .300 -.338 Mags KICK too hard for me so,..SOLD my, Custom L-H .338 ! Good luck