5 Big Game Guns for Dream Hunts (Editor’s Choice)

People like talking about guns and gear with me. Having put hands on more products than the average hunter/shooter, I have some experience. This doesn’t mean that I’m any more knowledgeable, just experienced, and experience is experience. 

Still, people like to ask my opinion about what firearm and caliber to use on different big game species, particularly if they’re heading out on a dream hunt. While I don’t know if my opinions on what big game guns folks should use is any better than others, I do know what I would take if provided the opportunity to pursue various species. 

There are numerous reasons why I would choose specific firearm and caliber combinations for different species. These range, from personal use and research to sentiment. For most, I would choose the caliber and then look for the rifle I would prefer in that caliber. With others, I might choose the rifle and make do, to a certain degree, with the available chamberings. 

All this is, of course, is based on readily available funds. Like most folks, I can’t afford to buy every rifle I desire. So in reality, I would probably use one of the rifles in the safe, or purchase a rifle in an all-around caliber. This is kind of a dream list of big game guns I would use, if able. 

My Choices for Big Game Guns

Antelope/Pronghorn—Ruger M77 Hawkeye

I’ve actually turned an antelope hooves up. Quite a few years ago, I got the opportunity to chase speed goats in New Mexico. It was a backcountry trip, where the group stayed in Teepees, and ate under an open canvas tent. The hunting was actually pretty easy. We rode around in trucks, glassing antelope. When we saw something worthy, we parked, stalked and shot. 

I used a Ruger M77 Mark II in 6.5 Creedmoor to take mine, after blowing the stalk and having to run over and around a hill to take a 150-yard shot on a looking back pronghorn. The Hornady round dropped the buck within 30 yards of its location. All of my interactions with the M77 showed the rifles to be accurate and reliable. It absolutely performed its job in the Land of Enchantment. 

The Ruger M77 Mark II is still available, though the rifle has been upgraded to the Hawkeye. New features include a slimmer more ergonomic stock, user-adjustable LC6 trigger, and overall look and feel. It kept, however, the controlled feed action that makes the M77 so great. 

The 6.5 Creedmoor is one of the all-around calibers I would consider. It is perfect for deer and coyotes, and can be used for bigger game, such as elk and moose, with proper bullet placement. 

Bear – Marlin Guide Gun 

Bears are big and can be dangerous. They are also typically hunted in big woods, meaning that long range shots aren’t necessary, normally. For that reason, I would go back a bit on a bear and choose a Marlin Guide Gun. 

Now I would prefer one in .450 Marlin. These rifles are still available, as is ammunition. Hornady still makes the LEVERevolution using a 325-grain FTX bullets. However, while the .450 Marlin was a better round than the .45-70, it still lost the battle. I really like the .450, but I would purchase a Guide Gun in .45-70. 

Part of it is rifle and ammunition availability. Marlin quit making Guide Guns in .450 Marlin in 2009 and only a few companies produce ammunition. However, I also like that companies finally realized that hands don’t easily fit in the rounded edge rectangle loops of old. The new Guide Guns, chamber in .45-70 use oversize loops, which are way more comfortable to use. I relish the idea of using an old style gun on an old animal. 

Elk –Savage 110 Ultralite 

I’ve been interested in 7mm Backcountry since it came out. The concept is awesome. Increase the pressure to increase velocity and allow shooters to use shorter barrels with suppressors. The idea of carrying a shorter, and lighter, rifle with a suppressor on a backcountry hunt is quite appealing, especially since going after elk is one of my dream hunts. 

Now, quite a few manufacturers produce rifles in 7mm BC. However, I’ve liked Savage for quite a while, and I really started liking their rifles after the introduction of the AccuTrigger; the old triggers were my only complaint with Savage. 

I also like the idea of carrying an extremely light rifle in mountain country. With a 20-inch carbon-wrapped barrel, this rifle weighs only 5.7 pounds. Adding a riflescope and suppressor will keep it quite manageable for both carry and quick shots. It also provides the velocity and power needed for longer shots on tough game. The 7mm BC is another caliber I would consider for all-round use, though I would probably get a 16-inch barrel rifle since most of my hunting is conducted in the eastern section of the country. 

Moose – Weatherby Mark V Backcountry Guide 

Moose is another species that often requires carrying a rifle for long times and distances. And while any decent caliber will drop a moose with proper placement, I think I would prefer something a little bigger, just in case. 

For those reasons, I would take a Weatherby Mark V Backcountry Guide in .300 Win. Mag. on a moose hunt.  Weatherby uses a 416R stainless steel match barrel tension-wrapped in a carbon fiber sleeve. This brings the Backcountry Guide down to only 6.2 pounds, with a sub-moa accuracy guarantee. 

A .300 Win. Mag. in this lightweight rifle will have some recoil, but Weatherby includes a 3DHex recoil pad, and I personally don’t care. I’ve shot quite a few .300s and I’m a fan. I do feel the .300 PRC is better, but ammunition is easier to get for the Win. Mag. and I like the idea of using a long-proven caliber to bring down a 1,000 to 1,500 pound animal. 

Sheep & Goats – Howa M1500

Some people are going to disagree, but I would take a .22 ARC on a high-country sheep or goat hunt. Sheep and Goats are not tough, at least not against a bullet, so I don’t see the point of carrying a large caliber rifle that might ruin meat and hide on the animal. I’m probably not going to get more than one opportunity to go after these animals and I want all of the meat and hide I can get.

All one really needs for these creatures is something that shoots flat for a distance and can handle wind. The Howa M1500 in .22 ARC handles both conditions quite well. This is especially the case when using heavy for caliber bullets, such as the Hornady 80-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter loads. There are lower grain bullets, as well as higher, for this caliber that have the velocity and weight to reach out quite a distance on game. 

The Howa M1500 bolt-action rifles is light and maneuverable with a contoured barrel, and come with a sub-moa guarantee. It also uses a two-stage trigger called the Howa Actuator Controlled Trigger (HACT). 

In fact, the M1500, with its short 6-inch bolt, is just about perfect for the .22 ARC. It would also work quite well against varmints, but I wouldn’t place it in the running for an all-round caliber. 

These are my big game gun choices, if I’m able to swing a hunt for one of these trophies. Others would choose differently, which, of course, is fine. This is America, and we’re allowed to choose our big game gun choices for any reason we want.