Advice needed re caliber choice

Well, he's really got his bases covered there. There's surely not much he couldn't kill easily and humanely with one of those rifles.

I see two "gaps." He doesn't have a small caliber varmint round (.223, .22-250, .220 Swift, .204, .17 Rem., and so on) and he doesn't have a "heavy." .375, .338, etc.

Don't know if he wants to hunt varmints, or if he's ever going to go after some game he couldn't kill with a heavy .30-'06 load, but maybe.

There are about 150 cartridges between or near the .30-30 and .30-'06, all of which are pretty much redundant to any "practical" need, considering that he already owns those two.

But, 'most every one of those 150+ are cool for one reason or another and he might enjoy having something new, even if it is completely redundant.

I hate to say this, but it sounds like he may not need a big game rifle. Keep in mind if anybody bought me a rifle in any caliber for my birthday I certainly would not be complaining about anything about it. Especially not caliber.

How about something like a 243, 250, or 6.5 something? Maybe a 22-250, 223, or 204 Ruger for varmints?

For what he will be hunting the magnums are probably overkill, but I suppose if you were hell bent on getting him a big-er game rifle in a different caliber, a 300 win mag would certainly work.

Another idea, assuming his 30/30 is a lever, and the '06 is a bolt, how about a semi auto? Browning BAR, AR-platform, or M1 Garand in no particular order. The Garand and BAR both come in 30-06 to keep the calibers he keeps on hand limited. The Garand will need a different gas plug to shoot the more modern ammo.

This probably did not help you narrow down anything, did it.

For big game, on the light side I'd go 243 Winchester and on the heavier side 35 Whelen.

Remington 700's available for either choice along with many other manufacturers.

but I suppose if you were hell bent on getting him a big-er game rifle in a different caliber, a 300 win mag would certainly work.

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(Psst: That's the same CALIBER as .30-'06! )

Well, that's a good example of what I meant by redundant. Are there many game animals that a 200-230 gr. .30 caliber bullet from a .30-'06 wouldn't cleanly kill that the same bullet going a scant few hundred fps faster out of the .300 would? The extra speed just gives you a slightly flatter trajectory so you could have a little easier time hitting your target at longer range. Does he want to hunt at longer ranges than he does now?

I think the first step would be figuring out what he wants to DO with the gun that he can't do now, then find the right gun to fill that need.

For the great majority of hunters, I'm thinking the varmint gun idea is going to be the real winner. Something in .243 Win or smaller. Just not that many people going after really big bears or other large game (safari?) that you'd need a heavy caliber and magnum cartridge to handle.

...

Now, that's sticking with the hunting rifle idea. There's a whole lot of guns in the world that aren't hunting rifles and they're heaps of fun too! (For some of us, heaps MORE fun!) Just something to consider.

(Psst: That's the same CALIBER as .30-'06! )

Click to expand...

Indeed it is! Same caliber as the 30/30 as well, don't leave that little guy out!

Sam1911 and mooner pretty much covered it. Does not seem to have a shot gun, maybe this would be a good way to get him into bird hunting or skeet shooting. I would go with a 12ga or 20 gauge.

If I owned those three rifles; a.22lr, .30/30, and .30/06, my next one would be a .223 or .22/250.
But, then again, there are dozens that would be enjoyable to fill perceived voids.

Then there is the CZ 572 carbine in 7.62X39.

7.62 x 39s are just Russian .30/30s.

If it must be for big game...7mm-08, 6.55x55 or .270 win

7mm magnum is around .30-06 power....but flatter shooting.

223 would be very good and there is a lot of 223 to pick from! There is a lot of different ammo to pick from some is cheep also. The Savage is a good gun for the money.Do not with any thing less than 1 in 9 or 1 in 8 that you can shoot 55gr bullets and 68gr bullets. the 1 in 12 or the 1 in 14 is for 30gr bullets 50gr bullets.

Hands down, my favorite is my Vanguard Varmint Special for the .223 Rem. It has a 1-12 barrel.

Don't overlook the Mossberg MVP, which uses AR-15 magazines. It has a 1-9 barrel.

These are my two .223/5.56 rifles, and both are very accurate.

Geno

.22-250/.223 rem or .338/.375 mag... Is he more likely to hunt coyotes or moose?

If I were looking for a highly accurate, quality bolt-action, I'd absolutely look first at the Savage rifles.

Having said that, many makers are putting out high-quality bolt guns these days.

.223 is going to give the most cost-effective factory ammo choices. .22-250 or .220 Swift will be more flat shooting and easier at longer ranges. If he reloads, one's about as inexpensive as the other, sort of.

If he's happy with a .30-'06, I really don't see much point in also getting a 7mm Mag, as the differences in what one can do with either of them are not terribly large.

7 mag is one of the most common calibers for elk/deer at longer(ish) ranges. It's only too much if it hurts. Some say same recoil of a 30-06 with more performance. Lighter bullet that is faster.

I'd go .338, preference on the 338 federal or something like it.

Of course I have a 7 STW, going for elk at end of month in Eastern Oregon.

Tony

I would say a 243 or 45/70 would be a goood addition to that collection.

A 7mm mag would be virtually the same as your 30-06, either are good, but not enough difference to own both. The 30-06 with heavier bullets is a better option on larger game and is plenty for elk etc. out past 500 yards.

The 7 mag MIGHT give you 50 yards more useable range, but only if you have the skills to shoot past 500-600 yards. Something smaller would make more sense. A 243 would be a good option. Just about perfect for deer, and still useable on larger stuff at close to moderate ranges.

.223/.22-250/.243.....OR..... .338 win mag/.375 hh mag/.45-70... Are you more likely to hunt coyotes or moose?

EDIT: I naively thought, "Oh wow... Almost the same post I responded to a little while ago, and my same advice applies... Just realized it's the same post. HAHAHA

bandk, I don't see enough difference in '06/7mmMag to mean much. Either works quite well to 500 yards. The main thing, regardless of cartridge, is knowing the trajectory.

A .243 would work on Bambi as well as the .30-30 or the '06. I'd look at a .223 for paper-punching and varmints.

As example, my Ruger 77 Mk II light sporter has always given me half-MOA groups, and I've shot quite a few prairie dogs out to 300 yards. And the .223 works well on coyotes. It's a least-cost paper-puncher, as well.