Advice needed re caliber choice
- Thread starter bandk
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good point re purpose.
For me and this gift, its a balance, for a 50th bday, between symbolism versus functional improvement to his range of hunting options. The suggestions have been super helpful and gives me the info to ask his wife what might make him happiest.
thanks for all the info.
For me and this gift, its a balance, for a 50th bday, between symbolism versus functional improvement to his range of hunting options. The suggestions have been super helpful and gives me the info to ask his wife what might make him happiest.
thanks for all the info.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
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Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
No there is no merit in that.
.30-'06 is very common, so many hunters use it. And, most hunters take game at closer ranges rather than longer ones. Therefore, many shots taken with .30-'06 are close range shots. That doesn't mean that .30-'06 is limited in a substantive way, as compared to 7mm Mag.
The_Armed_Therapist
Member
Yes and no. If someone wants to shoot 400+ yards, then it can make a difference. The 7mm mag will shoot flatter, but we're talking an inch or two of difference in the 300-400 range. Most of us will never have the opportunity and/or desire to hunt past those distances, so it really doesn't matter.
Looks like you need a .243 or .308 !......................
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
If he's got a .30-'06 why in the world would he go buy a .308, too? 
tahunua001
Member
I concur with sam on that one. 308 lies smack dab in the middle between 30-06 and 30-30 in terms of power and ballistics. a 308 would be pointless. that's like telling a guy with a 9mm and 10mm that he needs a 40S&W
MachIVshooter
Member
I agree. As far as medium and large game go, he does not need anything else. But a .30-06 I would consider on the light side for any dangerous game, and definitely more recoil than you'd want to tolerate for a day of varmint shooting.
If you say he has rockchucks to dispatch, I'd probably go with a .22 centerfire of some variety. I like my .220 Swift, but for most, the much more available and much cheaper ammo of the .22-250 or .223 make them a better choice, despite the slightly shorter range capabilities. My .223 worked just fine out to 400+ yards on praire dogs, wasn't until I started shooting beyond 500 that its shortcoming showed.
Well, I have a 9mm, a 10mm and a 40 S&W...
And a 308 is pretty close to a 30-06 and may seem redundant, however, what if the 308 is a lightweight handy rifle and the 30-06 is a heavier sporter weight? How big and heavy is his 30-06? Does he do a lot of hiking while hunting rather than sitting in a stand? If so, a lightweight rifle in 308 or 7mm-08 might be a good choice.
And a 308 is pretty close to a 30-06 and may seem redundant, however, what if the 308 is a lightweight handy rifle and the 30-06 is a heavier sporter weight? How big and heavy is his 30-06? Does he do a lot of hiking while hunting rather than sitting in a stand? If so, a lightweight rifle in 308 or 7mm-08 might be a good choice.
wgaynor
Member
Go for a .44 magnum lever action.
steveo452
Member
The 30-30 is a short range bush caliber. I'd stretch It out a bit with something like a .243, 257 Roberts, or 7-08 in a Lt. weight bolt rifle. For myself I'd go for the .257 Roberts. If not this class of caliber I'd look at a varmint caliber ( .223, 22-250 ). The 30-06 covers the top end for anything short of brown bear.
He has a 30.06. What more does he need?
More calibers means more rounds to stock.
A 30.06 takes a variety of weights for bullets that can take down anything in the western hemisphere.
If he is an avid shooter...get him a reloader and 30.06 dies.
More calibers means more rounds to stock.
A 30.06 takes a variety of weights for bullets that can take down anything in the western hemisphere.
If he is an avid shooter...get him a reloader and 30.06 dies.
steveo452
Member
That's great advice Rayzor, except the OP didn't ask for IT. He asked for advice on what caliber, for the rifle he IS getting for his bil.
The .270 Win is an interesting cartridge, in my opinion, because it has such a wide application potential. I achieved excellent accuracy with 90 grain Speer Hot Core HPs, and 100 grain Speer Hot Core spire points. Those were dandy varmint rounds. By excellent accuracy, I mean 1" to 1.25" at 100 out to 200ish yards.
The 130 grain projectiles were excellent for medium sized game, including whitetail deer, ram and wild boar. Several of the old-school professional hunters proclaimed that if a rifle would not group with 60 grains of H4831 and a 130 grain projectile, that it was likely the shooter's fault, not the rifle. Sure, it's a bit of overstatement. But it is true, that the given load, is accurate accross all of the .270 Wins that I have owned. My Weatherby Vanguard VGX grouped quite consistently, in the 1.25", 3-shots, at 300 yards benched.
It's hard to beat that accuracy, unless you were firing my previously owned Sako, Finnbear in .270 Win. Said load would (also with AA3100) print clover leaf groups, 3-shots, at 100 yards, and I could consistently hit 5 of 6, 2-liter pop bottles at 500 yards in the gravel pit.
While I prefer the 130 grain projectiles, others like the .270 Win for the 150 grain projectle, because it has a very high ballistic coefficient, and as such the projectile slips through the air, retaining higher velocity, and offers higher terminal energy than the 130 grain projectile. I never used the 150s for hunting.
One of my friends borrowed my Weatherby Mark V (9-lug variant), in .270 Win to harvest a 200ish pound boar, using 140 grain projectiles. He was using Winchester Supreme bonded loads. It was one of the fastest downings of a game animal I have ever witnessed. I would put the terminal effect of that shot on-par with what I witnessed with my .257 Wea Mag, and my .300 Wea Mags. It almost appeared to drive that boar to the ground. I suspect he hit the spine. Regardless, one of the best shots I've ever seen.
There are also 160 grain projectiles for the .270 Win. So, whatever you want to hunt, varmint to moose, the .270 Win has done it, and with good effect. IMHO, it is difficult to out-class a .270 Win, for most hunting applications in the lower 48. That is not to slam the .25-06 Rem, which I think is a very close equal, or the .280 Rem, or of course the .30-06 Sprg, perhaps king-of-the-nonbelted cartridges.
But, the .270 Win?! Excellent round. Now, you would only have the task of selecting which of the dozens of rifle availabilities to purchase.
Geno
The 130 grain projectiles were excellent for medium sized game, including whitetail deer, ram and wild boar. Several of the old-school professional hunters proclaimed that if a rifle would not group with 60 grains of H4831 and a 130 grain projectile, that it was likely the shooter's fault, not the rifle. Sure, it's a bit of overstatement. But it is true, that the given load, is accurate accross all of the .270 Wins that I have owned. My Weatherby Vanguard VGX grouped quite consistently, in the 1.25", 3-shots, at 300 yards benched.
It's hard to beat that accuracy, unless you were firing my previously owned Sako, Finnbear in .270 Win. Said load would (also with AA3100) print clover leaf groups, 3-shots, at 100 yards, and I could consistently hit 5 of 6, 2-liter pop bottles at 500 yards in the gravel pit.
While I prefer the 130 grain projectiles, others like the .270 Win for the 150 grain projectle, because it has a very high ballistic coefficient, and as such the projectile slips through the air, retaining higher velocity, and offers higher terminal energy than the 130 grain projectile. I never used the 150s for hunting.
One of my friends borrowed my Weatherby Mark V (9-lug variant), in .270 Win to harvest a 200ish pound boar, using 140 grain projectiles. He was using Winchester Supreme bonded loads. It was one of the fastest downings of a game animal I have ever witnessed. I would put the terminal effect of that shot on-par with what I witnessed with my .257 Wea Mag, and my .300 Wea Mags. It almost appeared to drive that boar to the ground. I suspect he hit the spine. Regardless, one of the best shots I've ever seen.
There are also 160 grain projectiles for the .270 Win. So, whatever you want to hunt, varmint to moose, the .270 Win has done it, and with good effect. IMHO, it is difficult to out-class a .270 Win, for most hunting applications in the lower 48. That is not to slam the .25-06 Rem, which I think is a very close equal, or the .280 Rem, or of course the .30-06 Sprg, perhaps king-of-the-nonbelted cartridges.
But, the .270 Win?! Excellent round. Now, you would only have the task of selecting which of the dozens of rifle availabilities to purchase.
Geno
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Nestled as close to a .30-'06 as you could want, so long as what you're looking for is another of pretty much exactly what he has.
.270 is .30-'06 "Extra Medium"
critter
Member
A .35 Whelen or a 45-70 would be my choice.
SwampWolf
Member
Something he might not buy for himself (because, I suppose, for some it borders on the esoteric side) but would appreciate and enjoy if someone else (you ) bought it for him would be a Weatherby Vanguard, chambered in .257 Weatherby Magnum. These rifles are relatively affordable, rugged, reliable and accurate. .257 Weatherby Magnum won't be found on the shelves of Wal Mart and it is on the pricey side but not many would shoot this cartridge a lot if the rounds were free.
Alternately (and I suppose more practically), the .257 Roberts or the 25-06 would be good choices to fill that yawning gap in your brother's firearm inventory.
) bought it for him would be a Weatherby Vanguard, chambered in .257 Weatherby Magnum. These rifles are relatively affordable, rugged, reliable and accurate. .257 Weatherby Magnum won't be found on the shelves of Wal Mart and it is on the pricey side but not many would shoot this cartridge a lot if the rounds were free.Alternately (and I suppose more practically), the .257 Roberts or the 25-06 would be good choices to fill that yawning gap in your brother's firearm inventory.
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