Only one caliber

Legionnaire said:

None of the above; sorry. Already divested myself of all my .30 cals, and I've never been a fan of the .270.

If I could only have one factory-loaded cartridge, it would be a 7mm-08. Not sure which rifle. I'd want a lightweight for hunting, something heavier for targets. Split the difference and I'd look for a second-hand Remington 700 VSSF, although it might be a lengthy hunt to find one for $750.

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So what caliber do you have?

30-06

The cartridges listed 308, but you can't go wrong with the 30-06.
Narrowed it down to 2

Aim1 said:

So what caliber do you have?

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I have multiple, including .243, .260, and 7mm-08, as well as a couple AI variants of the above. I like short actions for hunting and targets. And as I said above, if I could only have one, it would probably be the 7mm-08 ... much as I like the .260 Ackley Improved.

I'd split either the 30-06 or the .270, still not all the way sold on the 308 yet...

7mm08. Or if forced to stay exactly on those 3 then .308

If choosing from that list, it would be the 308 in a bolt action. (But don't tell anyone or I'll get dirty looks from my Garand, Swedish Mauser 6.5x55 and a single shot 45/70.)

Jeff

LoonWulf said:

Tostitos hint of lime....cause I can always find stuff to make my chips even worse for me ...and they taste pretty good on their own.

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Haha I'm snacking on them now, cool ranch corn chips are my favorite tho.

Oh and I pick 308

30-06 If one handloads it can be used on anything from rabbits to grizzles, and for targets out to 1,000 yards. Of course, if one is recoil shy... but then, I'm not.

.308, own two, shoot very will and very accurate, will do anything I need and then some. In turn, nothing wrong with the other two calibers - all do about the same thing; hair-splitting I think.

Of the three I would go 1) .308, 2) .30-06, and 3) .270.

Left to my own devices I would probably have something in a 6; like a 6.5 Creedmore or a 6.5x55 Swede.

As far as chips go, Snyder's Coney Island Hot Dog with Mustard Potato Chips are the best!

caliber and cartridge are two different things ya know

WisBorn said:

The cartridges listed 308, but you can't go wrong with the 30-06.
Narrowed it down to 2

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As far as the chips I like most flavors and kinds.

Y'all realize that a .308 is just a 7mm-08 with the neck expanded to .30 caliber?


Seriously, if it HAD to be one of the three originally listed, I'd go .308. In fact, I did for a lot of years.

And if you are not a handloader, there is lot more .308 factor variants on the market than in the other two calibers. Again, this is all based on only have the choice of those three as per the OP.

Bob

.30/06. I know it might not be "cool", but it is my favorite cartridge to load and to shoot. I know some prefer the shorter bolt throw on a .308, but I like the larger loading port for hunting with gloves on.

CapnMac said:

That's like asking us to pick just one chip []

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Like Robot Morty says, "Jalapeenyo"

More info is needed. I use to think .30-06 was the be-all, do-all round. It depends what you want to hunt. I had a .30-06 when I was drawn, (along with my dad, step-mom, and uncle) for a moose hunt. I did develop 200 gr. Partition loads for it, but I had a chance at a Ruger 77 in .300 Win. Mag. for a steal, and got it. Then developed loads for it. My Dad also developed loads for the Sako .300 Win. Mag. he bought for the hunt, versus his .30-06 (Which was a Ruger #1; good choice, his bull took 5 rounds before it dropped.) Our .30-06's became our backup guns.

Now I only hunt deer, coyotes, and pheasant. A .223 takes care of the first two needs, 12, and soon, 16 ga. for the second.

Of the cartridges listed, .30-06. My rifle recommendation is a Savage Axis II, buy a Boyd's wood stock for it, and spend the rest on a decent scope and ammo. (or components for the perfect load for it if you reload.)

Legionnaire said:

Y'all realize that a .308 is just a 7mm-08 with the neck expanded to .30 caliber?

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Wouldn't it be called the .30/7mm then?

That is almost to depressing to think about but I think I would go with a 7mm-08. I can get bullets appropriate for the tasks that I use a rifle for and its a reasonable balance of velocity, bullet weight, and powder usage.

If I had to pick one of the 3 listed I would do 308, especially if you don't handload.

My rifle choice would be a tikka T3 or a Bergara.

.308 out of that list. For target shooting and maybe hunting were you aren't going to walk very far, currently this Savage on sale is going to be hard to beat at $289 on sale right now.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/savage-12-fv-bolt-action-rifle?lcab.rdr=TRUE

I just picked mine up last week and took it to the range to sight in on Friday. I sighted it in with 180 gr Federal Powershok, just because it was the cheapest thing Cabela's had. After 10 shots to get it on target, my first 5 shot group with those was 1.5". Then I tried out 168gr Federal Gold Medal. Two back-to-back 5 shot groups were inside of a 1 inch square, maybe .6 MOA each. Sorry, no pictures of the group, I had to leave after that and didn't want to wait for a cold range to go retrieve my targets but I'm pretty exited to go back now and try out some of the other factory ammo I have (not to mention make some more brass so I can start reloading).

She's a little heavy for hunting unless you're just sitting in a stand, but you could cut down the 24" barrel if you wanted to save some weight.

I always said that if I was restricted to one caliber it would a 30-06. Now that I am bearing down on old age and will never hunt anything bigger that a whitetail I really don't care. My 6.5's will handle anything that I am apt to run into. (I know I am not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition, but I don't care.)

entropy said:

Wouldn't it be called the .30/7mm then?

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Nope, just the good ol 7x51

Except the .308 came first and the 7mm08, is a Necked down .308

cougarman said:

You can only choose one caliber gun. It is going to be used for target shooting and possibly hunting. Which would it be and why?
270
308
30/06

Suggestions on rifle to buy under $750.

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308 and 30-06 are the same caliber.