Best Three calibres not including .22lr?

[andym79]

Hi guys I have been shooting .22lr for a while now! In Lever action and field rifle competitions. I want to get a centre fire lever action and the most popular centre fire is obviously the .30-30!

For convenience I would like to use the same cartridges for a blot action, I fancy the .308 or the .30-06 but I can't find any lever actions with a magazine bigger than 4 rounds in those cartridges and I need at least 5 for competition!

Any way the three calibres would be used for:
1) 100 yard lever action competition!
2) 300 yard bolt action scoped competition!
3) General hunting of mid sized game!

So I am thinking maybe:
1) .30-30
2) .30-06 or .308 (which is flatter?)
3) .243 or .25-06 or .270

I know you can load the .30-06 from 110gr right up to .220gr is the .308 as versatile?
Any suggestions with regard to the above or other calibres?

 

[Random Discharge]

This one is easy. Not a lot of choices in lever guns that match what you want, but I can think of one new production lever rifle with a 5 shot detachable box magazine in standard calibers: The browning lever rifle. In magnum calibers, the magazine hols only 4, but 5 in standard calibers.

The barrel is a little short at 20", but not by much for various short action calibers. In long action calibers it comes with a 22" barrel, again, a little short, but acceptable.

As to caliber, for combination longish range shooting (300 yards) and hunting, I'd be looking at one in 7-08, 308 or ? (30-06 or 270), in that order. 260 Remmington would go to the head of the list if it were offered, but it is not offered for the BLR. Any of these are flat shooting enough for 300 yards, and will also handle most any large game. I ranked 7-08 first for its marginal ballistic coefficient advantage and somewhat lower recoil, 308 is a more versatile round though. In a shorter lever rifle barrel, I think you'll give up a lot that the 270 or 30-06 would offer and they both will recoil more robustly. Ofthe two, if you really want a longer action round, the 270 is flatter shooting. Both are versatile hunting rounds that will taken any large game within 300 yards.

 

[Mike1234567]

I like common NATO rounds... .223 Win, .308 Win, and 12ga. Add those to your .22LR and you'll have most bases covered. Maybe add a .375 H&H Mag later... and maybe a .300 Blackout or .458 SOCOM.

I'm a noob with just "research" to go by so take it or leave it.

 

[Ranger30-06]

The .30-06 is an extra flexible .308 if you really think about it. My choices though would be:

1) .30-30
2) .30-06
3) .30-06

I am a .30-06 addict when it comes to my long range shooting. If I was to hunt, I would take my .30-06 because I can shoot anything from groundhogs to moose with it. That said though, it will be relatively hard to find a bull barrel .30-06, so for just that reason, I might go with a .308 bull barrel for 300 yard shooting.

Ps. You will not find a lever action that offers the same performance as a bolt action because the calibers intended for lever actions have flat points. You can however get a bolt action chambered in .30-30 and if you handload, throw some spitzer bullets in. Just an option. I wish I still had my .30-30...

 

[Justin]

Andy, what sort of sanctioned competitions are you planning to take part in?

If you can let us know, we can look up the rules, and that will usually work as a rough guideline to figuring out what guns would work best.

Also, when you attend matches, look around at the guns other people are using, and ask them why they chose those particular models. You should be able to get some good, specific answers that will help to guide you toward a solid choice.

 

[Pete D.]

Just a note:

1) .30-30
2) .30-06 or .308 (which is flatter?)

Those are all the same caliber. Different cartridges.
Do you ever say to yourself "that magazine holds five calibers" or "I need to buy a box of calibers"?

Pete

 

[andym79]

Justin:

SSAA (sports shooters association Australia) Lever action, rimfire, classic calibre and open!

So I a .22lr for rimfire, I am going to buy a .30-30 for classic (Pre 1938) and I am unsure as to what to get for open i.e. any calibre!

The targets are all contour targets (animal profiles) with score zones marked on vital areas from 10 to five. Some of the contour targets used are the small bear, buffalo head, pig, rabbit, feral cat, goat, crow, fox head and running fox. The competition is shot over distances of 100m, 50m and
25m using the positional stances of any field position, standing unsupported, sitting unsupported, standing post rest and sitting post rest.Timing for the course of fire can vary from five minutes to 15 seconds for five shot

SSAA Military rifle, has to be a military cartridge in use or previously in use!

The rules call for a core event, which is a
three position event consisting of prone;
sitting/kneeling/squatting; and standing, plus
optional supplementary events. The core
event is shot at ranges of 100, 200, and
300 metres using a large yellow and black
target, with only iron sighted rifles!

given these two competitions I would like to be able to use the same cartridge for open lever and military rifle! But I can't find a lever action in .308 or .30-06 that has a magazine bigger than 4 rounds e.g. A BLR only has a 4 round magazine and I need 5 for rapid fire!