Decision time! What would you do?

[.308 garand]

I am needing to downsize my gun collection. So I am selling my bolt action .223 and one of my .308s. The guns are used for varmints out to 400yds and deer and wild hogs. I have yet to see a bear, elk or moose in west Texas so I am not really concerned with being able to take that kind of game. I have narrowed my chooses down to 2 options.

Would you:

A: Buy a .270 to take the place of the .223 and .308

or

B: Buy a .44 mag revolver to hunt deer and hog and use my Savage 10fp in .308 for varmints and longer shots on deer and hog.

The longest shot I have taken a hog out is 80yds. Most of my kills are under 30yds.

I do reload so ammo selection isn't that big of deal.

Carrying my 12lb. 10fp isn't that big of deal as most of my stands not that far to walk and easy to get to.

I currently don't have a pistol.

So what would you do?

Thanks,
Justin

 

[Selfdfenz]

Well

Some will scald me for saying this but a 308 or 270 are what I consider 30-06 class rifles. The gap between that class of fireames and the 223 is great.

If you reload what about a 260, 257 Roberts [if you can find one] or 6.5x55? Smaller than 30-06 class rifles, bigger the 223/243. Also perhaps mid-way in terms of recoil.

Cool thread.

Best

S-

 

[uk roe hunter]

in my opinion you should never sell a gun. once you have them they don't eat anything and require very little time.

I would simply by a 7mm08 and a pistol.

you are in america, you can have loads of stuff.

steve

 

[Legionnaire]

I'm sorry you feel the "need" to downsize the collection. That usually means that something has changed, mostly not for the better. Hope you are well.

That said, I see no advantage to buying a .270 to replace a .223 and "one of your .308s." Just sell the two and don't replace them; your remaining Savage .308 will do everything you need, especially since you already reload. That would be true downsizing.

If you want a .44 mag revolver, buy one. But your Savage will be more accurate even at the shorter ranges, and that goes against "downsizing."

 

[phantomak47]

in my opinion you should never sell a gun. once you have them they don't eat anything and require very little time.

That is a great gun quote and very true, would you mind if I put that in my signature?

 

[H&Hhunter]

Hang on to a .308 and hunt everything with it. It makes a great coyote rifle and it makes a great hog and deer rifle as well.

The .308/.30-06 is the .375 of North America. It is truly a do everything round.

 

[.308 garand]

Thanks for all the suggestions and opinions. I have decided to buy the revolver and use the .308 Savage 10FP for longer range hunting.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[Loyalist Dave]

AND don't forget to accompany that with a .44 mag rifle. A good lever gun OR if you can find it a well maintained Ruger semi-auto. (Downsizing is only a temporary thing)

LD

 

[jaholder1971]

If you're interested in hunting elk, moose or bear I'd keep what you've got, buy a .30/06 and practice with it until you can hit a pie plate at any range, any wind out to 300 yards.

With today's modern bullets there isn't much a .30/06 cannot do in North America. That, along with the ability and confidence that you can hit what you're aiming at, will put you ahead of 95 percent of the Large game hunters in America.