lobo9er
Member
how about a lever gun in .308? you can set it up as a scout rifle or mount the scope in the traditional spot.
First Hunting Rifle: 6.5X55 Swede, .270, or. 308/7.62x39 Russian
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lobo9er
Member
not mine but heres a pic i found in the web one in middle is setup with a scout scope. this would be a good route for hunting and alot of fun.
Kachok
Member
The Sweeds have been used on elk for 120 years now long before modern premium bullets came out. Not only did they work, but they worked so well they remain a mainstay to this day. Don't let the smaller size fool you those things pack some grade A killing power. The standard 140gr penatrates deeper then a 180gr 30cal of similar construction.
Col. Plink
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Hmm, I'd say if it was to be your first and LAST hunting rifle to go .270 If you're going to settle on just one cartridge I think it would suffice.
I don't have it because I'm in too many calibers already.
I don't have it because I'm in too many calibers already.
I don't own either 6.5x55 or 7mm-08 so I haven't done exhaustive price shopping, but a quick check at Cabela's finds 6.5x55 ammo as or more expensive than 7mm-08:
Prvi Partizan: Both $17 per box.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoo...=SBC;MMcat104792580;cat104691780;cat104532480
Hornady Superperformance SST: 7mm-08 $29 per box, 6.5x55 $30 per box (back order)
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoo...=SBC;MMcat104792580;cat104691780;cat104532480
Federal PowerShok: Both $30 per box.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoo...=SBC;MMcat104792580;cat104691780;cat104532480
Also, Cabela's only offers four choices in 6.5x55 (the above plus Norma). More than ten 7mm-08 loads are available at Cabela's. I'm sure there are many other places to check prices, but a quick check makes it seem unlikely that 6.5 is going to be much cheaper or easier to find than 7mm-08.
Maverick223
Member
Guys, the 7mm-08Rem. isn't that costly (and most everything made for it are proper hunting cartridges), and most importantly it is fairly common to see it on store shelves...the same is not true for the 6.5x55mmSwede.
Flfiremedic
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I'd go with a 308 or a 7mm08...the 6.5 would be awesome if you handloaded, but unless you are near a huge LGS, you will be mail ordering ammo.
The 308 can be had in mild to wild factory loads, so is probably the easiest choice. I would look at the new FN Winchester FWT if it were me. The 7mm08 is fantastic, but again, you will probably be mail ordering ammo.
The 308 can be had in mild to wild factory loads, so is probably the easiest choice. I would look at the new FN Winchester FWT if it were me. The 7mm08 is fantastic, but again, you will probably be mail ordering ammo.
cmdc
Member
Just for clarification, the minimum caliber for elk in CO is 6mm/243 and 85 gr. bullet. Not that I, or most on this forum would recommend it. Bigger is definitely better, up to a point.
TheGrimReaper
Member
6.5x55 SE all the way.
cmdc
Member
I agree with the Swede guys. If you don't reload, ammo is available for it online, and although relatively expensive, you can get Norma loads that give much better performance than typical American loads. For example, a 140gr Norma load is rated at 2690fps with 2250ft.lbs energy. Coupled with very good SD and BC, it will definitely handle elk-sized animals.
Kachok
Member
According to Chuck Hawks the best overall deer calibers are the 6.5x55, 260rem, and the 7mm-08. My scientific head to head comparison of deer rifles yeilded similar results though the classic 257 Roberts did very well in my comparison as well. 308 and 270 were not included because they were both over the 14lbs recoil limit for the comparison. I could have used reduced loads, but I would have cought a bunch of flak for that. I chose the 6.5x55 over the 260 rem because the 260 does not have a industry standard twist, they vary from a 1:10 to a 1:8 where as the old Sweed is almost always a 1:8 which stabalizes 140gr poly tip boat tails and 160gr Round nose flat base bullets very well.
As the saying goes "Some people like Chevys and others like Fords." My recommendation would be either the 270 or a 30-06. You will find ammo with various bullet weights on the shelf for these two anywhere you go, especially in the small mom and pop stores in the back country. I am sure you would be pleased with either of these two.
Jason_W
Member
I didn't read every post in the thread, but my opinion in general is that it's an advantage to select a hunting rifle that you also love to shoot.
If you like to shoot it, you'll shoot it a lot, and if you shoot it a lot, you'll get real good with it.
That's why I'm partial to lever action rifles and carbines. I enjoy shooting them a lot more than bolt rifles chambered in common rounds like the .270 or .30-06.
If you like to shoot it, you'll shoot it a lot, and if you shoot it a lot, you'll get real good with it.
That's why I'm partial to lever action rifles and carbines. I enjoy shooting them a lot more than bolt rifles chambered in common rounds like the .270 or .30-06.
Here is how I would decide. Go to the store where you are planning to buy ammo and see what is on the shelf. You WILL see 30-06, .270, .223, .243, 30/30 and .308. Doesn't matter what part of the country. Out west 25-06, .300 Win Mag and 7mm Rem mag are also common. Those are pretty much the universal American cartridges. Everything else in my experience has been hit or miss. A well stocked gun shop will have something for everything but stuff other than the above might only leave you the choice of one or two loads which may not be what your rifle is sighted in for. That could leave you in a bit of a pickle if you don't have somewhere to sight-in.
I would never feel undergunned with a 6.5x55. It's the standard for moose and caribou in northern Europe making elk well within its comfortable capability. My concern would be ammo availability. I personnally would exclusively reload for it, but that isn't an option for everyone.
The 25-06 hasn't been mentioned, oddly. Shoots just as flat, if not flatter than the .270 with a good bit less recoil (thanks to a lighter bullet) and very good terminal ballistics.
I would never feel undergunned with a 6.5x55. It's the standard for moose and caribou in northern Europe making elk well within its comfortable capability. My concern would be ammo availability. I personnally would exclusively reload for it, but that isn't an option for everyone.
The 25-06 hasn't been mentioned, oddly. Shoots just as flat, if not flatter than the .270 with a good bit less recoil (thanks to a lighter bullet) and very good terminal ballistics.
Jarrettrocksvt
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Hunting rifles....
I have a mosin nagant 7.62x54R, it shoots well, cost 100 bucks and you can get a 440 rd can for 80. If you're just starting out and want something just to start off with, it would be a good choice.
Something I'm just learning myself is to check with the game laws in your area. There are some areas that don't allow hunting with rifles, especially highly populated areas (eastern va). They require black powder/shotguns. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will clarify.
I have a mosin nagant 7.62x54R, it shoots well, cost 100 bucks and you can get a 440 rd can for 80. If you're just starting out and want something just to start off with, it would be a good choice.
Something I'm just learning myself is to check with the game laws in your area. There are some areas that don't allow hunting with rifles, especially highly populated areas (eastern va). They require black powder/shotguns. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will clarify.
terryknight
Member
i still go with the 270. it was my first CF rifle and still my "goto" rifle. I love to shoot it, and that makes me shoot it often, I don't think it kicks much, but that's me and i can get ammo anywhere.
btw my wally world does not stock 308, but they do stock 7mm mag and 22-250
btw my wally world does not stock 308, but they do stock 7mm mag and 22-250
Kachok
Member
Everyone keeps bringing up ammo avibality, some of us don't like the generic store bought stuff anyway. Why on earth would I trust my hunt to some mass produced stuff I found on the clearence rack at my local hardwear store? That is a total non-issue for me, I'll roll my own thanks
I'm going to after I get the rifle and get used to it. I'll will have to understand more about it,too. Right now, thinking about reloading makes my head hurt.Everyone keeps bringing up ammo avibality, some of us don't like the generic store bought stuff anyway. Why on earth would I trust my hunt to some mass produced stuff I found on the clearence rack at my local hardwear store? That is a total non-issue for me, I'll roll my own thanks
Kachok
Member
It is not that difficult. I think it is fun, but everyone is differnet. The only weakness on the 6.5X55 is that almost all over the counter ammo is loaded to 120 year old mauser pressures, about 2550fps with a 140gr bullet. Handloader with modern actions can get 2700-2800 fps with those same bullets. Mind you even with that "puney" 2550fps it will still thump any deer that ever walked with a quality bullet. I would never dream of tradeing my Sweed on another 308 or 270, I just like it alot better, much less recoil, more retained energy downrange, lower noise, VERY inherently accurate, and disproportionate killing power. It is so efficient that it is still making the recomended 1800fps and 1000ft lbs at over 700 yards with burger hunting bullets! No other light kicking rifle on the planet can do that (say it's ballistic twin the 260).
TGReaper
Member
Sticking to the list,there are two very good cartridges. The 6.5x55 is an excellent cartridge and would do what you require. Having said this the 6.5 x55 is no match for the .270 Winchester. The .270 will handle anything on your list. My personal choice would be a .270 chambered Mod.70 Winchester Featherweight. I am fortunate enough to have 5 hunting rifles in calibers from 25-06 to .375 H&H. The .270 works well on all but the biggest and the meanest.
1stmarine
Member
The 270 Winchester is a necked down 30.06 to the .277 caliber. It can drive a very good bullet of 140gr at over 2900 ft/s and a awesome bullet of 150gr to 2850 ft/s allowing it to shoot falter than the .308 Win. and .30.06 with the equivalent ballistic coefficient bullets and less recoil.
This benefit is also the downside since you will find a more restricted bullet selection than the .308 for all type of uses and bullets with even much better ballistics coefficients in the .308 if you know how to manage the higher parabola with your scope and ballistics charts.
On average the .308 is more affordable as the .308 Winchester and 30.06 are both military cases and have been widely spread all over the world. The .308 win is virtually the same as 7.62 NATO military loadings that you can find at retail sales and discount and surplus sales. Also brand new .308 win PMC/Lake city/Priv $10-$11/case that provides great brass to reload.
I cannot think of many things the .270 win will not do but the same is true for the .308 win or 30.06 with even more possibilities in the end of the day. If you are going to do mostly long range then consider the 30.06 as it provides a tad more powder and energy and the .270 flatter shooting and a tad less energy but in either case you have to consider more expense up front in your system, scope, gear, training, etc...
The 30.06 popularity makes it more affordable than the .270 to adquire factory ammo but any when compared to the .308 winchester the .308 win does a lot of things very well and it is the cheapest to shoot of all of them.
In any case at very long range to be able to kill that type of game you need to start considering the magnum and super magnums cases and then the bill goes up quickly,
not just the bullets, but cases, powder, gear, etc...
I personally and for my first system I would stay away from magnum or exotic cases and stick to the .30.06 or the .308 winchester. Those are the every day bread and butter and in .308 win you can find great deals of surplus that you can use to train and get better at it and save the expensive loads for hunting.
Even if you need a tad more speed Hornady just relased the powders for their superperformance ammunition that can give you 100-200 extra fps w/o increasing pressure.
With the 30.06 you will be using 68gr vs. 56gr case capacity for a tad more energy when in reality in most real life situations you will not use it but it is something to consider.
.308 caliber has one of the best if not the best bullet selection out there for almost anything you can think of. Consider a 1:11 rate of twist or even 1:10 for the best bullets and uses although this is not necessary for average hunting.
Regarding the 7.62x39 is not an option at this point so we are passed that if you want accuracy and good bullets. The bullets are .310 diameter and selection is close to none.
A 14year old can shoot a .308 winchester magnum and even a 50 caliber with the proper setup, muzzle brake and training but does it really make sense?
Do we really need a Chevy Corvette to go to the office or supermarket? for versatility, easy of use and cost we probably will do much better with a nice Chevy Impala.
I hope this helps and good luck.
Cheers.
E.
This benefit is also the downside since you will find a more restricted bullet selection than the .308 for all type of uses and bullets with even much better ballistics coefficients in the .308 if you know how to manage the higher parabola with your scope and ballistics charts.
On average the .308 is more affordable as the .308 Winchester and 30.06 are both military cases and have been widely spread all over the world. The .308 win is virtually the same as 7.62 NATO military loadings that you can find at retail sales and discount and surplus sales. Also brand new .308 win PMC/Lake city/Priv $10-$11/case that provides great brass to reload.
I cannot think of many things the .270 win will not do but the same is true for the .308 win or 30.06 with even more possibilities in the end of the day. If you are going to do mostly long range then consider the 30.06 as it provides a tad more powder and energy and the .270 flatter shooting and a tad less energy but in either case you have to consider more expense up front in your system, scope, gear, training, etc...
The 30.06 popularity makes it more affordable than the .270 to adquire factory ammo but any when compared to the .308 winchester the .308 win does a lot of things very well and it is the cheapest to shoot of all of them.
In any case at very long range to be able to kill that type of game you need to start considering the magnum and super magnums cases and then the bill goes up quickly,
not just the bullets, but cases, powder, gear, etc...
I personally and for my first system I would stay away from magnum or exotic cases and stick to the .30.06 or the .308 winchester. Those are the every day bread and butter and in .308 win you can find great deals of surplus that you can use to train and get better at it and save the expensive loads for hunting.
Even if you need a tad more speed Hornady just relased the powders for their superperformance ammunition that can give you 100-200 extra fps w/o increasing pressure.
With the 30.06 you will be using 68gr vs. 56gr case capacity for a tad more energy when in reality in most real life situations you will not use it but it is something to consider.
.308 caliber has one of the best if not the best bullet selection out there for almost anything you can think of. Consider a 1:11 rate of twist or even 1:10 for the best bullets and uses although this is not necessary for average hunting.
Regarding the 7.62x39 is not an option at this point so we are passed that if you want accuracy and good bullets. The bullets are .310 diameter and selection is close to none.
A 14year old can shoot a .308 winchester magnum and even a 50 caliber with the proper setup, muzzle brake and training but does it really make sense?
Do we really need a Chevy Corvette to go to the office or supermarket? for versatility, easy of use and cost we probably will do much better with a nice Chevy Impala.
I hope this helps and good luck.
Cheers.
E.
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