Good All Around Round

[BIGDADDYLONGSTROKE]

Ok, I know there is no such thing as a good all around round, but humor me. I just returned from a precision rifle match today. I was in the hunter class using .223 but the problem was at 500 yards it was really hard to tell where the bullet impacted. The ground was wet so when I missed it was hard to tell how to adjust, another thing is the wind really affected the round at 500 yards. now was only using 55 grainers, but I would like to move up to the 1000 yard class eventually, I like the AR platform because the match was timed and using an auto loader was quite a bit faster than bolt action. I friend was using a .308 for his 1000 yard shooting, but I also saw a couple of guys using the 6.5 and it worked very well at a 1000 yards. Like i said I like the AR platform due to semi auto but I also want something with managable recoil so I shoot all day. You guys got any ideas or am I being a little picky. Oh and i would aslo like to use the round for hunting and where I live here in Montana I can use auto loaders with no magazine capacity limit.

 

[fireman 9731]

get an AR in .308

 

[dakotasin]

1 - ar in 308
2 - ar in 260 (6.5mm)

 

[BIGDADDYLONGSTROKE]

I though about the AR in .308 but I am being thrown off by seeing how well the 6.5 performed, but I know the 6.5 can be hard to find and expensive.

 

[JWarren]

I've about decided that .308 is my favorite "all-around" round.

For anything that I have need for a rifle (minus small game), I can do it with my 308.


-- John

 

[Auburn1992]

Can't beat a .243. Load it low for varmints, or high all the way for elk (w/ good placement of course).

Also, like others have said, the .308 is one of the best do everything cartridges out there.

 

[Sunray]

"...would also like to use the round for hunting..." Hunting what? Precision target rifles aren't great for hunting. Usually too heavy. However, there are sporting rifle matches. You really need to decide if hunting or target shooting is your preference. A .308 will do everything, but the rifles are different.
"...the wind really affected the round at 500 yards..." It'll do that with a 55 grain .223. It'll do that at 300 yards too depending on the wind. You can learn to read the wind(the range have flags) and adjust the sights though. Mind you, you have to be able to read the wind and mirage(summer) with any rifle at 1,000.

 

[hamourkiller]

My Lord!
Get an M1 Garand from CMP and shoot the ORIGINAL all round cartridge!

30-06

110 grs to 220 grs

 

[browningguy]

Personally I shoot a .243 bolt gun, but there are AR10's in .243 and .260 either of which would be a good cartridge out to 100 yards. The new Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor is also looking like it has strong possibilities and is available in the DPMS AR10.

Although I hunt with mainly the .308 and 30-06 I much prefer one of the 6mm's or 6.5's for target shooting. If you decde to go with a bolt gun a Savage action with a barrel in your choice of calibers and a decent stock will work fine. Mine is a 12 FV in .243 with a Sharpshooter Supply LVT stock. I'm panning on getting another barrel in either 6.5 Creedmoor or .260 for it.

 

[BIGDADDYLONGSTROKE]

I have a Savage 110 now in .270 It is just a bone stock version. The price to put a better stock match barrell and trigger is almost that of a new rifle. I dont know much about the .243 what kind of velocities do you get from it.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

.308 varmint load = 110 grain Hornady sst, super shock tip. The .308 is most certainly my favorite all around caliber, it can take any game up to, but not including grizzly bear, its has fairly mild recoil, is extremely accurate, bullet selection is awesome, you can hanload a myriad of loads, and the rifle selection is steller. Up to 180 grain bullets, the 308 gets within 95% of the 30-06. I have a Remmy 700 SPS Tactical and I love it, sweet rifle. I can put 40 rounds downrange and my shoulder isn't even sore.

The .308 is also not finicky about powder, just about any combination will shoot good.

 

[ar10]

I'd check the price for ammunition as well as availability, especially if you're shooting competition. At 300yds the .223 can't hold a candle to the .03-06 or .308. When I was in boot camp we were still using M1's and everyone had to qualify at 500yds, so I know it's good at that range, But I think the .308 could probably do better. I have shot my AR10B at 500yds at CMP and I got the in the red each time, but mine cannot have a scope so I figured for a battle rifle it did pretty well. This summer I'm going to try it a 1000 but, hell I can't even see the bull at that distance. Be fun to try though.

 

[gvnwst]

A AR-10 in .260 rem. Still the AR platform, and with .260 ballistics.

 

[Reid73]

I also want something with managable recoil so I shoot all day.

Different people have different ideas of what level of recoil is "manageable".

Personally I am no glutton for punishment but find the .308 / 7.62x51 to be quite manageable for extended shooting. YMMV.

i would aslo like to use the round for hunting ... I can use auto loaders with no magazine capacity limit

For hunting purposes you will not find large capacity magazines to be necessary, or even desireable.

Precision target rifles aren't great for hunting. Usually too heavy.

Quite correct. And conversely, hunting rifles are usually too light for long-range shooting.

1,000 yds is fine sport for target shooting, but unrealistic and inhumane for hunting. You can certainly use one rifle for both purposes, but it won't be particularly suitable for both.

I'd suggest that you ask experienced people at the range what rifles and calibres they recommend. If you offer to chip in for the ammo, most will be happy to let you try their rifles. That firsthand experience is going to be more reliable than any generic advice you can obtain here.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

.308 in a Remington 700, AR10 like the M110, or an M14 type rifle.

The .308 is my favorite, then a 30-06

 

[Vicious-Peanut]

The .260 or 6.5 creedmoor should both do what you want nicely.

 

[BIGDADDYLONGSTROKE]

Thanks guys for the info, now to scrape up the money to get the rifle.

 

[longdayjake]

6.5 grendel if you want to use it in a smaller cheaper package. You can make brass out of 7.62x39 casings. Great round in all barrels. Awesome round in 24"+ barrels.

 

[BIGDADDYLONGSTROKE]

Well I think I may have found a rifle, now remember I new to precision rifle shooting. So I am torn between the Tikka T3 with the deatachable magazine or the new Savage accustock and accutrigger. What do you guys think. both of which have a 24 inch barrel.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Well, there are a LOT of good "all-round" rounds, depending on the mission set, but some are bit more "all-around" than others for MOST people. I, being a most people, find that this all-around rifle should suit many if not all of my needs quite well, in the event a one-rifle-only scenario is ever forced upon me - It's arguably the ultimate combo of all-around round, all-around rifle, and all-around optics:


That would be a DPMS LR-260L in (of course) .260 Remington, with an 18", 1 in 8" twist barrel, and a Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x50mm scope, in Warne 30mm rings.

There are few things it could not do well, and even fewer that it could not do decently. From kill an elephant with a head shot and a 162 gr penetrator (if you're crazy enough), to varmiting with a 95 gr V-Max, and everything in between including defense against human predators.

For African Hunting, it wouldn't be such a great all-around round, but would put meat on the table.

6.5 grendel if you want to use it in a smaller cheaper package. You can make brass out of 7.62x39 casings. Great round in all barrels. Awesome round in 24"+ barrels.

While that is true, this rifle is pushing the same bullet at the same velocities (or a bit more) with a shorter lighter barrel, and is cheaper to buy, and probably feeds more reliably, albeit a bit more heavy and with more recoil/blast and powder usage.

 

[mickeydim468]

For African Hunting, it wouldn't be such a great all-around round, but would put meat on the table.

Who's table? Yours or the lions?

Mikey!

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Tree stand hunting only!

 

[Reid73]

I am torn between the Tikka T3 with the deatachable magazine or the new Savage accustock and accutrigger. What do you guys think. both of which have a 24 inch barrel.

Both Tikka and Savage are economy rifles, and neither one is perfect. However, both have excellent reputations for out-of-the-box accuracy, and you will have to search long and hard to find a dissatisfied owner of either brand. Really I don't think that you'll go far wrong either way (I also think that you'll get a lot more rifle for your money than if you buy an AR-15 'platform').

You obviously have access to a range, and I repeat my suggestion that you take advantage of the opportunity to "try before you buy". You will likely find that you prefer the stock, trigger or some other feature of one rifle a bit more than the other, and that's the one that you should go with.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Bump for a good discussion, and my rifle's pics.

 

[gvnwst]

I don't see any pics.