Help Selecting Extended Long Range Caliber

[kimberkid]

Are phone books still in print?

BTW, that "This is for a SHTF situation" kinda made me scratch my head ...
1500 yards away isn't exactly knocking on you door and in my neck of the woods, 15 football fields away is about the same as 15 city blocks ...

 

[LoonWulf]

#barrellivesmatter

Damn near choked on my coffee!

 

[jmar]

What I mean by SHTF situation is it must be able to kill mainly animals. When the world end I cant just go to the store and buy a steak so i'll be forced into a hunting scenario. And while it's not ideal, this rifle will be my best line of defence against the 2 legged animals because all I own now is Mosin Nagants, revolvers, and a .22. So I just want some assurance if some nonsense happens I'll at least be a little safe. But the world won't end and I won't ever need to use this on living things likely which is why I said I don't need it to hunt, just wanted a decently powerful round.

 

[Gun Master]

What I mean by SHTF situation is it must be able to kill mainly animals. When the world end I cant just go to the store and buy a steak so i'll be forced into a hunting scenario. And while it's not ideal, this rifle will be my best line of defence against the 2 legged animals because all I own now is Mosin Nagants, revolvers, and a .22. So I just want some assurance if some nonsense happens I'll at least be a little safe. But the world won't end and I won't ever need to use this on living things likely which is why I said I don't need it to hunt, just wanted a decently powerful round.

My vote is .30-06 due to diversity of ammo types. You can shoot varmints, deer, wild boar, bear (black, grizz, polar) with all the loads and bullet weight, etc.
Otherwise, .308 for most of the above reasons.
P.S. - They are both well qualified for SD, but for close range, I'd recommend 12 gauge pump.

 

[kimberkid]

It's long been my belief that when SHTF happens, shooting everything in sight for food is a little short sighted as everyone with a gun, that isn't prepared will be doing the same thing ... When it comes to food, keeping low and long term food storage and water purification is a much better solution, plus any medicines you might need ... Even simple things like alcohol, antiseptics, aspirin, and let's not forget if you have a thyroid, diabetic, blood pressure conditions ... Chronic pain ... Within a week of SHTF, there'll be food riots as most people don't have a weeks worth of food on hand. If a person can lay low for 6 months it'll be much safer to be out as in the 3-4 weeks the loonies will have taken each other out.

 

[Hanzo581]

What I mean by SHTF situation is it must be able to kill mainly animals. When the world end I cant just go to the store and buy a steak so i'll be forced into a hunting scenario. And while it's not ideal, this rifle will be my best line of defence against the 2 legged animals because all I own now is Mosin Nagants, revolvers, and a .22. So I just want some assurance if some nonsense happens I'll at least be a little safe. But the world won't end and I won't ever need to use this on living things likely which is why I said I don't need it to hunt, just wanted a decently powerful round.

Where does the 1500 yards come into play in this scenario? What it sounds like you are looking for is a "main battle rifle". So instead of a long range precision bolt gun maybe something like an accurized M1A?

 

[jmar]

The odds are a SHTF situation will never happen, so it plays so small in my consideration of a rifle i probably shouldn't have even mentioned it. The main purpose i want from this gun is learning to shoot long range. But i do think scoped bolt action rifles are some of the deadliest weapons ever devised and i would much rather have one for self defense than a AR type rifle. That's mainly in part because i live out in the country.

 

[kimberkid]

After the OP's first response I was like

there's some smart people here!

Then after the OP's post #44

What's the point, he already knows it all and is an accomplished shooter

Now after the OP's #57 post
I'm just

enjoying the entertainment.

 

[DocUSMCRetired]

If you are wanting to get in to true ELR then here is my take on it.

300 Norma - 338 Edge - 375 Lethal Magnum. Depending on how far you want to take this. The 338 Edge with 300gr Berger's and the 375 Lethal Magnum with 400gr Cutting Edge Bullets were just verified at 2.05 miles this weekend. In fact the 338 Edge I am shooting was only 26 MOA to nearly 1300 yards.

If you are on the fence and not going much past 1 mile. Then I would suggest the 300 Norma or a 7mm running Berger 195s. If you want push past a mile then step up to one of the other choices I offered up.

 

[Walkalong]

The odds are a SHTF situation will never happen, so it plays so small in my consideration of a rifle i probably shouldn't have even mentioned it.

Especially since we don't do SHTF here at THR. We don't do fantasy, so let's keep the discussion focused on the main question.