Large Caliber Consolidation

[Olympus]

Been toying with the idea of consolidating calibers for my larger rifles. Right now I have a .243 (Ruger No 1 that I won't sell), .25-06 ( TC Encore Pro Hunter), and a .270 (Browning Abolt that I'm going to try downloading due to recoil issues). I'd like to add a tactical/target rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor to the list at some point and replacing one of the calibers with the 6.5 Creed so I'm thinking the 25-06 might be the caliber to cull from the herd but I'm not sure.

The .243 likely won't be used much for hunting unless it's ideal conditions. It's just too pretty to beat through the woods. So it will mostly be a safe queen. But it could pull bench duty for varmints if I ever decided to go somewhere to hunt them. And I also have a 223 bolt varmint gun as well.

The 25-06 is my "woods gun" since its stainless and synthetic stock. It's probably the wrong caliber for woods since the longest possible shot would be 150 yards. But I wanted something different at the time.

The .270 kicks like a mule and I debated selling it, but it was a gift from my dad so I decided to try the reduced recoil reloads to see if that helps. Haven't had a chance to load any rounds and try them.

So is there a caliber I can eliminate and replace with the 6.5 Creed?

 

[69Precision]

Depending on how long shots are and if you only hunt deer, the 6.5 could replace all of them.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The 25-06 is my "woods gun" since its stainless and synthetic stock. It's probably the wrong caliber for woods since the longest possible shot would be 150 yards. But I wanted something different at the time.

Just because it's well suited to long range doesn't make it a poor choice for shorter range. You just might want to choose bullets that are less violent in expansion. The last pronghorn I shot was about 80 or 90 yards with a 115 gr. Ballistic Tip that I have loaded to 3,240 FPS. She was running away at a very slight angle, so I took a Texas heart shot. The bullet made it into her chest cavity through the right hind leg, and there was nothing salvageable on that quarter. Pretty much looked like a quarter stick of dynamite had detonated inside the femur, halfway amputated the leg

 

[jmr40]

The 243 will do everything the 25-06 will do. The 243 will shoot 105 gr bullets to the same speed as a 25-06 with 115 gr bullets. No animal will ever notice 10 gr bullet weight or .014" bullet diameter. The 6.5 will basically duplicate the 270, (it's 6.8mm).

If I were starting from scratch I'd buy a 223 for everything up to and including deer. A 6.5 for all around use and a 308 for big stuff.

Instead of multiple calibers in multiple rifles I'd rather consolidate calibers in different rifles. I'd pick a caliber, it really doesn't matter that much, and put together 2 rifles in the same caliber. One set up as a lightweight woods carbine and the 2nd as a more conventional size and weight rifle.

The 6.5 would work great at woods ranges for deer as well as be acceptable on moose and elk out to at least 400 yards. Of course the same could be said of at least a dozen other calibers.

 

[captain awesome]

You could Try putting a recoil pad on your 270. Some of them just slip right on the stock no modification needed. They really can do wonders. Cant remmeber which brand i got but i think hogue and limb saver make good stuff. Will look and post later today.

 

[Gtscotty]

I believe, from your earlier thread that your dad is still with you. In that case, I'd say sell the the .25-06, and .270 and consolidate with one 6.5 CM.

 

[justin22885]

aah.. all my long action stuff has already been consolidated to 8mm mauser.. why? because its awesome ... but the real reason is theres more collectible surplus in 8mm mauser, not just mausers, but MG34, MG42s, G43s, FN49s, hakims, yugo M76, earlier belt feds were available in it, and a whole bunch more.. outside of old military collectibles its a very potent long range cartridge..

as for .243, .270, 25-06, to me these are all answers to a missing question, nothing they can bring to the table that i dont already have covered

 

[Olympus]

I believe, from your earlier thread that your dad is still with you. In that case, I'd say sell the the .25-06, and .270 and consolidate with one 6.5 CM.

That's a pretty good idea. Yes, my dad is still with me. Hopefully for a good long while still.

 

[Olympus]

aah.. all my long action stuff has already been consolidated to 8mm mauser.. why? because its awesome ... but the real reason is theres more collectible surplus in 8mm mauser, not just mausers, but MG34, MG42s, G43s, FN49s, hakims, yugo M76, earlier belt feds were available in it, and a whole bunch more.. outside of old military collectibles its a very potent long range cartridge..

as for .243, .270, 25-06, to me these are all answers to a missing question, nothing they can bring to the table that i dont already have covered

That doesn't really help me though. I'm not into milsurps.