Lighter Caliber Rifle

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Driveway

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I am looking at getting what I would consider a light caliber rifle at some point but don't really know what I want. I have a couple of .22's and a .30-06. I am considering something kind of in between. Bolt/semi doesn't really matter to me right now. I'd put a .270 or .308 in the same category as my 30-06 so I'm not really looking that big.

I'd consider a .223 just for the availability of the round, and maybe that will be what I get. Basically, I want to know what gun you really like in this light range area, what you use it for, and what kind of range you can expect.

Another knock against the .223 is that there are a number of states that it's not legal to hunt deer with. I'd possibly want to be able to gopher hunt with it too. Basically I'd like to get an all around lighter caliber gun, but don't have a specific purpose in mind yet.

I reload as well, so if it's a wildcat, that's not a total deal breaker.
 
Since you have 30-06, a couple things come to mind.
7.62 X 39. Add lighter bullets to your mix, about 120 grains or lighter,
yet still hits well. Ammo is cheap, and you don't have to add another caliber.

I'd also look at the 06 based lesser calibers:

I like 6.5mm-06, and 25-06.

.223 might be in the mix as well.
 
A 25-06 is a good option. With most choices, your variety of applications will be greatly enhanced if you become a reloader.
 
I'll second a 7.62x39. I want a bolt action in that caliber badly. Might be able to snag a CZ next year if I'm lucky.
 
257 Roberts bridges the gap between your current rifles. Since you reload you can get true performance out of it.


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6.8 SPCII in an AR. I've used mine on hogs and white tails with 110 to 120 gr. loads and prairie dogs with 85 gr. loads. Will work on all 3 animals out to 300 to 350 yards. Sort of a 270 light.
 
I would say stay with your .30-06, with a range of 85 to 240 grains, I don`t know you would want more variety of bullet weights than that..................
 
Driveway,

Your thread caught my eye. Lately I've been thinking about another
rifle. I'd also like a bolt action in a lighter caliber. I've been thinking
about .222, .223, and .243. The .222 is light and accurate for distance. But it's become more of a European cartridge and is not as
popular in this country as it once was. The .223 is fairly accurate, has very little felt recoil, and is cheap and plentiful. Plus, many people already have an AR so you have economies of scale. The .243 is a more serious cartridge. It's also more seriously priced, and
has the more serious recoil associated with heavier deer cartridges.
Of the three I'm starting to be more inclined to the .223. But I'm
also learning a lot from this thread. Thanks for starting it.
 
Quarter bore or thereabouts. .243, .257 Roberts, .260 Rem, 6.5x55SE, 7mm-08 are all excellent choices. I suppose 25-06 as well, I'm just not a fan.
 
Two possibilites come to mind, both derivitives of the .223.

-300 Blackout: A cartridge with two distinct personalities, loaded with light weight bullets of 125 grains or so its a ballistic twin of the venerable 7.62x39, but with a case configuration that allows it to easily function through a standard AR rifle with little more than a barrel change. Loaded with heavy 220 grain bullets it becomes a subsonic round that can easily be silenced. In both configurations it's a highly efficient round that needs no more than a 16" barrel to achieve it's maximum potential and which will give extrodinarily long barrel life. It has plenty of power for pigs, deer etc.., fairly equivelant to the classic .30-30. There are some big industry players behind this cartridge and some quite reasonably priced ammo available. For handloading the case can be formed from any of the cartridges based on the .222/.223. Besides AR's the cartridge is available in bolt action and a just released version of the single shot Handi Rifle from NEF/H&R.


-6x45: Nothing more than a .223 necked up to 6mm. Another highly efficient round that will give long barrel life and requires no more than a barrel change to convert an AR or existing bolt gun in .223. A slightly lower horsepower alternative than a .243 Win that will handle bullet wights to 85 grains or so, plenty for deer/antelope/pigs etc... It puts me in mind as a close cousin performance wise to the classic .250 Savage, which would also be another very nice choice.



Either would make a nice light carbine/rifle for the uses you seem to be leaning towards.
 
At first I thought you were looking for a varmint/pest rifle. I was going to suggest something in .22K Hornet or .221 Fireball. Not overly available in factory loads (especially the .221 fireball) but make for a nice little rifle in something like a CZ 527.

Sounds though more like you want a varmint/deer rifle which would bump my choice to a 6mm. The .243 is a good choice as there are plenty of good deer bullets and plenty of good varmint/pest bullets. Honestly, I wouldn't look for anything bigger than a 6mm chambering. Once you get into 6.5mm or larger you start to lose the varmint/small game side and push more into medium game. Not that a 6.5mm bullet won't kill a varmint but it won't do so any better than a 6mm.

The real question I have is what the point of this gun will be? It sounds like you have the medium game choice all set with a .30-06. It also sounds like you have the plinking side covered with the .22's. Do you really need/want this rifle to cover both small and medium game if the .30-06 you already have covers the larger side well? I'd be looking for either one of the faster 22 caliber centerfires to stretch well beyond the rimfire options or get into a 6mm option to do the same. To me, I'd rather have a great plinker (rimfire), a great varmint gun (22 caliber or 6mm caliber), and a great medium+ game rifle (the .30-06), than try to make this new one cover all aspects of shooting.
 
Another vote for the .257 Bob, along with the 6.5x55. With the right bullets, they're adequate for any non-dangerous game in North America.
 
Driveway said:
I am looking at getting what I would consider a light caliber rifle at some point but don't really know what I want. I have a couple of .22's and a .30-06. I am considering something kind of in between. Bolt/semi doesn't really matter to me right now. I'd put a .270 or .308 in the same category as my 30-06 so I'm not really looking that big.

I'd consider a .223 just for the availability of the round, and maybe that will be what I get. Basically, I want to know what gun you really like in this light range area, what you use it for, and what kind of range you can expect.

Another knock against the .223 is that there are a number of states that it's not legal to hunt deer with. I'd possibly want to be able to gopher hunt with it too. Basically I'd like to get an all around lighter caliber gun, but don't have a specific purpose in mind yet.

I reload as well, so if it's a wildcat, that's not a total deal breaker.
Click to expand...
.223 Rem is legal in my state, and it's what I use. Never had issues with lack of power, and we have does here that are heavier on the hoof than most Texas bucks!

If you do decide to use .223, I highly recommend the Barnes Vor Tx 55 grain hollow point. No lead, all copper, quite accurate and deadly on deer. My furthest kill with my Mini Mauser thus far was a 175 lb doe at 188 yards, through both lungs, broken ribs, very quick and humane kill on a heavy coated winter whitetail doe. It's all about shot placement.

I'll be the first to recommend 220 Swift as an adverse to the .223, if no one has already.
 
For all that an '06 has been my "go-to" rifle, I've enjoyed my .243. 55-grain for prairie dogs, 85-grain for coyotes and deer. I've found that in my Sako carbine, the Federal load with the Sierra 85-grain HPBT is as good as my handloads for sub-MOA groups.
 
243, 6mm Rem, 250 savage or 257 Roberts.... If you don't reload I'd go with 243 without a second thought.
 
I have to agree with Art that the 243 (yes I am bias) is propably the best all around mid range caliber. Availabilty of ammo and easy to reload is it's strong points as well as availability of different size bullets from 55 grains up to 107 grain bullets. It's exceptional speed and light weight rifles make it a pleasure to carry in the field.

But that's just my opinion, there are just as good other calibers in the 6mm field (257, 260). It is also great for short, mid and long range shots.

Jim

SAM_0470.jpg
 
6.8spcII, 6.5 Grendel, .243, .204, .22 hornet, 22-250, 6.5x55..... I'm sure you've gotten the idea by now. If you do plan on deer hunting with it just make sure whatever you go with is legal in your area.
 
No oldtimers have chimed in with 30-30 yet? I'm a bit suprised, if I do say so myself :D. A Ruger .357 bolt action might also be a good contender (unless of course, you are looking for a numerically in-between caliber ;))

TCB
 
.257 Roberts, 6.5 x 55, 7mm-08, at 58 years old, I stay from magnums etc. cause I know these calibers can do the job and I aint got to impress anybody.
 
There is no rifle that is more entertaining than a 357 Lever Action. It seems like the OP is looking for a bolt action. But I rarely take my bolts out after purchasing an 1894C. It is now my hunting rifle as of this coming season.


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