Captcurt
Member
I would have to list the 260 and the 257 Roberts as perfect whitetail calibers. Accurate, potent, mild recoil and can be had in a light rifle.
Lighter Caliber Rifle
- Thread starter Driveway
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You didn't mention if you already had an AR? If yes try the 6.8 SPC (300 meters and less) or the6.5 Grendle (good to about 1,000 meters). If we are talking about bolt guns how about the 6.5x55 or .260 Remington. Very light kick, flat tragectory, and excellent ballistices for a deer rifle cartridge.
I already have a .44 mag carbine. Ruger, it looks like a stock 10/22 until you see the hole in the end of the barrel.
I forgot about the .257. I have a friend that has one. I'll ask him about it. I've considered the .243 but I don't know. Getting an AR with more than one upper might not be a bad idea. No I don't have an AR right now.
In VA where I grew up, you have to have at least a .23 cal round to hunt deer. I'm not worried about a .223 not taking a deer, just the legalities of it all. The natives up here I guess used to hunt bear with .22's. It was a step up from the wooden spears. They used .30-30's all the time not that long ago for bear.
I like multipurpose, but I also want the right tool for the job. I don't carry a leatherman, though I acknowledge they have a very real purpose.
I forgot about the .257. I have a friend that has one. I'll ask him about it. I've considered the .243 but I don't know. Getting an AR with more than one upper might not be a bad idea. No I don't have an AR right now.
In VA where I grew up, you have to have at least a .23 cal round to hunt deer. I'm not worried about a .223 not taking a deer, just the legalities of it all. The natives up here I guess used to hunt bear with .22's. It was a step up from the wooden spears. They used .30-30's all the time not that long ago for bear.
I like multipurpose, but I also want the right tool for the job. I don't carry a leatherman, though I acknowledge they have a very real purpose.
The_Armed_Therapist
Member
Well, if you want an intermediary in velocity (1250ft/s vs. 2750ft/s), then you should go with the .22 wmr, which is about 2,000ft/s, pretty perfectly in the middle.
If you want an intermediary in energy (150ft-lbs vs. 2900ft-lbs), then you should go with either the .223 (1250), .204 (1300), 5.45x39 (1400), 6.8mm SPC (1600), 7.62x39 (1600), .22-250 (1750), or .220 (1750).
If you want an intermediary in recoil (essentially 0 vs. 20), then you have the .243 (9), 6mm (10), .257 Rob (10), .25-06 (11), 6.5 Swede (11), or 6.8 SPC (8).
If you want an intermediary in energy (150ft-lbs vs. 2900ft-lbs), then you should go with either the .223 (1250), .204 (1300), 5.45x39 (1400), 6.8mm SPC (1600), 7.62x39 (1600), .22-250 (1750), or .220 (1750).
If you want an intermediary in recoil (essentially 0 vs. 20), then you have the .243 (9), 6mm (10), .257 Rob (10), .25-06 (11), 6.5 Swede (11), or 6.8 SPC (8).
meanmrmustard
Member
260 Is in the 6.5 mm field.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
razorback2003
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I'd look at a good 223. Accurate round out of a bolt action, easy to reload for, cheap factory ammo. You could hunt deer with it if legal in your state or just use your 30-06.
A 243 is a good round too, but more expensive than 223 to shoot.
A 243 is a good round too, but more expensive than 223 to shoot.
CountGlockulla
Member
6.5x55 swede.
Will kill anything your 30-06 will and with less recoil.
Will kill anything your 30-06 will and with less recoil.
NO it won`t, you will not find a 200 gr. bullet on a 6.5x55, not no way, not no how..........
in your position, i would go with a .223. it will be a cheap to shoot, and accurate varmint/target rifle with basicly no recoil. then just use your 30-06 for deer and use the .223 for varmints.
if you really want your new rifle to be able to do both small and large game then i would look really hard at the .243 (i might go with the 7mm-08 instead just because i like to be different).
if you really want your new rifle to be able to do both small and large game then i would look really hard at the .243 (i might go with the 7mm-08 instead just because i like to be different).
savanahsdad
Member
243 is a great pick , but with the big AR boom there is talk in some states about makeing .25cal the bottom end for deer , it would be a sad day for the 243 fans , and why a .25 ?? beats me , I'd be ok though , as I have a 25WSSM , but for the OP my pick would be a 7mm-08 I got one back in 1999 and I swear all you have to do is poit it at a deer and they fall down 
or at least it seem that way , I hear a boom but I never seem to feel any kick,
or at least it seem that way , I hear a boom but I never seem to feel any kick,meanmrmustard
Member
Then light, fast cartridges are prolly good for you. If any center fire rifle cartridge is legal in AK for deer (as it is in MO), then choose accordingly. Personally, .223 rem is quite deadly on deer. Remember, a .22 through the lungs is deadlier than an '06 in the rump. Even if a larger caliber is used effectively, the deer is no deader than dead, nor more so than if shot with a .223 rem or it's brethren.
Advantages, however, to using a heavier, larger cartridge is size of game you can take (but if you only hunt deer, this point is moot) and the distance with which you can hunt. With proper tips, I've no qualms about shooting deer out to 200 yards with a .223, but that's me. They are taken humanely, so I've no need for anything larger in a heavier platform.
Do you encounter bears often in the same area you hunt deer? Do you carry a sidearm?
mdauben
Member
Well, you already have a deer rifle in the .30-06 so do you really need/want another one? The .223 cover the gap in power between the .22 and .30-06 nicely, is a great choice for varmints or predators, and is probably the cheapest centerfire to shoot, if you don't reload.
If what you are really looking for is a lighter deer rifle, there are a number of choices. The .243 is the stereotypical dual-purpose cartridge, good for both varmints and deer. If you want something with a bit more punch, the "quarter-bores" (.257 Roberts, .25-06 Remington, .257 Weatherby) are all outstanding choices for deer or antelope sized game.
AKMtnRunner
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Without knowing more of your specific needs, it sounds like any of the calibers suggested should work. To really feel good about your pick, decide what rifle really speaks to you then get whatever intermediate chambering is available in it.
But for what it's worth, .223 will give you the most options.
But for what it's worth, .223 will give you the most options.
BCRider
Member
So far in my skimming through the replies it seems like all the attention is on the calibers.
Now I'm not all that up on all my rifle actions but I seem to recall that the .30-06 is in the long action side of bolt rifles. If you're after a bolt rifle for this new "gap filling gun" then would it be an option to suggest that you want a short throw action that is then chambered in "something"? The shorter bolt and reciever combined with a shorter barrel and cartridge that performs well from a shorter barrel should give you a more compact and lighter gun. And a shorter and lighter gun for tight woods or smaller game at longer distances seems like it would sit along side the longer "full size" rifle and give you the difference in handling that you seem to want.
Otherwise if you go with things like the .25-06 or other long cases you're simply back with a long action rifle that doesn't really stand out against what you have already.
Thoughts on that?
Now I'm not all that up on all my rifle actions but I seem to recall that the .30-06 is in the long action side of bolt rifles. If you're after a bolt rifle for this new "gap filling gun" then would it be an option to suggest that you want a short throw action that is then chambered in "something"? The shorter bolt and reciever combined with a shorter barrel and cartridge that performs well from a shorter barrel should give you a more compact and lighter gun. And a shorter and lighter gun for tight woods or smaller game at longer distances seems like it would sit along side the longer "full size" rifle and give you the difference in handling that you seem to want.
Otherwise if you go with things like the .25-06 or other long cases you're simply back with a long action rifle that doesn't really stand out against what you have already.
Thoughts on that?
razorback2003
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223 is a great round. Deer in the southern US are not big and do not take much to kill. You have to remember if people can kill deer with a bow, you can kill deer with a 223.
To me, if you have a specific big game rifle like a 30-06, you can go all the way down to 223 and have all your bases covered. 22 LR for squirrels and rabbits, 223 for predators and deer, and 30-06 for deer on up.
To me, if you have a specific big game rifle like a 30-06, you can go all the way down to 223 and have all your bases covered. 22 LR for squirrels and rabbits, 223 for predators and deer, and 30-06 for deer on up.
mdauben
Member
Personally, long-action (ex .30-06) versus short action (ex .308) have never seemed to be a huge matter to me, certainly not enough to chose one caliber over another. On the other hand, if you do want a shorter action, an alternative to the .25-06 might be the newer .25 WSSM. Again, I've never realy bought into the current "short magnum" craze, so I would go with the .25-06 but if short-action matters to you I can't really argue against the .25 WSSM.
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Don't know much about the 7mm-08, I'll have to look it up.
The short magnums hadn't thought about, I'll look into them again. For a varmint gun though, wouldn't the barrel burn out quicker?
As I said previously, I reload. The problem with loading a 110 gr. round is using a ton of powder for a really light round. It works, and can work well, but it isn't efficient. Sure one rifle for lots of variety. That's not always using the best tool for the job. I still might get some 110 gr. bullets though.
My biggest hesitation with the .223 is the legalities of shooting a deer in some states if I decide that's what I want to do with the gun. I know it will do the job. Read the above story about natives and brown bears. I'd just rather not be visiting with a game warden about legalities of what I just did. Maybe I shouldn't even be worried about getting deer with this rifle, but it is a thought.
Thanks for all the replies. It's given me lots of ideas.
The short magnums hadn't thought about, I'll look into them again. For a varmint gun though, wouldn't the barrel burn out quicker?
As I said previously, I reload. The problem with loading a 110 gr. round is using a ton of powder for a really light round. It works, and can work well, but it isn't efficient. Sure one rifle for lots of variety. That's not always using the best tool for the job. I still might get some 110 gr. bullets though.
My biggest hesitation with the .223 is the legalities of shooting a deer in some states if I decide that's what I want to do with the gun. I know it will do the job. Read the above story about natives and brown bears. I'd just rather not be visiting with a game warden about legalities of what I just did. Maybe I shouldn't even be worried about getting deer with this rifle, but it is a thought.
Thanks for all the replies. It's given me lots of ideas.
mdauben
Member
If we're talking about the .25 WSSM my understanding is its a "magnum" in name only. It pretty much duplicates the performance of the .257 Roberts in a short-action size cartridge and the Bob is by no means a high performance round. I wouldn't expect the .25 WSSM to be especially hard on the barrel.
BoilerUP
Member
Concerned about 223, and reload?
Get a 6x45 or 6mmTCU and be done.
Get a 6x45 or 6mmTCU and be done.
BoilerUP
Member
A 160gr bullet from a Swede will in fact kill "just as dead" as a 200gr bullet from a 30-06.
I can't imagine any animal on this planet that would cause me to say "Wish I had an '06" if I had a Swede...because if you're undergunned with one, you're undergunned with both.
okiewita40
Member
These would be my option's for the OP. A 243, 6.5x55swede, 7mm-08 or the 6.8spc with spec II chamber. All of them are fairly light kicking. The 6.8 will not drop to the ground at 300 yds though. That is just about the max range for it to take game humanely is all.
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