medium game caliber choice.. please help

[bang_bang]

Are you limited to only one gun?

There are some good choices...I think I'm just as puzzled as you are on what would compliment one of those AR-10 platform rifles your buddy will be carrying.

Lever gun is a nice start. Might want to look at a Model 88 Winchester chambered in .308. Older, unique, but those are some good little guns. Nice for stalking, and the lever action can get you out of some tight situations.

These can be picked up for $500-$600 online.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

the 270 I was intending to setup as more of a stand gun.

The one I'm trying to figure out here was more for a stalking gun.

Well, you could also get two rifles in .270 win, for caliber/life-simplification purposes - a long one (24-26" bbl) for the stand, and a short lighter one (20" bbl) for stalking.

Did you decide for sure on action type yet (semi, pump, lever, turnbolt)?

 

[mrming]

lever or turnbolt. Went and handled a BLR today. Nice.

But too expensive. Base model stock is a bit too shiny for my tastes too. I think I'm down to 308 ME or 45/70. and I'm leaning more towards the 45/70.

 

[chas08]

I vote the Browning BAR in 308 (scoped) concept.

The above would be a great choice, depending on your budget. Another alternative would be a Remington 7400 in .308. I have one in .270 I really like. It's not a "bolt like, one holer" as far as accuracy is concerned. But I've head shot hogs with mine at 200 yds. I replaced the sear spring with an aftermarket spring and got the trigger pull down to 3lbs. and accuracy increased. I bought mine at Wal-Mart 3 years ago for $299.99 so it didn't break the budget. And it's a fun gun to shoot.

 

[Asherdan]

I like the 45/70 idea, especially since you handload. Gives you some flexibility depending on where you're going to be hunting in your loading. I use a 350g cast bullet at 1725 for a usable trajectory 200 yards and in. Used them on two pigs so far, hard on the pig but easy on the meat damage. For a load where I may need a little more distance and better trajectory but a tough bullet, I've gone with the Speer 300g UCHP. Good bullet, it holds together while expanding. Start mine at 2110 fps for a usable (IMO) trajectory out to 250 yards. The Nosler PP is just as good or better. The plus with the 300 grain loads is you can replace the premium bullets with the much less costly Rem or Hornady 300g HP's and get similar performance for practice. Just don't plan on using them on game at ~1800+ impact velocities, field reports and testing (some of it my own) shows they'll come apart and you're worried about meat damage.

I've been hovering about a 308ME for a while now. With the 338ME coming out this year it looks like these Marlin/Hornady offerings may have some staying power. RCBS has dies out and Hornady has brass in production for sale. Midaway has it backordered at $32/50. Hornady has reloading data out that gets the 150g RN up to 2550 fps, which would fit the range/trajectory niche you're looking to fill.

I figure either one and you'd be able to go hunt, it just depends on how you feel about it. Same goes for the opinions on BLR's, Savage 99's and 270/7mm bolts.

 

[mongo4567]

Your caliber choices aren't ones that I would make for 250 yard shots. Look at the ballistic tables for any of them with a 100 yard zero and then see what they do at 200 or 250 yards. While any of them could/would kill game at that distance, they would not be the choices that I would make. I would stick with higher velocity standards like 30-06, .270, 6.5x55, .308, etc.

Of your choices I would lean towards the 7.62x39.

 

[m4joey94]

how about a 30-06 sprg?

 

[357sigRog]

The .270 is a fine choice for medium game it not one of the best.

 

[Rob96]

I am in this same position now, except I was torn between the 30-30 and the 45/70. Tonight i go to pick up my new 45/70.

 

[moooose102]

Of the ones you have listed, i would go with the 308 marlin. But honestly, a 30-30 would be a good choice also, and the ammo is cheaper.

 

[MCgunner]

I'm right handed, shoot right handed bolt guns left handed. It might be a little slower, but I just make the first shot count. I'm pretty quick with the bolt, though I have to lose the sight picture.

Ever think of a MODERN lever gun? Friend of mine is same as me, right handed, shoots left. It's an eye dominance thing. He has a Browning BLR that I absolutely love. His is in .308, but they make it in other calibers, even magnum calibers, even made it in one of my favorites, .257 Roberts, for a while. It's an accurate and fast rifle. I've often thought about getting one, but I really prefer bolt guns for hunting and, heck, about half the time I'm in the stand with a handgun and intend to start using my left hand Hawken Hunter Carbine in .50 cal. more in the future. No back up shot with THAT one. Neat gun, though, lock on the left, stock cheek piece on the right.

 

[Water-Man]

Remington 7600 pump with a good choice of calibers.

 

[Big_Willy]

I shot two deer this past season with a .45-70 and they didn't go farther than they could roll. No real meat damage, although I did butterfly the heart with the .45-70 on the first deer shot.

here it is
http://www.wisconsinvarminters.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=775

Bill

 

[Water-Man]

The .308 Marlin will do the job nicely for you.

 

[mbt2001]

None of those are "meat wreckers" unless you get a bad shot and / or have to shoot multiple times to bring them down. I go for neck shots, minimal meat issues, 80% of the time they are dead on the spot.