Mid range hunting rifle caliber?

[BoilerUP]

...so a '06 will penetrate a tree and kill a whitetail standing behind it, but a 12 gauge shotgun slug will not?

I hunt an oak stand where my longest possible shot is 70yds. I used a 30-06 previously but my current rifle de'jour is a 260...which has 140gr bullets with higher sectional density than 180gr .308cal bullets which is helpful whenever you need to shoot through trees to kill your quarry.

 

[hinton03]

That is a question that will gather opinions like cows gather flies; I use a 250 Savage as my intermediate range gun , but there are plenty other suitable calibers.

 

[Picher]

Sorry, but sectional density won't get you through a tree as much as a heavier bullet with higher energy and good retained weight.

And yes, 30-06 bullets will out-penetrate slugs on trees than regular hollow-based slugs; however, at close range, they are more devastating on game than many rifle bullets.

 

[TheCracker]

I'd go with a 308 myself. Short action rifles with a 20-22" barrel are nice!

With the 308 u have a great range of bullet weight to hunt with as well.

 

[medic-rod]

Guess I am just old My 25 35 Win. (its over 100 years old) works fine at 300 yards with 117 grain S.P. so 30 30 should work.

 

[MuleRyder]

First thought - .30-06

 

[hinton03]

Brush busting calibers are a myth; bullets are spinning and any contact, unless perfectly perpendicular, will cause a deflection. It is a law of physics:

"Torque-induced precession (gyroscopic precession) is the phenomenon in which the axis of a spinning object (e.g., a part of a gyroscope) "wobbles" when a torque is applied to it. The phenomenon is commonly seen in a spinning toy top, but all rotating objects can undergo precession. If the speed of the rotation and the magnitude of the torque are constant, the axis will describe a cone, its movement at any instant being at right angles to the direction of the torque."

If a bullet is spinning clockwise and it make contact with an object, lets say a twig or small branch, on the left side of the bullet at the 270 degree point, the bullet will deflect as if the impact actually took place at a point 90 degrees in the direction of rotation; the 360 degree point.

 

[BrocLuno]

You want to go through trees, you'll need 50 BMG or 20mm. I've had bamboo toss 06's off course, and that's no tree

 

[DeMilled]

Not empirical data, but relevant to the twist in conversation.
It's also an entertaining read... http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/bot40_5.htm

 

[helotaxi]

Sorry, but sectional density won't get you through a tree as much as a heavier bullet with higher energy and good retained weight.

That has proven to be false. Sectional density, bullet construction and velocity are the deciding factors in penetration.

 

[hinton03]

I concur with Helotaxi; two bullets, of different diameter, generating the same energy with the same sectional density should penetrate the same.

 

[NWCP]

I'd prefer the .25-06, 6.8SPC, .270, or .308 myself. The .308 is the most flexible out of that group and I own a few. JMHO

 

[Coal Dragger]

I would opt for a .308 Winchester or a .338 Federal in a short handy carbine with a barrel of between 16.5-20". If black bear, or eastern moose in Canada were to ever be on your menu the .338 Federal would get the nod, otherwise the .308 Winchester is tough to beat for overall versatility in a reasonable package.

I do really like the ballistics on that .338 Federal though, very efficient cartridge out to 250 yards or so, and the larger bullet being thrown has its advantages.

 

[Picher]

I differ about sectional density being so relevant to penetration. Bullet construction, leading to higher retained weight, plays a big part. If you don't think so, try shooting two .308 bullets into a 6" tree, one a varmint bullet or other light-jacketed bullet, and the other a Barnes solid-copper TSX, or a Nosler Partition.

 

[BoilerUP]

I differ about sectional density being so relevant to penetration.

Ballistics experts and the laws of physics would differ with your differing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sectional_density

Think "flechette".

Bullet construction, leading to higher retained weight, plays a big part. If you don't think so, try shooting two .308 bullets into a 6" tree, one a varmint bullet or other light-jacketed bullet, and the other a Barnes solid-copper TSX, or a Nosler Partition.

Of course a purpose-built hunting bullet designed to penetrate will penetrate further than a varmint bullet.

A 125gr .264 Partition has a higher SD than a 165gr .308 Partition; the 140gr .264 Partition has higher SD than a 180gr .308 Partition. Fire them at the same velocity into the same media and I'd bet the 6.5mm bullet penetrates an equal amount if not further, despite its mass/energy disadvantage, due to its higher sectional density.

Thing is, in the same sized case (be it 308 or '06 based) you can drive 6.5mm bullets at least 100fps faster than you can the equivalent weight 30cal bullet, which allows them even superior penetration of (among other things) maple, oak, ash, hickory, cherry and walnut trees.

But if 44 thousands of an inch greater bullet diameter makes you sleep better at night and think it gives you what you need it to do, then rock on...

 

[Samcro]

Any good shooting 243 Win., 6mm Rem., 257 Rob., 260 Rem., 7mm-08 Rem., 270 Win., 280 Rem., 30-06 will work For what the hunting conditions you described . The odds od shooting 500 yards all the time constitutes you having another rifle just for long shots so you are not blowing the deer apart at short ranges and loosing meat .

 

[Tirod]

Those of you who don't hunt wooded areas don't realize how often trees jump in front of deer to shield them.

Don't try to window dress it about matching colors and poor visibility. The dang trees actually move.

If you haven't seen it, you will. Just stay out there long enough.

 

[Cemo]

The .243 kills Missouri deer with ease and is fun to shoot at the bench.

 

[JohnD13]

I'm partial to the .260 Remington. An '06 has worked well for a very long time too.

 

[osteodoc08]

Just about any standard rifle cartridge would work in your situation. My preference would be for a 7mm-08, but that's just me. Just about anything from 243 Win on up would be suitable. I prefer the shorter actions and something with a 308 parent case, but nothing wrong with a 270 or 30/06. Just depends on how much you plan on shooting and your sensitivity to recoil.

 

[788Ham]

Get yourself a levered Savage '99 in .300 or in .250, they've done it for many, many years, just because they might be an older cartridge, doesn't mean they've quit working too !

 

[boltgunner93]

.308 should be capable of taking any big game in New York state (just in case you see bear instead of deer).

Personally I'd rather have more gun than not enough. But there's really no need for anything larger than .30 caliber where you're hunting. If you decide to go hunt for elk or caribou or grizzly's or something then you have an excuse to buy another gun.

.270 or .243 are also very capable cartridges for whitetails. With any of these 3 you should be able to find affordable ammo without looking very far either. All three will offer less recoil than the .30-06 which I'm assuming is why you might be looking to the .30-30.(?)

Good Hunting.