Noticing a generational shift in calibers. Older ones harder to find

[marksman13]

I think every generation of shooters has seen this same scene play out. Humans love to “improve” things. The 30-06 and all it’s offspring will be around for the rest of my life and my son’s, but there will always be an ebb and flow of cartridges. My favorite round of all is probably the 6.5x55 and it’s still hanging on.

 

[CoalTrain49]

https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=MSR

It is not difficult at all to build or buy a 1 moa upper, but it will cost more than an economy bolt gun unless you are lucky. Nobody is saying an AR15 is a superior platform than a bolt action, they have other features to make them desirable.

I think that people that buy an AR understand that they aren't buying a bolt rifle. If they don't they'll soon discover that. My buddy did after he dropped 2K for Daniel Defense HB. To his credit he doesn't reload so there isn't any alternative for him to explore custom loads. The GD salesman took his order knowing he had zero experience with AR's. Total babe in the woods. That's the kind of sheet I have a problem with. Glad to see that he's no longer in business. F that guy.

 

[mcb]

If you were to be invited to my deer camp and set your deer rifle in the cabinet we have in the cabin it will likely be in strange company no matter what you bring. On any given weekend you might find bolt actions (CRF and/or PF), lever actions (pistol or rifle calibers), AR (in a wide variety of cartridges), semi-auto rifles (not ARs) and maybe even an odd single shot or two, and if one of us is really feeling spunky a handgun. Some of those guns will have optics (some big dollar, some worth less than a good steak) some just irons sights. A few might even be suppressed. Cartridges will span well over 100 years of development.

Some of those guns will be capably of sub 1/2 MOA 5-shot groups at 100 yards. Others will be 1-MOA, 1.5-MOA or even 2 MOA and maybe even a 4 MOA group average in the case of some of of the handguns.

At the end of the day the guy that gets to brag about his gun/skill is the guy up to his elbow in deer blood gutting his animal and the guy ashamed or embarrassed by his gun/skill is the guy that missed. Been both, will likely be both again. Variety is the spice of life I rarely hunting with the same gun more that three or four seasons.

-totally rambling on this post, take what you like and leave the rest.

 

[sarduy]

I think its just evolution,

From 30-06 to 308 to 6.5CM to whatever comes next. Technology keeps going forward and now we have the army playing with Plastic Rounds, in 100 years we will look at a 30-06 like we look at a round lead ball from a musket.

 

[marksman13]

I think that people that buy an AR understand that they aren't buying a bolt rifle. If they don't they'll soon discover that. My buddy did after he dropped 2K for Daniel Defense HB. To his credit he doesn't reload so there isn't any alternative for him to explore custom loads. The GD salesman took his order knowing he had zero experience with AR's. Total babe in the woods. That's the kind of sheet I have a problem with. Glad to see that he's no longer in business. F that guy.

I guess I’m missing the point of your post. Did your buddy’s rifle not shoot like he expected or otherwise underperform in some way compared to other rifles?

 

[Kyle S.]

In Iowa, I use a ruger american 450 bushmaster because I have to, If I want to take a shot passed 75 yards. You'd be surprised by how many people still hunt with shotguns though. Last year I was the only one not using a shotgun in a group of nine guys. If I had the option to use a 30-06 or a 450, I'd use the 30-06. If I had the option between a 30-06 or .308, I'd use a .308. In my opinion, the only reason the new straight wall cartridges exist, is because of regulation. I'd be interested to see what bolt actions in those older cartridges sell for in 5 or 10 years.

 

[plainsdrifter]

. Likewise I would leave my 358 yeti at home if I were going on an elk hunt in favor of my 30/06, but when I go deer or beer hunting the 30/06 will remain in the back of the gun safe where it now lives because it just isn’t as good.

I always bring my '06 when hunting down beers.

 

[someguy2800]

I always bring my '06 when hunting down beers.

My favorite variety of beer to hunt is the elusive Outmeal Stout.

Larger diameter bullet at near as makes no difference the same velocity from an 8 inch shorter barrel in a semi auto with much less muzzle blast and recoil. Thats a win on my personal scorecard.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I guess I’m missing the point of your post. Did your buddy’s rifle not shoot like he expected or otherwise underperform in some way compared to other rifles?

Not sure what he expected. I know what I would expect. Of course I reload so I have options that he doesn't to tune the ammo. If I had loaded match grade bullets up through the different weights and still couldn't get 1 MOA I would have sold it by now. It may well be that he never found the right ammo. I'm not sure what he's tried.

I put a lot of effort into getting a Ruger bolt rifle to shoot 2 MOA and never was successful. I ended up selling it.

I'm fine with semi-auto rifles that are 2-3 MOA. I have one and I'm happy with it.

 

[marksman13]

Not sure what he expected. I know what I would expect. Of course I reload so I have options that he doesn't to tune the ammo. If I had loaded match grade bullets up through the different weights and still couldn't get 1 MOA I would have sold it by now. It may well be that he never found the right ammo. I'm not sure what he's tried.

I put a lot of effort into getting a Ruger bolt rifle to shoot 2 MOA and never was successful. I ended up selling it.

I'm fine with semi-auto rifles that are 2-3 MOA. I have one and I'm happy with it.

I’ve got several ARs in the safe that are 1-1.5 MOA rifles and a couple that are legit 1/2-3/4 MOA rifles and I don’t reload. If a DD doesn’t hold 1-1.5 MOA, I’d be trying some new ammo and if I couldn’t get it shooting better than that, I’d be making a call to DD.

 

[Nature Boy]

….more hands are holding guns than in the past, which means more people support our right to own guns, and more people to resist irrational gun prohibitions. A tide shift from 30yrs ago.

I hope so.

My concern is that those nascent gun owners, who might have been ambivalent toward gun regulations before owning one, become ambivalent again with an “I gots mine” attitude.

There are an awful lot of billionaires who are OK with raising taxes on everyone else after they got rich.

 

[Steve S.]

I like the .308, 45-70, 6.8, .223, .45 Colt, 30-30, and .50 ML because that is what I own. I do not own other rifle calibers but I am confident that all of the other calibers that I do not own perform as advertised - in turn, I am sure that others tout the virtues of the calibers/ rifles they own predominately because they own them.
I get tickled at all of the touting as the touting seems to always be seeking agreement and support. In a simplistic global view, the calibers all do about the same thing in the realm of incremental differences - in the hands of a proficient shooter, those differences shrink to insignificance. Other than a common sense of big for big and small for small, they all are very similar. One does not require support or approval or popularity to own/ shoot a specific caliber or platform - shoot what you like and enjoy the hobby.

 

[1-cavediver]

Out here in the west the .270, 30-06, 300 Win Mag, 7mm magnum and so on sill rule because our ‘big game’ really is big game.

 

[Big_Al]

We live in Washington state, the 06 & 30-30 are still pretty popular. Last I looked my 5.56 AR wasn't legal for deer. Don't normally shoot anything more than 200 yards around here so I don't need the latest round.