You are lucky Robert. I would think that’s expensive hobby with a 375. And I’m curious what’s left of the squirrels and rabbits after a pill from a 375.
one do it all rifle caliber?
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Orcon
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One do-it-all cartridge? The Solothurn Long, for sure.
Get it chambered in a nice vintage gas gun and you'll be set for everything up to hard target interdiction past a mile.
Get it chambered in a nice vintage gas gun and you'll be set for everything up to hard target interdiction past a mile.
Mr. Hill
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.308 Winchester.
Riomouse911
Member
This confused the heck out of me for a minute or two. My question really was specific to the 6.5 CM and whether or not it would be the best choice in a one gun scenario. It's just a sanity check to gauge the level of commitment to the cartridge in question, but it looks like more than a few, myself included, would choose something other than 6.5 CM.
Big7
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Down loading large capacity magnum cases, ESPECIALLY short, fat one's is a very dangerous thing to do.
Small amounts of powder in those short, fat cases you are begging for a flash-over.
A detonation from a severe under-load is far worse than an over-load.
You are looking at a bomb rather than a burn.
Just sayin'
Berger.Fan222
Member
I'd probably go with a .223 since it can do everything I am interested in and is cheaper to feed. For my family, "Do it all" includes thousands of rounds of practice every year.
redbullitt
Member
Answer will likely change based on where you live of course! IE Alaska vs Texas lol.
From my point of view here in the hills... Easy choice in a hunting rifle if you can load and cast!
2 possible paths I can see:
Longer range shooting is high on the menu...
308, 30-06, 7.62x54, 303 Brit. Anything in that class as a bolt action repeater. Any of these are easy to shoot a 100ish cast bullet with fast pistol powder for small game as well as full powered ammunition for long range shooting!
No regular long range shooting...
A 30-30 or 45-70 could fill the role very well I think in bolt action or lever action if you prefer. Both of these calibers can be loaded down to take small game AND if it is important are a little better for cast bullet use in my experience.
IF you are married to factory ammo, then I would go to 308, 30-06, 30-30, OR maybe 5.56!
From my point of view here in the hills... Easy choice in a hunting rifle if you can load and cast!
2 possible paths I can see:
Longer range shooting is high on the menu...
308, 30-06, 7.62x54, 303 Brit. Anything in that class as a bolt action repeater. Any of these are easy to shoot a 100ish cast bullet with fast pistol powder for small game as well as full powered ammunition for long range shooting!
No regular long range shooting...
A 30-30 or 45-70 could fill the role very well I think in bolt action or lever action if you prefer. Both of these calibers can be loaded down to take small game AND if it is important are a little better for cast bullet use in my experience.
IF you are married to factory ammo, then I would go to 308, 30-06, 30-30, OR maybe 5.56!
MidRoad
Member
I think the 6.5 CM would be a decent choice. I do not own nor have shot one. But based on what other here have said about it and ballistics it would be a good general purpose round. Now will it stick around ? Probably. Seems like it's gaining popularity,so even more factory loads should be available. If I only had one gun,regardless of caliber I would just buy a bunch of ammo or ammo components( for you reloaders ) upfront or at a time so I wouldn't have to worry about local availability. You can buy anything you need online these days.
If ammo price isn't an issue it opens things up. Up here in the north east 6.5 CM would be great. Hits hard enough and mild recoiling round. It would be all you need knock down wise. Now out in western it's ballistics can be taken advantage of. But I think I'd rather have a 300WM,especially if I had the opportunity to chase some elk. Sure 30-06 or the 6.5 CM will bring them down. But I for one much prefer more than ample knockdown for the none opportune shots. In regards Chuck's, coyotes,prairie dogs,you don't eat them,so if they are obliterated it don't matter much. We don't sell the pellets here so big holes do not apply.
If ammo price isn't an issue it opens things up. Up here in the north east 6.5 CM would be great. Hits hard enough and mild recoiling round. It would be all you need knock down wise. Now out in western it's ballistics can be taken advantage of. But I think I'd rather have a 300WM,especially if I had the opportunity to chase some elk. Sure 30-06 or the 6.5 CM will bring them down. But I for one much prefer more than ample knockdown for the none opportune shots. In regards Chuck's, coyotes,prairie dogs,you don't eat them,so if they are obliterated it don't matter much. We don't sell the pellets here so big holes do not apply.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Roger that. I understand that “minimum charges” listed in manuals are exactly that. Which is why I use different powders for light specials, medium power, and heavy magnum loads in my revolvers.
I have shot light loads in my .308 using Trail Boss The task is to find a powder that drives lighter bullets slower but still gives good case fill. One certainly does NOT simply reduce a powder charge below minimum specification.
Kind of a theoretical discussion of course, as I’m not limited to one rifle. Rather than download my SAUM, I’ll just take the .260 or .243. But I will continue to contend that one could “do it all” with one rifle if needed. And in that exercise, I’d take a large capacity short action cartridge and develop lighter loads for it.
For everything but Dangerous Game anything from 243-338 WM will work. Pick the one you like. It really depends on how much recoil you want to put up with and how far you're willing to take shots. Some really are hand loader options only so that must be considered. A 243 with modern bullets is certainly elk, bear, or moose capable but careful shot placement and reasonable ranges are important. The 300 and 338 mags do it farther away. If it bites back then 375 is my choice.
I used 30-06 as my only rifle for almost 40 years and it is still a viable option. But about 10 years ago I drifted toward 308. I can use a lighter more compact, more accurate rifle with 25% less recoil and only give up about 5% velocity with the same bullets. All that means is that I need to limit shots to around 400 yards instead of 500. I can't shoot that far anyway.
I'm not ready to declare the 6.5 better just yet, but after using it and hunting with one for the past 9 months I just may come to that conclusion with some more use. I get another 25% recoil reduction over 308 putting it at almost 1/2 of 30-06 recoil. The long heavy for caliber 140-147 gr bullets penetrate DEEP inside game and hunters are reporting dramatic elk kills at ranges much farther than I'm willing to shoot.
I like the middle of the road short actions, 260, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7-08, or 308. I'm not really a fan, but will include 338 Fed and 358 Win if someone is so inclined. But when ammo costs and availability are factored in 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor are my top 2 choices.
I used 30-06 as my only rifle for almost 40 years and it is still a viable option. But about 10 years ago I drifted toward 308. I can use a lighter more compact, more accurate rifle with 25% less recoil and only give up about 5% velocity with the same bullets. All that means is that I need to limit shots to around 400 yards instead of 500. I can't shoot that far anyway.
I'm not ready to declare the 6.5 better just yet, but after using it and hunting with one for the past 9 months I just may come to that conclusion with some more use. I get another 25% recoil reduction over 308 putting it at almost 1/2 of 30-06 recoil. The long heavy for caliber 140-147 gr bullets penetrate DEEP inside game and hunters are reporting dramatic elk kills at ranges much farther than I'm willing to shoot.
I like the middle of the road short actions, 260, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7-08, or 308. I'm not really a fan, but will include 338 Fed and 358 Win if someone is so inclined. But when ammo costs and availability are factored in 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor are my top 2 choices.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I think one could do a lot worse than a lightweight 6.5. Fortunately, my ambitions run as far north as Cape buffalo and hippo and I have no desire to hunt deer with a rifle capable of taking them. Although interestingly enough, I do deer hunt with a buffalo-capable handgun. 
I also cannot imagine a world where I'd hunt elk, bear or moose with a .243. We have old school bullets and we have modern bullets but so far, there are no magic bullets.
I also cannot imagine a world where I'd hunt elk, bear or moose with a .243. We have old school bullets and we have modern bullets but so far, there are no magic bullets.
FL-NC
Member
For me it would be 308.
Rabbits, not much but that was at danger close. I don't get to the range as much as I'd like but when I do it always seems to make the trip.
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I'm guessing you'd be flat out amazed at how little meat damage a 300 gr solid out of a .375H&H does to a rabbit. Heck even a 270 gr soft point isn't all that bad. The bulket doesn't open on something as small as a rabbit or Dikker. I've shot both with a .375H&H.
Well it’s not just the damage done, but the cost of solids to go kill rabbits. I understand taking it to the range pretty much every trip. But come on, rabbits and squirrels with a 375. The thought really does make me laugh. I will grant you that even hunting squirrels and rabbits with an ‘06 seems somewhat strange. But it’s much more likely.
Llama Bob
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I still need to do some tests on bigger game, but if I had to pick one cartridge for everything non-dangerous, .264WM would be my first choice. 7mm magnum would be second. 6.5CM might be third.
Trying to combine dangerous game and non-dangerous game in the same rifle leads to some bad compromises. The heavy medium bores like .375 H&H, 9.3x62 and heavy loaded .35 Whelen can sort of do it, but the tradeoffs are not always good (picture trying to hunt coyotes with a .375 H&H), and there's no reason to make them.
Trying to combine dangerous game and non-dangerous game in the same rifle leads to some bad compromises. The heavy medium bores like .375 H&H, 9.3x62 and heavy loaded .35 Whelen can sort of do it, but the tradeoffs are not always good (picture trying to hunt coyotes with a .375 H&H), and there's no reason to make them.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
That's a job for cast bullets (or round balls) and cat sneeze loads.
Who shoots solids outside of Africa dangerous game hunters? The 375 is very easily loaded down to 30-06 levels, maybe less, with light cast bullets and the right powders. Heck hunting with solids is illegal here in Colorado. 375 is by far one of the most versatile hunting rounds out there. I want to get a light bullet mold and do some tinkering but that's a bit further down the road. And while it might not work on rabbits it is perfectly fine for small deer to cape buffalo.
Llama Bob
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People hunting the great bears, water buffalo, bison, etc.
There's always an argument about softs vs. solids, but there's some good reasons to use solids.
Good point.
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