Rank These Calibers (As Objectively as Possible)

[akodo]

I guess from a practical point-of-view, if a .243 is just as effective on deer up to 300/350 yards as a .30-06, why use the .30-06? Even those who are used to heavy recoil are still susceptible to developing a flinch without continuing to pay close attention to technique. I have little interest in the 7mm mag or .300 win mag, the two that top my list.

I think you are right.

Honestly, I think there are two reasons why people who hunt white tail and only white tail keep on buying 30-06, 270, 308s, and the like.

#1 When they are fondling the gun the dream of 'and maybe someday i'll take this gun elk hunting!' is always in the back of their mind

#2 the 243 for a long while was considered a 'ladies gun' so as all the other 'manly hunters' with their 30-06s it's hard for the guy shopping to buy what might get him relentlessly teased.

 

[CountryUgly]

I'm not familiar with all the rounds but I will put in order the ones I have used.

1) .270
2) 30/06
3) .308
4) 7mm/08

 

[Kachok]

Yes, there are more than 3 or 4 guys using custom handloads. However I suspect that the number of guys using a 200 grain bullet handload on whitetails is pretty darn rare. Rare enough to not be of any significance to general discussions on performance.

Second, the 180 grain 270 bullet may well not have a great ballistic shape, however my point remains that to compare a 200 grain handload to a 130 grain factory load is extremely flawed. It is unfair to compare handload to factory load in general. It is also unfair to compare an extremely unusual bullet selection for the purpose of hunting white tail to the standard.

IF you are going to compare your handloaded 200 grain 30-06 to a 270, then you need to make a fair comparison and find a 270 handload that uses AT LEAST a 150 grain bullet...if not heavier...AND one that has a similarly good aerodynamic profile.

The fact that to 'beat' the 270 winchester standard off the shelf deer load you have to go to such an odd-ball 30-06 load says a lot about the capabilities of the good old 270

Did I ever even hint that the 270 was a poor performer? I don't think so, I love mine and have no plans on getting rid of it, but truth be told it will run out of steam long before my 06 will, that said I don't have any plans of EVER shooting a deer beyond the reach of a 270 so you are right that is something of a mute point.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

When I have a deer in my sights, I am thinking "geeze I have a deer in my sights"...not "this recoil might hurt". Pretty much the ultimate surprise break IMO. Shooting a .30-06 offhand is nothing. Shooting a .30-06 offhand in a hunting situation is pretty much unnoticeable. Shooting it off the bench 10 or 15 times is what tends to give one a tender shoulder.

Agree! It's bench/target shooting that bothers me at times.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

OK, so after about a week to think and research various things (as well as a name-change... FreedomFreak was chosen when I was a teenager and annoyed me every time I saw it.), I'm trying to decide between these:

.243 Win
6.5x55 Swiss
7mm-08
.270 Win
.308 Win
.30-06 Spr

The last round of cuts made me a little sad. I LOVE the Enfield No. 4s, mostly for the sights; however, the .303 just doesn't seem to hold up with factory loads. I was also intrigued by the K31, but the ammo is a little pricier and harder to find and the straight pull bolt was probably just a little different for me. Lastly, I'd really come to like the .25-06; but it's price and low availability led me to drop it.

As of right now, I don't have a good mid-range/long-range hunting or target rifle. I had a Savage 10 in .308, but sold it because I wasn't hunting or doing mid/long range target shooting. I used that money to buy another carry piece. I have a couple battle rifles, but don't want to put any glass on them, which makes mid/long range target work not quite as fun. I also have a short-range hunting rifle, a Marlin 1894 .44mag that I'm confident with to 150 yards on paper, 100 on deer.

So, my next purchase will probably be a rifle in one of the above rounds.

I like the .308 in that I already have a .308 (PTR-91) and that it's cheap. I like the versatility of the .30-06--120gr or 220gr fairly widely available. I like the trajectory of the .270, the surprisingly great capabilities of the 7mm-08 (seems like the ultimate underdog. LOL), the 6.5 because I like the Swedish Mausers, and the .243 because I know my kids would be able to shoot it without as many issues. All of them are capable of taking deer-sized game past 300y, which I probably wouldn't ever attempt anyways, but also would be good for targets to 600y and beyond.

Just thought I'd update a bit.

 

[meanmrmustard]

OK, so after about a week to think and research various things (as well as a name-change... FreedomFreak was chosen when I was a teenager and annoyed me every time I saw it.), I'm trying to decide between these:

.243 Win
6.5x55 Swiss
7mm-08
.270 Win
.308 Win
.30-06 Spr

The last round of cuts made me a little sad. I LOVE the Enfield No. 4s, mostly for the sights; however, the .303 just doesn't seem to hold up with factory loads. I was also intrigued by the K31, but the ammo is a little pricier and harder to find and the straight pull bolt was probably just a little different for me. Lastly, I'd really come to like the .25-06; but it's price and low availability led me to drop it.

As of right now, I don't have a good mid-range/long-range hunting or target rifle. I had a Savage 10 in .308, but sold it because I wasn't hunting or doing mid/long range target shooting. I used that money to buy another carry piece. I have a couple battle rifles, but don't want to put any glass on them, which makes mid/long range target work not quite as fun. I also have a short-range hunting rifle, a Marlin 1894 .44mag that I'm confident with to 150 yards on paper, 100 on deer.

So, my next purchase will probably be a rifle in one of the above rounds.

I like the .308 in that I already have a .308 (PTR-91) and that it's cheap. I like the versatility of the .30-06--120gr or 220gr fairly widely available. I like the trajectory of the .270, the surprisingly great capabilities of the 7mm-08 (seems like the ultimate underdog. LOL), the 6.5 because I like the Swedish Mausers, and the .243 because I know my kids would be able to shoot it without as many issues. All of them are capable of taking deer-sized game past 300y, which I probably wouldn't ever attempt anyways, but also would be good for targets to 600y and beyond.

Just thought I'd update a bit.

Methinks you mean 6.5x55 Swede, not Swiss. Of those you have interest in, all are winners.

 

[Kachok]

OK, so after about a week to think and research various things (as well as a name-change... FreedomFreak was chosen when I was a teenager and annoyed me every time I saw it.), I'm trying to decide between these:

.243 Win
6.5x55 Swiss
7mm-08
.270 Win
.308 Win
.30-06 Spr

The last round of cuts made me a little sad. I LOVE the Enfield No. 4s, mostly for the sights; however, the .303 just doesn't seem to hold up with factory loads. I was also intrigued by the K31, but the ammo is a little pricier and harder to find and the straight pull bolt was probably just a little different for me. Lastly, I'd really come to like the .25-06; but it's price and low availability led me to drop it.

As of right now, I don't have a good mid-range/long-range hunting or target rifle. I had a Savage 10 in .308, but sold it because I wasn't hunting or doing mid/long range target shooting. I used that money to buy another carry piece. I have a couple battle rifles, but don't want to put any glass on them, which makes mid/long range target work not quite as fun. I also have a short-range hunting rifle, a Marlin 1894 .44mag that I'm confident with to 150 yards on paper, 100 on deer.

So, my next purchase will probably be a rifle in one of the above rounds.

I like the .308 in that I already have a .308 (PTR-91) and that it's cheap. I like the versatility of the .30-06--120gr or 220gr fairly widely available. I like the trajectory of the .270, the surprisingly great capabilities of the 7mm-08 (seems like the ultimate underdog. LOL), the 6.5 because I like the Swedish Mausers, and the .243 because I know my kids would be able to shoot it without as many issues. All of them are capable of taking deer-sized game past 300y, which I probably wouldn't ever attempt anyways, but also would be good for targets to 600y and beyond.

Just thought I'd update a bit.

Not a dud in that list, for deer the 7-08 or 6.5x55 would top it for me, though the 270 or 06 are better for elk class game, with the 308 being a good compromise.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Methinks you mean 6.5x55 Swede, not Swiss.

LOL!!! Makes me think about "Trading Places" with Eddie Murphy, Dan Akroyd, and Jamie Lee Curtis. There's the part where JLC dresses up like a stereotypical "Swiss" girl and tells people she's from Sweden. HAHA... Yep, easy mistake to make.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

From a practical standpoint, how common is it to find the "versatile" .30-06 loads? I've seen that they can be loaded with 100gr-250gr bullets, but I'm thinking I usually see 165-200 in stores.

 

[jeepnik]

30-06 for the win. .308 as a first runner up. The rest tie for third.

 

[meanmrmustard]

LOL!!! Makes me think about "Trading Places" with Eddie Murphy, Dan Akroyd, and Jamie Lee Curtis. There's the part where JLC dresses up like a stereotypical "Swiss" girl and tells people she's from Sweden. HAHA... Yep, easy mistake to make.

Excellent, classic movie. JLC is über hot too.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

Yeah, "True Lies", JLC steams it! And, back to the subject at hand; either 6.5 X 55mm or ought-6. Both are over the century for very good reasons. I've got both & love 'em dearly.

900F