New Rifle or Second Barrel?

[Tazz]

I bought a Blaser as i liked the idea of switching barrels. I now have 2 Blasers so as couldn’t be bothered with the changing of barrels. I’m a lazy sod.
I think my point was, buy another rifle.

Likewise with first Sauer 404 when it came to additional calibr, investigated barrel/bolt head change then just bought another 404 in 300wm

 

[gixer1]

New barrel! If you buy a tikka it will feel horrid compared to the Shultz!

 

[SimonDodsworth]

I agree in that it's a great concept with many plus sides but it's not something you'd actually do that often. Great if you're travelling and have some different shooting to do so it takes up less space and weight and you get familiar with the one rifle and scope or if you are shooting miles from home and can't return between shooting disciplines.

In reality if you're going to use the 6.5 during the day for stalking and the 30-06 only at night for boar then two rifles makes more sense with two different scopes. Otherwise you'll potentially get fed up of changing and end up using the 30-06 for everything but I'd rather have a spare barrel sitting in the cabinet than an entire rifle.

If you're only planning on shooting boar with NV as opposed to driven boar then I'd also just stick with the 6.5 and spend the money on a thermal or NV add on.

Hmmm. 30-06 will be boar at night and driven. Might be the easiest option. Feel like I can’t make the right decision whichever way I go

 

[SimonDodsworth]

When I lived in Germany, I am sure 6.5 55 was the go to rifle for boar there. Why use a different one for here?

Lots of Europe won’t allow 6.5 for driven boar. I don’t know about Germany. Certainly in the UK the minimum recommended is .270

 

[Steff]

Lots of Europe won’t allow 6.5 for driven boar. I don’t know about Germany. Certainly in the UK the minimum recommended is .270

6.5mm is fine for boar in Germany. Driven or not.
Just a bit of advice. Don‘t get wound up on calibres just because you want to shoot wild boar. Your Swede can handle it without problems. You don‘t need a .30-06. Unless you WANT it of course.

 

[Heym SR20]

30-06 for boar is widely used, popular and works well and quite a different beast to the 6.5s - 6.5s are the min requirement for boar, fine for little ones, but not so much for a big keiler. With boar you want to stop them. A wounded boar doesn’t run off, it attacks dogs, beaters and hunters.

If FLO whinges that 30-06 is far to big and powerful, go to the 7x64. Does everything the 30-06 does, but with a little less fuss. Its also widely used, especially in France where they prohibited military calibres until about ten years ago.

If you are shooting driven boar you want a little 1-4x20 scope. There are now several 1-6 and 1-8x20 but they are pretty bulky.

Sadly taking rifles to the continent has much more of a paperwork exercise, and flying is even more so. It may be simpler to borrow a rifle when you are there.

 

[Steff]

30-06 for boar is widely used, popular and works well and quite a different beast to the 6.5s - 6.5s are the min requirement for boar, fine for little ones, but not so much for a big keiler. With boar you want to stop them. A wounded boar doesn’t run off, it attacks dogs, beaters and hunters.

If FLO whinges that 30-06 is far to big and powerful, go to the 7x64. Does everything the 30-06 does, but with a little less fuss. Its also widely used, especially in France where they prohibited military calibres until about ten years ago.

If you are shooting driven boar you want a little 1-4x20 scope. There are now several 1-6 and 1-8x20 but they are pretty bulky.

Sadly taking rifles to the continent has much more of a paperwork exercise, and flying is even more so. It may be simpler to borrow a rifle when you are there.

You haven‘t been to Germany lately, have you?
On the internet people are undoubtetly propagating large calibres and small scopes. 1-8x20 is bulky? Reality is a different.

 

[nic531]

Lots of Europe won’t allow 6.5 for driven boar. I don’t know about Germany. Certainly in the UK the minimum recommended is .270

Left there some 30 years ago so it may well have changed.perhaps the boar have got a lot bigger and all on steroids now
270 is only a guide though.

 

[Bowland blades]

in blunt truth the 6.5 has killed a lot of massive moose, bear and boar , it will kill boar no bother just use the correct bullet for the job . There you go just saved you £1500 +

 

[norcan]

I talked to a Swede on a Swedish hunting forum, who owns large piece of land and sells hunts.
And he says 308 is minimum on his propery after multiple tracking incidents after clients used 6,5x55.

A perfectly placed shot with 6,5x55 will put a boar down.. but running boar....

 

[Island]

If FLO whinges that 30-06 is far to big and powerful, go to the 7x64. Does everything the 30-06 does, but with a little less fuss. Its also widely used, especially in France where they prohibited military calibres until about ten years ago.

A little less fuss, but a whole heap more style, panache and charisma.

A chambering that marks one out as a gentleman of distinction...

 

[Bowland blades]

I talked to a Swede on a Swedish hunting forum, who owns large piece of land and sells hunts.
And he says 308 is minimum on his propery after multiple tracking incidents after clients used 6,5x55.

A perfectly placed shot with 6,5x55 will put a boar down.. but running boar....

On the other hand , Bell Killed Elephant with less and 6.5 mm has likely killed more moose than any other round . Haven't we all listened to some total rubbish about what won't do what ? I remember well a few guys telling me that 243 win was no good for sika yet they hadnt actually shot any . It remains the most popular round in Scandinavia by a fair old margin
if i thing will go clean through , break both shoulders and exit the power it has when it exits the other side and digs into the dirt is of course irrelevant , the dirt on the other side doesnt care

 

[SimonDodsworth]

A little less fuss, but a whole heap more style, panache and charisma.

A chambering that marks one out as a gentleman of distinction...

I’ll look into that. Not one I’d considered. Adequate/generally welcome for driven boar?

 

[long_range_rob]

Who ever needed an excuse to buy another rifle?

 

[norcan]

On the other hand , Bell Killed Elephant with less and 6.5 mm has likely killed more moose than any other round . Haven't we all listened to some total rubbish about what won't do what ? I remember well a few guys telling me that 243 win was no good for sika yet they hadnt actually shot any . It remains the most popular round in Scandinavia by a fair old margin
if i thing will go clean through , break both shoulders and exit the power it has when it exits the other side and digs into the dirt is of course irrelevant , the dirt on the other side doesnt care

It absolutely remains the most popular round, and with 120 grain Mono as minimum on Moose now, at least in Norway and probably soon rest of Scandinavia, it will hopefully remain so. Still think we are waiting for larger number of hunting reports to see how Moose and Deer react to the new bullets.. distance traveled, number of shots etc etc etc..
Fully loaded Lapua Match ammunition is cheaper then 6,5x55 brass... so cheapest cartridge to practice with as well.


But, tracking wounded Boar in thick undergrowth its dangerous and more wounded boar are reported with 6,5mm, then 308.
According to this fellow who derives some of his income from it. And its his dogs and health on the line to track the wounded ones.

Shooting elephants in the head, that where most likely standing still, and probably not bothering to tracking a few wounded ones, is a bit different.

 

[Steff]

It absolutely remains the most popular round, and with 120 grain Mono as minimum on Moose now, at least in Norway and probably soon rest of Scandinavia, it will hopefully remain so. Still think we are waiting for larger number of hunting reports to see how Moose and Deer react to the new bullets.. distance traveled, number of shots etc etc etc..
Fully loaded Lapua Match ammunition is cheaper then 6,5x55 brass... so cheapest cartridge to practice with as well.


But, tracking wounded Boar in thick undergrowth its dangerous and more wounded boar are reported with 6,5mm, then 308.
According to this fellow who derives some of his income from it. And its his dogs and health on the line to track the wounded ones.

Shooting elephants in the head, that where most likely standing still, and probably not bothering to tracking a few wounded ones, is a bit different.

In absolute terms there are more accidents with Fords and Volkswagens than with Range Rovers.
You live in Norway. See what I mean?

 

[Island]

I’ll look into that. Not one I’d considered. Adequate/generally welcome for driven boar?

More than adequate.

As for welcome? Absolutely no idea I am afraid. I should imagine so as it is a very popular chambering on the continent.

 

[Bowland blades]

It absolutely remains the most popular round, and with 120 grain Mono as minimum on Moose now, at least in Norway and probably soon rest of Scandinavia, it will hopefully remain so. Still think we are waiting for larger number of hunting reports to see how Moose and Deer react to the new bullets.. distance traveled, number of shots etc etc etc..
Fully loaded Lapua Match ammunition is cheaper then 6,5x55 brass... so cheapest cartridge to practice with as well.


But, tracking wounded Boar in thick undergrowth its dangerous and more wounded boar are reported with 6,5mm, then 308.
According to this fellow who derives some of his income from it. And its his dogs and health on the line to track the wounded ones.

Shooting elephants in the head, that where most likely standing still, and probably not bothering to tracking a few wounded ones, is a bit different.

if as you state 6.5 is the most popular then its glaringly obvious most wounded boar would have been hit by a 6.5 mm . wounded animals are practically always a bad placement , i remember an paper publish about twenty years ago in the BDS journal where an estate recorded run distance in different calibres from 222 up and it turns out there was no tangible difference " Andrew Yewel " if i do remember correctly .
I recon its all about where the bullet lands

 

[JH83]

The ability of some folks to second guess another grown man’s decision is astounding. To buy a more powerful barrel/rifle for the intended application is not especially contentious to my mind, nor was that particular aspect put up for discussion.

To the OP, I think you bought the best factory rifle on the market in the Schultz! Just a stonking bit of kit. I’d go second barrel-you paid good money for the engineering to allow the switch barrel concept, seems a shame to not make the most.

 

[DeerSussex]

I’ve got a Schultz Victory, I’d go with the second barrel option over the Tikka. T3 is fantastic but the Schultz is better.
Maybe a bit out there but instead of the 30-06 why not a 7x57? Braces of Bristol have one up on guntrader that’s seen 12 rounds. Comes with a l/a mag & a Freyr mod. Save yourself a ton of cash over a new barrel or rifle. I’d have it but I’ve already got a 7x57. Fantastic calibre that’ll take care of everything up to & including elephants