Calibre Advice for the 'all rounder'?

[Uncas]

I think you should ignore all advice on here and give the FO in the local police
some thing to talk about, tell them you want a 500 A-Square

 

[Bigfoot1973]

I think you should ignore all advice on here and give the FO in the local police
some thing to talk about, tell them you want a 500 A-Square

Maybe a little bit 'overkill' for my needs me thinks!

 

[260madman]

Here’s some 30 cal comparison with my 308s and 30-06s. These are hand loads and not over book max.

30-06 24” 168 Nosler ballistic tip 2950fps.

30-06 22” 180 Accubond 2750fps.

308 20” 168 Nosler ballistic tip 2650fps.

I’ll admit my 308 has a very long throat and the barrel is a bit slow.

I can’t help with solid copper projectiles as I’m not using them.

 

[JH83]

The choice between 308 and 30/06 comes down to a couple of factors IMO.

Are you hand loading, do you have the need to shoot long, heavy bullets? If the answer is yes, then it’s the ‘06.

But if not then 100% .308. With copper bullets (typically light for cal) or anything 150g or under there isn’t a vast difference ballistically, but 308 is much more readily available. A mate of mine is struggling like mad to consistently source the same 30 06 factory rounds, to the point he is chopping the rifle in soon. My brother too, generally just picks up whatever 30 06 they have in, then re-zeros. Our local gunshop is likely one of the biggest in the UK.

Sadly with current world conflicts I’m not certain supply stands to get easier, I’d go for the more mainstream option. I’m happy I have a 308 in the cabinet for this very reason.

 

[Bigfoot1973]

The choice between 308 and 30/06 comes down to a couple of factors IMO.

Are you hand loading, do you have the need to shoot long, heavy bullets? If the answer is yes, then it’s the ‘06.

But if not then 100% .308. With copper bullets (typically light for cal) or anything 150g or under there isn’t a vast difference ballistically, but 308 is much more readily available. A mate of mine is struggling like mad to consistently source the same 30 06 factory rounds, to the point he is chopping the rifle in soon. My brother too, generally just picks up whatever 30 06 they have in, then re-zeros. Our local gunshop is likely one of the biggest in the UK.

Sadly with current world conflicts I’m not certain supply stands to get easier, I’d go for the more mainstream option. I’m happy I have a 308 in the cabinet for this very reason.

Thanks JH, I think given all factors, and that I do not wish to reload, I will be going .308.

 

[Grandhubert]

.30’06.

Good hunting ammunition, loaded with tested and reliable hunting bullets, is available everywhere in the world where big game is hunted.

From Russia to the USA, from Norway to Australia; in all of those places I could have scrounged a handful of ammo from a local hunter even if there were no gun shops.

Ballistic considerations are secondary, really.

 

[Vinceford]

After year with the 22 centre fire I moved on to 243 win , 25-06 Rem , 270 win all do the job, Iv other lads on the estate use different calibres I suppose
its what suits you .

 

[6pt-sika]

7x57 is to my mind the best balanced all round do anything cartridge. However its not that common these days.

308 Win does everything you need from a deer stalking perspective and is available everywhere.

If you are hunting on open ground Scottish Hill the 270 win may well be a better choice.

If you don’t like recoil, not shooting biggest of deer all the time then a 243 Win, or 6.5 will be a good option.

Hmmm I have both the 270 and 308 . Also have the 7x57 , 6.5x54 MS and a 243 . But I think my middle of the road would be the 6.5-06 or the 6.5 Sherman Short Mag and yes I have both of those as well . I believe it’s good to have lots of options lols !

 

[Brighty3006]

30.06 ..simple

 

[Heym SR20]

Hmmm I have both the 270 and 308 . Also have the 7x57 , 6.5x54 MS and a 243 . But I think my middle of the road would be the 6.5-06 or the 6.5 Sherman Short Mag and yes I have both of those as well . I believe it’s good to have lots of options lols !

Lots of options is always good. However if your interest is the stalking / hunting bit, and rifle really just a means to an end, then a good all rounder has to be a cartridge for which you can find ammo pretty much anywhere that you are likely to find yourself. In the UK that really means a 243, 308, 270 or 6.5x55 or CM.

For those of us, you and me included, who really like their rifles, and hand load then something more exotic is definitely the way to go.

Personally I would like something a little bigger than a 6.5, but given a good bullet I doubt anything that walks will have any different reaction to a well placed bullet. The likes of Bell showed this very well on large African game over a hundred years ago with the 6.5MS, 7x57, 303 and 30-06. Choice of shot placement and bullet construction as always is critical.

 

[6pt-sika]

Lots of options is always good. However if your interest is the stalking / hunting bit, and rifle really just a means to an end, then a good all rounder has to be a cartridge for which you can find ammo pretty much anywhere that you are likely to find yourself. In the UK that really means a 243, 308, 270 or 6.5x55 or CM.

For those of us, you and me included, who really like their rifles, and hand load then something more exotic is definitely the way to go.

Personally I would like something a little bigger than a 6.5, but given a good bullet I doubt anything that walks will have any different reaction to a well placed bullet. The likes of Bell showed this very well on large African game over a hundred years ago with the 6.5MS, 7x57, 303 and 30-06. Choice of shot placement and bullet construction as always is critical.

The ammunition thing is something I never worry , anytime I get a new cartridge a set of dies and 50-100 pieces of brass are on the way usually before I buy the rifle . Now I understand that’s an issue for you guys . I still have 06 and 270 used to have a small covey of 6.5x55’s .