New Highland Calibre - What to go For

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highland stalking is what I do most and I can vouch for the .270 seems to be my go to rifle very effective round and great out to 250 yards.7m-08 was a rifle I was going to get but since I don't reload ammo was a pain to get, so I opted for .308 another good round.
ammo is plentiful for these too well used and popular calibers for highland stalking,
I think you have opened a can of worms here!!:popcorn::)
 
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I have 243, 7-08 and 30-06, if I was starting again I would just get the ’06, wide range of loaded ammo, easy shooting and when I travel I know I can get ammo anywhere. Really like my 7-08 and shot everything from fox to Kudu with it no problem, but getting factory ammo can be a pain so I home load for it. Since i bought the ‘06 the other two have stayed mainly in the cabinet.
 
At various times, I've shot reds on the hill with a .25-06, 6.5x55, .270, 7mm-08 and a .30-06. All have done the job perfectly, but my choice would be the .30-06; the wide range of bullet weights mean it can be used for anything from muntjac to all but the largest plains game.
 
6.5x55 cant go wrong its old and well proven, so is the 308, what ever platform fits the body in either of those will be fine as would the 270 win.
 
I have a .243 and went through the same process about 6 yrs ago. Went with .30-06 in the end.

I don’t think it really matters.

.25-06 - I like this calibre.

.270 - easy ammo and lots of choice, maybe more second hand rifles to choose from.

.308 - don’t really know it but why not.

.30-06 - decent ammo choice

apologies for not commenting on other options.

enjoy your shopping!!!!
 
Nobody has mentioned the 260 rem?
Obviously a home loaders choice though. I shoot a 2506 find it very good on roe red and sika. Perhaps because I have confidence in the rifle I get on well and to me confidence is more important than caliber anything legal will do if you have confidence in it
 
Only thing I'd add is that if 250m is your max then get something and practice out to 400m so that in the unlucky situation you get a runner you have the confidence and ability to know your extra drop and get a second shot in. Personally that's where the 6.5mms come in with their good BCs but still light recoil and lower weight.
 
Well done fellas, the half century is up, 50 posts of suggestions so far. 18 different cartridges!

Nine of the suggested cartridges present one major logistical problem - you have about as much chance of finding factory ammunition in the Highlands as a can of Special Brew in an Kabul corner store. So we can discount those.

Of the remaining nine, five have terminal ballistics at 250m that are so similar with the typical hunting bullet that separating them technically would be an exercise in hair splitting futility. Maybe John can make us some more pretty graphs.

We have a spread of ~130 years of firearms history, from the 6.5x55 to the 6.5PRC. Needless to say there is a strong bias towards the antiquity end of the spectrum which reflects the membership’s deep mistrust of newfangledness.

I’ve got an unfunny new enemy from a Torry squat to focus on, and we have begun the utterly irrelevant arguments! We’re in good form! The OP hasn’t been back yet since the first post, so let’s give him a real show lads.
 
I am enamoured with .264 Win Mag, lets be different and your own man and not a following sheep lol
But below
270
308
7-08
7mm mag
30-06

are all standard cals and all will do much the same at the oft mentioned 250 yard mark.
There isnt a cracker on my list that would have me feeling a bit out of sorts even on our big old deer here.
 
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