so many calibre's to choose from

New Avon Arms
hairlesshunter

hairlesshunter

Well-Known Member
So many calibre's to choose from . I am just in the process of putting in a variation for a new rifle which would cover me for all deer in the UK and wild boar I thought I had narrowed it down to two . The 270 or 308 but reading all the threads on here I am not to sure . The rifle would be used for Fox ,muntjack,roe, fallow,and in time red deer and boar . I have a rimfire for small game and a 204 and 223 for Fox so many calibre's. I would probably going for a second hand rifle and I don't reload as yet .got the land hopefully it will be passed and more important the go-ahead from the wife.:shock::shock::lol: Any help would be appreciated cheers craig
 
I'm in the process of trying to cut down on the number of calibres that I use. At present I'm leaning towards .30-06 as being one of the most versatile calibres, due to the huge variety of commercial loads available (I don't reload yet either).
 
Can't help you decide but any of the usual suspects will do all you need and more.
Since you don't reload, walk in to your gun shop and ask what cartridges they have the most of in and in how many varieties. That's the one you want.
308 will favour well in this regard. You can get .270's pretty cheap as its out of fashion but if you can't feed it then it's hardly a bargain.
 
My FEO seems quite happy in letting me have a .270 but is really reluctant on the .308

I'll be reloading whatever I get so not much of a factor what my local RFD stocks
 
spandit said:
My FEO seems quite happy in letting me have a .270 but is really reluctant on the .308

I'll be reloading whatever I get so not much of a factor what my local RFD stocks
Click to expand...

If you have good reason to own and use a rifle for deer the choice is entirely yours to make from any of the 'deer appropriate' cartridge chamberings. Ignore your FEO on this .270 yes but .308 reluctant b-s. Just you submit your application and require the licensing people to process it. You'll find that the cool business-like approach works wonders. Don't be drawn into any nonsense. For what it's worth, we can and do argue endlessly about cartridges but there is no convincing argument that will prove that a .308 Winchester is anything other than just about as versatile and useful as they come. From Muntjac to Moose.
 
It seems that the major manufacturers are reducing the variety of loads they they offer in 270. It also seems from this thread as if your retailers may be further reducing that variety by simply not stocking much.

Good enough reason for a non reloader like yourself to take the 270 off the list. Forget cheap. Cheap doesn't outweigh potential ammo supply issues. (and the 270 is a noisy, blasty thing with full power loads)

Are there still restrictions on military calibres in someparts of Europe ? If there are, is that an issue for you ?

Perhaps worth amending your list of options to 308, 30.06, 7 x 64.

Good variety of loads made for all three, with very high quality projectiles available in factory ammo. I would expect 7 x 64 would be pretty easy to get in the UK, although it is not common here. Very little choice in factory ammo for 7.08.

Another thought: Many rifle manufacturers use the same length action for 308 and 30.06. Tikka is an excellent example. This means that a 308 weighs exactly the same, and is exactly the same length as a 30.06 in the same model. Ditto for 7x 57 - it's invariably offered in an action would just as easily accomodate the 7 x64, which has a greater variety of factory loads.

All of these cartridges are ample for the deer you mention, and all will blow foxes into tatters with the appropriate projectiles.

Should you ever take up reloading, the 308 is a sweet, flexible, and very easy thing to load for.

Your choice will match up nicely with your 223 and your 204 - Enjoy:-D
 
So says a .308 shooter
i have had no problem accumulating 90-180gr loads for my .270 over the years until recently I sold them all and stuck with the 130gr that I should have gone with from the beginning!!

130gr from a .270 does everything
buy them when you see them, shoot them when you have them.


i have a .308 too.....still a noisy blasty thing!!
 
megsjockey said:
If you have good reason to own and use a rifle for deer the choice is entirely yours to make from any of the 'deer appropriate' cartridge chamberings. Ignore your FEO on this .270 yes but .308 reluctant b-s. Just you submit your application and require the licensing people to process it. You'll find that the cool business-like approach works wonders. Don't be drawn into any nonsense. For what it's worth, we can and do argue endlessly about cartridges but there is no convincing argument that will prove that a .308 Winchester is anything other than just about as versatile and useful as they come. From Muntjac to Moose.
Click to expand...

+1 What a load of old cobblers some FEOs talk. Get them to put any objections and their "reasoning" in writing and take it up with your shooting organisation.
 
I apologise for the thread creep to the OP. Don't want this to turn into another "which is best" argument!

From reading on here, and from speaking to professional stalkers, the .270 is highly regarded and more than capable. If my FEO is happy granting me a little baby .270 rather than a big nasty .308, he's less likely to try to impose conditions on it, he's already mentioned the M word. Now, I know I could quote chapter and verse as everyone has mentioned but the last thing I want to do is **** him off so by playing the game and being a good little boy, I can keep him sweet which will help me in the future if I need help.
 
The difference between a .308w and a .270w is but a fairy's fart. I have had both and it wouldn't bother me which I was using as both are good cartridges and do what they are intended for. Its not about appeasement or ****ing any body off, its about educating those that should really know better. A good reasoned argument showing that the difference is negligible is all that is required.

It really is about time that all this nonsense about one calibre is safer than another was finally put to bed. All rifles regardless of calibre are dangerous in the wrong hands.

P.S. incidentally I would opt for a .308w over a .270w these days purely due to availability of reloading components, not to say I wouldn't go for a .270w if a bargain presented itself.
 
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Going back to the OP. You already have the capabilities with two excellent fox rifles in the 204 & 223. The later is legal for muntjac as well. Because of the need for boar you need to go big and the 30-06 is not a bad suggestion. I stalk with a mate who uses 30-06 for roe to red with little difficulty. I know another who bought one specifically for boar and has used it to good effect on Elk! Ammo not that difficult to get hold of but probably not as easy as the 308.
As someone has already said go into your nearby RFD and ask what ammo they have in what calibre. I guess 308 will come out tops.
i am biased as I have a 308 but mainly shoot 6.5 now. In the past I have loaded 110 vmax for foxes which are interesting! And 150-165 for everything else.
what ever calibre you chose do not buy the first rifle you see go and try a few and get one that feels right. Good luck with your search.

BE
 
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