The ultimate deer caliber ??????
- Thread starter Benji53
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I. Farticus
Well-Known Member
Woodsmoke
Well-Known Member
I just don't get the .270 WSM. . . . .
Longer barrel, more recoil, more noise, more powder, feeds like trying to stuff a cat into a wet sock, greater carcass damage, shorter barrel life, harder to sell on, more expensive ammo' . . . . .
And all this gives you only a couple of hundred fps more than the standard .270
AN DU RU FOX
Well-Known Member
6x5x55
or 308 win,
or 308 win,
Possibly my favourite analogy ever
I just don't get the .270 WSM. . . . .
Longer barrel, more recoil, more noise, more powder, feeds like trying to stuff a cat into a wet sock, greater carcass damage, shorter barrel life, harder to sell on, more expensive ammo' . . . . .
And all this gives you only a couple of hundred fps more than the standard .270
Your probably right about most of those things, although one of the advantages of the WSMs was you didn't need a long barrel to get the most out of it (compared to other magnums anyway). Also I have shot hundreds of rounds without any feeding issues, although my Winchester 70s CRF probably helps. I will admit it is a left field choice but I thoroughly enjoy home loading this calibre and have had many a successful hill stalk with it. Zero 2" high at 100 yds for a point blank range of 300 yds!
You are totally and utterly wrong.
A Blaser with 6.5x55 and 30/06 barrels is the correct answer....
overkill
regards
pete
A .270 Sako Finnbear, with a back up in .25-06 in the cabinet.
Woodsmoke
Well-Known Member
I didn't say I thought it was a bad calibre, just that I don't see that it offers a whole lot over the standard .270. Each to their own though, hey? That's the beauty o shooting, there's something that can fit everyone's requirements and preferences
.270 for me. Ok, so it doesn't offer the range of bullet weights that the likes of the .308 does, but does anyone really need such a range? I guess it comes down to personal preference. . . . .270, .308. 30-06, 7mm . . . . . none of them make deer too dead, do they?
If I was only to have one rifle in the cabinet it would be my .270, though
I use the 270 now, as it's the only centre fire I own, with ammo weights available from 110, 130,150, what more would you need.
JabaliHunter
Well-Known Member
6.5mm
JabaliHunter
Well-Known Member
Amazed that people still reply to 'Which calibre' posts. There are 13 pages of them on the 'advanced search'
amazed that companies still keep reinventing the wheel... But very occasionally a gem comes along.
Chasey
Well-Known Member
The ammo is more important than the caliber IMHO
I own a 243 (sako 75) and a 308 (T3) and I prefer the 243 because it shots the best by far with my groupings behing half that of the 308 with various ammo
The problem with the 243 is blood trail using 100g ammo for heart shots. The 308 makes a big hole with loads of blood to track
The problem with the 308 is through and through shots which seem (in my limited experiance) to allow for runners and more importantly for me, means head shot anamals have more chance of not dropping on the spot
I head shoot everything from a high seat and the devistation I get from a 243 70g Nozla BT, combined with the fact its super accurate means everything I have ever shot had been instantly dead never moving from the point of impact.
I dont care how big the anamal is, nothing in the UK will survive a 243 BT at 3500fps to the head
As i said i also have a 308. It simply doesnt shoot as well as the 243 but 1.5" groupings at 100m as apposed to 0.75" groupings, is not really the concern
The problem I have is the buillits like the Norma 150g BT, just seem to go right through the anamal. The dammage on head shots is nominal, meaning an off target hit could result in wonded but not dead.
I am experimenting with 110g Nozla BT in the 308 at the moment trying to get better expansion, but until I have found the perfect load, I am sticking with Sako Hammer Head and heart shot walk and stalk only with the 308 which is not my favorate form of shooting.
Dispite being a deer stalker I dont like seeing shot anamals run. I am much happier when they fall dead on the spot.
ATB
I own a 243 (sako 75) and a 308 (T3) and I prefer the 243 because it shots the best by far with my groupings behing half that of the 308 with various ammo
The problem with the 243 is blood trail using 100g ammo for heart shots. The 308 makes a big hole with loads of blood to track
The problem with the 308 is through and through shots which seem (in my limited experiance) to allow for runners and more importantly for me, means head shot anamals have more chance of not dropping on the spot
I head shoot everything from a high seat and the devistation I get from a 243 70g Nozla BT, combined with the fact its super accurate means everything I have ever shot had been instantly dead never moving from the point of impact.
I dont care how big the anamal is, nothing in the UK will survive a 243 BT at 3500fps to the head
As i said i also have a 308. It simply doesnt shoot as well as the 243 but 1.5" groupings at 100m as apposed to 0.75" groupings, is not really the concern
The problem I have is the buillits like the Norma 150g BT, just seem to go right through the anamal. The dammage on head shots is nominal, meaning an off target hit could result in wonded but not dead.
I am experimenting with 110g Nozla BT in the 308 at the moment trying to get better expansion, but until I have found the perfect load, I am sticking with Sako Hammer Head and heart shot walk and stalk only with the 308 which is not my favorate form of shooting.
Dispite being a deer stalker I dont like seeing shot anamals run. I am much happier when they fall dead on the spot.
ATB
8x57
Distinguished Member
Question. The ultimate deer caliber.
Answer.- No such thing as the ultimate deer CALIBRE (English spelling not U.S.) so I suppose you could say anything between .22" and .700" that does the job cleaning and quickly and meets all legal requirements for the country and species.
Just the same as there is no ultimate engine size for a car there is no magic calibre, cartridge or magic bullet design that is perfect for all. There are however many cartridges that could be considered generally good all rounders when loaded with the right bullet for the job so it just comes down to personal preference and what works for you.
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All too true.Question. The ultimate deer caliber.
Answer.- No such thing as the ultimate deer CALIBRE (English spelling not U.S.) so I suppose you could say anything between .22" and .700" that does the job cleaning and quickly and meets all legal requirements for the country and species.
Just the same as there is no ultimate engine size for a car there is no magic calibre, cartridge or magic bullet design that is perfect for all. There are however many cartridges that could be considered generally good all rounders when loaded with the right bullet for the job so it just comes down to personal preference and what works for you.
I own deer rifles in a dozen cartridge chamberings. Get the rifle that suits you.
One that is handsome, good looking, balanced and a pleasure to carry, accurate, fits me, points quickly with iron sights or scope, no more power and recoil than necessary - my Browning BLR Lightweight 7mm-08 ticks all those boxes for almost any game inside 200 yards.
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