Three rifles to cover all Uk game and vermin on a budget

[old 30-06]

22LR, 222, 30-06. You have to reload, but everything is covered.

 

[Dan Newcombe]

WMR
.243
.30 cal

 

[JH83]

17hmr
6.5x55 (seems to work on foxes as well as deer)
7mm RM (could be talked into 30 06)

 

[Jack3]

Interested to know why some people would choose .222 or .223 for a mid calibre?

 

[CookM]

.22rf check.
.22/250,because l have one.
.308,yes,l agree.


Don't tell my .243!
It could do two jobs here ok.

 

[co’den]

Sub 12 air rifle
22rf
.270

I’m pretty new to this having just applied for my first grant but, I’m a long time airgunner, so the sub 12 has to be in there.

 

[260madman]

Rifle wise for me:

22LR
223
6.5CM

All picks because of ammo and low recoil. If your area had more 308 in stock I’d go with that instead of 6.5CM. 308 backs up a bit more with 168s and 175s than a Creed in lightweight rifles.

 

[tonyshooter]

My 3 would be : -

.22RF
.222 REM
.270 WIN

 

[CookM]

WMR
.243
.30 cal

Interesting choice,no need for going too quiet where you shoot?

 

[the prowler]

For me 22lr
17hmr
223rem
That should do most vermin

 

[Jh1986]

That's all basically confirmed my choices. I've already the 308, and I've a variation in for 223 and 22rf.

Just put in my first permission too, which is very exciting

 

[zero]

If I was starting from scratch and could only have two I'd go for a .17hmr and a 6.5 creedmoor or Swede.
Thankfully, just picking two is not something I have to worry about!

 

[Bowland blades]

.22 rf - bulk shooting rabbits other pests
.223 rem- longer range bunnies/ fox etc to the legal deer species
I use .260 rem - but happy with any UK legal deer Uk legislation sorts that one

 

[Blaser Ash]

Interested to know why some people would choose .222 or .223 for a mid calibre?

Reasons to choose .222 and .223

Low cost ammo and easy to get hold of. They are both quieter than the bigger varmint rounds and are capable of being loaded deer legal. Also the rifles for these rounds are plentiful used and new, so you have a great choice and can usually find a bargain. Also .222 and .223 calibre rifles tend to be very accurate even out of light weight barrels and the barrel and mod heats up more slowly than the bigger rounds so you retain that accuracy for longer than a couple of shots.

That was really the point of my original post. How to get a newby into shooting with great kit at low initial outlay. Once the bug has really bitten, you can sell the dog, remortgage the house and pimp the wife out so you can buy all manner of exotic kit, but that should probably be the subject of another thread

An added advantage of .223, if you target shoot, is cheap full metal jacket ammo - if your rifle is safe with 5.56x45

Military Calibres and Cost

We are lucky in this country that we can have rifles in “military” calibres like 7.62x51 (.308) and .223 (nearly the same as 5.56 x 45). These calibres are very popular, so ammunition and loading components are plentiful and inexpensive relative to more obscure rounds. Also some of the army surplus ammo is very accurate. The rounds with the head stamp including a cross in a circle is particularly good. Other army surplus ammo is a bit variable and obviously FMJ rounds are no use on deer and though excellent for head shooting rabbits, hold together too well and can result in ricochets. Basically FMJ ammo is only safe and useful for rough sighting in when swapping scopes over or for target work. 7.62x51 is pretty much always ok to shoot in a .308, but some of the machine gun rounds are a little warm! 5.56x45 is best only used if you know the lead to the rifling is long enough in your rifle. A gun smith can advise you on that.

If you end up shooting ten rounds of surplus ammo to get a rough Zero, you’ve spent less than a fiver. I also use random reloads for sighting in. Way cheaper. None of this matters if you sight your rifle in once and leave the scope on there, but if like me you swap scopes around and like trying new kit, it’s handy having some cheap ammo to burn through.

 

[Domer]

If you are shooting smaller game such as rats and pigeons around farms too maybe an air rifle would be a good idea.

For my shooting
PCP air rifle .177
.17 HMR
.243 win

 

[RTreble]

Why 3?

.22 for vermin
270 for everything else

I wouldn't fancy using my .270 on the long range rabbits or crows.
I'm there with you on the .22 & 222/223. The big cal for me is the 270 but certainly many options capable to take one of our bigger deer species.

 

[Rory]

.22rf
.223Rem
.308Win

Covers all bases, come in a myriad of bullet weights and types, ubiquitous and pleasant to shoot.

 

[ASl sniper.177]

Shoot whatever ever you want,every main center fire calibre will kill all legal quarry. You just have to understand the shortcomings of each calibre. I was literally told today that the 6.5 creedmoor would just about kill any legal deer species. I've just recently bought a 6.5 creedmoor,having said in the past the calibre was a fad. Having shot it and looked at the ballistic performance,I was wrong. None of us would want to stand in front of any of the so called inferior calibers, bearing in mind that research has stated that it takes 69 foot pounds of energy to incapacitate the average man!

 

[stubear]

.22LR, .222 and .25-06

 

[Blaser Ash]

If you are shooting smaller game such as rats and pigeons around farms too maybe an air rifle would be a good idea.

For my shooting
PCP air rifle .177
.17 HMR
.243 win

Very true. I probably shoot air rifle more than anything else. At sub 12ftlbs, I agree that .177 is the way to go. On FAC, .22 gives you the best slug and pellet choice and higher bc than .25 cal pellets of equivalent weight. .25 cal and up are fun, but power and trajectory wise, they are trounced by powder burners, and they don’t really fill the niche a .177 or .22 air rifle fills so well.