What calibre do you use for stalking?

[Max]

njc110381

Try H1000 for the 300 Win Mag and H4895 for .308, good velocity and not to stingy on your shoulder with heavier bullets.

I have to admit that if I am load testing or fireing several rounds for practice with the 300W/M I do pad my shoulder a little .

On game you wont notice a thing

ATB

Max

 

[20-250]

Max,
I'm considering a 25 calibre wildcat and would love some 'real world' information on your 250 improved, please.

 

[zaitsev]

6ppc for Roe and Muntjac. Accurate, quiet and easy to shoot. Plenty of energy for those species. Have larger calibres for bigger deer: .300 win mag etc.

 

[pete evans]

Here is a VERY good question...I wonder how many factory 100gr rounds will actually make the 1700ft/lbs minimum energy out of a short .243 stalking rifle barrel. To achieve this you need to get it flying at least 2767 feet per second.....has anyone measured it on a chrono yet? I will put money on it a lot of us are well below this legal limit......I'm still buying a .243 Blaser this week though!!! Any comments gents............

yes my .243 100grain loads with max charge of h4895 out of 20" barrel is below 1700ftlbs.
it will exit a red and i have never had aproblem. very accurate too.
I only found it was sub legal this week and have no scope to increase load so may not address this.

my 70grain nosler BT load is well legal at 3400fps but i wouldnt heart lung shoot a deer with it again due to lack of penetration or green gralloch.

for my loads, legally 70grain morally 100grain





pete

 

[Ronin]

I use a choice of four:

22-250AI

25-06

6.5x284

7mmWSM


Depends where I am going and what species I am shooting, plus what terrain.

 

[njc110381]

That's an interesting selection Redmist. I take it you like the not too heavy but fast approach to your shooting? I'm more of a heavy and slow type myself, although the Win Mag is hardly slow it's not my first choice and I'd go bigger if it wasn't so hard to negotiate!

How does the 6.5-284 shoot compared to my swede?

 

[splash]

.260 100grn

 

[Ronin]

Yes

medium weight bullets loaded for accuracy - well placed shot is preferance every time.

the "284", yep , like it, shot out one barrel over four years and nearly 3000 rounds, just re-barrelled with another in same calibre.

In comparison to the swede, the 284 is slightly faster, but will not handle bullets heavier than 142g well - wheras the swede will go to 160g.

Its pretty accurate, although for some reason, in the new barrel, I amhaving problems getting my usual Barnes 130's to shoot better than and inch at the moment.

However Berger 140's are bug hole so maybe I will use these - now that they are classed as a "game" bullet.....

Anyway, no point stealing the thread discussing idiosyncrasis of this calibre.

 

[njc110381]

I shoot TSX with my swede, the 130s just like you do. I'd be quite sad if I couldn't get them to shoot, they're a good bullet.

I'm debating buying some for my .300 when I get it. Trouble is they're so expensive and I like to do a few range days with it too. With the 6.5 I've managed to get 2 loads, one with Speer 140 sp and one with 130 tsx, to shoot to the same point of aim at 100 yards! If I could do the same with the .300 it will be great.

Not many users of the rimmed combi gun calibres it seems?

 

[Heym SR20]

243 Heym SR20 100gn RWS or Norma - have used for the last 12 years

Now working up a 7x65R combination gun.

 

[Nicholas Fahey]

I have the 280 & 300 on my new FAC, but will bring them over from NZ when I can.
So... you guessed it... I have a .243 on my ticket as it is the lightest deer legal cal and I am mainly a meat hunter.

 

[daniel paydar]

i use mainly my husqvarna 1640 in 6,5x55 for roe stalking, but 222 remington is legal here in sweden for roe deers and some time i use my austrian made combo 20 gauge/222 remington too.
daniel

 

[mick b]

mmmmmmmmmmm now that is a good question.......

i have a 243 and i shoot roe with 85grn hpbt but when im on the reds i tend to use my 308,mainly because they drop on the spot but don't get me wrong many of the estate stalkers use a 243 100grn and are not all that pleased with the 308 but when it comes down to the wire then it is all down to the shot placement......ive downed many a roe with my 223 65grn so we can sit here all day and debate this one but its down to the shot........

 

[njc110381]

Very true. A well placed .22lr will drop a Deer, but it's far from ideal!

I'm just interested to know what people on the forum use, both here and abroad. I use a 6.5x55 myself but have also got a slot for 7mm and .300.
I've got the 7mm because I want a combi gun.