What calibres would choose to future proof against ammunition supplies

[Turkish]

As above.
Assuming you do not reload. It has become clear that certain calibres are becoming very hard to source ( factory). ammunition in. PRC and the Creedmoor offerings are now more readily available
than old staples like 30/06 and 6.5 swede.

What calibres would you be putting on your ticket to safeguard against future supply issues if you had the choice?

What do you think will become the new norm. in calibres with copper just around the corner?

Choices of critirea would be:

Small deer and vermin
Large deer and plains game
Dangerous game

Please try to choose one or more for each caragory.

Thanks

 

[8x57]

I think you mean what cartridges not calibres?

 

[Sakoodin1]

.22./50 or 270 or 7mm rem mag or .25.06 or prc or 300 win mag or I have all apart from prc, (yet) they would be my staple’s so if you don’t home load or do fls work you can walk into any shop and buy ammo. I liad though so I’m not to bad

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

If you don't reload it's a fairly easy choice:

.308 Win
.300 Win Mag
..458 Lott

 

[BigT]

I don’t see
243
308
Or
375 going anywhere soon

And if you’re after plains game and dangerous game in South Africa at least every gun shop will have those on the shelf.

So not the most exciting choices but I think all three would make logistical sense.

6.5 Creed could sub for 243 or 308

 

[Essexsussex]

Or buy a switch barrel

 

[nun_hunter]

I don’t see
243
308
Or
375 going anywhere soon

And if you’re after plains game and dangerous game in South Africa at least every gun shop will have those on the shelf.

So not the most exciting choices but I think all three would make logistical sense.

6.5 Creed could sub for 243 or 308

I think the 243 in England and Wales could be under threat. A lot of them with 80 grain bullets may not be big deer legal and there are better/cheaper alternative cartridges for small deer. Granted, not many people are going to check their factory copper loads over a chronograph but if enough do and raise questions to their FEOs (as some like to do) it may become an issue.

It used to make sense as a crossover cartridge for fox/vermin and all deer but with the majority of copper bullets able to be stabilised for the 243 being 80 grains or thereabouts it doesn't make as much sense as other 6mm or 6.5mm cartridges.

Personally I'd stick with

A fast twist 223
A 308 (probably a 6.5 Creedmoor if it wasn't for the plains game)
Ive never planned on dangerous game but I'd probably choose something manageable that came as a nice double rifle to be used here as well so probably a 375H&H

 

[Turkish]

I think you mean what cartridges not calibres?

Pedantic, but correct.
What cartridges in what calibre would you choose my friend?

 

[BigT]

I think the 243 in England and Wales could be under threat. A lot of them with 80 grain bullets may not be big deer legal and there are better/cheaper alternative cartridges for small deer. Granted, not many people are going to check their factory copper loads over a chronograph but if enough do and raise questions to their FEOs (as some like to do) it may become an issue.

It used to make sense as a crossover cartridge for fox/vermin and all deer but with the majority of copper bullets able to be stabilised for the 243 being 80 grains or thereabouts it doesn't make as much sense as other 6mm or 6.5mm cartridges.

Personally I'd stick with

A fast twist 223
A 308 (probably a 6.5 Creedmoor if it wasn't for the plains game)
Ive never planned on dangerous game but I'd probably choose something manageable that came as a nice double rifle to be used here as well so probably a 375H&H

If much rather have a 6mm Creedmoor than a 243 fwiw. I think it does everything better

But logistically it’s a reloaders cartridge probably anywhere that isn’t the US

The new 1/8 and 1/7.5 243’s fix the long copper issue at least but I do see where you’re coming from.

If 22 centerfires were roe legal in England the 223 would be a solid contender

 

[Pine Marten]

7x64 or 7x65R. For just about everything.

 

[Turkish]

I don’t see
243
308
Or
375 going anywhere soon

And if you’re after plains game and dangerous game in South Africa at least every gun shop will have those on the shelf.

So not the most exciting choices but I think all three would make logistical sense.

6.5 Creed could sub for 243 or 308 in slower twists may not suit all copper offeri

7x64 or 7x65R. For just about everything.

And where would you buy your off the shelf ammo?

 

[Essexsussex]

Thing is, rifles are pretty much disposable in price at the “tool” end of the spectrum. I’d probably say rather than pick a cartridge I’d pick either a lower cost rifle in the cartridge I wanted and buy a stash of ammo and then see what happens in life.

Or spend more and buy a rifle with the capability to easily change the barrel / cartridge like the S&L or Mauser offerings.

But then not everyone just plinks a deer or two a week like I do and will have heavier duty requirements. But i suppose you’d say the question is irrelevant for target users or cullers as they will wear the rifle out before ammo availability changes much anyway or would re load.

 

[Pine Marten]

And where would you buy your off the shelf ammo?

Ok so it was a slightly deliberately provocative statement to point out that ammunition is a global or at least American and European supply chain, so manufacturers are possibly more likely to make 7x64 than .243 in future. But also, the range of loads and bullets with 7mm projectiles means that with copper, lead or whatever, these are great cartridges with a future. Just not very trendy right now.

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

or just reload.....

to be honest we supply an awful lot of weird and wonderful cartridges to shooters all over the world now
some factory offerings that we have squirrelled away (240 H&H flanged, 240 Weatherby, 243WSSM, 270WSM, 375WSM375Winchester, 6.5x54ms, 8x57JRS, 458wm, 458Lott, 470NE, 416RM etc etc)

 

[enfieldspares]

NOTHING under .300" would be entertained by me except, of course the .22" centrefires that will remain lead legal. Even .284" (aka 7mm) I would be wary of. But then I have always believed that a minimum bullet weight of 150 grains (just shy of 10 grams) is required as an "all around" bullet weight capable of all species of UK deer by me and me and my fellow Mr Average stalker.

 

[Pine Marten]

NOTHING under .300" would be entertained by me except, of course the .22" centrefires that will remain lead legal. Even .284" (aka 7mm) I would be wary of. But then I have always believed that a minimum bullet weight of 150 grains (just shy of 10 grams) is required as an "all around" bullet weight capable of all species of UK deer by me and me and my fellow Mr Average stalker.

NO NO NO STOP! You're falling into the trap of the endless circular "what's the best cartridge?" discussion, the SD equivalent of "how to be beach ready by the summer?"

 

[enfieldspares]

NO NO NO STOP! You're falling into the trap of the endless circular "what's the best cartridge?" discussion, the SD equivalent of "how to be beach ready by the summer?"

Aha. But not so. And to clear up by .300" I don't mean the .300" Winchester Magnum but the various nominal .300" bore cartridges as enumerated below. So I am grateful to be prodded so as to clarify that.

On continental Europe you'll find non-toxic 7x64 a lot easier to find than here in UK. But despite it being, literally, an ocean away the American love of the .300" bore in .30/30 and then then .30 Krag through .30/06 to the later .308" Winchester and .300" Magnum.

Which means that bullets for handloading in non-lead and factory ammunition in non lead will always be more readily available here in a full spectrum of weights and shapes in this the 51st State in .300" (as in those cartridges that use .308" diameter bullets) than in .284" aka 7mm.

 

[Ratel]

7x57 Would do all of them. Has done many times along with .303 but more accurate generally.

 

[nun_hunter]

If much rather have a 6mm Creedmoor than a 243 fwiw. I think it does everything better

But logistically it’s a reloaders cartridge probably anywhere that isn’t the US

The new 1/8 and 1/7.5 243’s fix the long copper issue at least but I do see where you’re coming from.

If 22 centerfires were roe legal in England the 223 would be a solid contender

A fast twist 243 would overcome the issue but most current ones aren't and I'd have thought most new ones wouldn't come in a fast twist unless specified.

 

[BigT]

A fast twist 243 would overcome the issue but most current ones aren't and I'd have thought most new ones wouldn't come in a fast twist unless specified.

I know Sako and tikka are now 1/8

Weatherby above the Vanguard line are 1/7.5 , there are likely others.