"Do all" Ontario rifle

Reflex_84

Reflex_84

Regular
Rating - 100%
92   0   0
Location
Alliston, ON
So I'm saving my money in order to buy myself a "do all" Ontario rifle. Hopefully in a year I'll be able to do so.
I would be using the rifle to hunt everything from coyote to black bear with a moose thrown in every once in a blue moon.
So i figired that a .270 win would be a good choise, until i found out a .270 is actually .277 in diameter. It exceedes the .275 max diameter rule in many townships by .002 of an inch. This is literally smaller than a human hair.
This being said, does it rule out the .270 as a do all rifle for me? Should i look for a different calibre? Or would the .270 be ok.
btw...I do not reload, it would be my first rifle, and my 12ga semi is my only gun experience.
Thank you all for your time and input.

Also, multiple calibers/rifles is not an option at this time
 
Just out of curiosity, how do these townships describe the max allowable? Do they use bore diameter or bullet diameter, which is not the same thing. I'd be checking the wording of the bylaws if I were you.
 
Getcher self a .25-06, .260 Rem, .25 WSSM (like mine- its taken 6 moose that i know of, none had to be tracked more than 50 yards, and its got ft-lbs similar to the .270 win.) or anything like that and you can stay under the legal max. for sure and still have a capable rifle. Just don't try a texas heart shot or anything stupid like that and you'll be golden. good luck.
 
It's been a while since I've hunted in Ontario, but from what I can remember, the area's with a caliber restriction are the same area's that are "shotgun only" for big game. If you go up North a little ways to a rifle zone, there is no restriction on the size of bullet. I could be wrong, but where I grew up, you could only hunt small game with a rifle under .277", and shotgun only for big game. When I drove an hour North, I could hunt anything with a 45/70, and it was all legal. Could be wrong though.......
 
here, i just took this from the municipality website. What do you think?
d) The land owner or tenant of land, or a licensed hunter or trapper with the land owner or tenant’s written permission, and the discharge is upon lands within the Town and outside the Defined Areas provided the discharge is of shotgun or rifle of no greater caliber than .275, for the purpose of hunting, trapping or target shooting and provided that no shot or bullet shall pass over the boundary of the said land.
 
I have been looking at the 250 Savage as my do all round. I do not moose hunt and have not looked into the top end of what the cartridge can handle, but it seems to have great light bullets available for coyote and enough power for black bear.
 
well, after reading the bylaw in the township in question, it states .275 calibre is the max. So, a .270 is definately a smaller "calibre" than .275, so i think that a .270 will be in my making its home beside my 12 ga one day.
 
troutseeker said:
35 Remington for a do all rifle.
Click to expand...

I'm 100% with you on that one but the OP is limited to anything under .275 which is a shame but i've hunted for 10 or so years around kingston and i understand why this rule is in effect.

To the OP, see if the .270 is do-able in your area and if it is, i would stick with it cause it's one of the best all around calibers i've ever came across. Other than that, look into the 25-06. It's a little small in diameter for moose in my opinion but i'm sure it would work just fine. Good luck on your search. Later.

Dorian
 
The Ontario Regulation very specifically states a maximum "bore" diameter of .275" ... in specific counties and regions.

The 270 complies.
It has a "bore" diameter of .270" and a "groove" diameter of .277".

With 100 gr. factory loads, the 270 is a capable varminter, however, hide damage is not minimal. With 150 gr. factory loads, it is also quite capable for deer, moose and bear.

As intimated to me by a government "insider" years ago, the .275 bore diameter Reg. was introduced and intended to prevent all manners of common folk from using their very inexpensive ( at the time ... I recall surplus Enfields for $ 29.99 and .303 Brit FMJ surplus rounds for $ 2/box) .303 British war surplus Enfields and FMJ surplus rounds in the "built-up areas" of the south, as well as the "typical" deer & moose rifles of the day. The fact that a .270 is just as, or more dangerous/powerful/shoots further or whatever you might want to say about it than say, a 303, 30 M-1 Carbine or 30-30 or some other larger caliber gun was not the issue. The issue of FMJ's potentially whistling around the pastures of Southern Ontario was. I live just north of the " .270 zone " where it's still a popular pastime for some to take their SKS's or Enfields or whatever and a tilt of surplus ammo out to a gravel pit or Crown Land and do some "blasting" (as they call it) Rocks, trees, bottles, pop cans ... anything will do for a target. Lovely ... just not for nearby property owners !

So ... the 270 is a good choice ... go for it. As a first rifle, I'd look at a Remington 7600 pump or a good quality bolt. To me, the pump is handier in the bush, the bolt more suited to the open spaces. A 2-7x40 scope is a pretty versatile glass for Ontario ... maybe not as optimum as a 1-4x20 for the bush, nor as useful as a 3-9x40 or 4-12x40 for varminting, but the 2-7 will still get it done.
 
Last edited:
While I can can shoot almost any rifle quite well, I shoot bolt rifles better. It probably has to do with their general length and weight distribution. This could also be the reason that bolt rifles outsell almost all of the other models out there.
 
I think I would do a 7600 wood stock, not the plastic one, in .270. Topped with a decent scope and ~~~see through rings~~~(don't cheap out on the rings). That way you can legally hunt all game(including coyotes) comfortably, in thick bush or open field
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom