Dual purpose rifle for shooting and hunting.

[Suther]

Lot's of great information here, thank you. I was leaning towards the .308 based on everyone's feedback, but the point was made that I already have 3 hunting rifles. Ugh, so many options to choose from. After some thought, I guess it makes sense to pull "Deer Hunting" off the priorities. So if I focused more just on my shooting what would be a good recommendation? What's a good "centre fire" cartridge that is fun to shoot but will transition to making me a better shot for hunting?

My "Updated" Objectives:
1) Good to shoot volume (reasonably tight groups)
2) Ammo readily available and not terribly expensive (I do not hand load)
3) Will transition to being a better shot hunting

Thanks again in advance

1) 223 Remington
2) 556 Nato

If you don't handload those are the only two affordable options these days.

22lr is also a great option, but 500yds is pretty darn far for that.

[remington jim]

Lot's of great information here, thank you. I was leaning towards the .308 based on everyone's feedback, but the point was made that I already have 3 hunting rifles. Ugh, so many options to choose from. After some thought, I guess it makes sense to pull "Deer Hunting" off the priorities. So if I focused more just on my shooting what would be a good recommendation? What's a good "centre fire" cartridge that is fun to shoot but will transition to making me a better shot for hunting?

My "Updated" Objectives:
1) Good to shoot volume (reasonably tight groups)
2) Ammo readily available and not terribly expensive (I do not hand load)
3) Will transition to being a better shot hunting

Thanks again in advance

6.5 Creedmoor is the 100 % perfect cartridge for sure based on what you’re asking for ! RJ

[Cameron SS]

1) 223 Remington
2) 556 Nato

If you don't handload those are the only two affordable options these days.

22lr is also a great option, but 500yds is pretty darn far for that.

It may be far but its hella fun. Nothing forces you to learn wind like shooting 22 LR at 300+.

I guess I struggle to under the OPs premise. I dont get this concept of dual use.

When I hunt with a rifle, the plan is to shoot it, not use it as a bludgeon. And any hunting rifle I use i will also target shoot with extensively just to get proficient amd confirm ammo and zero before the hunt. Thats not dual use. Thats just all part of the same single purpose of hunting.

If you want readily available somewhat affordable ammo, just go .308 and be done.

A hundred years from now long after all the boutiqie fad calibres have faded into dust and been replaced with plasma rifles in the 40 watt range you will still be able to find .308 in production and stockpile.

[45C]

Sell the rest and get a 6.5 PRC
All ammo is expensive now, you’re going to have to reload if you want to shoot volume.

[Cameron SS]

Hello, new to Canadian Gun Nutz here... I have hunted some (cow moose this fall) and now I find that I'm getting more into shooting. I currently have a 300 Weatherby, 30-06 and 7mm. The issue is, after a dozen or so shots I do start to feel it in the shoulder and I'm worried I might develop a flinch if I keep shooting these. So I'm on the market for a new rifle to shoot with. Something that shoots flat and accurately out to at least 500yards....and I can possibly hunt with. Maybe not Moose/Elk but perhaps deer. I've scoured the internet and there's lots of opinions. I found this article by Jim Harmer that was very helpful in giving me the recoil information I was looking for. https://backfire.tv/recoil/ I've laid all the information in the article out in a SpreadSheet and narrowed it down to a few options (ops unfortunately I can't post pictures yet) . But, there might be more to it then that. Looking for any advice to help me decide.

My Objectives in order are:
1) Good to shoot volume (low Recoil, accurate to 500 yards)
2) Ammo readily available and not terribly expensive (I do not hand load)
3) Capable of Hunting 300-500yards

Short list is:
.308 Winchester
.270 Winchester
6.5 PRC
7mm-08 Remington
6.5 Creedmoor

I'm maybe leaning towards the 7mm-08 or 6.5 PRC

Thanks in advance.

7mm 08 and 6.5 prc arent likely to be much better on felt recoil than what you have now. And certainly not better on cost.

If you like the cartridges you are in now, Instead of buying a whole new gun, take a look at a good recoil pad and perhaps a muzzle brake. Fraction of the cost, preserves the value of your investment in the gun you already have, adds +10 to cool factor.

Not sure if anyone else said yet either but you can trying going down the rabbit hole of handloading amd can load yourself up some reduced loads for training, and lower cost (but better quality) hunting ammo.

With hunting off the table, .22LR all day every day. But a nice precise bolt gun that closely resembles your go to hunting rifle set up, throw your hunting scope on it and starting throwing 40 gr rocks at 250-300 yards.

If you can get good at that the moving back up to your centre fire will feel like cheating.

[Bartok5]

What the OP apparently wants is a cross-over rifle in a calibre suitable for both target shooting and hunting. I would suggest that there are 2 issues at play here - the rifle design, and the calibre. In terms of the rifle design, if you want a cross-over rifle, you should probably look at the cross-over designs. There is one design in particular that meets the OP's criteria, and that is the SIG Cross (Cross as in cross-over!). It is the near-ideal combination of precision target rifle and lightweight, accurate and reliable hunting rig, capable of filling both roles without need for adjustment nor modification. By combining the traditional steel action and alloy chassis into a singular, aluminum structure with steel lock-up between the Barrel Extension and Bolt, the SIG Cross's designers shed weight while simultaneously enhancing rigidity and accuracy. The SIG Cross is a compact and exceptionally ergonomic precison-capable hunting rifle that routinely produces .5 MOA out to 500m (and beyond) from its 18" 6.5 Creeedmoor Barrel using suitable match grade ammunition.

In terms of calibre, I would suggest to the OP that his lack of reloading simultaneously simplifies and limits his commercial ammo selection to either .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor. I believe that 6.5 Crredmoor is the way to go, given its capabilities as both a long-range precision target round and a suitable, medium-game hunting cartridge. The Creedmoor bucks the wind much better than .308 Win can, with a far superior Ballistic Coefficient, making it the precision target round of choice over the .308 cal. Insofar as the effects on game are concerned, suitable game animals apparently have a difficult time differentiating between the terminal effects of 6.5 Creedmoor versus those of .308 Winchester. Both are effective and deadly calibres for game harvest out to 500m if the shooter is sufficiently skilled with a properly zeroed rifle for which he/she has valid Data On Previous Engagements (DOPE) using suitable hunting ammunition.

[Butcherbill]

Of all the calibers you listed they are All going to cost you money.
Buy a .22 and have fun and learn shooting skills that can follow over to the Center Fire you own.
Just my .05 worth of free advice.

Did you even take the time to read the op’s actual question, cause a .22 won’t hunt game at 300-500m

[chrismc]

IMHO, you have some good hunting rifles - why not just get one thats super inexpensive to plink with - 223!

24ish grns of powder and bullets $60/100, brass is cheap. SR primers readily avail. 3000-5000 rounds per barrel.

Wheras, a PRC is 55-59 grns of powder (if you can find), brass is $2-3 each, Primers are $$$. Bullets average $80-100/100, and 1200-1500 rounds per barrel.

[Cameron SS]

Did you even take the time to read the op’s actual question, cause a .22 won’t hunt game at 300-500m

You must have missed his subsequent posts...