Approx volume of different calibres with standard loads?

[markstahler]

Hi guys,

I am about to purchase my first center fire rifle for hunting and am having a really hard time on deciding what to get. A friend has told me to get a quality .270 win and it would be the only gun I would have to own. I am not sure if I only want to own one (I just got a CZ 452 and now want a 10/22 for a semi) as I am just getting into coyote hunting and think it is really fun.

What I think would help in my decision making would be some kind of chart with general db measurements of different caibres. Is a 223 (or 22-250 or 204) that much quieter than a 270? Should I spend more on the coyote gun if I will likely spend more time doing that than the all purpose 270? Tikka T3 270 vs Marlin XL7 are really what I am debating and then dropping the money I save on a dedicated coyote gun (Mini 14?).

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[StevieK]

for a dedicated coyote gun a 243 would be ideal. A 223 is OK for coyote, but more so if paper punching is the main course with a bit of coyote hunting on the side. The 243 will also work for deer. If you were only going to be shooting coyote and deer then I would recommend either the 257 roberts or the 25-06, but that would limit you to one gun (and that's no fun). If you get a 243, it will be PERFECT for your coyotes, and then you can justify getting a 270 or 7mm-08 or 30-06...(the list goes on) for deer and moose and a 223 for paper punching.
And yes...if you spend more time coyote hunting than anything else, buy a gun for that fist and make sure you get exactly what you want. If you use it a lot then you won't regret spending the extra cash on it.

 

[blackie9999]

i had the same issue myself.i wanted different calibers but not a lot of different rifles.i know that is pretty much a sin to most on this site and i should be be whipped or hung by the thumbs.so i bought myself a thompson center encore prohunter which is single shot break action.it allows me to swap barrels for different calibers.so far i have 375 H&H,25 06 and soon 223.next is a 45 70 in 20 inch barrel.there is no single cartridge for all hunting even though some try to discuss the point to no end.just some food for thought.plus right now there are some great buys on new ones at different dealers right now as well

 

[Traps]

I'd say your on the right path, get a 270 in a Tikka T3. It will satisfy all your needs. As far as dB go the more powder you burn the higher the dB. If your worried about your ears and repetitive shots then go get this:

http://www.precision-sports.com/peltor_elect.htm

 

[mmattockx]

My experience at the range says that most of the common centerfire calibres are about the same noise level and that barrel length has far more effect on the noise than the calibre. The worst gun I have shot beside was a short barreled .308, the concussion and noise off that thing was brutal. Shooting beside a short barrelled AR is also unpleasant, where a 24-26" barrelled bolt action in .223 is not a bother at all.

From behind the trigger, everything from my 22-250 up to at least 7mm Mag sounds the same to me when wearing hearing protection.

As for versatility, the .270 is OK, but so is a .308, 30-06, 7mm-08, 6.5x55 and so on. Personally, I would buy one gun for varmints and coyotes and another for deer up to moose. To me that means a 22-250 or .223 (but not a Mini-14, they aren't accurate enough to be a general varmint gun, IMO) for the small one and a .308/270/30-06 class one for the other.

Mark

 

[Colt1911A1]

30-06

I'd go with a good 30-06. There is almost no game animal in Canada that can't be put down with a 30-06. You can get bullet weights from 110g to
220g. Now granted, I'm an old fart and kind of stuck in my ways, but I've hunted from here in Newfoundland to the Yukon and many places in between with a P-17 Sporter. Just my opinion, but whatever rifle you pick, make sure you are comfortable with it and can shoot it well. Good luck in your search.