Do all hunting caliber under .275

Onagoth

Onagoth

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What's your vote?

I'd like to have a rifle that can hunt almost anything in Canada, but most likely deer and varmint in the short/medium term with some target shooting <300y. I know 6.5 creedmoor gets a lot of votes but I'm definitely not an expert.

Apologies in advance if this has all been discussed before.
 
Win 270. Or you could use a 7mm mauser.
6.5's are nice for sure.

Soooo man options. Do you want to reload or buy ammo?

6.5x47 lapua would be sweet. Or 26 nosler.

Or 7mm08... Just toooo man that will work perfectly

Edit hahhaha oops, most of what i listed was above 275. The 6.5's are great. Pretty much all of them
 
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Evanguy said:
Win 270. Or you could use a 7mm mauser.
6.5's are nice for sure.

Soooo man options. Do you want to reload or buy ammo?

6.5x47 lapua would be sweet. Or 26 nosler.

Or 7mm08... Just toooo man that will work perfectly
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I have no plans to reload....not too long ago I sold all my reloading equipment since I don't particularly enjoy doing it.
 
If you are limited or are limiting yourself to .275" diameter bullets or smaller, than 270 Win (.277" bullets) and any 7mm (.284" bullets) are out. Still leaves you with the fine 6.5's of various denominations - .264" diameter bullets... If you are limited to a "bore size", then some 7mm might be okay (?) - "bore" being top of one land to top of opposite land - bullets are almost always larger - they are at groove diameter, usually.
 
Onagoth said:
I have no plans to reload....not too long ago I sold all my reloading equipment since I don't particularly enjoy doing it.
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6.5 creedmoor will have the most different types of factory ammo id bet. And it will work well for what you want it to do

And almost every gun come chambered in it.
 
Potashminer said:
If you are limited or are limiting yourself to .275" diameter bullets or smaller, than 270 Win (.277" bullets) and any 7mm (.284" bullets) are out. Still leaves you with the fine 6.5's of various denominations - .264" diameter bullets... If you are limited to a "bore size", then some 7mm might be okay (?) - "bore" being top of one land to top of opposite land - bullets are almost always larger - they are at groove diameter, usually.
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I set the requirement at .275 since that is what is specified in the Ontario hunting regs for certain WMUs where I live (for small game). I believe 270 still fits that requirement though even though the bullets may be larger than that.

I haven't ruled out 270 as the best caliber for what I am after
 
Evanguy said:
Win 270. Or you could use a 7mm mauser.
6.5's are nice for sure.

Soooo man options. Do you want to reload or buy ammo?

6.5x47 lapua would be sweet. Or 26 nosler.

Or 7mm08... Just toooo man that will work perfectly
Click to expand...

SW Ontario has some limits on rifle caliber. Which means the 7mm are a no go there. (Although thats small game only isn't it? Big game is shotgun only in those areas I want to say? I'm not certain on the specifics, other than the fact that 270 is allowed because its NOMINALLY a 27cal, even though the .277 bullet diameter is larger than what is allowed)

For the OP's purpose, I'd pick either 270win or 243win. Ammo is widely available and affordable - any Walmart or Canadian Tire tends to have ammo - and they meet the caliber restrictions for southern Ontario. Plus rifles are a dime a dozen - practically every brand makes these two calibers, and they are readily available on the used rack at gun stores as well.

6.5 Creedmoor would also do the job just fine, although I don't see the ammo as commonly in the big box stores. Plus, I don't like following the cool kids.

Potashminer said:
If you are limited or are limiting yourself to .275" diameter bullets or smaller, than 270 Win (.277" bullets) and any 7mm (.284" bullets) are out. Still leaves you with the fine 6.5's of various denominations - .264" diameter bullets... If you are limited to a "bore size", then some 7mm might be okay (?) - "bore" being top of one land to top of opposite land - bullets are almost always larger - they are at groove diameter, usually.
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Again, there is some law in Ontario that limits what calibers you can use for certain things in certain areas, and the 270win is legal while the 7mms are not.

Evanguy said:
6.5 creedmoor will have the most different types of factory ammo id bet. And it will work well for what you want it to do

And almost every gun come chambered in it.
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Is 6.5mm factory ammo with varmint bullets readily available? I guess its not that readily available for the 270win either mind you. If the OP really wants a dual varmint/deer gun, a 243 is hard to beat. A 270 win will do anything a 6.5CM would in a big game hunting setting, and at higher velocities.
 
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Certainly from Manitoba and West, hard to imagine what would be lacking from a 270 Win - for many hunters that is only rifle that they own, and do just fine - deer, moose, elk. Maybe getting a bit iffy ("light") in Northern B.C. and perhaps up into the Yukon, but I have never hunted either. Apparently the 7x61 S&H and the 308 Norma were considered just fine in the mountain country, so a 150 grain or 160 grain 270 Win is not giving up a whole lot to either...
 
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I have a old tikka .270 win I use for deer moose and black bear. And the occasional coyote. Does the job for me. I have a craving for a 6.5x55 now though
 
If you don't reload but want to spend time at the range with an accurate rifle without spending too many $$$ on ammo...6.5 Creedmoor is your answer. Yes, it's falsely touted as the be-all, end-all ultimate rifle cartridge. Which it's not. Had a guy claim it shoots as flat as a 300 WM... Sure, if you compare apples to oranges in terms of bullet selection!

But...it has its niche and is very popular. Accurate cartridge and chamber specifications. Low-cost accurate ammunition available almost anywhere in a wide selection. Mild recoil. Most rifles are available in 6.5 CM. Longer barrel life than the 6mm rounds - doesn't matter much for hunting but for extended target practice use it sure does.

270 and 243 will also do the job. But I'd get the 6.5 CM if I was in your shoes - factory ammo will likely be more accurate due to better SAAMI chamber specs. But I'm in my shoes so I have a 223, a 243, and a 300 WM in the gun cabinet! I've decided against "all-purpose" rifles :). And I enjoy reloading.
 
Have you looked into the 6.5 PRC ?

My Southern Ontario caliber restricted rifle has been a 270 WSM but if I decide to get a different rifle I have been thinking hard about trying something in 6.5 PRC.
 
rifleman762 said:
.... I've decided against "all-purpose" rifles :). And I enjoy reloading.
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Times 2 on this!!! But must admit that for some selections have to use quite thin paper to find the gap where you would chose one over the other!!! 30-06 - 308 Norma - 300 Win Mag - 300 Weatherby - I have all four - all in M1917 rifles - just a set-up to end up with a rifle and the wrong shells!!! But, I enjoy trying them out - actually as least as entertaining as reading someone else's opinion about the difference! 338 Win Mag with 250 grain Partition versus 9.3x62 with 250 Accubond - another "slim" difference, I think. Then 7x57 - 7x61 Sharpe & Hart - do not own a 7mm Rem Mag, but help young acquaintance with his 7mm Weatherby and another guy with 7mm STW, and third guy with 28 Nosler - thinking I will stay with 160 grain 7x61 S&H, but no practical difference to 30-06 and above, or several others in the cabinet... Reloading is what makes all possible and then get to mix and match!!!
 
I limited myself to two reloader calibers....that was many years ago, and the idea is long abandoned. Ammo prices are shocking now. Seems to me it wasnt that long ago, Win silverbox was $23-28. Now its over $35.

If i was in your shoes....i would go to a big box store.that sells.ammo. Pick from the common ammo available,.in the caliber range your describing.

Bet its 270....maybe 6.5 creedmore. Creedmore would have more premium stuff, better chance of budget in 270.
 
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