Help me pick a calibre

cycbb486 said:
I have to say boring
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So do I.
30-06 is VERY boring.
If he didn't already own a 308 then a 30-06 would be a sound purchase.
But since he does have a 308 already why both with the '06, 100th Anniversary or not?
I wonder if anyone threw a party in 1989 for the 100th Anniversary of the .303 Brit?:rolleyes:
Here's a few good ones:
  • 270 WSM - if you can stand a smaller bore and want a flatter shootng round.
  • 280 Ackley - if you reload and want good bullet choice and a flatter shooter.
  • 325 WSM - significantly more grunt in a short action with a decent trajectory.
  • 338-06 - good thump and extended performance over the parent round.
  • 45-70 or 444 Marlin - for something completely different; short range serious whoop arse!:D
 
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walksalot said:
30-06 may be boring but the steaks taste so much better without all that magnumafication. :p :D
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Yes - and as you well know I am a huge fan of the old '06 - the "thing" is that he already owns a .308. As much as I like the cartridge the fact is that anything the 30-06 can do the 308 can nearly duplicate. Owning both is like owning two pick-up trucks with the only difference being that one is blue while the other is red! ;)

If you are going to own 2 trucks one should be an all-round 1/2 ton 4x4 while the other should be a 1 ton workhorse! :D
 
[QUOTE='Boo]Yes - and as you well know I am a huge fan of the old '06 - the "thing" is that he already owns a .308. As much as I like the cartridge the fact is that anything the 30-06 can do the 308 can nearly duplicate. Owning both is like owning two pick-up trucks with the only difference being that one is blue while the other is red! ;)

If you are going to own 2 trucks one should be an all-round 1/2 ton 4x4 while the other should be a 1 ton workhorse! :D
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[/QUOTE]

Well then sell the .308 :D
 
I would go more with the .444 or the 45-70 if your in forested areas more. Use iron sights with it to keep it simple. The .308 is a perfect "longer range" shots like in clear cuts.
I've got the 30-06 for the clearings and the .444 for the bush. If I feel like going for a long walk I'll pack the bush gun, if I want to sit, then the 30-06 comes along!
 
There are so many great cartridges out there, that I want to own someday. Off the top of my head, these are the ones that I want, buthave yet to own:

17 Ackley Hornet
221 Fireball
6mm PPC
6mm XC
6.5x284
260 Rem
284
7mm WSM
300 win mag
325 WSM
338 win mag
338 RUM
358
35 Norma
375 H&H
375 RUM
378 wby
416 Rigby
458 Lott
500 S&W
 
I have a 308 in a 99F and I have a 30-06 in a Remington 700. The Savage, no offence intended, being a lever action I hesitate to use to hot of a load in it. My 30-06 however I am a little more gutsy to approach a hotter load. I had a 300 win mag which I sold because my 30-06 is a pleasure to shoot.
 
If you are not going to sell the .308 right away, then look at a small bore center fire something like a .223, and maybe a real BIG centerfire, 416 Rigby in a No.1 would be fine.
Everyone needs to own one to say theyhave it, then go hunting with a .308!:D
Cat
 
If you have a .308 and intend to keep that then you really don't need a .30-06, although it is the single best all-around caliber for the game in these here parts. :eek:

But if you must get another rifle with my power then I'd recommend either a .338WM or .35 Whelan.

Both are great calibers and you should be able to find rifles and ammo to your liking and readily available too.

Great moose/elk/bear killers!!


That .30-06 you saw was at Stoney Creek Outfitting store in Whitecourt eh!? ;)
 
Unless you are handloading for the last bit of velocity there is not much to gain by choosing a 30-06 rather than a .308. If you want to go for an accurate long range rig then you need a bolt action. If you are thinking bigger game, then a 30 cal. is adequate for moose. If you are thinking about hunting big brown bears, .338 or .35. If you are thinking long range mountain shooting, then the 7mm mag. If you handload, you already have a.308 so you could stay with this cartridge for simplicity and it is very accurate. If you buy new ammo, your choices are limitless. Remember, a big magnum is unpleasant for some of us to shoot off the bench, particularly in a light rifle. Better to have a gun you are comfortable with than a cannon. I would consider the .35 Whelan for a bigger cartridge, that can be loaded down for bench shooting. Some of the big magnums shouldn't be loaded down. You can sight in with reduced loads and then adjust the point of aim with a few regular loads. If you go big, have a good recoil pad installed. You have a middle of the road cartridge in a good bush gun, you have to decide if you want to go up or down.
 
"you need to shoot a bolt action for accuracy" is a common misconception.
It is a fact that all you have to do is tune the rifle properly, be it bolt, crqack barrel, or falling block.
heck, even a pump or semi canbe made accurate.
it is only that a bolt action can be made to shoot accuratly a little easier sometimes, ( but not always)

I have been told that you need a bolt actiojn for 1K target shooting but have proved more than a few people wrong in that case also.

Cat
 
catnthehatt said:
"you need to shoot a bolt action for accuracy" is a common misconception.
It is a fact that all you have to do is tune the rifle properly, be it bolt, crqack barrel, or falling block.
heck, even a pump or semi canbe made accurate.
it is only that a bolt action can be made to shoot accuratly a little easier sometimes, ( but not always)

I have been told that you need a bolt actiojn for 1K target shooting but have proved more than a few people wrong in that case also.

Cat
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I don't think you will get any argument from anyone here with what you said but if one wants to push the envelope as to what a cartridge/rifle combination is capable of as far as spiceing up the load a bolt action is probably the strongest action. Truth be known the Remington 700 is probably the action alot of gunsmiths choose for custom built rifles. Most lever, pump and semi auto actions are simply not as strong, it is in their design. The Browning BLR and I do believe the Winchester Model 88 are exceptions to the rule.
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