Which cal. would be the best for an all around general purpose rifle for fun, and hunting anything from large varmints to Elk, with the majority being deer. Right now I am thinking .270 wsm, .280 maybe ackley, 7mm wsm, 7mm magnum, 30-06, or 300 wsm. I like the short action light rifles of the wsm, and from what I hear the ability to load to standard cartidge velocities and still have great accuracy while practicing. Then crank them back up for hunting purposes.
I want something bigger than my 270 but I am not a huge fan of recoil, although my buddies 338 isn't that bad when taken in small doses, but something a little stronger than my 270 might be more interesting.
From what I have read most people think that the 30-06 is the best generalist, and I wouldn't have a problem owning one. I think it would be a tad more interesting than my 270, and I am sure that every deer I ever took with the 270 would have been just as easily taken with a 30-06. The 30-06 would give me a little edge with the bigger critters also. The wsm line looks really cool though. So what do you guys think?
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"Mister, we deal in lead" Steve McQueen, in The Magnificent Seven
I'd fret the projectile,more than the chambering................
Stick what about the 7MM-08.
I hear it works well.(grin)
Point bein',I'd much prefer a 7-08 stoked with the best,than an UltraBitchin' stoked with lesser offerings.
No secret I dote on the 7-08/X combo and think the V-Max is great for practice/play...................
Sounds like you need some flavour of a 30 cal magnum.......300 Winchester?.......125 Ballistic Tips for varmints and a "good" 180 for bigger stuff....if you didn't have the 270, I'd say 7mm Rem Mag....but you've got it.
358,350 rem mag,35 whelen?
you can shoot round balls, cast pistol/rifle, 110 gr hp pistol bullets up to 250 barnes. (assuming one reloads.)
if not 30/06, 308
Has anyone had any luck with the 125 B-Tips in a larger 30 Cal case? I tried them a little in an '06 and never found a real suitable load. Besides there seems to be too much dinking with scope settings. Sean
I bought a 270 WSM two years ago. I also own several 30-06 and a 25-06. It is now my go-to-gun. 140g TSX at 3300+fps have more foot/lbs energy than any of the 30-06 loads and shoot a lot flatter.
Load some 100-110-120grain loads for varmits. 130g loads for deer or speedgoats. 140g-150g for elk.
Factory loaded round are showing up in a wide variaty of flavors if you don't reload. It is a very easy to load for round if you do reload.
It appears to be the real success story in the WSM line up. Maybe because there are only 2 competitors in the 270caliber vs how many 30 caliber magnums?
30-06, 308, 280, 7mm-08 In that order. If you reload you can really use these calibers for anything. If you do not reload then I would really look toward the 06 simply because there is so much ammo available. I personally have not been real impressed with the short mags. Just another opinion though..good luck in your decision.
An all around fun gun shopuld have mild enough recoil that it is pleasant to shoot a lot rather than something you just tolerate. Of course recoil tolerance is personal and very different for different folks.
Probably the single most versatile cartridge is the 30-06. It has all the factors you are looking for including fairly mild recoil. It is however, obviously a long action proposition. A 308 comes to mind as a great choice in a short action gun with plenty of punch while maintaining mild recoil. Actually there are plenty of light rifles available out there in 30-06. They will just be about 3/4" longer than the short action offerings.
A magnum caliber is not necessary for your application but if you have the hots for one go for it and good on ya.
JimF
Keep the 270 (I hear Stick LOVES them <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) & stoke it with some Barnes XXX's. I don't believe you'll find it lacking........
badger
I've been gathering the making's for such a rifle myself over the last month. I'm doing mine on a stainless M70 featherweight in 30-06. It's a relatively new rifle for me but has accounted for deer, bear, antelope and elk so far. It wears a Leupold VXII 2x7 in low (silver) Burris Zee's on steel Weaver-style bases (JB-Welded to receiver). For back-up open sights I just got an NECG rear sight and Ashley front with a Marbles true-glow type blade. Barrel is going to be shortened to 21". I just got my Bansner stock Monday. I'll install a 3/4" Decelerator, shorten the forearm and have it painted in Zolatone. With an Uncle Mike's "Mountain Sling" and five rounds the rifle should come in just under 8lbs. Goodnuff.
Knight, I'd go with the 30-06. The 06 is a great all around cartridge and most people find its recoil to be quite tolerable. I have no experience with the 280, however it is a lot less common and offers far less factory loaded options (of course if you load your own this doesnt apply). The 7mm's and 300 mag's, while being excellent cartridges, have quite a bit more recoil compared to the 06 in my opinion. With the right load and proper bullet placement the 06 will be able to take down most non-dangerous game in The United States and Canada including: Moose, Elk, Deer, varmints, exc. I would recommend a 180 gr. premium bullet for the larger game (Moose , Elk, exc.) and a 150 - 165 gr. premium for the smaller (Deer, exc.). I have no experience with varmint hunting, but Im sure a rapid expanding 150 gr. polymer tip or hollow point would work just fine. Good luck and happy hunting.
The Avid Outdoorsman
I would just stick with what you have. Better varmint bullets than the larger calibers if you really intend to use it for varmints.
Stick said it, the bullet is what is important.......what will 31/1,000 of an inch larger diameter do that you can't do now? I'm more concerned with bullet construction that's suitable for the velocity I'm shooting.
For mostly deer and the occasional elk or varmint.....your setup now! If you just have the itch to trade or try a new style rifle or stock, then by all means have fun playing with something different.
HogWild
FWIW:
HogWild is right, the 270 Win is still great and fills the bill.
But . . . . . . a 308 will also fit your needs. Add that LOTS of CHEAP practice ammo is available. I just ordered 1000 rounds delivered for 135.00. 13.5 cents a shot is cheaper than any reloaded round I can calculate.
Just my 2 cents . . . .
BMT
I started with a 30 / 06 and shot it at varmints and deer with
150 sierras. Nice gun, but you noticed the recoil after shooting ground squirrels for a day. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Got a Pre - war M70 270 years later....... A LOT more fun to shoot all day <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
For general shooting, stay with the .270, you will have more fun.
Anything between a 7mm and a 300 mag. My personal choice would be a .300 H&H, but that's me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Thanks, for all of the advice. I know that any of the cartridges you all have mentioned would do the trick for me. I think that I am kind of teetering on the edge of the 30-06, or the 280, again maybe Ackley. I do reload so the Ackley wouldn't be much of a problem, except on days that I really want to go shooting but have been to lazy to have cases prepaired in advance. An Ackley would give me something interesting to play with, the .270 is no longer a mystery and has become boring, but I do remember how it could be frustrating trying to find a great load for a given bullet, but when I think about it the range time was almost as much fun as hunting.
Almost forgot to mention that I will not be selling the .270, I have put too much time and work into getting shooting, and besides I have children that might appreciate it in a few years, and guns don't seem to be bucking inflation.
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"Mister, we deal in lead" Steve McQueen, in The Magnificent Seven
LoneEagle, try 110 V-max's with H322 in your 30-06. It's an incredible combination!
A 338 Win Mag works for me using Leupold 6x42 with Post Duplex reticle. Total weight of rifle and scope is less than 8 lbs.
A load of 36 grains of Blue Dot behind a 180 and presto** instant "06 with less recoil.
Load the the 225 AccuBs for long range elk and use the 250
NP Golds for splittin running yellow rumps up close.
I can also make the 185 triple X hit 3,200 fps as well.
Any angle, bring it on with the 338.
If I didnt have this rifle combo my pick would be a 270 WSM
using Nosler 140 Accubonds for everything.
Since you reload, how about a 30-06 Ackley. Properly set up you can use factory loads with just a little loss of velocity and still have enough powder capacity to drive those 180 and 200 gr bullets for the big stuff or really zing those 125 gr bullets out there.
Well just going but the title - I would have to say the 300wm. I really agree with the article on this round avail from this forums home page- can be loaded to 06 type of recoil and then stout enough for all but the largest bears. Cliche but that doesn't mean its not true.
But if a SA is set on I would still have to say 308- get ammo everywhere.
I'd have to go with the .30-06, it can do anything reasonably asked of it AND you can find ammo at any podunk gas station if needed in an emergency.
Mark
Frankly, my friend... there is NO true SINGLE "all-around" cartridge... one cartridge just can't "do-it-all" perfectly well. It definitely takes two different cartridges to handle ALL the big game in North America.
I hunted for 40 years with the .338 Win. Mag. and, honestly, while it will kill deer quite well, it is too much cartridge for mule or whitetail deer and antelope, but it's just fine for any of the larger big game in North America including the big bears.
Now that I only hunt whitetails out of my hunting buddy's deer camp in the mountains of north-central Pennsylvania (Moshannon State Forest), I use my quick-handling Savage Model 99 lever-action rifle in .300 Savage caliber... it's all the cartridge I need.
By the same token, the .30/06 is a great cartridge... and close to an "all-around" cartridge, but all you have to do is look at what the professional Alaskan guides use (.338 Win. Mags & .375 H&H Mags.) and that will tell you that the .30/06 is a bit light for the big bears.
You don't need another rifle unless you include the big bears on your hunting menu. Your .270 Winchester will take down any game in N. America, but if you just "want" another rifle, then you'd be smart to get a .338 Win. Magnum
cause it will easily handle anything your .270 won't... including the big bears. It would also be a great choice to use on elk, caribou and moose as well, but your .270 with 150 grain Nosler Partitions or similar premium bullets is "enough gun" for non-dangerous game like elk, caribou and moose if that's the only caliber you have.
If you don't go for the big bears, then use the .270... it's a great cartridge and does everything from antelope to moose pretty well plus it's a bit flatter shooting than the .30/06 for longer range shooting. Just make sure you choose the right bullet weight and construction for the game you're after... and you'll never have to look back. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Strength & Honor...
Ron T.
A .338 Win Mag has very similar trajectory to .270 Win in factory loads. You already have an excellent rifle for the use you describe, but if you want another rifle the .338 would be my pick. If you can't kill it with a .270, you probably can't kill it with a .30-06 either.
If you don't like recoil (and I don't) you might consider a BAR in .338. Never had one myself, but my .308 was a tack driver, and quite reliable as long as I didn't create a problem for it with cruddy ammo etc.
nothing can touch the AR-15 for versatility. It can be 300 Whisper, .30 AK, .50 bmg, 223, 458 SOCOMM, .22lr, whatever you want. :-) all it takes is pull out 2 pins, attach the desired-caliber upper, push back the 2 pins, insert mag, and cycle the bolt. Presto, all different potential, takes a whole 20 seconds to execute a caliber swap. Sights go with the caliber, handling, trigger pull, stay the same, with the exception of the .50 bmg upper. That definitely feels a bit different. If shooting that one much, best sleeve the pin holes with steel inserts. :-) Best also have a hellva muzzlebrake.
I'd fret the projectile,more than the chambering................
Here here. Your basicly talking variations on a theme.
Your .270 will do just fine.
When I first saw your thread I was thinking another answer,
General purpose, all in one rifle Answer being not a
rifle at all, but a 12ga. pump!
But reading on, you don't appear to be looking for a one
gun for all scenario
Well here is my opinion and one in which I can't wait to build as soon as funds are available to me. It will fit your bill except one criteria and thats recoil. While I have never shot it I have heard its up there like the 338 mag or more. Well its the great 8mm rem mag. Will do anything in NA and africa. Talk about versital round. People will tell you there are no good bullets available as there are plenty of good ones. You just have to reload to get the good stuff as you reload its a moot point. Its also not a common caliber so it kind of cool in that regards. Well good luck but if truth be told your 270 is great you just need to load up some 140 TSX and never look back.
Brian
.30-06. Period. One gun? For everything conceivable? '06. It's already been there, done that - hundreds of times over.
Want more reasons? Easily reloadable. Easy to shoot. Plenty of range and power. Myriad of factory loads for anything that walks, crawls, and most of what flies. Cartridges available anywhere the sun comes up.
True, settling on a .30-06 for a "one gun battery" is like settling on drinking only water for the rest of your life. It might lack the flavor of some others, and certainly some of the flair, but in the end, it does exactly what it needs to, every time. For a one gun battery, that's exactly what you want.
Probably pick one of these three rifles to do it in too: Winchester Model 70; Remington Model 700; Ruger Model 77. Damned near unbreakable. Easily fixable. Parts available almost anywhere. Accurate. Reliable. Field manageable.
Federal High Energy ammunition with a good bullet will transform your 270 into something more powerful. The possible downside is the Federal HE and the Hornady Light Magnum ammo can't be used in semiauto rifles. So, if your 270 is a bolt gun, you can apply your rifle savings to a hunting trip.
Well I decided to buy my friends .338 winmag, I know it wasn't one of the choices that I was considering, but he let me have it for $500 which is $100 off what he paid last year(I was there when he bought it), and it only has 35 factory loads through it. I figure what the heck he needs the money and I need something new to play around with, and if I find I really don't like it I can always sell it later for close to what I paid for it. The other good point is that it is a M70 classic stainless, just like my .270, so it is somewhat familiar in feel.
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"Mister, we deal in lead" Steve McQueen, in The Magnificent Seven
Well...Congratulations on your new rifle. Make it easy to shoot at the range by using a Past recoil pad (wear it over your shirt). Then use some of the factory ammo to kill an elk, and I bet you will be impressed as long as you hit the right spot on the elk. The .338WM was introduced as "The Alaskan," even though there were not too many bullets available for it back then. Nowadays all manufacturers have bullets for it, starting at 160 grains all the way to 300. The Alaskan is perhaps the most popular cartridge in Alaska, up there with the .30-06 and the .300WM.
Practice with it often, and it won't let you down. But remember to tame it's recoil by wearing a Past or similar recoil pad over your shoulder, pull it tight against your shoulder when you press the trigger, and always keep a couple of inches between the eyebrow and the scope. Leupold scopes are great, because they have lots of eye relief. No need to go to the range and shoot it all day. The best way is to shoot it about six or seven times, go home and clean it, then come back in a day or two and do the same. Continue learning how to shoot it as you skip a couple or three days between, and just for fun place a couple of milk jugs full of water, one at 100 yards and the other at 200. See how many shots will take for you to hit each, and continue practicing that way every few days. The idea is to learn as much as you can about your rifle without being afraid of it, so later all you have to do is aim properly, gently squeeze the trigger, and let the bullet do its work. Once you drop a moose or another large animal with it, then another, your rifle will become your friend. I have found that's the case with mine.
The .338 WinMag is a nice round. I had one, but sold it. I liked the round, just never bonded with the rifle (an A-Bolt).
I found full house handloads pushing 250s to near 2800 fps to be unpleasant after about 10 rounds. A fun and easy shooting load I used for practice was 50gr RL15 under a 250gr Hornady. Gave around 2270 fps/2800 ft-lbs energy, was accurate, and easy to shoot 100 plus at a time.
MM