Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles General purpose, all in one rifle

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?

______________________

"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.


______________________

"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.