FLEXIBLE rifle round

[hillbillydruggist]

I sold most of my long guns, and I am thinking about getting back into handloading.
I am going to focus on loading just this one caliber, it will be used for rats,coyotes,deer and 2 liter bottles, out to 300 yds.


only restriction is no wildcats, any suggestions?


thanks

 

[M29since14]

I don't know how big your deer may be, but rats are pretty small. Maybe a 243 Winchester?

 

[Tim357]

You're gonna get a grillion different suggestions, but here goes. .308 Win, hands down. Will do all you want and more.

 

[Anschutz]

I have two hunting rifles. A Savage .243 and a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. If I can't kill it with either of those, I'm probably in Africa or Jurassic Park.

 

[6518John]

I have almost come to the belief that the 7mm-08 is the perfect rifle round. For rats I would use some shot loads in your handguns, a pellet rifle or .22. 7mm will do for everything else.

 

[SMSgt]

I would suggest the 7x57mm but hardly anyone produces that in a current make. If I were shopping for a new rifle, it would be 7mm-08, which is very close to the 7x57 ballistic wise.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Hey,I like the 7X57 idea;but they are rarely seen nowadays.Maybe it's modern bro the 7mm08.Or if I can put in my $0.02,the 6.5X55 Sweedish.
The 120gr does wonder for varmint while the 160gr pencil like bullet penetrates easily through a 1500lbs moose.140gr is the perfect recipe for deer.
An accurate and light recoiling caliber too!

 

[mikeruns]

308 or 30-06....

 

[DWalt]

Assuming that you are asking for suggestions regarding a caliber that is suitable for most any purpose, you wouldn't go wrong in choosing either the .30-'06 or the .270 Winchester. The .308 Winchester might also be a caliber on the "A" list. My personal recommendation would be the .270 Winchester as a "one and only" caliber, especially if you will be a handloader. Excellent for use on any game, both large and small, found in the lower 48, a wide range of available bullet weights from 90 grains to 160 grains, flat shooting, and outstanding accuracy.

 

[RobertJ.]

My personal recommendation would be the .270 Winchester as a "one and only" caliber, especially if you will be a handloader. Excellent for use on any game, both large and small, found in the lower 48, a wide range of available bullet weights from 90 grains to 160 grains, flat shooting, and outstanding accuracy.

This is exactly what I was going to say. I have several high powered rifles, but my .270 is my varmint rifle that'll also take an elk.

 

[muddocktor]

I'll go with either the 260 Remington or the 6.5 Creedmore. Bullet weights from 85 grains to 160 grains and either are very accurate rounds out of an accurate bolt gun. Both cartridges are based off the 308 Winchester. The 260 Remington is simply a 308 case necked down to 6.5 mm. The Creedmore is a 308 case that has had the shoulder bumped back around 1/8 inch roughly and necked to 6.5 mm. If you want something in an autoloader, both can be chambered in the AR10 platform.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I would recommend one of the 6.5 rounds!

6.5x55 Swede is plenty for absolutely anything in that distance. Lapua and Norma make very fine ammo and brass. The brass can also be made from 30-06, 270Win, 280 Rem, 6mm Rem, 7 Mauser, 8 Mauser, & a few that aren't as popular worldwide!

6 and 6.5 Creedmoor has become popular, so brass has become readily available.

6 and 6.5 BR, 6 and 6.5 PPC, & 6 and 6.5 TCU have semi-wildcat status, but all will do what you are asking with great efficiency.

260 Rem and 7-08 have fallen into the "Has Been" category, good quality brass may become a problem, but you could make brass easily from Match 308 or Lapua's 308 Palma Match (Small Primer).

However you go, you should decide which of the bullets you want to shoot most and get the rifle with a twist to match that bullet. The 139/140 grain bullets use a very different twist than the 87/90 grain bullets! (don't really consider the 160 grain bullets, unless you are thinking of Rhino or quarrying rock!)

You may want to think about, how you plan on hunting. Either a light to medium stalking rifle, or a heavier rifle to use from a blind or bench. An 8 to 10 pound rifle is very heavy to carry through the hills stalking. A 6.5 mountain rifle beats the snot out of you for sustained varmint hunting!

There is no such thing as one rifle to do everything well! nor is there one cartridge. You will have to compromise somehow.

Ivan

(My compromise was to have several different rifles, handguns, and shotguns! I run from 17 cal pellet pistol to 450 Nitro Express double riffle, just to cover as many bases as I can!)

 

[STCM(SW)]

My choice is a 25-06. Will take small to large game and has no kick.
When hunting something big a 30-06 or my 340 WBY magnum.

 

[CH4]

The 260 Rem for a short action and 25-06 for a long action. Both were made for exactly what you want to do.

 

[hillbillydruggist]

I would recommend one of the 6.5 rounds!

6.5x55 Swede is plenty for absolutely anything in that distance. Lapua and Norma make very fine ammo and brass. The brass can also be made from 30-06, 270Win, 280 Rem, 6mm Rem, 7 Mauser, 8 Mauser, & a few that aren't as popular worldwide!

6 and 6.5 Creedmoor has become popular, so brass has become readily available.

6 and 6.5 BR, 6 and 6.5 PPC, & 6 and 6.5 TCU have semi-wildcat status, but all will do what you are asking with great efficiency.

260 Rem and 7-08 have fallen into the "Has Been" category, good quality brass may become a problem, but you could make brass easily from Match 308 or Lapua's 308 Palma Match (Small Primer).

However you go, you should decide which of the bullets you want to shoot most and get the rifle with a twist to match that bullet. The 139/140 grain bullets use a very different twist than the 87/90 grain bullets! (don't really consider the 160 grain bullets, unless you are thinking of Rhino or quarrying rock!)

You may want to think about, how you plan on hunting. Either a light to medium stalking rifle, or a heavier rifle to use from a blind or bench. An 8 to 10 pound rifle is very heavy to carry through the hills stalking. A 6.5 mountain rifle beats the snot out of you for sustained varmint hunting!

There is no such thing as one rifle to do everything well! nor is there one cartridge. You will have to compromise somehow.

Ivan

(My compromise was to have several different rifles, handguns, and shotguns! I run from 17 cal pellet pistol to 450 Nitro Express double riffle, just to cover as many bases as I can!)

7mm-08 had crossed my mind, thanks for the possible brass supply tip, I didn't realize that

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Well, for me it has always been the .30-06. I have loaded 200-grain JSP for 700-plus lb. bull elk. I have loaded 150-165 grain bullets for deer and antelope. I have loaded 110-130-grain bullets for coyotes and foxes. I have loaded single buckshot pellets over 5 grains Unique for pests and small game. I have cast my own 150, 170, 180, and 190 grain lead alloy bullets for loads from around 1400FPS to 2200FPS and used them on deer, rabbits, grouse, coyotes, and pests.

I have taken game animals at under 50 yards, and over 400 yards, all with one rifle. My 40-plus year old scope has a bullet drop compensator feature, and I know just where to dial it in for any of a dozen loads I have used over the years.

I also know the correct sight settings for the M1 Garand, 1903 Springfield, and 03-A3 Springfield when using many different loads.

At last glance I have about 400 rounds loaded ammo, over 1000 brass cases, about 4000 primers, half-a-dozen suitable powders, and a couple thousand bullets on hand. Probably won't need anything else for the duration.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I don't do Pa. Bear so a .243 has worked for me since 1980 (?) 70-105 grain for varmints and Deer......have thought about adding a .308 over the years ...... but looking in the safe I seem to have gravitated towards .223/5.56 as a more practical varmint round.

Given your list of intended "targets" .223 would be good for everything except the deer........as to the "rats" I think a .22mag or 17hrm would be a better choice than almost any non-wildcat centerfire round

Guess that's why golfers carry 14 clubs......


Option to think about, is an AR with 2-"X" uppers!

 

[H Richard]

By now you are probably thoroughly confused.. I will throw my preferences with the .243/6mm/6.5mm. These bullets are heavy enough for up to big whitetail, but can be loaded with small enough bullets for varmints and soda bottles out to 500 yards. Several of the newer 6.5 calibers show great promise for accuracy.

 

[nachogrande]

RATS - YOTES

223 Hands down! It's a NATO round/inexpensive to buy or load/ readily available & will get the job done. Bumping it up to include deer requires more thump & opens it up to MANY more choices. I'd ask do you want a long or short action round and pick one based on the 308 or 30-06 case. Necked up or down any caliber used based on those cases seem to be winners. I like the 25-06 due to the bullet wt selection, from a 75 gr HP to a 120 gr nosler partition @ 3000 - 3300 fps +/-, mild recoil, there isn't much it won't do. No dust on the 308 based calibers either.

 

[SuperMan]

Another vote for .308.... Ammo can be purchased anywhere. Tons of reloading data abound...and can be had in short action rifles which I prefer over long actions...

I have about a half dozen .308s... If I had just one rifle left for general shooting and big game it would be the Ruger GSR 18" stainless...

Bob