Rifle Caliber- Which would you choose?

[Buckmaster7600]

I love these discussions, there really isn't a bad choice. With bullet technology the smaller ones that used to be borderline are now great . The old reliables are only better. There are guys like me who are still looking for the perfect cartridge and most all of us know that there isn't one but it sure is fun buying new guns and looking for it.

[philoshop]

Maybe I'll spend my money on some new bullets for the .243. I'm still using 1980's bullet technology. :-[

And maybe a new stock with a collapsible butt and a pistol grip. :-}

[airedale]

A 270 or 280 would be my choice in a bolt action light weight sporter with a 22 inch barrel.

 

Al

[chas0218]

I do have to say that in the .284 and .30 bullet sizes there are a lot of bullet weights and designs to choose from compared to others. That is what is driving my decision on my next firearm.

[Pygmy]

Yeah Chas...That is why I went with the .280 Rem over the .270 many years ago when I was buying my "one and only" big game rifle....Ha-Ha-Ha....  Silly ME !!....

 

I've added a bunch since then, but I must admit the .280 has served me well..I've used it to kill everything from woodchucks to Alaska bull moose at all ranges up to 400 yards.  I reckon I made a pretty good choice.

[thphtm]

Some day I will take a picture of my custom .280 , A bolt action , Hart 24 inch bbl. with a brake , H and S stock , glass bedded. Nice 2 pound trigger , shoots bug holes at 100 no problem.

Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk

[Pygmy]

thphtm, on 21 Jan 2016 - 5:49 PM, said:

Some day I will take a picture of my custom .280 , A bolt action , Hart 24 inch bbl. with a brake , H and S stock , glass bedded. Nice 2 pound trigger , shoots bug holes at 100 no problem.

Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk

Sounds like  sweet rig....Even though I AM a blued steel and walnut type of guy...<<grin>>...

[nobody]

From your list only, I would pick the .338.   All the other listed caliber,s would certainly give you problem.s if the

only shot you had was a going away angle entry shot.  I would say that in close, the other mentioned caliber,s could

 work for you on a broadside shot. These caliber,s all have killed Elk and Moose.

 

 Now, all but the .338,  caliber,s mentioned from your list on a broadside shot if your aim is off a little and you hit the animal,s

shoulder blade bone , your in big trouble.  All of the lighter mentioned cal,s in your list could and usually have most often blown up on the shoulder bone.

 Where as the .338 would get through this bone to reach vital kill area,s.

 

 There are other caliber,s I could mention but I stayed with your list as you asked.

Hope this help,s.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

From your list only, I would pick the .338.   All the other listed caliber,s would certainly give you problem.s if the

only shot you had was a going away angle entry shot.  I would say that in close, the other mentioned caliber,s could

 work for you on a broadside shot. These caliber,s all have killed Elk and Moose.

 

 Now, all but the .338,  caliber,s mentioned from your list on a broadside shot if your aim is off a little and you hit the animal,s

shoulder blade bone , your in big trouble.  All of the lighter mentioned cal,s in your list could and usually have most often blown up on the shoulder bone.

 Where as the .338 would get through this bone to reach vital kill area,s.

 

 There are other caliber,s I could mention but I stayed with your list as you asked.

Hope this help,s.

The calibers he listed are not up to task in the range listed for anything other than a perfect broadside hitting no bone? Come on

Edited February 10, 2016 by Culvercreek hunt club

[Pygmy]

I shot a big Alaska bull moose broadside ( running) with my .280 Rem and a 160 grain Nosler partition.

 

The bullet went through the shoulder blade, hit the spine, deflected 90 degrees straight up and blew a tennis ball sized exit hole in the top of the hump.  The bull actually somersaulted...Pretty impressive to see a 1200 to 1400 pound animal somersault !

 

Nowadays I use Barnes X type bullets for nearly all my hunting loads.  They outperform even the time tested Nosler Partition.

 

With modern bonded and monometal bullet selections , raking shots are a viable option with standard chamberings, like those mentioned by the OP.

[Buckmaster7600]

From your list only, I would pick the .338. All the other listed caliber,s would certainly give you problem.s if the

only shot you had was a going away angle entry shot. I would say that in close, the other mentioned caliber,s could

work for you on a broadside shot. These caliber,s all have killed Elk and Moose.

Now, all but the .338, caliber,s mentioned from your list on a broadside shot if your aim is off a little and you hit the animal,s

shoulder blade bone , your in big trouble. All of the lighter mentioned cal,s in your list could and usually have most often blown up on the shoulder bone.

Where as the .338 would get through this bone to reach vital kill area,s.

There are other caliber,s I could mention but I stayed with your list as you asked.

Hope this help,s.

Lol

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I shot a big Alaska bull moose broadside ( running) with my .280 Rem and a 160 grain Nosler partition.

 

The bullet went through the shoulder blade, hit the spine, deflected 90 degrees straight up and blew a tennis ball sized exit hole in the top of the hump.  The bull actually somersaulted...Pretty impressive to see a 1200 to 1400 pound animal somersault !

 

Nowadays I use Barnes X type bullets for nearly all my hunting loads.  They outperform even the time tested Nosler Partition.

 

With modern bonded and monometal bullet selections , raking shots are a viable option with standard chamberings, like those mentioned by the OP.

I honestly think that most horror stories, that get accepted as gospel, about modern calibers and poor performance is a case of bad bullet selection and  bad shot placement. 

[Buckmaster7600]

I honestly think that most horror stories, that get accepted as gospel, about modern calibers and poor performance is a case of bad bullet selection and bad shot placement.

I think bullet selection is one of the most over looked aspects of gun hunting. Most are worried about the smallest groups but what a bullet does once it's there is what kills the critter.

[wildcat junkie]

8X57 IS as loaded in Europe of hand loaded to "adult" pressure W/200gr bullets will handle any hooved North American game animal in any situation out to 300+ yards & would in all likelihood handle big bears if it had to in a defensive situation.

 

The 8mm-06 Ackley Improved I am going to start working on will do the same to 400+ yards on ungulates & also handle any of the great bears W/3800 ft# of ME. 200gr bullets @ 2950 fps, 220s @ 2800 fps.

 

8X57 IS on the left, 8mm-06 A.I. on the right.

Edited February 10, 2016 by wildcat junkie

[nobody]

On the lighter caliber,s he mentioned I am saying what your hunting guide would tell you. The potential for shoulder bone

blow up,s are very high. Your guide would tell you to use the .338 so the odd,s of this happening would not be a worry..

 

 What is this forum a game to see who can make the most fun out of each other or are we putting in the known facts to answer the gentlemen,s question,s. .

 The answer lol does not fit in this Forum. It set up a out of order opinion that your thinking you have all the answers. Fact is, none of us do.

[shawnhu]

I think bullet selection is one of the most over looked aspects of gun hunting. Most are worried about the smallest groups but what a bullet does once it's there is what kills the critter.

But first, you must place it "there" wherever there may be.

X-Calibur Lighting Systems

http://facebook.com/XCaliburLightingSystems

[shawnhu]

On the lighter caliber,s he mentioned I am saying what your hunting guide would tell you. The potential for shoulder bone

blow up,s are very high. Your guide would tell you to use the .338 so the odd,s of this happening would not be a worry..

What is this forum a game to see who can make the most fun out of each other or are we putting in the known facts to answer the gentlemen,s question,s. .

The answer lol does not fit in this Forum. It set up a out of order opinion that your thinking you have all the answers. Fact is, none of us do.

Froggy, this forum is like a dysfunctional family, we all make fun of one another. That's just how we roll.

X-Calibur Lighting Systems

http://facebook.com/XCaliburLightingSystems

Edited February 10, 2016 by shawnhu

[Buckmaster7600]

But first, you must place it "there" wherever there may be.

X-Calibur Lighting Systems

http://facebook.com/XCaliburLightingSystems

Absolutely, my point was that the most accurate bullet might not be the best bullet for the job. I would rather have an inch hole 2 inches from where I was aiming as to a 1/4" hole where I was aiming.

[nobody]

Shawnhu and member,s,

 I am Irish and I do joke around at time,s.  I guess I as a new member I,.m still feeling the club out!!

.

Sorry guy.s for being to serious but it,s from being into hunting for over 40 year,s .  This is effecting my response judgement with you younger hunters

that you guy,s do like to  have fun .. Except my apology .

 Over my year,s into the hunting sport I have experienced so many different aspect,s of the hunting sport. Iv,e trapped, did the reloading aspect of it. I have taken so many

legal deer that I,ve  lost count.  I,ve learned from the wood,s how to go in and out without the need of a compass. The wood,s on your trek in has all kind,s of memory markers

you can use to follow back out with. I have learned from the taking of deer that when you think you know it all , you truly do not. There is always something new to learn.. This knowledge that 

took so long for me to learn, I can pass on to all the younger hunter,s in this good Forum if I can at time,s  if requested.. Same as you guy,s do for each other.

 

   Sitting quietly in the wood,s rather up against a tree or in a tree stand I always have taken in the beauty and sound,s of nature around me. This I have learned is my most important thing I have gotten from the sport over the taking of game.  Solitude and feeling,s of a great peace with nature.Take a moment when your alone while enjoying this hunting sport to take in the great beauty she,s show,s to you , mother nature. I get the same feeling,s when I trout fish a quiet flowing stream in the wood,s around me. This is our sport that we must protect that no one can take away from us. Support you hunting club,s, join the N.R.A.. Teach the younger one,s this sport either brother,s or sister,s or a neighbor,s kid. If we do not do this , we will lose to the anti-gunner,s . It is so important now that you do this as younger hunters so that there will alway,s be an opening day.

 

[wildcat junkie]

I do have to say that in the .284 and .30 bullet sizes there are a lot of bullet weights and designs to choose from compared to others. That is what is driving my decision on my next firearm.

 

 

Yeah Chas...That is why I went with the .280 Rem over the .270 many years ago when I was buying my "one and only" big game rifle....Ha-Ha-Ha....  Silly ME !!....

 

I've added a bunch since then, but I must admit the .280 has served me well..I've used it to kill everything from woodchucks to Alaska bull moose at all ranges up to 400 yards.  I reckon I made a pretty good choice.

I had one of those pretty bullet chart posters at a few years back. I think it was Sierra.

 

They offered a wider choice of .284 bullets than .308 bullets. .277 has one of the smallest choices of bullets available.

 

That being said, why in the world did Winchester even bother W/the 270 WSM? And why didn't they learn from Remington's 7mm-06/7mm Express/280 Remington debacle when it was discovered that a low spec 7mm-06 cartridge could possibly chamber in a high spec 270 rifle? (yes, it did start out as the 7mm-06 and there are boxes of ammo about)

 

Winchester had to delay the release of the superior 7mm WSM in order to move the shoulder forward just like Remington had to do W/the 7mm Express/280. More thinks they need more "gun guys" & less MBAs in the corporate ladder!

Edited February 11, 2016 by wildcat junkie

[Lawdwaz]

Larry...There goes your memory ! I happen to recall at least ONE deer that you killed with the .260 Rem.

You posted the picture on here..

 

HA!

 

You are right sir but it was two deer, not one with the 260Remington.  I only have a picture of one, the other was shot in the late afternoon the following year,  

 

You know what, I just remembered EVEN more, I have killed with the .308 too.  I'm not sure how many deer but for sure I killed a buck in PA and an 8pt and doe in Texas.  The PA buck could have been 1981 and for sure the Texas deer were in 1982.

 

OK Shawn, I'll admit it......................................I'm losing it.

 

The easy pic to find is of the first 260 Remington kill, it was a great day!

 

Edited February 11, 2016 by Lawdwaz