Most versatile chambering for handloaders?

I don't know if this has been suggested yet but: If max range is 400 yards and big animals, cast bullets and whatnot is on the menu, the 45-70 could fill the role. I however prefer bolt actions so to that end how about a 450 Marlin? Should fit in a short action, plenty of horsepower, and the long heavy lead slugs could be used too. As for trajectory, I like what an earlier poster had in mind; we dial up all the time shooting our high velocity rounds at long distances, it should be no big deal to do it closer in on a mortar round like the 45 calibers.

Edit: or the 458x2-1/2" if you don't want the wacky non standard belt on the Marlin case.
 
I don't know if this has been suggested yet but: If max range is 400 yards and big animals, cast bullets and whatnot is on the menu, the 45-70 could fill the role. I however prefer bolt actions so to that end how about a 450 Marlin? Should fit in a short action, plenty of horsepower, and the long heavy lead slugs could be used too. As for trajectory, I like what an earlier poster had in mind; we dial up all the time shooting our high velocity rounds at long distances, it should be no big deal to do it closer in on a mortar round like the 45 calibers.

Edit: or the 458x2-1/2" if you don't want the wacky non standard belt on the Marlin case.


Or.....the .458 WM, if the belt doesn't bother you! memtb
 
Most versatile with lead, jacketed and monos from 0-400yds for medium and larger game upto and including moose and the big bears? If I can only chose one of my rifles for that criteria, I'll choose the 30-06.

I've used it with 180 and 190grGC cast leads for reduced and full power loads, and for many years, used it with 165 and 180 jackets and monos at extended ranges with success. Also, it can be loaded with a few grains of pistol/shotgun powder under a 100/110gr carbine bullet for smaller game and with the .312 32 caliber pistol bullets for rabbits, squirrels, turkey etc. As a youth, it was my first deer rifle, and I even loaded the 110 spires to shoot crows, coyotes and such.

It was my first caliber to shoot Nat'l Match (Garand) and 1,000 yard, so with all the experience and memories associated with the 30-06, it would be my choice. YMMV
 
No it can't. Not unless you're handicapping the .300 WinMag with SAAMI pressure loads, and severely overpressuring the .30-06 Sprg. to the point of nearly rupturing the case or blowing a primer.
I think you're forgetting that the .300 Win Mag was developed 60 years after the .30-06, and the nominal pressures used in turn of the century rifles, with their metallurgy of the time, were pretty conservative. He didn't say that the '06 matched the the .300, he said that you can get pretty close with '06 handloads in a rife built with modern metallurgy, to a .300 off-the-shelf round. There's only about 4,000 psi difference in peak pressure between the two, and if it doesn't flatten the primer of a .300, it won't do so with an '06.

Taking it a little hotter in the '06 won't detonate a gun designed to proof at pressures well into the 70,000+ psi range. Hatcher drove some of the early pre-WW1 Springfields well past that without damage. (Not the ones that were built in a hurry during the war, with improper metallurgy) But yes, 25 grains higher case capacity is definitely going to benefit the .300 when both are handloaded.
 
And there's the apples to apples required to be taken seriously....

30-06 shooter:
"My handloaded ought six can match your Win Mag"

300 WM shooter:
"I handload too"

30-06 shooter:
*Crickets*
The obvious point being that you can approach Win Mag performance with an '06 if you handload - when comparing with commercial Win Mag. Can you go up with Win Mag, too? Of course - the case is higher capacity. By the same token, a higher capacity case means far more powder to achieve the same result, heavier recoil, greater expense, etc. It's not cut and dried. The same argument holds for the .458, which has ~the same case capacity as the .300 Win Mag.
 
I don't know if this has been suggested yet but: If max range is 400 yards and big animals, cast bullets and whatnot is on the menu, the 45-70 could fill the role. I however prefer bolt actions so to that end how about a 450 Marlin? Should fit in a short action, plenty of horsepower, and the long heavy lead slugs could be used too. As for trajectory, I like what an earlier poster had in mind; we dial up all the time shooting our high velocity rounds at long distances, it should be no big deal to do it closer in on a mortar round like the 45 calibers.

Edit: or the 458x2-1/2" if you don't want the wacky non standard belt on the Marlin case.

I own a Marlin 1895 Guide Gun in 45-70, truly respect that round to 400 yards. Another round that has not been mentioned and oftentimes is left out of this equation is the 450 Marlin. It may not be as popular, however I do consider it to be a formidable cartridge that will chuck heavy cast bullets respectively. And..... it ought to feed quite well in a bolt gun that will handle far more pressure than a lever gun.
 
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