Looking for a versatile cartridge

[Mike D Texas]

308 will by far be the most versatile of your list. 110-240 grain bullets available as well as subsonic and supersonic.
Lots of folks talk down about the .308 but there isn't a better utility cartridge available.

 

[300grains]

.308

 

[skipglo]

Hello there.
To sum it up, I'm willing to replace my 22-250.
75% of the use or the rifle will be shooting at deer, at distances comprised between 80 and 150 yds. The rest will be shooting deer at 250-300yds, and hogs in the Woods at less than 50yds.
The 22-250 is nice for the first 75% because at those distances i Can confidently go for a neck/headshot. But I'm not good enough a shot to do that at longer distances, and a lung/heart shot won't do it with that cartridge. Also, close range shots at hogs are no good : bullet fragmentation leadind to no exit hole (and hard tracking of the animal) and lots of meat damage.
So what I'm looking for is a cartridge with good enough ballistics to shoot at up to 300 yards without too much thinking, and whose bullets won't fragment and will expand properly on a 30yards shot.

Criterias are :
- versatility
- light recoil
- moderate velocity (i think ?)
- ammo availability ( i don't reload cuz no Time)
- barrel lifespan.

The most serious contenders are probably 7mm08, .308, .270.., but I might be missing something.

Thanks in avance for tour advice.

Best regards

All three are good choices ...but what about .243...? You are only shooting small game and my granddaughter shoots a 243. The deer drop in their tracks to 400. Farthest she shot. Ultra light, and quick.

 

[73driver]

It sounds like between ammo availability and your other criteria that the 270 is your best choice (ammo availability trumps other two choices). The 7-08 and 308 are also good choices, 7-08 lightest recoil and 270-308 equal recoil and a bit more than 7-08. Comes down to which one you can get ammo for.

 

[bigred1]

257 Robert's AI. Low recoil, but can be loaded to hit heavy. IMHO.

 

[greenejc]

Hello there.
To sum it up, I'm willing to replace my 22-250.
75% of the use or the rifle will be shooting at deer, at distances comprised between 80 and 150 yds. The rest will be shooting deer at 250-300yds, and hogs in the Woods at less than 50yds.
The 22-250 is nice for the first 75% because at those distances i Can confidently go for a neck/headshot. But I'm not good enough a shot to do that at longer distances, and a lung/heart shot won't do it with that cartridge. Also, close range shots at hogs are no good : bullet fragmentation leadind to no exit hole (and hard tracking of the animal) and lots of meat damage.
So what I'm looking for is a cartridge with good enough ballistics to shoot at up to 300 yards without too much thinking, and whose bullets won't fragment and will expand properly on a 30yards shot.

Criterias are :
- versatility
- light recoil
- moderate velocity (i think ?)
- ammo availability ( i don't reload cuz no Time)
- barrel lifespan.

The most serious contenders are probably 7mm08, .308, .270.., but I might be missing something.

Thanks in avance for tour advice.

Best regards

I'd go with the .308 Win or the 30-06, leaning very much more to the 30-06. The .308 will easily launch a 180 grain bullet at 2550+/-, but the 30-06 will go up to 200gr+ at 2550fps, and is good for just about anything you could hunt in the Western hemisphere and most African game. Its even a good varmint round in heavy barreled rifles with a 125 grain or lighter bullet. The 270 is also extremely versitile, but a little light for the really big stuff. All three rounds are available nearly anywhere in the world, and available in several different bullet weights. Where do you hunt that allows you to use a 22-250 on deer? Just curious.

 

[greenejc]

It sounds like between ammo availability and your other criteria that the 270 is your best choice (ammo availability trumps other two choices). The 7-08 and 308 are also good choices, 7-08 lightest recoil and 270-308 equal recoil and a bit more than 7-08. Comes down to which one you can get ammo for.

Actually, the .308 has the advantage over the .270 in ammo availability, due to its adoption by NATO as the 7.62x51. The 270 and the 30-06 are also much more readily available than the 7mm-08.

 

[73driver]

Actually, the .308 has the advantage over the .270 in ammo availability, due to its adoption by NATO as the 7.62x51. The 270 and the 30-06 are also much more readily available than the 7mm-08.

Did you read the part where the poster lives on an Island in the West PAC and has limited ammo options?

 

[greenejc]

Thanks for the input.
Both my shoulders got dislocated during rugby games. Hence the need of soft recoil. 30-06 would hit too hard, that's why I didn't consider it in the first place.

I just read the first question. Didn't see the recoil sensitive part. Go with either the 308 or the -06 loaded with 150 or 165 grain bullets and a MV of around 2700fps. You might also use a 24" heavy sporter barrel, and a muzzle brake. Savage used to make a brake that could be turned on or off. An adjustable brake would allow you to shoot a heavier bullet from the bench and not notice the recoil in whatever caliber you wanted to use. You could then close it off and save your hearing while hunting.

 

[dwinmeade]

Have you look at any 6.5s?

FINALLY, someone mentioned the 6.5 Grendel. Ballisticly, this rivals a 243 and if you reload it up with a Barnes 100g (or the 120g) TTSX bullet and the killing effect now rivals a 6.5CM.

This little 'gem' meets all your criteria, except the current factory loads, as the availability of any premium factory ammo is tough to find.

Ammo supply solution:
Get yourself a simple reloading setup and make your own ammo. Then your ammo supply will be limited by you, not the corporate ammo makers or by the world's dilemmas.

 

[Glenn Tullius]

Hello there.
To sum it up, I'm willing to replace my 22-250.
75% of the use or the rifle will be shooting at deer, at distances comprised between 80 and 150 yds. The rest will be shooting deer at 250-300yds, and hogs in the Woods at less than 50yds.
The 22-250 is nice for the first 75% because at those distances i Can confidently go for a neck/headshot. But I'm not good enough a shot to do that at longer distances, and a lung/heart shot won't do it with that cartridge. Also, close range shots at hogs are no good : bullet fragmentation leadind to no exit hole (and hard tracking of the animal) and lots of meat damage.
So what I'm looking for is a cartridge with good enough ballistics to shoot at up to 300 yards without too much thinking, and whose bullets won't fragment and will expand properly on a 30yards shot.

Criterias are :
- versatility
- light recoil
- moderate velocity (i think ?)
- ammo availability ( i don't reload cuz no Time)
- barrel lifespan.

The most serious contenders are probably 7mm08, .308, .270.., but I might be missing something.

Thanks in avance for tour advice.

Best regards

There are many, but your criteria begs for the 308 Win. Tons of ammo available everywhere, reasonable recoil, plenty of rifles to choose from also. I've shot 30-40 deer out to your range, and boar hog at 100. Plenty of well constructed bullets for everything! good luck!

 

[Tripodmvr7]

1. Availability - 308 top choice worldwide
2. Killing power - .30 calibres shine with tough game
3. Recoil - 308 with 150gr will be light on the shoulder
4. Meat saver - less meat damage with a 308 than a 270 Win - shoot a buck on the shoulder and you have bloody meat from nose to arse.

 

[greenejc]

Did you read the part where the poster lives on an Island in the West PAC and has limited ammo options?

Pretty sure the military for Australia and New Zealand use the .308 win. They did the last time my unit trained with them. The .308 is good for 400 meters on Whitetail, and low recoil. The 270 or the 7mm-08 are both good for what he wants, too. And no, I didn't read the part about New Calidonia until you brought it to my attention, so thanks. I'd still go with .308 Win.

 

[RayClarke]

Hello there.
To sum it up, I'm willing to replace my 22-250.
75% of the use or the rifle will be shooting at deer, at distances comprised between 80 and 150 yds. The rest will be shooting deer at 250-300yds, and hogs in the Woods at less than 50yds.
The 22-250 is nice for the first 75% because at those distances i Can confidently go for a neck/headshot. But I'm not good enough a shot to do that at longer distances, and a lung/heart shot won't do it with that cartridge. Also, close range shots at hogs are no good : bullet fragmentation leadind to no exit hole (and hard tracking of the animal) and lots of meat damage.
So what I'm looking for is a cartridge with good enough ballistics to shoot at up to 300 yards without too much thinking, and whose bullets won't fragment and will expand properly on a 30yards shot.

Criterias are :
- versatility
- light recoil
- moderate velocity (i think ?)
- ammo availability ( i don't reload cuz no Time)
- barrel lifespan.

The most serious contenders are probably 7mm08, .308, .270.., but I might be missing something.

Thanks in avance for tour advice.

Best regards

6cc would