Looking for a versatile cartridge

[David Emerson]

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

When you say deer you mean Rusa deer. Am I correct?

 

[RAGGED EDGE]

I knew it could be used in Texas, but I didn't think it was legal in Nebraska.

UH...I'm in Wyoming.

 

[ReLes]

That's a lot of answers ! Thanks for your Time everyone.
Seems that I'll have to seriously look at ammo availability and diversity. .270 is the most used here, 7-08 and 308 are also consistently available, it's just that the choice won't be as broad. I haven't looked at the other cartridges suggested here, I'll have to look into it.
Rebarelling coule be an option, but FYI gunsmiths are really rare here, there are only 2 on the whole Island who will do a bedding job, and they charge at least 250 of your dollars for it.
22-250 is pretty common, as are numerous varmint calibers. Head and neckshots are the norm here, and hunting deer with a .22LR, 204 ruger or even .17hmr isn't that much surprising. Here is a fine example (that's not me)

 

[ReLes]

When you say deer you mean Rusa deer. Am I correct?

Yes, that's what I mean. Picture available in my introduction thread

 

[Alibiiv]

Thanks for the reply.
6.5 Creedmor isn't good because of the ammo availability criteria (most common here is 243, 270 and 7RM, then you have 308, 22-250, 7mm08 and 300wm, anything else Can be considered an exotic cartridge and will be really hard to find).

Whoa...........had to Google New Caledonia to figure out where you live. When the map came up, it was just an island, had to zoom out to figure out where you are located. When I read your post my first thought was .243, Winchester for light recoil, and now availability. I am a true .270 Winchester devotee, so my vote would be for the .270 due to moderate recoil, bullet selection and accuracy out to ranges a lot further than what you have listed in the OP. After the .270 Winchester my next choice would be for the .308 Winchester, anything more would be reaching into what I consider heavy recoil. I also am a very big fan of the 7mm RemMag cartridge, this is one versatile cartridge, I believe 5th. in leading sales here in the US.

 

[fishoneil]

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

What about the 6.5x55 Swede, it will do everything you want to do and accurately, IMHO

 

[David Emerson]

What about the 6.5x55 Swede, it will do everything you want to do and accurately, IMHO

Go back to his first post and read what ammo is available there

 

[Mont Court]

With 308 a shooter can take down almost anything in North America and ammunition is available in most sporting goods stores. Also, Sporting goods stores carry a larger assortment of brands of rifles. Next to 30-06 and 270, 308 would be 3rd choice across America especially here in the west. One more advantage of 308, 30-6, and 270 is less recoil.

 

[montanabadger]

Thanks for the reply.
6.5 Creedmor isn't good because of the ammo availability criteria (most common here is 243, 270 and 7RM, then you have 308, 22-250, 7mm08 and 300wm, anything else Can be considered an exotic cartridge and will be really hard to find).

I. Guess there must be too many choices of ammo for the creedmoor.

 

[ReLes]

I. Guess there must be too many choices of ammo for the creedmoor.

Well, last Time I went to an armory to buy ammo (about a month ago), i didn't see a single rifle in that Caliber on the shelves. That's the reason I ruled it out at first.

 

[Pulpwood]

The 270 is a great all around cartridge if that is what the ammo supply dictates

Yep

 

[Pulpwood]

270 win or 25-06 will do it

 

[Slibey]

Any three would do what you want

 

[Blaketh]

All 3 will work but I would suggest looking at a 25-06 low recoil, bigger than a .22 or .243 cal and will work on deer and hogs. Flat shooter as well.