Thread: Advice Needed: Choosing Caliber for Open Tops Hunting

Hey everyone,

My dad is looking to buy a gun for himself for open tops hunting around the Whanganui area. He prefers open tops over bush hunting and is currently hunting fallow deer, though I'm not sure if he plans to move to larger game like red deer in the future. He's interested in buying a .308 like me, but I'm considering if he should explore another caliber. He wants to shoot between 300-400 yards maximum. What calibers would you recommend for his hunting needs? Do you think it's a good idea to consider other options?

Thanks for your suggestions in advance!

300 -400 yards Maximum — 308

308win

for what he wants 25-06 would be a good choice - if he reloads then that opens up a whole range of options -but availability of ammo is very real if he does not reload - 308 will do wants he wants

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

for what he wants 25-06 would be a good choice - if he reloads then that opens up a whole range of options -but availability of ammo is very real if he does not reload - 308 will do wants he wants

Thanks for the advice! I'm actually planning on getting into reloading soon, so I could probably help with that.

308 will be fine, especially if you reload. A 160-175gr projectile will easily take deer at 700yds if you do your part. The scope will probably e more important than the calibre. Get a good, repeatable dial scope and learn how to use it.

I should say 300wsm but.
308 + 150gr sst super performance factory ammo = everything you need

300-400 max …. Get a 6.5 Creedmoor

Anything 08 case based will be fine or any of the 6.5s. would match nicely with for fallow deer

If I didn't own a 270 I would still own a 308.... Either will do what you ask ,the 270 may do it with slightly less thinking involved...slightly flatter shooting depending on load.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

If I didn't own a 270 I would still own a 308.... Either will do what you ask ,the 270 may do it with slightly less thinking involved...slightly flatter shooting depending on load.

Yep,
My choice would be 270 or 30.06

Mind you 308 should do the job

And plenty of bullets to choose from.

For that distance 243, 6.5 creed, 7mm08 and 308 will do the job with readily available factory ammo.
I'm use my 223 and 6ARC out to 250meters on fallow, withe the magnums for longer distance

308 all the way for that sort of range
firstly ammo is inexpensive (well compared to others)
ammo is available in all places unlike wildcat calibres
you can load tiny little 120gr thu to 240 gr. in the old days 45gr sabot loads were awesome till princess happyteeth made them illegal
drop curve is sort of similar to 22lr for cheap practice. ok not perfectly but will get you on the right track
plenty of rifles chambered in it

so guess you are on the right track. i have shot all my large game in nz with a 308, except a thar. that remains to be done.
no longer own a 308 though, as i went 7mmRM but thats a whole new ball game and a bloody expensive one

Nowadays we are spoilt for choice wrt calibre every one is better at whatever you want to achieve than all the rest which naturally leads to confusion. 308 will do it all that makes it simple.

6.5 PRC.such an awesome calibre.ive had a few of the big hitting 7s but have settled(I think )on the prc for long range hunting.low recoil,most accurate calibre I have owned,never heard of one that won't shoot, will kill nicely out to 700 with factory eldm,can get some serious hp if reloading.