Thread: A Rifle for Almost Everything.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

No, you need to go to a 338 or bigger diametre pill that is slow, heavy and can be easily run subsonic for the coming post election law changes that ban loud noises during the birds nesting season

45/70 it is then.... another oldie calibre...

I'm sticking with my faithful ol' .308, as it has served me well for 40 years. I do understand that shooters will want to experiment with new calibres, but many seem to rely totally on a mate's recommendation. There is an old saying (grandpamac will have heard it, I'm sure): "Beware the man with only one rifle- he probably knows how to use it!". I wrote an article recently for the NZ Cartridge Collectors Club bulletin on the plethora of new rifle calibres available in the past few years. In the 1990s, we saw the .223 WSSM, .243 WSSM, .25 WSSM, .270 WSM, 7mm WSM, .300 WSM, .325 WSM, 7mm RSAUM, 7mm RSUM, 7mm RUM, .300 RUM, .300 SAUM, .338 RUM, .375 RUM, and this decade, we have available the .204 Ruger, .22 TCM, 6mm TCU, .28 Nosler, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 PRC, .300 Blackout, .338 Edge, and the .450 Bushmaster...how the heck does a new shooter choose out of that lot??.interestingly, one of Auckland's busiest gun shops sells more 6.5 Creedmoor than any other calibre.

When osmium becomes plentiful and the tech becomes available to make 180gr .223 projectiles with perfect BC, propelled by batteries at eye-watering velocities delivered with pinpoint accuracy to targets at jaw-dropping distances, maybe - just maybe, I'll buy into the hype.

The most modern chambering any of my rifles have is from 1957, the 223 next youngest is the 308 (52) then backwards in regular steps to a couple of methusalahs.
The invention of smokeless powder, the drawn case and the Spitzer bullet shape are the great leaps forward everything since has just been baby steps.
30 cal or there abouts was determined to have about the best sectional density and balance of performance velocity, recoil and range wise for military applications.
The progressive Scandinavians went with 6.5. Nothing new is really new and the old 6.5 swede in a modern action as a hunting rifle would still be every bit as good as a creedmore or whatever.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

The most modern chambering any of my rifles have is from 1957, the 223 next youngest is the 308 (52) then backwards in regular steps to a couple of methusalahs.
The invention of smokeless powder, the drawn case and the Spitzer bullet shape are the great leaps forward everything since has just been baby steps.
30 cal or there abouts was determined to have about the best sectional density and balance of performance velocity, recoil and range wise for military applications.
The progressive Scandinavians went with 6.5. Nothing new is really new and the old 6.5 swede in a modern action as a hunting rifle would still be every bit as good as a creedmore or whatever.

Greetings Marty Henry,
Your rifle cupboard must look a lot like mine. The difference is that mine has a T3 6.5 x 55 and it is everything that you suggest. Creedmoor ballistics are easily matched and there is plenty of room to seat the 143 grain Hornady ELDX close to the lands. A friend gave me a few of these to play with and the 6.5 with one seated close to the lands it looks a bit like the 6.5 PRC I was handed yesterday.
Regards Grandpamac.

Availability of factory ammunition should be a consideration. Little point in owning something obscure you either have to handload for or order specially and going on a 10 day hunt only to find your ammunition didnt come along for the ride.
Even in out of the way places you can find 308, 270, 6.5x55, and 708.

I can see the venerable 7x57 making a come back soon ..... under some god awful name drempt up by the marketing muppets at Hornady.

@grandpamac I'm disappointed that some hussy temptress calibre has swayed you away from the solid reliable "three-oh". I once looked up to you as an icon; but no more! Oh shit that's right; I just bought a .308 and am now having an illicit affair away from my "three-oh" too......

Originally Posted by bumblefoot

@grandpamac I'm disappointed that some hussy temptress calibre has swayed you away from the solid reliable "three-oh". I once looked up to you as an icon; but no more! Oh shit that's right; I just bought a .308 and am now having an illicit affair away from my "three-oh" too......

Greetings Bumblefoot,
After working on a load series comparing AR2206, BM 8208 and AR2206H today I decided that some penance was required so I fished out a couple of 1942 DI .303 cases, deprimed them, reamed the crimp and part sized them to fit my scoped .303. These have been stored with 10 of their brethren that had already been loaded with 174 grain Hornady RN projectiles and 32 grains of AR2206H. They will be loaded when further penance is due.
Yours Respectfully,
Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by bumblefoot

@grandpamac I'm disappointed that some hussy temptress calibre has swayed you away from the solid reliable "three-oh". I once looked up to you as an icon; but no more! Oh shit that's right; I just bought a .308 and am now having an illicit affair away from my "three-oh" too......

Just grab that three-oh case and squeeze the sucker down to .25. There, 25-303. Job done.

Your absolution is complete my son.......

If I could only own one rifle it would be a 08 sized ish sized case shooting a 6.5mm pill. I currently have a .223 and a .308...
Remember the more sunlight you can let inside a deer the quicker it will die.

Originally Posted by Timmay

If I could only own one rifle it would be a 08 sized ish sized case shooting a 6.5mm pill. I currently have a .223 and a .308...
Remember the more sunlight you can let inside a deer the quicker it will die.

Agreed. A 260, Creedmoor, or 6.5 Lapua would be hard to beat if you had to have just one rifle. But the 308 is very efficient for 95% of the hunting that I do, so no need to change

It's ridiculous to ask me to pick one. I have several pets

The wife asked me why I don’t own just one... told her it’s a myth to own just one!

Variety is the spice of life!