Only Three Bolt-gun Hunting Calibers - Which Ones?

[USAF Ret]

I reckon I settled on five (have ammo for them all). Two are going to be a purchase as soon as I sell of some stuff filling my safe that gets no use...

HOWA 1500 Mini Action in 6.5 Grendel
Remington Model 700 Mountain Rifle in 270 Win
Marlin 336C in 30-30
Savage 11 in 6.5 Creedmoor (keepsake from my late son)
Christensen or Bergara in 308 (TBD)
Christensen or Bergara in 6.5 Creedmoor (TBD)

I reckon three calibers ain't going to get it for me. I doubt I will ever make it back to AK for moose, but I am hoping for an elk hunt before I can't get around anymore.

Thanks for playing.

[Paul B.]

"If you could have three bolt action rifles for hunting in different calibers...small, medium, heavy...small as Coues deer and antelope up to moose, what would they be? I mean, you can choose whatever brand rifle you want?

Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 6.5 CR - Light recoil, ammo availability and it is a handy rifle in small places with a 20 inch barrel version.
Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 308 - To me, the best mid-size cartridge. Was available when nothing else was. Inexpensive. Ridgeline is light and has an awesome trigger. Fits me like a glove.
Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 30-06 - Same as above, ammo readily available. Inexpensive. Also, a vast array of bullet weights. I think for moose, this is the lightest I would go. I have shoulder and neck problems, so I am recoil sensitive. If I wasn't, I might go with a .338."

Interesting concept. I don't have time to rad all five pages but I do a bit of experience with the .308 and 30-06. I did a test a few years back running the Winchester 180 gr. power point load though a 22" barreled .308 and 22" barreled 30-06.

The .308 was a Winchester M70 with 1 in 12" twist 22"barrel and the 30-06 was on a commercial Mauser, JC Higgins M50 with 22" barrel and 1 in 10" twist.

Interesting thing was the .308 was about 20 to 30 FPS faster than the 30-06.

Data for bullets heavier that 180 gr. for the .308 is a bit scarce. I do have one of the earlier One book/One Caliber load manuals for the .308 Win. that has data for 200 and 220 gr. bullets. For spits and gring, data was by Winchester and powders were W748 and W760. I didn't bother with W748 as I felt it was a little too fast burning ffor a 220 gr. bullet. I did work up the W760 load and reached a velocity a little over 2300 FPS. The 30-06 is advertised to run a 220 gr. bullet at about 2400 FPS.

Data for W760 is as follows.

Start: 42.0 gr./ 2177 FPS/ 42,000 C.U.P.
Max: 44.0 gr./ 2295 FPS/ 46,900 C.U.P.

For W748 for comparison.

Start: 36.0 gr./ 2111 FPS/ 45,000 C.U.P.
Max: 38.0 gr./ 2232 FPS/ 49,900 C.U.P.

Looking at the pressure data, it seems like the max charge for the 220 gr. bullet could easily reach or surpass the 30-06 without too many pressure pains.

Unfortunately, health issues prevent me from working further on this issue. I can only add that this was done mid summer here in Southern Arizona and mid day temps were already 100 degrees or slightly higher.
Paul B.

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by Paul B.

"If you could have three bolt action rifles for hunting in different calibers...small, medium, heavy...small as Coues deer and antelope up to moose, what would they be? I mean, you can choose whatever brand rifle you want?

Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 6.5 CR - Light recoil, ammo availability and it is a handy rifle in small places with a 20 inch barrel version.
Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 308 - To me, the best mid-size cartridge. Was available when nothing else was. Inexpensive. Ridgeline is light and has an awesome trigger. Fits me like a glove.
Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 30-06 - Same as above, ammo readily available. Inexpensive. Also, a vast array of bullet weights. I think for moose, this is the lightest I would go. I have shoulder and neck problems, so I am recoil sensitive. If I wasn't, I might go with a .338."

Interesting concept. I don't have time to rad all five pages but I do a bit of experience with the .308 and 30-06. I did a test a few years back running the Winchester 180 gr. power point load though a 22" barreled .308 and 22" barreled 30-06.

The .308 was a Winchester M70 with 1 in 12" twist 22"barrel and the 30-06 was on a commercial Mauser, JC Higgins M50 with 22" barrel and 1 in 10" twist.

Interesting thing was the .308 was about 20 to 30 FPS faster than the 30-06.

Data for bullets heavier that 180 gr. for the .308 is a bit scarce. I do have one of the earlier One book/One Caliber load manuals for the .308 Win. that has data for 200 and 220 gr. bullets. For spits and gring, data was by Winchester and powders were W748 and W760. I didn't bother with W748 as I felt it was a little too fast burning ffor a 220 gr. bullet. I did work up the W760 load and reached a velocity a little over 2300 FPS. The 30-06 is advertised to run a 220 gr. bullet at about 2400 FPS.

Data for W760 is as follows.

Start: 42.0 gr./ 2177 FPS/ 42,000 C.U.P.
Max: 44.0 gr./ 2295 FPS/ 46,900 C.U.P.

For W748 for comparison.

Start: 36.0 gr./ 2111 FPS/ 45,000 C.U.P.
Max: 38.0 gr./ 2232 FPS/ 49,900 C.U.P.

Looking at the pressure data, it seems like the max charge for the 220 gr. bullet could easily reach or surpass the 30-06 without too many pressure pains.

Unfortunately, health issues prevent me from working further on this issue. I can only add that this was done mid summer here in Southern Arizona and mid day temps were already 100 degrees or slightly higher.
Paul B.

Paul, very interesting information. Thank you for sharing. I may have to do some research on that.

[LAH]

30-06, 257 Roberts, 22-250.

At my age I might trade the 06 for a 7 Mauser, might.

[ChimpMunk20]

Originally Posted by reynolds357

257 WBY
270 WBY
300 RUM

All in Mark V WBY.

I second this.

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by LAH

30-06, 257 Roberts, 22-250.

At my age I might trade the 06 for a 7 Mauser, might.

Very good choices. How hard is it to find 257 Roberts ammo?

[LAH]

Very good choices. How hard is it to find 257 Roberts ammo?

Never purchased any. I load for the Roberts & most everything else. In fact the Roberts is a AI, 40 degree shoulder. This is on a 721 Remington & uses a Douglas barrel.

[The Happy kaboomer]

Never Ever gonna happen...........Why not one or seven or ten??????????????

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by LAH

Never purchased any. I load for the Roberts & most everything else. In fact the Roberts is a AI, 40 degree shoulder. This is on a 721 Remington & uses a Douglas barrel.

Beautiful rifle.

[LAH]

Originally Posted by USAF Ret

Beautiful rifle.

Thank you.

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by LAH

Thank you.

Got a nice Rem 700 Mountain Rifle in 270 from an estate sale with a similar stock.

[LAH]

Originally Posted by USAF Ret

Got a nice Rem 700 Mountain Rifle in 270 from an estate sale with a similar stock.

Those are very nice.

[Red Devil]

Originally Posted by USAF Ret

If you could have three bolt action rifles for hunting in different calibers...small, medium, heavy...small as Coues deer and antelope up to moose, what would they be? I mean, you can choose whatever brand rifle you want?

Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 6.5 CR - Light recoil, ammo availability and it is a handy rifle in small places with a 20 inch barrel version.
Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 308 - To me, the best mid-size cartridge. Was available when nothing else was. Inexpensive. Ridgeline is light and has an awesome trigger. Fits me like a glove.
Christensen Arms Ridgeline - 30-06 - Same as above, ammo readily available. Inexpensive. Also, a vast array of bullet weights. I think for moose, this is the lightest I would go. I have shoulder and neck problems, so I am recoil sensitive. If I wasn't, I might go with a .338.

Winchester M-70 EW/SS... chambered in .270 Win..

One-N-done.




Red

[stagpanther]

Does the throw of the bolt handle actually clear the scope??

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by Red Devil

Winchester M-70 EW/SS... chambered in .270 Win..

One-N-done.




Red

Nice!

Many folks say, 270, 308 or 30-06 are the calibers that do it all. I have two of the three.

[taylorce1]

Originally Posted by USAF Ret

Many folks say, 270, 308 or 30-06 are the calibers that do it all. I have two of the three.

I have all three, and often multiples.

[Bart B.]

All would be on Winchester 70 actions because the 30 and 35 caliber ones with heavy bullets won't twist loose in epoxy bedding like any round action rifles do.

If you're going to shoot them from the standing or other field position, sight them in to get zeros from field positions. Benchrest zeros are different from field position ones.

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by taylorce1

I have all three, and often multiples.

I am building up a few myself. Haha.

[The Happy kaboomer]

Ain't never gonna happen......We all shoot what we want when we want.

[Pathfinder45]

I only have two bolts; one's a 22-LR and the other is a 270-WCF. Y'all have me vastly outgunned on all fronts, I reckon...

[LAH]

I only have two bolts; one's a 22-LR and the other is a 270-WCF. Y'all have me vastly outgunned on all fronts, I reckon...

Most of what needs done, those will do.

[Red Devil]

For Med/Large/Big Game:

- 6.5x55mm Mauser
- .270 Winchester
- 9.3x62mm Mauser




Red

[USAF Ret]

Originally Posted by Red Devil

For Med/Large/Big Game:

- 6.5x55mm Mauser
- .270 Winchester
- 9.3x62mm Mauser




Red

Loving the Mausers!

[Red Devil]

Originally Posted by USAF Ret

Loving the Mausers!

Ruger had a run of their 24" M77 Hawkeye Africans chambered in them.

Very nice rifles.

6.5x55mm


9.3x62mm

Red

[LAH]

How does that Hawkeye shoot Red?