Need Help Picking a Gun Caliber...?

Question

'm wondering what would be a good addition to my collection. I'd like to pick up another rifle that my Dad can shoot on our next trip to Wyoming for Muley and Antelope. The last trip he took both his muley and antelope with his .308 carbine... That's really the only high power rifle that he has.

Here is what I have in the arsenal:

.243 Sakko
.308 Rem. Semi-Auto (carbine)
30-06 Rem. Semi-Auto
7mm Mag - Ruger

What caliber would be a nice addition to our pool of shooters? I'd like to add another bolt action and I'm thinking of possibly a 25-06 or .260 however I don't want to add a caliber that is too close to what we already have.

What would be a nice addition to fill a gap or address a need for big game???

Answer 1

Well I know I love my Browning Bolt-action in the 7mm and I've had it on most of my big hunts.

I have not read much on the new short mags out there but take a good look at the 270WSM, muzzle velocity 3300fps, muzzle energy 3100ft.lbs. Very flat shooting round with allot of long range knock down power.

I hope this info helps and good luck on your next hunting trip.

(77)

Answer 2

Since you have the deer-class cartridges covered from 243 to 30-06, you'll either be filling a small gap or going past strictly deer class. I don't see anything wrong with staying in the range of your current cartridges, and the 308-case calibers like 260 Rem. and 7mm08 are certainly good choices. So are the 30-06-case calibers like 25-06, 270 Win. and 280 Rem. You could also go up a bit, say to 338-06, but that's a bit much for antelope. I personally have the Mauser 57mm cartridges (6mm Rem., 257 Roberts, 7x57, 8x57) and don't feel the least embarrassed about the near-duplication. I also have a Sauer with 6.5x68 and 8x68 barrels, but that's because I don't have good sense, and availability of rifle or brass makes that something I can't recommend.

Answer 3

The .25-06, the .270, and the .30-06 all share the same case but the neck is simply sized to accept a different diameter of bullet. All three are excellent rounds with the .30-06 being the best for larger game such as elk but I'd most likely choose the .25-06 for antelope.

The .260 is a pretty nice little round, but at this time ammo selection is not very broad. Hopefully it will get better in the coming years but I hoped the same thing for the 7MM-08 and as far as I know, Remington is still the only factory ammo for that neat little cartridge.

While you have stated that you are interested in large game, also consider a varmint round such the .223 as they are a joy to shoot and ammo is pretty inexpensive in comparison to other centerfire cartridges and its an excellent choice for varmints.

But if you want a big boomer, look to the new Winchester Short Magnum in .300 or .325. More than you need for deer, I think either would make an excellent elk cartridge.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

Firstly, one can NEVER have too many rifles. It is OK to have some overlap.........hehe

For hunting Mulies & Antelope, a bolt action 25-06 would be great. I would use a 100 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip with 58 gains if IMR4831 powder and Remmington Magnum primer.

VERY accurate load. I have shot many groups in the 3/8-3/4 inch range.

Also, the 25-06 is a necked down 30-06. If you do any reloading, 30-06 brass is very easy to come by.

My 25-06 is a Remington 700 BDL with a 2x7 Leupold scope. If you are hunting out West, maybe go with a 3x9 scope.

Answer 5

Wyoming for Muley and Antelope.
The list you gave is all good calibers that is for sure.
Your latest addition is one of my favorites for Wyoming.
But up front I my self am not a big fan of the Semi auto for Wyoming.
But it’s your trip and your gun and I will respect that.
Just one warning don’t every pick up a Thompson Center Encore you will get hooked.
That one of the weapons I take to Wyoming.
Now as to calibers the 25-06 has served me and my son and friend well in Wyoming.
The 25-06 is a very flat shooter and hits hard.
The 30-06 is an all time favorite in any condition,
The 308 you said your father has so I excluded that for just that reason.
But those three calibers I listed 25-06, 30-06 and 308 are my favorites of your list, and any one will do well in Wyoming and I have used all 3 their with equal success.

As to a nice addition to fill a gap, have you tried the prairie dog town.
Our group always looks forward to that after we fill out big game tags.
We spend several days shooting, and it is a blast.
Link attached
Watch the sample video clips for an idea of a prairie dog shoot.


http://www.dogbegone.com/video.htm

Hope this helped
D58

Answer 6

Instead of another caliber I would get a Ruger model 77 in .308. I have 5 rifles that shoot .308 and reload for them all. It's a great caliber that has many uses and if you reload you can effectively use bullets as light as 110 grains and as heavy as 200 grains. For the Mule Deer and Pronghorns I would use Hornady 150 grain soft points. I load them with Accurate 2015 powder and get a little over 2900 feet per second with them, and can usually get groups less than an inch at 100 yards with them.
If you insist on another caliber, check out the .300 Winchester Magnum. I have a Ruger 77 chambered in that caliber also. It's overkill on deer at ranges up to 200 yards, but in Wyoming it would be great for the long shots you might get.

Answer 7

There is a old saying, "Beware the man that owns but one gun". Meaning he knows that gun well.

This is where reloading your own ammo really shines. I load a 165 grain bullet for deer, and a 135 grain Barnes TSX for smaller big game and coyote, the 135 grain drops about 18-20 inches with a 200 yard zero at 450 yards and the 165 grain drops about 28 inches with the same zero at 450.

But if you wish to buy a new rifle, my friends that go every year to Montana all use 7mm mags and all buy the same ammo so they can use each others in a pinch, and they hunt both mule deer and antelope with it. However it does have a good kick to it. A guide friend of mine that also lives in Montana has told me you can always tell a tourist hunter by what gun they use, most visitors all use large magnum calibers and he guides and hunts coyotes, antelope, mule deer and elk all with a 6mm Remington, of course he is a good shot and places his shot well.

Answer 8

It seems like you have a nice array of choices to suite many needs. So whichever fits your fancy would be a good choice I say. Maybe some exotic or wildcat cartridges? You already have good rounds where quality hunting ammo and cheap target ammo are readily availale. Some suggestions though that might fit in between what you already have might be:

.25-06, .257 Roberts or .257 Weatherby Magnum, or 7mm-08 for the smaller stuff.

.270 or .280 Remington for the mid size stuff.

.300 Winchester magnum or possibly .338 Winchester magnum for the big stuff.

Remington 700's are good, reliable, accurate, and beautiful bolt actions. Browning, Savage, and others are nice and accurate guns.

Answer 9

Bound's hubby here:

With the conditions you describe it sounds like you will be taking a rather long shot. I would suspect Mule Deer and Antelope would require a shot between 400 and 500 yards. Really, all the rounds reflected in your arsenal are quite sufficient. However, if you wanted to add another cartridge, I would strongly suggest that you consider the .270 Winchester (not the .270 Winchester Super Short Magnum or similiar round). A long shot with this round should be suffient for dropping Mulies and Antelope. I would suggest you put this round to work in a good bolt action sich as a Remington 700.

Good luck.

Answer 10

You can't go wrong with a .25-06 Remington, however, that is pretty much for up to Mule Deer size game. How about the new .338 Federal which should be great for Moose and bear as well as deer? It is a .308 necked up to .338, basically.

Or you could consider one of the new family of short magnums like the .300 WSM. How about one of the original short magnums? Remington resurrected both the 6.5 Remington magnum (a .26 caliber) and the great old .350 Remington magnum in their new 673 Guide Rifle. I have both. I haven't taken any game with them yet, but they're both shooters.

Good luck.

H