Folk Rock Farm
New Member
So when I go out with my buddy, we always use a good ol' classic .308, but I've never tried anything other than that. Just curious if anyone has a preference for anything else and why?
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Favorite Calibers?
- Thread starter Folk Rock Farm
- Start date
Deadeye
Well-Known Member
I began with a Winchester Model 94 in 30.30, shot a bunch with it.
Since then I've used a 30.06, and a .243. Both did a great job with no complaints.
The last two Bucks I have shot were with a New Rossi Trapper Lever Action 30.30 with 150 PSP. Both dropped where they stood.
It has become my Favorite to hunt with now. 16 1/2 Barrel, Wide Lever Loop, Extremely Accurate.
So I guess I have gone Full Circle and that ole 30.30 Rd is what I reach for first.
Since then I've used a 30.06, and a .243. Both did a great job with no complaints.
The last two Bucks I have shot were with a New Rossi Trapper Lever Action 30.30 with 150 PSP. Both dropped where they stood.
It has become my Favorite to hunt with now. 16 1/2 Barrel, Wide Lever Loop, Extremely Accurate.
So I guess I have gone Full Circle and that ole 30.30 Rd is what I reach for first.
Folk Rock Farm
New Member
Sometimes your first is always the best!
1100LT20
Well-Known Member
I’ve had a boatload of different deer calibers over the years. Currently it’s 30/06, 30/30 and 45/70. In the past it was 5.56, 270, 7.62x39, 308, 7mm rem mag, 300 win mag and 357 mag. There was good and bad times on deer hunts but wouldn’t trade the memories and no regrets.
Drycreek
Well-Known Member
Like the others, I’ve used several different calibers. Let’s see if I can remember them,
30-06 rifle
.300 Savage rifle
25-06 rifle
.375 Winchester rifle
.44 magnum revolver
.260 Remington pistol
.375 Winchester pistol
.280 Remington rifle
7mm-08 rifle
.257 Roberts rifle
30-30 Winchester rifle
.50 caliber muzzle loader
Hogs,
10 mm pistol
10 mm carbine
7.62X39 AR
.223/5.56 AR
6.8 SPC AR
.22 WMR rifle
9 mm pistol
Some of the deer rifles have killed hogs too
As y’all can see, I’m non discriminatory and I don’t mind overlapping.
30-06 rifle
.300 Savage rifle
25-06 rifle
.375 Winchester rifle
.44 magnum revolver
.260 Remington pistol
.375 Winchester pistol
.280 Remington rifle
7mm-08 rifle
.257 Roberts rifle
30-30 Winchester rifle
.50 caliber muzzle loader
Hogs,
10 mm pistol
10 mm carbine
7.62X39 AR
.223/5.56 AR
6.8 SPC AR
.22 WMR rifle
9 mm pistol
Some of the deer rifles have killed hogs too
As y’all can see, I’m non discriminatory and I don’t mind overlapping.
weekender21
Well-Known Member
Folk Rock Farm
New Member
Haha hell yeah, I like that!
catscratch
Well-Known Member
I have 2 favorite quotes that I've said most my life; ^^^ that one, and "it's better to wear out than to rust out". Try to live by both.
LetThemGrow
Member
E_308
Well-Known Member
I have shot more deer with a 308 than anything else. I have been using a 30/06 for the last 5 or so years, deer won't know the difference in the two.
I have used a 223, 243, 270, 6.5 CM, 30-30, 300 blk, 7 mm mag, 300 win mag, 35 Rem, 44 mag and 50 cal muzzleloader. Nothing works better than the 308 or 06.
I have used a 223, 243, 270, 6.5 CM, 30-30, 300 blk, 7 mm mag, 300 win mag, 35 Rem, 44 mag and 50 cal muzzleloader. Nothing works better than the 308 or 06.
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
I have .30-06 and .300 Win Mag. For normal shooting distances here in the east for Whitetail, it is rare to find much difference. I will note that the .300 Win Mag does have some advantages for longer ranges and larger game. I get somewhat flatter trajectory with a 180 grain bullet in the .300 Win Mag than I do with a 150 grain bullet in the .30-06, but they are close.
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swat1018
Well-Known Member
Like the others, I’ve used several different calibers. Let’s see if I can remember them,
30-06 rifle
.300 Savage rifle
25-06 rifle
.375 Winchester rifle
.44 magnum revolver
.260 Remington pistol
.375 Winchester pistol
.280 Remington rifle
7mm-08 rifle
.257 Roberts rifle
30-30 Winchester rifle
.50 caliber muzzle loader
Hogs,
10 mm pistol
10 mm carbine
7.62X39 AR
.223/5.56 AR
6.8 SPC AR
.22 WMR rifle
9 mm pistol
Some of the deer rifles have killed hogs too
As y’all can see, I’m non discriminatory and I don’t mind overlapping.
What's a good short/medium range hog rifle? Thinking about supressed, sub-sonic, as well.
Drycreek
Well-Known Member
I think the answer to that is one my taxidermist had. It was a Ruger 7744, which is a .44 mag. His was integrally suppressed but I think you could put a screw on suppressor on it and it would be just as quiet. He was moving large for caliber bullets at subsonic speeds and when I shot it you could hear the bullet hit a dirt pile at about 50 yards and that’s about all you could hear. Very, very quiet ! Lots of guys like the .300 Blackout but I have no experience with it.
1100LT20
Well-Known Member
No experience with the 338 ARC, but it appears to be the cat’s meow for your purposes. I definitely want one.
Jerry-B-WI
Member
You want favorite calibers or cartridges?
I'm seeing a bunch of cartridges listed that are all the same caliber.
My self I've been using a 6.5x55 Swede for about the last 25 years before that it was a Savage M99 300 Savage.
I used the Savage because it was my Dad's that I got from him and the Swede because I bought a couple of surplus guns and sporterized them.
Drycreek
Well-Known Member
The 6.5x55 Swede has been doing the same thing that the 6.5 Creed does for longer than most of the Creed owners have been alive !
swat1018
Well-Known Member
That is my front-runner. I want an AR platform rifle. May do a SBR, perhaps a 12-14" barrel.
Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
I’m blessed to hunt multiple states most years including the western states. On my own place, shots are more likely to be 300+ than 30yds. Consequently, I tend to prefer flat shooting rifles that are suitable for elk as well as deer. In the last 10 years, I’ve used the following on deer:
Seekins 300win with 200g Accubonds
HS Precision 30-06 with 165g Accubonds
Tikka 308 with 155g Scenars and a LaRue PredatAR with 150g Federal SP
Tikka 270wsm with 140g Accubonds
Tikka 270win with 130g Hornady SP
Weatherby 300wby with 165g Hornady SP
Sako 7STW with 160g Accubonds
Remington 35Whelen with 225g Game Kings
Tikka 7mm-08 with 140g Ballistic Tips
Franchii 6.5PRC with 156g Bergers
For the shots I find myself taking most years (300yds plus), I’ve become a real fan of the 270wsm. It has the right combination of flat shooting/hard hitting and modest recoil. If my shots were at more typical whitetail ranges, it would be a toss up between the 30-06 and the 35Whelen. If I could only have 1 rifle for big game hunting, it would be the 300win.
Please note these choices reflect the combination of the rifle, cartridge and the specific bullet. Bullet choices reflect my hand loads with all but 2 (300wby and 308 with Federal 150s).
Seekins 300win with 200g Accubonds
HS Precision 30-06 with 165g Accubonds
Tikka 308 with 155g Scenars and a LaRue PredatAR with 150g Federal SP
Tikka 270wsm with 140g Accubonds
Tikka 270win with 130g Hornady SP
Weatherby 300wby with 165g Hornady SP
Sako 7STW with 160g Accubonds
Remington 35Whelen with 225g Game Kings
Tikka 7mm-08 with 140g Ballistic Tips
Franchii 6.5PRC with 156g Bergers
For the shots I find myself taking most years (300yds plus), I’ve become a real fan of the 270wsm. It has the right combination of flat shooting/hard hitting and modest recoil. If my shots were at more typical whitetail ranges, it would be a toss up between the 30-06 and the 35Whelen. If I could only have 1 rifle for big game hunting, it would be the 300win.
Please note these choices reflect the combination of the rifle, cartridge and the specific bullet. Bullet choices reflect my hand loads with all but 2 (300wby and 308 with Federal 150s).
