Author Topic: what caliber (Read 1290 times)

stork · « **on:** February 15, 2004, 06:35:28 PM »

I am thinking about what caliber my next rifle to be and well ah I need more money. I have an 30-06 already so I either want a bigger gun or a smaller gun. I want something in .338 or .264. Any opions on what cartridges in these calibers would be appreciated.

Nightrain52 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2004, 08:44:51 AM »

First of all we need more info about what you intend to do with your new rifle and what kind of game you intend to hunt.

huntsman · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2004, 02:15:23 PM »

Without mention of a passage booked to Africa or Alaska, I have to assume you are going to be hunting the lower 48. If so, go small, and do it with the 6.5x55 Swedish mauser. It's a joy to shoot and is dynamite on game up to big hogs. Haven't used it on elk or moose, but have heard it is good medicine there as well. (Not that you need a moose or elk caliber, since you have one in your '06 already).

You may just find yourself leaving the '06 at home more and more often....

MGMorden · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2004, 04:10:03 PM »

I was recently in the same boat. I've got mostly shotguns myself, and until recently, just 1 rifle (a Savage 110 in .30-06). It's done fine for hunting whitetail here in the SC lowcountry, but I wanted to get something a little lighter on the recoil and that does a little less meat damage. After a LOT of searching and evaluating, I finally settled on the 6.5x55 Swedish as my choice (found a sporterized M38 Swede Mauser for $200). I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet, but from all of my research 6.5x55 could very well be the ultimate whitetail round.

stork · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2004, 05:16:12 PM »

I intend to use this rifle for hunting, but I do not know what I will be hunting besides whitetail deer. I'm only 15 and want a rifle I can use the rest of my life. I hope to hunt elk and moose in a couple of years. Like I said I need more money. I would buy two rifles; one in 6.5x55 swede and one in 338-06 or 338 win mag. I am a reloader also.

Sask_Hunter · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2004, 06:56:19 PM »

there is somethng about the 1/4 bores that make them sweet. a 25-284, 257bob imp, 25-06 or a 25-06AI would be the ticket for deer sized game. i have a 257bob imp but i would have done a 25-284 if i had a short action and i should have done the 25-06AI insted of the 257.

also shot a 6.5x55 arch. its fun but i need to kill some thing with it.

Fla Brian · « **Reply #6 on:** March 02, 2004, 06:11:24 AM »

I'd have to suggest the 6.5 Swede as well. Unfortunately, mil-surp Mausers have gotten a bit costly, so building sporting rifles on them is not as cost effective as was once the case. Also, there are a number of fine spoting rifles now available for the 6.5X55. That was not the case when I built my custom model 38. Had there been any such sporters then, I most likely would not have gone to the extra expense of building one.

You ought to give a very close look at the CZ American. It sounds like a real fine rifle, and it has the advantage of a set trigger. It's not very expensive either. I just checked their web site ( http://www.cz-usa.com/ ), and the list price is $588 and should be aavailable at dealers for less than that. It would cost a lot more than that to build one up, and the action wouldn't be quite as strong - unless you started with a 98 Mauser - which would be even more expensive to do as it would have to be rebarreled. And the CZ is already a Mauser 98 type action.

Some folks started with one of the Turkish Mausers which used to be quite cheap. Mine set me back the princely sum of $50 several years ago. (I should have bought a stack of them - just for the actions if nothing else.) I haven't priced them lately, so I don't have any idea of what they're going for now. I'm not sure about this, but I think the small ring barrel threads on the Turk will accept Swede Mauser military barrels that should be available on the parts market.

I believe Winchester is now offering the 6.5X55 in their Featherweight again as well.

Of course, you might get lucky, like MGMorden, and find an already sporterized Swede at a reasonable price.

Any way you get one, the 6.5 Swede is a delight to shoot, extremely accurate and a fine game killer.

PA-Joe · « **Reply #7 on:** March 02, 2004, 07:02:14 AM »

Can't go wrong with a good 223 or 22-250. 7mm08 is also good. Not much reason to go above 30-06.

338-06shooter · « **Reply #8 on:** March 03, 2004, 01:09:11 PM »

Stork,
You can't do much better than the 6.5x55 & the .338-06 to round out your big game arsenal. It's too bad the .338-06 isn't readily available, but you can take your time picking one up since you'll have a 6.5 swede & a .30-06 to keep you busy! You could take a look at a .260 Rem in place of a 6.5x55, it's your call, either is excellent. Nothing wrong with a 7mm-08 either but you said .264 & .338 and they are great choices. I started out with a .338-06 and plan to add a 6.5x55 or 7mm-08 in the near future. Good luck & keep us posted!