From coyotes to hogs, I favor 4 calibers above all others. Ranked in the order of my preference, here they are:
1. Thompson Center Contender with a long-throated 26", 1:8 Match Grade Machine barrel in 6.5x30-30 AI (aka 6.5 Bullberry Improved). Using 37.5 grains of N160 powder, it safely and easily reaches 2500 fps with the 140 grain Sierra GameKing, 2600+ fps with the Hornady 129 grain SP and Nosler 130 grain Accubond and close to 2700 fps with the 125 grain Partition.
2. Contender with a 20 1/8th untapered barrel in 7mm Bullberry. My favored loads include the discontinued 130 grain Sierra Single Shot Pistol bullet at 2509 fps, the 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip at 2650 fps or the old-style Nosler Solid Base (lead-tipped) spitzer at 2450 fps. And while both the 120 grain Barnes TSX and TTSX shoot incredibly well in this barrel, I've had enough questionable performance from an expansion standpoint -- not to mention at least one complete failure -- to put them on the backburner again.
3. TIE between the 6.5x55 Swedish and the .308 Winchester. I've used the .308 WCF in 26 and 28" Encore barrels and a Savage FP with a 20" bull barrel among others. One of my favorite bullets for this round is the 150 grain Ballistic Tip followed closely by the Sierra 150 grain Pro Hunter spitzer. The Swede? Well, I've used it in a variety of formats, and from a 24" Encore barrel, it was responsible for my largest hog ever. Any good 140 grainer at 26-2700 fps will do nicely. My favorite of the lot was a 25.75" full bull Encore barrel by Dave Van Horn that averaged around 1.5" for 3 shots -- at 300 yards, I might add -- using 46 grains of Re-22 and the 140 grain GameKing in Lapua brass.
