Author Topic: IF YOU COULD...... (Read 2648 times)

Lawdog · « **on:** December 15, 2003, 11:50:30 AM »

If you could have only one medium bore what would it be? Your reasons for picking your cartridge?

Cartridges like the .308 Win., .30-06 and others like them are a very logical choice but for me I choose my old friend the .300 Weatherby Magnum. Reason, versatility. I can load it down to .30-06 velocity or up to it's magnum power. If needed I can shoot .300 H&H ammo in it. Yeah, I will stick with my .300 Weatherby. It's never let me down. Lawdog

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** December 15, 2003, 01:04:04 PM »

Considering what I hunt at this time and what I'll likely have money to hunt in the foreseeable future I would likely chose the 7-08 and have no second thoughts or regrets.

GB

Sask_Hunter · « **Reply #2 on:** December 15, 2003, 01:21:59 PM »

ill go with the 7mm rem mag.

shoot 120gr V-max for any thing that is smaller than a deer.

120 or 140 barnes x for deer

160gr trophy bounded for elk and up.

the v-maxs and trophy's go in to less than 3/4 of an inch and the 120 did a 1/2 today. :grin:

BruceP · « **Reply #3 on:** December 15, 2003, 01:58:39 PM »

I would have to pick my .270 Winchester. So far the only big game I've been able to hunt is deer. Its worked great on the three coyotes I've shot but I dont shoot them for the hides. (It makes a big hole in them) I'm sure with the right bullet it would work fine on elk at reasonable ranges.
BruceP

onesonek · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2003, 01:06:38 PM »

While I really like my 35 Whelen, it wouldn't be my 1st choice as an only medium bore. And as much as I think the .338 win mag is about the best "all-round" cartridge, it still burns more powder with more recoil than I really need. I really like the bullet selection of the .338 caliber. So the .338-06 AI in a #1, would be my choice. If I ever felt under gunned with, I would be using something bigger away.
But, honestly I could be happy with any of the three mentioned :wink:

Quadzillabill · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2003, 03:34:44 PM »

Quote from: Lawdog

If you could have only one medium bore what would it be? Your reasons for picking your cartridge?

Cartridges like the .308 Win., .30-06 and others like them are a very logical choice but for me I choose my old friend the .300 Weatherby Magnum. Reason, versatility. I can load it down to .30-06 velocity or up to it's magnum power. If needed I can shoot .300 H&H ammo in it. Yeah, I will stick with my .300 Weatherby. It's never let me down. Lawdog

I'm a new 300 Wby Mag owner. I'd love to hear about some loads that you've used as its just too much for everyday shooting.

Thx, Q

jdt48653 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2003, 05:15:10 PM »

Larry Gibson · « **Reply #7 on:** December 17, 2003, 07:50:37 AM »

Lawdog

"If you could have only one medium bore what would it be? Your reasons for picking your cartridge?

I may be reading something into this question but the insinuation here is you may also have a small bore and a large bore. While I have used medium bores in the arena of small and large bores the mediums do not perform as well in either arena. You are really just "making do'. With small bore use it may be a fun exercise or a frustrating experience. Using the medium bore as "make do" when a large bore is called for could prove hazardous to ones health. I learned long ago that an "all around" rifle/cartridge (from mouse to elephant) is not a very practical idea for multiple reasons.

Thus I would have no need for anything more or less than the faithfull 30-06 in the medium bore range. If I needed more I would go to my large bore, conversely if I need less I go the small bore. With the loads and bullet weights available for reloading the '06 really has almost unlimited capabilities in the medium bore range, more so than any other cartridge.

My alternative to this choice of the '06 is the venerable 8x57. It unfortuneately gets little press but there are sufficient modern loads and bullets available for it. With modern loads (or reloads) it does as well as the '06 over reasonable hunting ranges where a medium bore is called for. With bullets available from 125 gr to 220 gr it can cover, though not as extensively, as wide a spectrum of capability as the '06. It is quite accurate and recoil is very manageable in a decently stocked sporter rifle.

Of course there are several other medium bore cartridges I could live with but the '06 and 8x57 are my top choices as long as I have a small and large bore also.

Larry Gibson

Lawdog · « **Reply #8 on:** December 17, 2003, 10:34:50 AM »

Larry,

I posted the question that way because this is a forum for medium bore rifles. Say for some reason a bunch of crazy liberals got into office and they passed a law that said you could have all the small bores(fly swatters up to .257) and big bores(everything over 9.3mm) BUT you could only have ONE rifle in the medium bore class. Which one would you choose? New forum here and I just want everyone to get to know we are around. Lawdog

DirtyHarry · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2003, 05:39:43 PM »

I'll take my .300 RUM The reason is because it is my most efficient gun for the widest variety of game at any distance. Plus I just enjoy shooting it

Ron T. · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2003, 04:23:07 AM »

IF I was a young man as I was when I bought my Winchester Model 70, "Alaskan" in .338 Winchester magnum in 1960, I would still choose the .338 Win. Mag. because it will handle ANY big game in North America including the big bears.

However, I'm not young anymore... and I will never hunt anything bigger than whitetail deer. And so, under those circumstances, I'd choose a Model 99 Savage in .300 Savage caliber which is exactly the rifle I now use for deer hunting. In a pinch, it will kill elk, moose and black bear with relative ease (assuming good bullet placement)... and it doesn't kick my brains out like the .338 did.

There's nothing like being satisfied with the rifle(s) you've chosen & use. :grin:

Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

lilbiggun · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2003, 06:42:43 PM »

If I could pick any medium, it would be either a 7-08 or a 308 (leaning towards the 308). Do some work to it to lighten it up some more and there is a perfect mountain gun for sheep and goats.

Arizona Jake · « **Reply #12 on:** December 23, 2003, 03:24:32 AM »

As mentioned in another posting, I am biased in favor of the .338 Winchester Magnum. I've owned a Winchester M-70 Classic Stainless for approximately 8 years now. I developed a load based on nickel plated Remington Brass, IMR4350 powder, Federal 215 primers and barnes XLC blue-coated 210 gr. bullets (I moly-coated the same Barnes bullets before the blue coating was available). This load develops 2,950 fps out of a 24 inch barrel and produces 1-1/2 -inch 2 shot groups at 200 meters. The third shot consistently opens-up the group to 2-1/2 inches due to barrel heating distortion.

With this combination, I have been fortunate to kill the following animals with one shot:
Black Bear (75 yds., quartering facing shot, bullet entered just behind neck, unzipped the bear and exited in front of right thigh).
Nyala (75 yds., quartering away raking shot entered behind left rib, exited right shoulder).
Black Wildebeest (260 meters, measured with range finder, ful frontal shot. Bullet entered brisket, was found under the hide in the pelvic region. This bullet travelled through at least 3 feet of critter! - only Barnes X bullet recovered).
Zebra (270 yards, broadside, bullet broke both shoulders and shredded the heart. The zebra collpsed upon being shot). I also shot a springbok tha required 2 extra shots beacuse I did not place the first shot in the proper place.

My hunting buddy also used his Remington M-700 in .338 Win. Mag with factory ammo loaded with Nosler partition bullets and killed a gemsbok, a kudu and a huge waterbok with no problems.

While I have not tried it on elk (skunked on 3 tries), I am sure the results would be the same as I just described. Same with any critter short of the dangerous African biggies.

I also shoot a and use the 30-06, .375 H&H Mag., 7-08 Rem. 25-06 Ackley and the .243 Win. They all have their place, but given the limit of one medium bore, the .338 Winchester has proven itself to me. If I had to sacrifice it for any other caliber, then the .375 H&H would be my ultimate choice.
:wink:

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #13 on:** December 23, 2003, 05:26:14 PM »

Looked at all the replies to your question and it seems my choice is different .I choose the Win .300 WSM because it will drop anything that I will ever hunt and also anything that every should make the fatal mistake to hunt me. Rick "I never aim at anything I don't intead to shot and I never shoot anything I don't intead to kill."

billy · « **Reply #14 on:** January 05, 2004, 12:27:33 PM »

280 rem ,good for most all hunting in north america.

Snowshoe · « **Reply #15 on:** January 05, 2004, 02:26:55 PM »

8x57, I have only had it for 2 deer seasons, but I LIKE it. I can load 150, 170 and 195g bullets using just my Hornady's. I have been using the 170's and 195's, and find the recoil seems less than an 06 with about the same weight of bullet and muzzle velocity. Maybe that is just the good recoil pad and the 8 lbs or so that it weighs.

longwinters · « **Reply #16 on:** January 05, 2004, 02:28:27 PM »

I really like my .308 and my 7m-08. But if push came to pull I would take my 7mm. Not just any 7mm, but this one. I have confidence in it as it is smooth, comes up nice and is a real shooter. I enjoy the looks of it and it has excellent glass on it. Not to mention its 2 3/4 # trigger. The recoil is not too much but is is enough to let me know what I am shooting, just enough to remind me to respect its power.

long

huntsman · « **Reply #17 on:** January 05, 2004, 03:37:53 PM »

Reserving big bores for the dangerous and huge game in the world, I would take the 6.5x55 Swedish. It is by far the most effective/easy-shooting gun I have ever shot. A day at the range is pure joy, and watching what it will do to a 250-lb. boar hog is simply incredible. It is just the most FUN caliber I have ever killed game with!

ms · « **Reply #18 on:** January 08, 2004, 04:56:59 PM »

MY VOTE IS 30/06 :wink:

ar-steve · « **Reply #19 on:** January 09, 2004, 02:51:10 PM »

I would choose my 270 wetherby mag. because my dad started me on it when I was 7. I do belive it will kill anything that lives ( maybe not humanely.) If it was not past down to me I would not choose it because ammo is about $50 per 20 rounds here . It would be my 30/30 m94 if the choice was for a medium bore. For all other aplications see my name:)

Randy_che · « **Reply #20 on:** January 10, 2004, 03:46:32 PM »

I'd pick the 30-06 for the same reasons that led me to buy one in the first place. It's suitable for a wide range of ammo and game and the factory ammo is cheap and available everywhere.

razmuz · « **Reply #21 on:** January 16, 2004, 05:19:59 AM »

You guy's are talking about big bores that are short. I'd never classify a 338 mag. as medium, short yes. If I knew for a fact I could only have one medium bore for ever and ever it would be a 308. However, since I know that's not going to happen it would be a 6.5X55. Why, because when you see someone with the 6.5X55 you know he or she is a riflemans rifleman. In all probability a handloader, wise in the ways of hunting lore. This person knows that all the new WSM type stuff is just a ploy to sell new products. These caliber "hot Rodders" are usually short and have big wheels on their trucks.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 19, 2004, 09:44:32 AM »

Gentelmen,

I Read all the post's and found them all very ineresting, when men talk about their fovorite guns you can almost see the look af satisfaction on thier face's,, whitch is good as that is what has kept our sport alive for a lot of years. the love of our guns first evolved becouse without the gun a lot of the pioneers would not have made it to where we are today. I have had love affair with my guns for over 55 years. I have owned every gun that has been listed on this forum and yes i loved every one of them. In fact i still have most of them today. I guess like BILLY the 280 is one of the best all around rifles today in the med. range.
I am fairly new on GB and would like thank GB for making this possable.
Take care and stay safe........joe..............

Sask_Hunter · « **Reply #23 on:** January 19, 2004, 04:33:29 PM »

huntsman you should see what a 140 blue meanie does to a 900 pound bison. that was the most amazing thing that i have seen so far.

ar-steve the 270wby mag is another amazing round. i think that it is my second favorite round. i havent shot anything with it yet but watched my dad clobber a bison and a good size buck this year.

i like speed and good small for caliber bullets. put it were it needs to go and make room in the freezer.

Jim n Iowa · « **Reply #24 on:** January 20, 2004, 03:23:10 PM »

I would choose the 338 mag, coyotes to bear it can handle it all.
Jim

OTTOMATIC · « **Reply #25 on:** February 24, 2004, 06:46:26 AM »

I have 2 medium bores. A 700 .270 and a Weatherby 30-378. I believe I have all the bases covered..............................OTTO

jvs · « **Reply #26 on:** February 24, 2004, 11:51:12 AM »

I tried and I tried.

I can't pick just one medium bore.

It went something like this:

the .308.....no wait....the 30-06......no....the .308......hold it.....30-06

.308 .30-06 .308 .30-06

and on and on and on...............

I guess I'd be stuck with 2 of em. Or sitting my butt in jail.

Fla Brian · « **Reply #27 on:** March 01, 2004, 08:39:51 PM »

This is a real hard choice for me - so many to choose from. I love my 30-06s and likewise the 6.5X55 and the 8X57 and 7mm Rem Mag and 300 Win Mag. But, just one, eh? OK, I'll go with my 8mm-06 Imp wildcat. With 125 gr Hornady bullets for varmints and small game, 150 gr Speer or Hornady for small deer and antelope, the great 175 gr Sierra or 180 gr Ballistic Tip for bigger deer and black bear, and the 200 gr Partition or A-Frame for the big critters like elk. There are bigger bullets available as well - up to 250 gr, I believe, for real stopping power as needed for the nastier types.

Not to mention some nice cast bullets that are available.

I understand that I can't walk into any store and order up a box, but some components and a Lee hand press would see me through wherever I might find myself.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #28 on:** March 10, 2004, 03:33:57 AM »

The last few years i've been doing ALL of my hunting with my Drilling. The rifle bbl is 8x57jrs. (rimmed version of the 8x57) I don't use any other bullet other than the 200 grain Nosler partitions at just over 2,500 fps.. I've used my Drilling for everything from coyotes, to blk bear, to big bull moose. This last fall i took both an 8 point and a 9 point whitetails with it, and it really performs well!!

BUT, if i could only have one gun for the rest of my life, i'd pick the 30-06! If i was never going to shoot anything bigger than a whitetail, or blk bear, i'd be happy with a 7-08 rem!!

The Drilling in the picture isn't the one i own.

Drilling Man

freddogs · « **Reply #29 on:** March 10, 2004, 04:58:38 AM »

I love my 30.06. I have three rifles in 30.06. All those other rifles I have are nice but I could get by without them. Fortunately, I don't have too. :gun4: