I wonder what is the most versatile medium bore caliber?
My vote goes to .300 Win mag. Large bullet selection, cheap to reload. Powerful but not too much. great for long shooting distance and graet accuracy. may be I'm wrong?
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Posts: 831 | Location: BELGIUM | Registered: 23 May 2002
For a caliber, it would have to be .358" You have bullets from 125 to 310 gr in ever configuration and contruction style. With the larger cases, 358 Norma, 350 Rigby and 358 STA, you have power levels approaching the 375 H&H, and with the 310 gr bullets, enough penetration for any game.
While the 30 cal is versitile, IMHO it is simply too small for the largest of game under all conditions. The 35's have enough dia and mass to make up for that. With the above mentioned cases you can also launch a 225 gr ~3000 fps, thus having the trajectory of the 300 mag 180 gr load, but hitting much harder. Personally, I think the 35's are at there best with 250 gr @2500-2700 fps.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
I have to agree with Paul H. I shoot a 7mm STW, a .300 Win mag, a .340 Wby, a .358 STA, and a .416 Rem. The .358 STA or another .358, with bullets from 185 gr. up to 310 gr. are extremely efficient for all types game including the most dangerous. One of my .358 STA's shoots a 270 gr. North Fork at 3000 plus fps. and has pin point accuracy. That beats the 375 H&H considerably and approachs the .378 Wby. The knock for years on the .358 was lack of bullets, that has changed, today there is quite a choice, thanks to North Fork, Swift A-Frame, Barnes and Nosler. Good shooting.
Got to be the '06. You can handload up and down, you can buy factory ammo anywhere in the world. Even when you have to stop by the Walmart in Nagadoches for a re-supply they have a large selection of '06. I've got 3 or 4 other calibers I hunt with but always take the '06 as a backup.
Posts: 1242 | Location: Houston, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2002
Guess it depends on your definition of a "medium." I don't consider the .308" bore a medium, so my vote would go to the .375" bore as the most versatile, even though it's called a "big-bore" on this BB.
Playing by the established rules, I'd vote for the 338 Win Mag.
The 300 win mag is hard to beat in this catagory! Loaded with 220 or 250 grain premium bullets it is a match for any of the big bears.
However I feel that the .338 win mag is hot on its heels, do to the fact of the increasing range of smaller bullet weights now available.
The long range accuracy of of the 300 win mag is legendary at Wimbelton's 1000 yard matches. It's recoil can be delt with by most hunters in the field. The choice of game that can be taken using this caliber is very wide indeed.
I'm with Brad here-although it probably doesn't really matter but for me medium's start at the 33's. Just my 2 cents worth even though no one asked for it.
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Dog
Posts: 879 | Location: Bozeman,Montana USA | Registered: 31 October 2001
The 30/06 Springfield is the most useful and not the .300 Win Mag. The mag kicks too hard, cases don't last and the rifles are too heavy and long for 99% of all hunting.
Very few hunters even need the power of the 30/06 but it does shoot a heavy enough bullet to take all but the largest game.
I wonder what is the most versatile medium bore caliber?
My vote goes to .300 Win mag. Large bullet selection, cheap to reload. Powerful but not too much. great for long shooting distance and graet accuracy. may be I'm wrong?
I wish someone would tell me how to answer without the quote. Anyway my vote goes to the 9.3x62 with the 250bt up to the 320 woodleigh I think you can take anything without the recoil of some of the others I see mentioned. fws
I wonder what is the most versatile medium bore caliber?
My vote goes to .300 Win mag. Large bullet selection, cheap to reload. Powerful but not too much. great for long shooting distance and graet accuracy. may be I'm wrong?
I wish someone would tell me how to answer without the quote. Anyway my vote goes to the 9.3x62 with the 250bt up to the 320 woodleigh I think you can take anything without the recoil of some of the others I see mentioned. fws go to the bottom of the page and click on "post reply"
------------------ don't cuss farmers and ranchers with your mouth full
Posts: 2095 | Location: Missouri, USA | Registered: 02 March 2002
If you click the post reply on the top of the bottom of the page, you won't get the quote. It's only when you hit the reply with quote on an individual post that it comes up. You could also go back and edit the post, and delete out the quoted section.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
I gotta go with the 300 Win Mag too. It may not be the "best" all around, but I have to think it is the most versatile. Most people don't mind the additional recoil over the '06, it is accurate and flat shooting, it has the widest selection of bullets (quality at both ends of the spectrum), it doesn't ever feel like overkill and you seldom feel wanting when you have one in your hands. With quality 200gr bullets it will handle pretty much every situation out there.
I really like the 8mm's, 338's and 358's, but they feel like overkill on the smaller end of the spectrum.
JM2C's, Canuck
Posts: 7123 | Location: The Rock (southern V.I.) | Registered: 27 February 2001
If you click the post reply on the top of the bottom of the page, you won't get the quote. It's only when you hit the reply with quote on an individual post that it comes up. You could also go back and edit the post, and delete out the quoted section.
quote:Originally posted by Brad: If you click the post reply on the top of the bottom of the page, you won't get the quote. It's only when you hit the reply with quote on an individual post that it comes up. You could also go back and edit the post, and delete out the quoted section.
I suppose the 338 would serve for any animal on the face of the earth...the 375, 416, 7x75 would to.
It makes little difference I could get by with any of the ones named on this thread..
It wouldn't bother me greatly to walk across the US and Africa with a 30-06 with proper bullets, or a 308 for that matter. the old 06 or 308 will lay anything down with a solid in the brain.
Ray, I could live with a 308 carbine as my only rifle for the rest of my life... I'm confident I could do it all in NA with that little round. Still, I'm not yet of the opinion that a .308" bore is a "medium" by any definition. To me, the "mediums" start at (barely) 8mm and go up to (and include) the .375".
Another one for the 338 Winmag. Handles anything from roedeer to coastal brownies ( as do the 30-06 / 300 Winmag / 300 Wtby / 35 Whelen / 9.3x62 and a bunch of others ).
My wote for the 338 Winmag. is because of the combination of power, shootability, assortment of splendid HUNTING bullets, all packed in light rifle with a recoil level all seasoned shooters can handle.
Arild
Posts: 1880 | Location: Southern Coast of Norway. | Registered: 02 June 2000
There are lots of great choices, but the .338 Win. Mag. loaded with 250 gr. bullets would be very tough to beat, all things considered. Besides, I have a new one in the works, so I'm very much focused on the .338 Winchester these days......
Allen, the 338 Win Mag is a cartridge that's hard to stay away from, no?
I consider the 338 a sort of "Super" 30-06. That is, it pushes bullets with similar BC's and SD's at similar velocities giving the two nearly identical trajectories... the difference being, those bullets fired from the 338 Win Mag are bigger, heavier and hit with more authority!
It's a "hunter's" round that is about as "well-balanced" and "efficient" as any cartridge that bears the name "magnum"... belt or no belt!
Brad, the .338 Winchester is a cartridge that keeps calling me back, alright. Your comparison with the .30-06 is exactly the way I look at the .338 Win. as well. It's basically a big .30-06, and quite balanced in ever way.
Hey, Jerrbear, how many critters have you ironed-out with that .338 Lapua of yours so far? I've never so much as fired one........
Canuck