Thanks to all for your suggestions/comments. To be honest I was originally looking at buying wither a 264 win mag or a 6.5X55. Plus, I am a big Ruger fan and at the moment they don't offer either of those calibers.

After reading the comments and thinking about it a little more, I think I'm leaning toward either the 270 or the 7mm-08. If I was to decide based purly off of availablility, then the 270 would hands down be the way to go.

Still haven't made a final decision but I think I have it narrowed down to these two.

Thanks again!!

Did I say 270 winchester already

Why you need a .300 mag? Except more recoil and burn a lot more powder,what does it do that a 30-06 doesn't? With a 30-06 and a .243 you have things covered exccept a good varmint rifle--trade the mag for a .222 and you are set.

I recommend a .270 WSM. It will handle anything up to elk and down to groundhogs . It is extremely versatile and not a real kicker. It also seems to be a real accurate caliber , as a rule.

.280 Remington. It will take anything in North America and most of Africa. I'm not advising it for Brown Bear mind you, but Moose on down, yes. I have had no problem with Africa's larger plains game or long ranges. The additional weight of a 160 grain bullet is bad medicine on Elk. LDK

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman:
Why you need a .300 mag?

Because I already bought one.

quote:

With a 30-06 and a .243 you have things covered exccept a good varmint rifle--trade the mag for a .222 and you are set.

Don't need another varmint rifle. Already have a 243, 22-250, 204 Ruger, 22 mag, (3) 22 lr, and 17 HMR.

What I need is something in between my 300 and 243. Besides I like my 300 for plains game in Africa.

I really don't NEED another rifle, I WANT another rifle. There is a difference between NEED and WANT.

Thanks for your comments though.

graybird

If you have a 243 and a 300 Mag, and want something in between then I would suggest you get a rifle with an 18 to 20" bbl, to not only fit in between in power, but to be "more handy" as well.

Since such a rifle might be used for deer, wild pigs, black bear over bait, etc. I would recommend a 308 or a 7mm08.

Either one would give you enough "bullet weight/trajectory/killing power" to work as your "in between" rifle.

With an 18 to 20" bbl it will prove to be most handy as well.

NE450 No 2 has made a good suggestion perhaps a BLR in 358 win would fill the bill. If in a bolt ruger has one out. Long range rifle, I'd still say a 270 win.

Lets see now, 243 is 6mm, 300mag is 7.62mm, that 1.62mm difference, halved is 0.8mm.

6mm + 0.8mm = 6.8mm = 270win.

Perfect round, perfectly spilts the diffence.

Nobady can argue with that logic!

7x64
280 remington
7x57
7mm-08

Graybird ----- Take a very close look at the .270 WSM if you are leaning toward the .277 caliber. It is really awesome. Mine shoots a 130 grain bullet 3450 fps and a 140 grainer at 3300 both with very good accuracy.
good shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
graybird

If you have a 243 and a 300 Mag, and want something in between then I would suggest you get a rifle with an 18 to 20" bbl, to not only fit in between in power, but to be "more handy" as well.

Since such a rifle might be used for deer, wild pigs, black bear over bait, etc. I would recommend a 308 or a 7mm08.

Either one would give you enough "bullet weight/trajectory/killing power" to work as your "in between" rifle.

With an 18 to 20" bbl it will prove to be most handy as well.

Probably the most practicle advice you've gotten. I have a Model 600 in .308 and it's a pretty busy little gun. I wouldn't mind a shorter barreled .308 in a semi-auto.

I'm not a .270 fan. It is a good deer rifle, and antelope hate it. but then again.....
I'd like a 7x57 Mannlicher Nate

quote:

Originally posted by Buglemintoday:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2711043/m/239105037

Nice set up.

It would be a good one at $550

I love my .280

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-24838923241803...ype=search&plindex=0

Well, I made my decision and pulled the trigger on a Ruger M77 22" Stainless steel barrel, laminated target grey in none other then 7mm-08.

Now the fun begins with getting it sighted in!

Thanks for all of the suggestions!!

quote:

Originally posted by Claret_Dabbler:
Lets see now, 243 is 6mm, 300mag is 7.62mm, that 1.62mm difference, halved is 0.8mm.

6mm + 0.8mm = 6.8mm = 270win.

Perfect round, perfectly spilts the diffence.

Nobady can argue with that logic!

Now that's good! I'm a huge .270 fan, but that's good C.D.!

I realize you already pulled the trigger Graybird, but I really do like Claret Dabbler's logic! Good luck with your new rig!

Since there is absolutely nothing the .270 can do that the .300 Win Mag can't do better, I think I'd lean towards a fun rifle that would be good for whitetails, pigs etc. That means the common but wonderful .308, the less common but wonderful 7-08, or the truly wonderful 6.5x55. Did I mention that I like the 6.5x55?

If having a Ruger in 6.5x55 is a must, I'll sell you a MarkII I just bought a week or so back, very, very lightly used (story was similar to the used car salesman with the car that the little old lady just drove to church, this rifle was bought by a preacher who went out and sighted it in and decided it was too heavy and brought it back to the gun shop and traded it in on a Tikka lightweight) the other day for $500.00 delivered. I'm not really trying to sell this rifle, have not even shot it, but if having a Ruger is a must, I've got several others in that caliber already so letting the Ruger go is no big deal. I've just bought so many rifles lately that I'm trying to let some of the more ordinary ones go.

PS: The above story about the preacher is absolutely true, according to the gun shop owner he said it shot well, but I don't necessarily believe a preacher when he's gun trading or any other time, for that matter, so I hope it shoots well if you buy it, but I don't know how it shoots and you know all I know about how it shoots.

Opps, I hadn't read your last post above, sorry about the sales pitch. The 7-08 is a great choice as well. Good luck.

It's easy. drop the 25's then make a list of everything inbetween that you'd concider. Tape the list to a wall and throw a dart at it. That ought to narrow it down and very scientific to boot!

quote:

Originally posted by Fish30114:

Now that's good! I'm a huge .270 fan, but that's good C.D.!

I'm glad you like my logic Fish. Think Sauer!!

A 7/08 will do just as well but it has no soul...

quote:

Originally posted by Claret_Dabbler:

quote:

Originally posted by Fish30114:

Now that's good! I'm a huge .270 fan, but that's good C.D.!

I'm glad you like my logic Fish. Think Sauer!!

A 7/08 will do just as well but it has no soul...

You might be right about the soul but I got it much cheaper then expected and it will take alot of bullets to equal the amount of money I saved on the front end between the 270 and 7-08.

Besides my dad has a 270 and I couldn't take his advice!!

I am going to shoot a . 30 T/C quite a bit this year. It has very little recoil, and out performs a .308 and 30-06. It is available in 150 and 165 gr bullets...

Glad you made your choice. I was in almost the same boat as you. I had a 6mm and a 300 weatherby. I chose the 270 winchester. Good luck and have fun with the new rifle!

quote:

Posted by Tim Herald:
I am going to shoot a . 30 T/C quite a bit this year. It has very little recoil, and out performs a .308 and 30-06. It is available in 150 and 165 gr bullets...

I never heard anyone say the .30 T/C out performs the .308 and .30-06 before. I thought it was supposed to be the ballistic twin of the .308 but in a smaller package which doesn't get it to .30-06 levels. Never saw the need for the cartridge myself, doubt I could hand load it to factory performance. Send me your data on the .30 T/C please.

Graybird, nothing wrong with going with the good deal we all have done that I'm sure. Enjoy your new rifle and let us know how it shoots for you. That 7mm-08 should be a handy little rifle for you.

Good choice. You'll be pleased. I've been shooting 7-08s since back when they were still a wildcat --my first 7-08 said 7mm-308 on the barrel-- and all brass had to be fire formed. It is one fine cartridge.

Taylorce1,

Below is what is on Hornady's website. Granted it is with a 150 gr bullet and I am shooting a 165. It is a small gap that it is filling, but I am a T/C guy, and the cartridge is great for deer in my opinion. The fact that there is very little recoil is an added bonus in my book!

"The 30 T/C is slightly smaller in capacity than the 308 Winchester, but delivers ballistic performance exceeding the 30-06. With a muzzle velocity of 3000 fps, the 150 grain load outperforms the 308 Win by 180 fps and outperforms the 30-06 by nearly 100 fps. The 30 T/C provides a 15 percent reduction in perceived recoil, ultra smooth feeding, full magazine capacity, a short bolt throw, longer barrel life and delivers full ballistic potential in a short action case.

Similar to an ultra high precision race car engine, the 30 T/C delivers astounding performance with cutting edge design, propellants and a close collaboration between firearm and ammunition engineers."

Seems that someone at Hornady has found a way to by-pass the basic laws of physics.

Maybe a trip to Stockholm to the Nobel Institute might be in order.....

From what I heard, they were using some new more high powered powder. I am not a ballistics guy and don't pretend to be, but when I was at T/C's place testing it, they said it was like running an engine with jet fuel vs normal gasoline.

All I know is it shoots well, kick's little and is plenty good enough for deer and antelope...

Long action - Metric 6.5x55 or 7x64
- US 280 Rem

Short Action - 260 or 7-08

Tim, I won't argue the velocity claims as the ammo guys can do all sorts of clever stuff with powders and pressure etc. Chrono's don't lie.

However, a 150gr .30cal bullet pushed out of - for example - an 8lb rifle at 2900fps is going to generate a given amount of recoil - it makes no difference what the cartridge is.

Enough of hi-jacking Graybirds thread.