Which is the most versatile short action caliber for a non-handloader?

22 October 2003, 11:32

fredj338

That's got to be the .308WCF / 7.62 Nato. I'm not a big fan except in it's military config. but it has to be the most versatile from a handload & factory ammo perspective.

22 October 2003, 13:18

Cold Bore

I'm with Fred.

As soon as I saw the title, I thought "308 Win".

Accurate as you'll ever need, can be used with confidence on almost anything you'll hunt in North America, a fine selection of factory loads, it's got it all.

22 October 2003, 13:22

TCLouis

I'm with the rest, first to come to mind from reading the title of the post is 308 Winchester.
LouisB

22 October 2003, 13:25

browningguy

Another vote for the 308. I've got a Ruger 77RSI in this caliber and it's still my go-to gun. I shoot 150 gr. loads and you can get about any bullet you want.

22 October 2003, 14:01

Brad

308...

22 October 2003, 14:06

308

kk

22 October 2003, 14:24

RuffHewn

.308Win.

Though the .300WSM has factory loads that will do everthing appropriate to .30 cal and at longer distance it will never best the .308 in number of factory loads available and is not as easy to shoot accurately.

22 October 2003, 14:37

<tasunkawitko>

.308 winchester

22 October 2003, 15:02

.308 win

22 October 2003, 15:13

Iron Buck

Well i guess I am late to the party LOL.............I have to agree. 308Win.

22 October 2003, 15:40

john17

def. a .308. you wont be disapointed

22 October 2003, 17:04

Recoil Rob

Well damn guys, I guess I knew that, but needed to hear it from you all. It's nice to have a consensus.
.308 it is. Building a rifle for a buddy's 50th birthday and he's gonna be a one gun man.

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Rob

23 October 2003, 00:04

<Reloader66>

The 243, 6 mm, 250-3000, 260 are all fine cartridge with mild recoil and a good all around cartridge. The 243 may be just a tad light for deer but still one fine shooting round. The 308 is a fine shooting cartridge but the recoil shy shooter would be far better off with those lighter recoil rifle cartridges.

23 October 2003, 01:39

M16

7mm08

23 October 2003, 02:04

E O

Well you know me, I would say damn the shorty and build an '06. But in a shorty there is but 1 worldwide choice the

.308win

I feel queasy

ED

23 October 2003, 02:14

Pete E

Rob,

I own and hunt with a .308 and I echo E O and say forget the short action/.308 and get a 30-06 instead...

Of course, you have not told us what this guy intends to hunt with this...I don't just mean whats on his "wish list", but whats going to be his bread and butter quarry species...

Regards,

Pete

23 October 2003, 02:43

1894

Pete,

Interested in why you think that.

If you take the premise that anything you or I can afford to hunt is going to be killed by a 180gr and that a 308 shoots 180gr at (for practical purposes) the same velocity as a 30-06 then as far as I can see the only reason to go 30-06 for an English stalker is the availability of 125/130gr factory ammunition or because the rifle is nicer/a better deal.

If I was burnt out I'd either get one 6.5x55 and handload or a 243 and a 30-06 and factory ammunition.

23 October 2003, 04:28

Pumpkinheaver

.308win, with the .300 and .270 winchester short mags coming in second.

23 October 2003, 06:30

WyoJoe

quote:
Originally posted by Pumpkinheaver:
.308win, with the .300 and .270 winchester short mags coming in second.

I am glad someone else likes the .300 WSM. When it comes time to retire my .300 H&H I am thinking of replacing it with the WSM. It gets my vote as the most versatile short action caliber.

23 October 2003, 09:26

HunterJim

Bob,

I have been shooting one a lot on game since '98, and the .308 Win is hands down the best short action hunting cartridge available today.

jim

23 October 2003, 10:01

Recoil Rob

I had the choice narrowed down to .308 & 7mm-08.

Recoil isn't an issue as we're used to 12ga, slugs.

I don't think he's ever going to want to go after great bears, maybe a black bear if the opportunity presents itself while whitetail hunting. Caribou and elk are a possibility, as is moose, but the bulk is going to be whitetail.

I would have gone with the 7mm-08, but the bullet weight choices in factory ammo is 120g or 140g. I suppose he could get someone to custom load some 160's if needed, but the 150 to 180 range of the .308 just seems better suited to his needs.

I too would have gone with a 30-06 but the short actions are bought already, and besides, I feel that factory .308 is loaded closer to max than 30-06, the whole bit about the '06 being loaded down for old guns.

I figure he'll be using 165g for most work and adjust up or down as the situation warrants. What would be the best twist rate for this?

Thanks, Rob

[ 10-23-2003, 01:03: Message edited by: Recoil Rob ]

24 October 2003, 03:55

Dave In LB

1:10 is the perfect twist for bullets in the .308. You can stabilize the light stuff all the way up to 180G and maybe even a 200gr if you so choose. Sounds like a great project.

24 October 2003, 04:56

<allen day>

To me, the most versatile short-action cartridge would have to be the .300 WSM. It'll do all that the .308 Win. will do, plus a whole lot more.

AD

24 October 2003, 06:16

Pathfinder

Yet another vote for the 308 in short actions.

24 October 2003, 06:38

fla3006

308 or 7mm/08

24 October 2003, 09:07

holzauge

308 or 7mm/08 depending on what you want to shoot.

24 October 2003, 09:07

mho

308 - obviously. Lots of other great short action cartridges, but if the question is about most versatile, 308 wins hands down. Can almost do anything a .30-06 can do (and that is a lot), and you can get ammo all over the world. 308!
- mike

24 October 2003, 09:32

Atkinson

the .308 is a great caliber and in the hunting fields it equals the 30-06 with bullets up to 180 grs.....Now, how could it get any better than that....

24 October 2003, 13:50

blacktail

Ditto on .308

Mike

24 October 2003, 17:12

LAWCOP

HAVE TO join in, for the first time in my life most people are agreeing with me, .308 Win. [Big Grin]

24 October 2003, 18:23

Dave In LB

I saw this yesterday and thought imediately .308 even before the page loaded up. after thinking about it a while and as much as I LOVE the 308 the 300 WSM does have some versatility to it and i fyour friend reloads he can load to any power level (that is safe) that he wants from 308 light to 300 kung pow. If I was going to buy my only rifle today it would be the 300WSM.

26 October 2003, 14:36

vapodog

.308 winchester.....seems to be fairly agreed!!!

27 October 2003, 02:38

mark65x55

I've only owned onw short action rifle, a .350rm and didn't keep it long. But if I bought another I think it'd have to be a .308win.

Mark

Africa '05!!!!!

[ 10-26-2003, 17:39: Message edited by: mark65x55 ]