What do you consider a good allround caliber for european hunting with the focus on wildboar and moose?

And here is the trick, im limited to 8mm as biggest diameter due to local laws but could possibly get lisenche for 9,3mm as i want but its unlikely!

So any opinions?

Best regards
Ben
Iceland

sako
I do not know about the availibility of European calibers where you are but the 8x57 or the 8x75 would work. However after using my 9,3x74R double rifle I can highly recommend you try to get either a 9,3x62 [bolt rifle] or even better a double in 9,3x74R. The 9,3 is one of the best calibres on the Planet.

8*68S! Meets the bill for everything you have descbribed. I have one and it is a wonderful shooter.

Aleko

Sako,

I am extensively using the 7*64.
I have 375HH, 9.3-74R, 300 Weath and 300 Win.

My allround European caliber :

BY FAR THE 300 WINCHESTER MAGNUM

It' the most versatile.
There is any kind of loadings from scores of manufacturers and You can shoot from the marmotte up to the moose.
The only drawback, the barrel is quite long.

It's my Humble Opinion

sako

8X68S

Cheers
/JOHAN

quote:

Originally posted by Heritage Arms:
8*68S! Meets the bill for everything you have descbribed. I have one and it is a wonderful shooter.

Aleko

YEP 8X68

If in Scandinavia I would choose a 30-06. On the continent, a 8x68S or 300 WM.

This is a special occasion Johan and I agree on something


Aleko

Sako,
No question, the 8x68S.
Not for the faint of heart, though.

Jean,
The 300 Wincheste might be all around, bur I don't think it is European. Neither the cartridge nor the caliber.

Montero

Seems like almost all of you recomend 8*68s!
But what about brass ie, who does make brass for it?

I have been looking at either a Mauser M3 or a Heim sr 21 as both are offered in Left hand and i see both are offered in this caliber!
kinda leaning more towards the Heim rifle as is tough!

Regarding 300WM and while i really like it and do own a Tikka T3 in 300WM im just more and more drawn towards a European caliber for my European hunting!

I forgot all about the 8x68s!
But a double rifle in 8x75R would be pretty slick, if you cannot get a 9,3x74R.

I use RWS Brass, and 200 grs Speer Hot core bullets, or Nosler partitions in the samr weight. RWS has some great loadings too, I would like to see the new EVO bullet loaded in the 8*68S. For now the Nosler does the trick.

I am pretty sure the M03 in avalible in 8*68, but the LH model is expected in June of '06? My 8*68S is in an R93.

Aleko

G'day, I too will second JOHAN, 8x68S is the way to go, if you are limited to 8mm, you might as well get the best!

Cheers, Dave.
Non Illegitium Carborundum

Hi Ben
Why not a 7 mm rem mag? you are living in Iceland and you may need some open country long range shooting and 7 mm rem mag is enough potent to down all the animals found in Europe and have a flat trajectory and ammo is easy to find otherwise good old 3006 or even 308 will do the job cleanly without a lot of noise and recoil.
regards
Y E S

Hi Ben

Having just travelled through France and Belgium to get to do some hunting in Germany you have a lot of theoretical calibre restrictions to deal with even if you are not hunting in those countries.
I already have a .308 Sauer 202 which is excellent and a .375 H+H. After a lot of thought I have just ordered a 7x64 Brenneke. Ammunition is readily available in Europe (Norma/Sako/RWS) and the 11.0 gm ballistics are very comparable to the 30-06 and better than a 0.308 so you should be OK from muntjac to Elk and boar.

The Sauer allows me to switch barrels so no need for more scopes etc.

regards


Mark

Hey Ben.
For strict European calibers:

If moose and boar are the goal, go 8x57. It would serve the purpose without problems, and is available in nice Husqvarnas or other M98´s which come at a fair price in Scandinavia.

If you are looking at a dual purpose gun, say Scandinavian/Icelandic hunt, I would go 7x64 or 6.5x65. Both are as flat as needed for the open Icelandic hunting areas and both can deliver enaugh energy with heavier bullets to put the Scandinavian species down.

If it were up to me, 7mmRM would be the choice.

Regards

quote:

Originally posted by yes:
Hi Ben
Why not a 7 mm rem mag? you are living in Iceland and you may need some open country long range shooting and 7 mm rem mag is enough potent to down all the animals found in Europe and have a flat trajectory and ammo is easy to find otherwise good old 3006 or even 308 will do the job cleanly without a lot of noise and recoil.
regards
Y E S

EIGHT BY SIXTY EIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For hunting here in Iceland i have already a .22lr, .222rem, .243win, .308win and 300winmag so i think im pretty well covered for all Icelandic hunting game!
As all of you see these are all American calibers and only the 308 is a left hand rifle!
And im not too comfortable with taking a right handed bolt rifle into Pig country!

On the otherhand a Heim sr21 in 8*68s sounds pretty sweet!

Regards

sako

Check if Sauer makes a left hand. Maybe an extra barrel in 6,5X68 for Inter-Icelandic reindeers

Cheers
/JOHAN

Both the Sauer rifles, S 202 and the S 90, can be had in left-hand version.

quote:

"Blaser R-93 is nothing more than an overcomplicated piece of expensive junk. Owners of this glorified toy think it’s a rifle."-

Or a Blaser R-93 Johan? you seem to like them!

Sauer looks good but i have no expirience with them!

If you wanted an R93, they come in 8x68s and in LH. Depends though, not everyone likes them. let's face it, they do look a bit unconventional, and some people don't like the way the bolt slides back at you when you operate it at the shoulder.

Cheers, Dave.
Non Illegitium Carborundum

quote:

Originally posted by sako:
Or a Blaser R-93 Johan? you seem to like them!

Sako,
Absolutely Blaser R-93 is my favourite, all the rest is just a smokescreen. Don't tell anyone since it would have serious consequences for my image

Sauer 202 is nice and might suite you fine.

Aleko- why don't you get an 8X68S barrel for your K-95?

Cheers
/JOHAN

Now why would I need a K95 barrel in 8x68S, I would think an 8*75 would be much better!

Aleko

For All around hunting in Europe 8X68 S (from foxes to moose). But if you are recoil sensitive, 9.3x62 is very good for moose and wild boar. A Sauer 202 or a Heym Express light are an excellent election for a 8x68 S.

have never heard of a moose or a boar that did not die from being hit by a 3006. You asked for an allrounder. 3006 is the allrounder.
get a 8x68S and then shoot it lying down.
personally I use a 9,3x74R double for Moose and they say it's just great for Boar, but a double is not an allrounder in my book. 3006 is great for your icelandic rensdyr too.
Bullet choise for moose in a 3006... anything premium Federal Trophy bonded on steroids are good medecine.

Have fun

8X68S will work fine om moose and wildboar. Recoil? Get a stock that fits you really well and a good pad.

3006 is not European, 8X57IS, 8X64 or 7X64 would be fine.

Moose hunting in Denmark must be great Wonder when Denmark will have brown bears

Cheers
/JOHAN

Niels:

quote:

have never heard of a moose or a boar that did not die from being hit by a 3006. You asked for an allrounder. 3006 is the allrounder.

As i own a 308win and 300win i dont see the need for 30-06 in my locker right now altough i would like to own one ofcorse.

Im thinking either a 8mm mauser or go all the way and get a 8X68s in Sauer 202 or Heim sr21!

As for recoil im not too sensetive and shoot my Tikka T3 lite(3,3kg total) in 300wm from the bench with great accuracy every week!

Regards

Johan, come on man...the 30-06 not European ? Take a 8x57 and stuff it into a gun with a serious headspace problem, fire it a few times, give it a chance to stretch a bit and voilá...30-06 !

The guys at Springfield knew exactly how to do things.

regards

To me the 30-06 is the versatile caliber for everything, except dangerous or very thick skinned game.

Bulletweights vary from 110 to 220 grains and to the reloader there is no caliber that offers more variation.

For small deer like roe I use 150 gr.spitsers On red deer, elk and wild boar the 220 gr. Nosler partition has a very decisive, instant and irrevocable effect, no matter what size or weight! Some clain the Accubonds or Blaser CDP are even better, I myself however do not feel the need for more killing power!

It is my believe that one can't go wrong on a decent 30-06!

In my opinion - when one wants to pick an allrounder - the first thing one must consider it ist suitability for the largest animal to be hunted. Combining this with silly laws banning larger calibers than the 8mm, I would absolutly choose the 8x68S!

Here is a group I shot with my 8*68S with Speer bullets at 100yds. It shoots better with Nosler partitions, but just as a practice load it is perfect for about anything around here

Aleko

30-06 not European?

There are literally millions of spent 30-06 cases laying in the soil of the continent!

Well i have been talking to a gunsmith about building me an Mauser on montana 1999 LH barreled action in 8x68s in his own custom stock and the total prise not as high as i expected!!

I think i rather go that way then factory rifle!

Quote 6.5-57 : "For All around hunting in Europe 8X68 S (from foxes to moose). But if you are recoil sensitive, 9.3x62 is very good for moose and wild boar. A Sauer 202 an excellent election for a 8x68 S."
Wise advice.


Sorry I recommended the 300WM, it's not an European caliber.
I don't like the 8*68, makes me think to the violent 300WeathM. Under 200m the 9.3*62 is a charm.

Ignacio Colomer

jbderunz:

I own a 300 WM, a 300 Weat. M and a 8x68. I cannot see much difference in recoil among these calibers. In my case, because the stock design of my 8X68 S is excellent and its proper weight , I feel , even less recoil than with my 300 WM. I have no experience in hunting moose, but I have taken more than 200 boars and it is very strange to shoot them at longer ranges than 200 metres.


When I hunt, the unic excessive thing it is to let wounded animals in the field. If you can manage the 8x68 S properly, it is a warranty that it isn´t going to happen.

There is plenty of choices between 6,5 and 8mm.
Good ones: 6,9x64, 7RemMag, 7,62x51, 7,62x63, .300WinMag, 7x57, 7x64, 8x57JS.
First 5 are not of European origin, but still very good.
The 8x68S 13g Nosler flies at V200 of 774m/s and packs E200 of 3894J that's 338J more than 11,6g Nosler out of .300WinMag as the same range. Gee that's nice, until you try to find some ammo at a local shop, and a sticker shock it will be!
I would bet ammo selection for .270Win, .308Win and '06Spr will be good at local gun shop.

30-06 if you don't mind not shooting in France

8x60s or 8x64s if you want to shoot in France but don't mind not being able to buy ammunition anywhere!

8X68s too strong for me!

Here in Norway,
anything beginning by 6.5 is good.

ERIK D

With my 8x57 loaded with 180 grs Barnes X, I feel comfortable out to 300 meters, and would only feel undergunned against ele, buff or rhino, but since we are in Europe, 8x57 does it for me.