The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting Australian and New Zealand Hunting Most useful round for Au. hunting?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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In North America there is always a disgussion going on about the "best all around cartridge" or the "most useful gun".(and the 30/06 usually gets the nod) Now the AVERAGE hunter in Australia will be after different game than the bloaks in N.A. . And the AVERAGE Au. hunter will spend far more time after some game and may never go after some of the other more "exotic" types. So what do you think is the most useful cartridge for the AVERAGE Aussie hunter? Robin | ||
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Best one cartridge only for all round hunting for a reloader would be 270win. With the one exception being buffalo. One reason would be is 270 is the min deer calibre in Vic for deer bigger than Hog deer (unsure what min is for fallow) The most popular would be different altogether. | |||
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I dont live in Oz , but would agree that the .270 Win is the most suitable calibre for all bar buffalo. I would suggest the same applies here in New Zealand as well - the .270 is probably the ideal calibre for all our big game species . Overkill on some but big enough for the biggest as well . This is assuming you were talking about having only one big game rifle to cover the field. ________________________ Old enough to know better | |||
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Why would someone only own one rifle  one rifle "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." Sir Winston Churchill | |||
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308 would be the other great all rounder, with 243 a close second and only because it won't cover the larger deer. When I was a kid I got by with a Sako 222 and a Winchester 30-30 for quite a few years. Those two accounted for a good many pigs, goats, foxes, cats, rabbits and roos in Western NSW and Southern Qld. cheers, - stu | |||
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Top Predator - beats me why anyone would want just one rifle ... I seem to have trouble with them following me home all the time, dont bother counting them now , let alone giving them all names.... And despite my suggestions re the .270 I dont own a rifle in that calibre. ________________________ Old enough to know better | |||
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My vote would be 7mm or 300 magnum as an alrounder,then you could take buffalo,that said there is no animal on earth that can't be killed with the 375H&H "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." Sir Winston Churchill | |||
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TP Little hard to load down the magnums to go bunny shooting. 375H&H are there any soft bullets that would work on varmints - skippy in particular. Have seen 338's and 375 just drill holes in them like fmj's | |||
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Any of the 308 family, both the 243 and the 7mm-08 have been great for me on game up to and including red deer. | |||
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Hornady 300 gr RN and the speer 235 gr come to mind, or the Taipans, the 300 gr RN Hornady's are bombs if they hit some bone | |||
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I'd be happy with my 6.5x55 Swede for most things I normally chase | |||
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I'm a 6.5x55 guy myself BUT I don't live in sambar country. I wouldn't hesitate to use it on one (if'n you saw one in NSW that is). If I lived in Vic and sambar/pigs/goats were on the menu, 7 or 8x57. ------------------------------ A mate of mine has just told me he's shagging his girlfriend and her twin. I said "How can you tell them apart?" He said "Her brother's got a moustache!" | |||
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Another vote for 7x57 (in my case 7x57R). Cheers, Dave. Aut Inveniam Viam aut Faciam. | |||
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I don't load down my 300wm to go bunny shooting. The most blown rabbit I have ever seen is with my 300wm and 130 speer HP doing a measured 3750fps. Pieces over a full 40 yard diameter.I have a 220 swift and a 243 but unless spot lighting the 300wm is my top varminter hand down! For Kangaroos and varmints with the 375H&H I use the 220grn Taipan or Hornady (375 big bore bullet) with 80grns 2208 for 3100+ fps. These bullets will honestly nearly remove the top half of a kangaroo (flap of skin joining the two halves together) Absolutely devastating on pigs! Nearly <edit impossible to wound one with a shot anywhere in the big bit. Cheers Brett | |||
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I can tell, Bretto, that you are a "Peace Through Superior Firepower" kinda guy ... analog_peninsula ----------------------- It takes character to withstand the rigors of indolence. | |||
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I have heard such lines from others that didnt know also  Posts: 87 | Location: Victoria Australia | Registered: 07 September 2002 | |||
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I load 115gr Speer HP in 7mm mag for rabbits and 225gr SP in 375H&H for pests. "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." Sir Winston Churchill | |||
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NO I don't know?!  | |||
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270win, 7mm-08. or the 270 or 7mm WSM if you are looking for slightly flatter shooting to stretch those shots out a little bit. for most game in NZ you dont really need anything over 30cal. not even for the wapiti. heck what about a 257 weatherby mag?? | |||
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\ Certainly shot it in the wrong end mate Posts: 87 | Location: Victoria Australia | Registered: 07 September 2002 | |||
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yep it works for me and lots of other too P | |||
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308Win. ozhunter | |||
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bad bullet choice? | |||
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.30-06 has always worked well for me. | |||
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[ [/QUOTE]\ Certainly shot it in the wrong end mate[/QUOTE] Even if it is shot in the wrong end worked out more Humane IMHO !! Much better than the hundreds of IDIOT Aussie shooters shooting pigs etc. with .22.250's etc. and blowing golf ball craters in there asses which are nasty festering wounds................I have come across 3 pigs that I have shot which had obviously been shot with calibres that where to small and they had these nast wounds. That pig was hit with a .375 H&H ?? and would have died quickly seen it myself and I shoot big bores often................................so I suppose he does know !! | |||
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PC its not the rifle or cal its the shot placement.... daniel | |||
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Yeah I know that..................but where all guilty of shooting pigs on the run etc. and know matter how good everyone thinks they are many, inclusing myself have hit them in the back end, my argument is that it's more humane when that happens with the bigger cal than the smaller cal, his picture provided evidence of that and my own experiences also prove it. On animlas the size of pigs etc. I have found shot placement is less critical when I shoot them with a .416 rigby loaded with a 400 gr Taipan than it is if I shoot them with a .243 and 70 gr ballistic tip, thats just what MY experiences have shown me. | |||
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Yes that pig certainly was shot in the wrong end. I'm not sure of others here but I have not yet developed the skill to be able to head shoot a pig that is running away from me yet. I seem to have trouble timing the up and down bobbing of a pigs head. My solution is to simply use the right bullet and over 4500 foot pounds of muzzle energy. I own 5 different calibres of lesser power than 300wm, I never seem to carry any of them hunting anymore. Can't think of a reason to start carring a smaller calbre either. I'm yet to hear or think to myself "Quick hit it again it's getting away" since I started using decent calibres 15 years ago. Regards Brett | |||
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Mate, i've simply shot thousands of pigs over the years with a variety of cartridges from the 22 mag up to the 458 win mag. I used a 300 win mag on pigs for almost 5 years and now consider it one of the worst choices if not the worst for hunting pigs, simply put its recoils too much when tackling a mob of pigs where quick shots are required. Penetration and bullet selection are also issues with the 300 win mag on close in pigs. Mate, rarely do I take head shots at a pig, reguardless if it is running away or not, I prefer chest shots and if a pig is running away I usually aim for the largest area of body mass, giving myself an excellent chance of hitting the spine, chest or head. My favorite cartridge for pigs is the 7mm-08, it has all the power I need and even if I do shoot a big pig in the arse, my 7mm bullet will usually penetrate into the chest cavity. In all of the years I used the 300 win on pigs, i've never seen the sort of damage done as in the photo, in my oppinion the bullet must have failed badly and come appart explosively, with the downside being lack of penetration. You would be doing yourself a favour if you got rid of that 300 win mag and got yourself a 308 or something simular if pigs are what you hunt, I recon your shooting ability would improve then too. | |||
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Did I say anywhere in my previous posts that i shot that pig with a 300wm. I said the minimum calibre I bother carring is 300wm. | |||
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Spoken like the true magnum hater you are,pull ya head out tumbo. | |||
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a good all round cartridge for the aussie game would have to be not one but a small grp of selected cals, as every one is different. for vermin hunters say the 204-243win medium vermin , goats 243-300win deer species,sambar 243-458win buff, cattle, horses 308-458win just a rough guide, not saying its perfect, the 6.5x55 gets a lot of use out here as does the 22/250, 243win and 308, 270,3006. cheers cc | |||
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My favourite all rounder is my smle 303.But for an allrounder for any game anywhere it would be 375 H&H magnum. | |||
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WTH was that porker killed with? I have whacked a few with the H&H and never done anything like that damage  | |||
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The reason we see a lot of lower powered cartridges in use is a lot of hunting is still (thankfully) not paying through the nose. When as it inevitably will, increase in price, people will start to use more and more, more "adequate" calibres and rounds. Most guys are still just bunny shooters, with an occaisional pig, goat and even less often, deer, hunt, so the smaller cartridges are still the main ones used. | |||
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Most shooters would answer this question based on their current "favourite" rifle and that would reflect the frequency of how often we change guns & calibres. I've been hunting with the 30.06 for almost 40 years and have never found it wanting on any Australian game up to the size of scrub bulls (but I've never shot at a buffalo). An M17 sporter was my first rifle, very heavy to carry, but utterly reliable. Only 5 years ago I upgraded to a Springfield sporter which is a lot lighter and very accurate with 210gn cast bullets. WSM, WSSM, RUM and many others have come and gone but the old '06 is still here! Hold still varmint; while I plugs yer! If'n I miss, our band of 45/70 brothers, will fill yer full of lead! | |||
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For me the most suitable all rounder would have to be a 308 - more versatile than a 270 and almost as flat shooting. But although I have never owned one, there is no doubt the 30-06 would also be very good as would the 7x57. The 6.5x55 is another great. Take your pick. Tumbo What projectiles/powders are you using for your 7mm08? Im have just bought one for deer hunting and need to work up some loads. | |||
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Bretto I meant to be able to eat the rabbit afterwards. Also what cal and load was used on the pig in the pic? Paul from NZ Unsure on the 375 bullets but the 338 was with Sierra Gamekings. God forbid using matchkings for hunting - hahahaha. | |||
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BAW If you don't mind me asking, how did it go on the bigger scrub bulls? One shot kills? What placement? Several shots? What projectile and weight did you use? The .30-06 is almost as "venerable" as the .45/70.  | |||
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Nitro, I load the Hornady 180gn RN as my heavy hitter. I've only shot 2 bulls, No1 was about 70m (thought he was invisible 25m into the scrub in shadows) single front on headshot. The second was later the same day, the bullet struck behind the left front leg and exited in front of the right front leg. The bullet broke 2 ribs, took out the heart and still exited at a range of 130yds. He managed to run 50m but was dead by the time we arrived. That was 12 years ago but I'm sure that the new woodliegh's, and bonded bullets would work just as well. This same bullet has proven good pig medicine easily penetrating the front shoulder of the biggest boar. Somewhere in my bits box, there is one in a perfect mushroom shape recovered from a pig after travelling end to end. Matching bullet performance to the cartridge should not be overlooked, a Hornady RN in say a 300RUM or WSM at 4-500fps faster may actually not penetrate as well as in a 30.06 at moderate speed. Hold still varmint; while I plugs yer! If'n I miss, our band of 45/70 brothers, will fill yer full of lead! | |||
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