If you had to pick one all rounder what would it be? I need something that will take lead bullets @ 900/1000fps for my local indoor range then have the ability to crank it up for 200yards at the Bisley Outdoor range and in the field at game. Where I am (UK), you are generally talking about rabbits, hares, foxes, Roe, sika etc but I would be tempted if a bargin came up for Africa. Currently have .44 mag Competitor which generally fills the role as it can down loaded for indoor use and stoked up for the great outdoors. Does anyone have a better suggestion? I was thinking maybe 45/70govt but not sure.

30-30 may be a good choice also.

It's my choice mainly because every 30-30 Contender barrel I have ever fired has been EXTREMELY accurate.

There are dozens of good 30 cal. lead bullet designs available, the IHMSA guys have good luck with them. Brass is highly available also.

I hunt whitetail deer with my 14" 30-30 out to 200 yards with great success, it has killed the occasional coyote also. This barrel is the most accurate barrel I own, it qualifies to be a varmint rig! the smallest group I have ever fired from any firearm was with this barrel; 3/8" at 100 yards using Hornady 180gr round nose bullets(an unlikely bullet for extreme accuracy).

I own several custom $400+ barrels from SSK, Bullberry and Virgin Valley, it almost upsets me that my used $125 30-30 barrel outshoots them all. But hey, the pleasure from owning it makes up for it.

The 44 magnum is pretty good but if you want a wider spectrum to work with - 200 yard reach and larger African game - how about the 454 Casull, or even the 460 S&W? The 45/70 might do but smaller powder charges are dwarfed by the case's capacity and finding bullets under 300 grains is pretty much a cast them yourself sort of proposition.

454 Casull? never thought of that. Would like a 460 as well but there's no way to get one over here at the present time. Thinking about it, I can get a Competitor chambered in .454/.410 shotshell, that really is an all round pistol.

quote:

Would like a 460 as well but there's no way to get one over here at the present time.

Will your Competitor accomodate the pressure of the 460? If so perhaps you could have barrel chambered for it. Then you could use Schofield, Colt, Casull, or S&W cases as needed.

quote:

Thinking about it, I can get a Competitor chambered in .454/.410 shotshell, that really is an all round pistol.

It's difficult to tell if you're joking when you don't use emoticons.

And what exactly is wrong with a .454/.410 chambering Nordrseta?
I have no doubt that it probably shoots like crap, but it really is an all round pistol

As for rechambering to .460 pass/don't know ... they can handle the likes .375 H&H and most of the big belted magnums but I don't what pressures the .460 generates, I don't even know of any in the UK and I believe theres only one guy that even stocks .454 brass.

quote:

And what exactly is wrong with a .454/.410 chambering Nordrseta?
I have no doubt that it probably shoots like crap, but it really is an all round pistol

To paraphrase an old saying "Only accurate pistols are interesting" In my experience the Contender 45 Colt/410 barrel is neither an accurate pistol (as in bullets striking the paper sideways at 25 yards) nor an especially good shotgun (though it has some utility on stationary pests and small game when single projectiles are inappropriate). If you are going to have only one pistol I respectfully submit this curious combination has no place on your top ten list.

The 45/70 is a great handgun round. I had one in a Contender for a few years. You can load anything from 300gr hollow points to 500gr solids. I did everything from light weight black powder plinking loads, to 500gr sub-sonic cast bullets loads, to my favorite 405gr Cast Performance WLNGC over 41gr of Re 7. The best part is that it does all of this at very modest preasures.

.357 max....hands down. Can shoot everything from .38 specials 158 cast bullets at sub 700 fps to .357 200 gr. jacketed bullets at over 1700 fps.

quote:

357 max...hands down

If Dan wasn't wishing to some day hunt in Africa the 357 maximum would certainly be more fun at the range and plenty for deer-sized or smaller game.

Just managed to look through the police report in my country for firearms and their applied uses.
Doesn't look like one all round calibre will do the job.
I'm going to need a rimfire for rabbits,
a 6mm for foxes,
.30 cal for deer
and something .338 or bigger for anything bigger than deer.

Looks like the firearm and ammunition manufactories where in bed with british government when that act come in!!!

I was going to sujest 358 Winchester until I read your last post

Phased plasma rifle with a 40 watt range....
that should do it.

My bad.......you want one gun to hunt with .....rabbits to African plains animals.

If you handload, .375 JDJ will do it all...a might heavy for tree rats and a little light for elephants/buffs..... but it WILL work if you do your part with the right bullet.

Africa? damn, that limits it a lot. I would have said .30 Herret, which I have used on deer and pigs, as well as targets for years. But if you want big critters in Africa then yes, I'd go with the .375JDJ.

Cheers, Dave.

.375JDJ is on my wish list, along with the .309JDJ, one calibre just ain't gonna do it tho'. Both of the above with a .22lr and a 6mm round will cover all the bases. Might go for a TC so I can get used to the action and trigger pull and just swap barrels.

Or, instead of the 6mm, you might try a 7mmTCU?
I have used one a few times, it seems to work just as well on rabbits, foxes, crows and hares, as the 30 Herret, with a lot less felt recoil.
Does T/C still offer the 6mm/223? If you are determined to try a 6mm, you could do worse.

Cheers, Dave.

Dave, Unfortunatley it would seem that the UK government does not allow anything over 6mm to take medium size quarry(foxes etc), so thanks for the tip, but I think I'm finding out the hard just how expensive this is going to be

try the 6mm/223 or the 6mm/222, they should fill your requirement. If T/C cannot help, try SSK. They should be able to help with a 6mm JDJ BBL.

Cheers, Dave.

357 Maximun.
YOU can load it for deer .
You can load it for varmit.
You can shoot 38, 357 or the Max.
It is a 150 + YD. shooter.

quote:

357 Maximun.
YOU can load it for deer .
You can load it for varmit.
You can shoot 38, 357 or the Max.
It is a 150 + YD. shooter.

Another vote for the 357 Maximum. My 10" barreled Contender with a 3x scope is also one of the most accurate pistols I have ever seen, especially with 180 grain Hornady bullets.

That's the simplest answer I've ever had to come up with.,

No other choice: 30'06.

Cast bullets for rabbits with pistol charge of red dot or any similar powder.
Heavier cast for what ever else.
OR jacketed with weight considered for each application.

I've shot thousands of jacketed 110's for prairie dogs, and head shot rabbits. 125-150's for deer and antelope here in Colorado. 180-200 gr for elk, big bear and big stuff anywhere in the world 200-240s IF you can find the 240's. IF not, a good 220gr.

Just use 4895 powder for any cartridge or loading except the very light charges for cast plinkers. Then use 3.5-10gr pistol, or shotgun powder.

I've done it, great results, always easy to find brass, bullets and powder, dies, or most any other need anywhere in the world no matter what language they speak. Just write the number: 30'06, and desired bullet weight. Don't have to speak even, just hand them that note and they'll know exactly what you want. You can do this at any gunstore/market/etc anywhere in the world. And you'll get exactly what you want unless some oddball wt, or brand bullet.

Wish you well,

George