Heavier calibre

[Jonno243]

My certs are up for renewal in September and I have recently been considering a variation at the same time. I am still happy with the .243, but have an itch for something just that little bit bigger. I take a shooting holiday for pheasant and duck in Hungary most years, and am quite taken with the thought of boar whilst I am there. Therefore I would like something capable of stopping driven boar (secondary reason), but one that I can use on red stags also (primary reason).

 

To make matters more difficult I fancy something slightly more unusual than .308 / 30-06 / 6.5 Swede etc (please no-one jump on me for this; I enjoy shooting my mates 30-06, it's just I fancy something different!).

 

Ammunition costs are not really a worry as I will be reloading, and it won't see huge amounts of use.

 

I am not sure why but for some reason I have a .300 Win Mag in mind (on the basis that I can load it down for shooting stags and work out something slightly hotter / heavier for any boar).

 

Can anyone offer an opinion of the .300WM, or indeed propose a calibre that might also fit the bill (and their opinion of it)?

 

Cheers all ,

 

Jonno.

Edited January 20, 2009 by Jonno243

[LeeinVA]

Nice post bud.. The 30-06 was the favorite of our sportsman and military for many, many years.. It is the most versatile calibre out there, and you have also mentioned two other calibres, which are just as great.. And those you have mentioned shall perform very well.. I think the 300 mag is over kill for its application ( I use it to shoot Elk in Montana) .. The 30-06 is damn good, and the .308 a brilliant round.. The .308 is more accurate and does not beat the **** out of you like the other two would My choice would be the .308..

[macca]

I agree 308 is great but if you want a little more exotic, 7mm08 is fantastic. I have mine set up with 140 grainers (core lock style projectiles) for bigger suff but can load down to 110 grain projectiles as well. Rossler titan with 2-10x50 weaver is around 7lb.

Cheers

Edited January 21, 2009 by macca

[Baldrick]

.300WM offers you the advantages that it's legal for use in France (where military calibres are banned for hunting) and that it's a superb Plains game calibre. It is a quite unpleasant calibre to shoot if unmoderated/unbraked). I accept that the .30-06 isn't hugely exciting, but I find it does a very clean job on boar.

 

You could consider the following: 6.5x284 Norma (limited barrel life), .270 Win, 7mm WSM, .300 WSM, even a .375 H& H Mag (not something your FEO would accept easily). You could also consider all the Ackley-ed calibres.

 

Ultimately I'd take a .308.

[moses]

Personally I would have a short magnum.

 

I have a couple of mates who shoot .270wsm and .300wsm and I have been very impressed with their capability.

 

Very accurate, flat shooting and they sure do put beasts on the ground.

 

I am seriously considering putting in for a variation for a wsm.

 

ATB

Moses

[casts_by_fly]

if you are shooting reds and boar, want to be a little exotic, and want to avoid a military cartridge, how about 338 federal? Big bullet, but not too much power. Or, you have an 8mm-06 or 338-06 since you're reloading. The 338 bullets aren't uncommon (though 325's might be a little tougher), but certainly neither cartridge is going to be common here. Both give you the option of heavy bullets if you like (250+) for real thumping power on a close boar, but you can load them with 180-200's for the reds to get some better trajectory. I'd have to consider the 338-06 personally.

 

Thanks,

Rick

[wannabefisher]

if you are shooting reds and boar, want to be a little exotic, and want to avoid a military cartridge, how about 338 federal? Big bullet, but not too much power. Or, you have an 8mm-06 or 338-06 since you're reloading. The 338 bullets aren't uncommon (though 325's might be a little tougher), but certainly neither cartridge is going to be common here. Both give you the option of heavy bullets if you like (250+) for real thumping power on a close boar, but you can load them with 180-200's for the reds to get some better trajectory. I'd have to consider the 338-06 personally.

 

Thanks,

Rick

 

i tried the 338 federal and my FEO said a resounding NO

[Baldrick]

Essex Police ruled out .338 Fed for me, to my disappointment.

[casts_by_fly]

What was the reasoning for both of you (why it was denied)?

 

Seems like a 9.3x62 is perfectly reasonable for boar shooting. The 338's would be a lot less cartridge. And, the 338 fed is just a 308 with a little bigger diameter. Postcode lottery?

 

Thanks,

Rick

[Jonno243]

Personally I would have a short magnum.

 

I have a couple of mates who shoot .270wsm and .300wsm and I have been very impressed with their capability.

 

Very accurate, flat shooting and they sure do put beasts on the ground.

 

I am seriously considering putting in for a variation for a wsm.

 

ATB

Moses

 

I will admit to a fair degree of ignorance with respect the WSM and WSSM cartridges. I have obviously heard the "barrel burner" rumours but looking in the first manual that comes to hand (VihtaVuori Edt 6) show approx 100fps difference between the .300WM and the .300WSM for a 165gr Lapua bullet; does that little extra speed really make much of a difference to the overall flight ballistics (although obviously the extra speed will impact terminal ballistics)?

 

.338Fed hadn't even entered my mind! I suppose because the first thing that I think of when I hear .338 mentioned is Lapua Magnum, which most definately is overkill!

 

I note with interest the votes for .308Win. I shot .308 / 7.62 at long range targets throughout university and I acknowledge that it is a good round. However, the boy in me wants something different!

 

Thanks to all for your input, it is much appreciated, and keep it coming!

 

Jonno.

[Dunkield]

If, big IF, I ever looked at something bigger I have always thought it would be 7mm 08.

As always, everyone has their favourite and that for them is the only one to consider, so ultimately you have to deceide what is right for you.

[moses]

I will admit to a fair degree of ignorance with respect the WSM and WSSM cartridges. I have obviously heard the "barrel burner" rumours but looking in the first manual that comes to hand (VihtaVuori Edt 6) show approx 100fps difference between the .300WM and the .300WSM for a 165gr Lapua bullet; does that little extra speed really make much of a difference to the overall flight ballistics (although obviously the extra speed will impact terminal ballistics)?

.338Fed hadn't even entered my mind! I suppose because the first thing that I think of when I hear .338 mentioned is Lapua Magnum, which most definately is overkill!

 

I note with interest the votes for .308Win. I shot .308 / 7.62 at long range targets throughout university and I acknowledge that it is a good round. However, the boy in me wants something different!

 

Thanks to all for your input, it is much appreciated, and keep it coming!

 

Jonno.

 

What I like about the wsm cals is that they are more efficient than the standard win mags.

 

You are getting higher velocities from a short action burning around 10grains less powder.

 

Around 60 grains with a 165grn bullet in a 300wsm will get you about 3100fps where a 3oo win mag uses something like 72grains of IMR4350 to get to the same speed for example.

 

ATB

moses

[Harnser]

If you want to be sencible ,.308 . If you want something a bit exotic and silly ..600 nitro express .

Harnser .

[bullet boy]

I`d say .308 too.

[Jonno243]

Thank you Stuart. 7mm-08 is another that I am considering.

 

I further acknowledge your point about everyone having a favourite, I am the same with my .243 for general shooting in the UK!

 

I suppose what I am looking for is for people to give me their reasons for favouritism.

 

Ultimately I am not looking for a big rifle for the sake of having a big rifle. I acknowledge that it's main use will be on the hill, in Scotland. For that reason I have ruled out some of the more "specialised" calibres that I think are too big (.338 etc). I am looking for something in the region of .30cal, wide range of possible loads, flat shooting and a bit unusual.

 

If I may be so bold, could I ask why your choice would be the 7mm-08?

 

ATB,

 

Jonno

[Baldrick]

What was the reasoning for both of you (why it was denied)?

 

Seems like a 9.3x62 is perfectly reasonable for boar shooting. The 338's would be a lot less cartridge. And, the 338 fed is just a 308 with a little bigger diameter. Postcode lottery?

 

Thanks,

Rick

 

Postcode lottery it was, yes. My FEO (rather traditional in his outlook) ruled out the .338 Fed for deer. I wanted something in a shorter action than my .30-06. I have a 9.3x74R on the way for boar, but it's not a rifle I want to use for stalking.

[njc110381]

Give the .375H&H a miss, they're a pain in the **** to get cleared here! I'm thinking of selling mine and buying a .300 RUM or win mag. For some reason .30 cal is fine even if the muzzle energy is the same.

 

The .375 is a fun boom stick to have though, great for Squirrels

[Trussman]

How about a 7x64 Brenneke? Shoots flat enough, hits hard enough and legal in France etc.

[RC45]

I like .303 British, when I complete my DSC, I plan on having a custom made rifle in the .303 calibre.

[Dunkield]

Thank you Stuart. 7mm-08 is another that I am considering.

 

I further acknowledge your point about everyone having a favourite, I am the same with my .243 for general shooting in the UK!

 

If I may be so bold, could I ask why your choice would be the 7mm-08?

I would love to give a huge in depth technical reasoning, but . . .

I can't say any more than I liked the look of the 7x57 having shot one, and as I know 2 semi professional stalkers who swear by them, and then read up a little bit on 7mm08 and that seemed the same, but slightly better.

[macca]

Hi,

I love my 7/08 less felt recoil than 308, flatter shooting because of more slender projectiles. Mine is a titan and it can be a 308 or 243 (or any one of a number of other calibres) in 10 minutes with a simple barrel swap.

Cheers

[Loki]

Wotcha

 

Not in any particular order but just some thoughts.............

 

A discussion on 'calibres' is one of those discussions where everyone will have a view based a number of factors including personal experience, their knowledge of the different elements (ballistics/terminal ballistics/reloading etc), what books/magazines/reviews say amongst probably others including a 'favourite' that is unexplainable.

 

The difficulty is, in my opinion, analysing all the information available and picking out the relevant points to you to assist you in making a decision - its easy to convince yourself on others information/views/reasoning. Although generalisations can be made recoil, handling of different rifles, accuracy etc are all personal to individuals.

 

In my experience a .300WM loaded approriately will do just about anything you need it to do in the UK, Europe, North America (except perhaps big Brown/Grizzly Bear). It will also do any African plains game except the 'big 5' due to legislation in some countries.

 

I have a 'variety of tools in my kit' and use them as appropriate - including various upto .375H&H for deer & boar in this country (I'm in Thames Valley area and they are not particulary helpful). Having said this on my way out each time its easy to pull 'Old Lucky' (.270 Beretta 602 Custom) out of the cabinet making the others perhaps unecessary...........

 

On 'out of the ordinary calibres' - unless you intend reloading are these going to be available and at what cost where you may end up in Europe/World should the need arise?

 

Over to you.....

[Jonno243]

Wotcha

 

Not in any particular order but just some thoughts.............

 

A discussion on 'calibres' is one of those discussions where everyone will have a view based a number of factors including personal experience, their knowledge of the different elements (ballistics/terminal ballistics/reloading etc), what books/magazines/reviews say amongst probably others including a 'favourite' that is unexplainable.

 

The difficulty is, in my opinion, analysing all the information available and picking out the relevant points to you to assist you in making a decision - its easy to convince yourself on others information/views/reasoning. Although generalisations can be made recoil, handling of different rifles, accuracy etc are all personal to individuals.

 

In my experience a .300WM loaded approriately will do just about anything you need it to do in the UK, Europe, North America (except perhaps big Brown/Grizzly Bear). It will also do any African plains game except the 'big 5' due to legislation in some countries.

 

I have a 'variety of tools in my kit' and use them as appropriate - including various upto .375H&H for deer & boar in this country (I'm in Thames Valley area and they are not particulary helpful). Having said this on my way out each time its easy to pull 'Old Lucky' (.270 Beretta 602 Custom) out of the cabinet making the others perhaps unecessary...........

 

On 'out of the ordinary calibres' - unless you intend reloading are these going to be available and at what cost where you may end up in Europe/World should the need arise?

 

Over to you.....

 

Excellent post Loki, thank you.

 

As I pointed out to StuartP, I realise that what I am asking is very subjective in that just about everyone has their "favourite" calibre. I think, in all honesty, I have a couple of contenders in mind already and perhaps wanted to see what the general concensus was. I will happily acknowledge that there are some fine "standard" calibres (I am particularly fond of 30-06 for example), and perhaps it is simply a vanity to look for something slightly less "mainstream"? (I do not mean that in a derogatory sense)

 

I will be reloading, and my primary shooting would be at home with the yearly trip to Hungary thrown in for good measure.

[Sako7mm]

I had a 7-08 Tikka 595 deluxe and found its recoil too lively.

I am destined to remain a devotee of the gentler but very effective 7x57.