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Need Help Choosing Caliber for New Rifle

woodsdog2 said:
I haven't read all the responses but I'm prone to the short action cartridges off the .308 case like the 7mm-08 and the .243 which are all just necked down .308's. I believe the .358 win is also based on the .308 short action but necked up. 7mm-08 in a Model 110 Remington Handgun or a TC Contender would be an awesome saddle hunting package. No need for a pull up rope just wear a chest holster and climb with it.
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I want to build a .243 Ackley Improved, barrel burners though.
 
I see people and talk to people that complain about recoil all the time . when was the last time you felt the gun go off when you were on an animal? Use a lead sled when you're sighting the gun in and then when you pull the trigger on your quarry recoil doesn't matter.
 
Loopwing said:
I see people and talk to people that complain about recoil all the time . when was the last time you felt the gun go off when you were on an animal? Use a lead sled when you're sighting the gun in and then when you pull the trigger on your quarry recoil doesn't matter.
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True for a hunting only rifle that will not be used by kids/ smaller women, but for those who actually enjoy long range or target shooting a lead sled is kinda a PITA.
 
I agree, but the op asked about a hunting rifle he will be using in grizzly country. If we are talking long range shooting then put a brake on a 6.5 creedmor and punch paper all day long. Just don't insult an elk at 700 yards with that 6.5!
I have dealt with false charging Kodiak brown bears. If they had actually been charging, I would not be typing this right now. Our go to carry gun was an 870 with 5 3 inch magnum full copper slugs.
 
SnakeEater said:
No, but I do plan to start. Trying to wait for a good time because I get a little obsessive with hobbies so when I start I’ll probably go all in on it but it something I want to do.
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Start looking a year from now. In a couple years after all the hoarders run out of money you'll be picking up reloading supplies on sale all over the place. Get what you need mid-election cycle so you can weather the panic buying later
 
So at this point, after reading all the helpful info and advice y'all have shared, I'm pretty much down to the trusty ol' 30-06 or 7mm Rem Mag. While I think both calibers would be more than adequate for my purposes, here's how I perceive the advantages of each relative to the other:
30-06 advantages: ammo more readily available, slightly cheaper ammo, widest variety of quality manufactured ammo, less recoil, more versatile, nostalgia (won two World Wars, same caliber my old man shoots)
7mm Rem Mag advantages: higher BC, more ft. lbs. of energy at longer ranges, flatter shooting, better for long-range target shooting (if I ever get into that)
Am I missing anything there?
The real deciding factor might just be availability... I have my heart set on the Weatherby Vanguard Weatherguard Bronze model (soooo sexy--linked HERE), but I can't find one anywhere in either caliber, and Weatherby is way behind on production due to issues with getting barrels from Japan. If I find that model in either caliber, I'm most likely going to pull the trigger on the spot (excuse the pun).
Can't thank you guys enough for all the helpful information!!
 
woodsdog2 said:
7mm-08 in a Model 110 Remington Handgun or a TC Contender would be an awesome saddle hunting package. No need for a pull up rope just wear a chest holster and climb with it.
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Holster carry is so nice on public land. FWIW, Contenders are great but for hunting I prefer the G2 over the original.
 
TNbowhunter said:
30-06 advantages: ammo more readily available, slightly cheaper ammo, widest variety of quality manufactured ammo, less recoil, more versatile, nostalgia (won two World Wars, same caliber my old man shoots)
7mm Rem Mag advantages: higher BC, more ft. lbs. of energy at longer ranges, flatter shooting, better for long-range target shooting (if I ever get into that)
Am I missing anything there?
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Personally I would ignore the target shooting angle of it. Between the two I agree the 7mag is better for that but I doubt you're really going to want to pound away at targets with a magnum hunting rifle. Some flavor of 22 to 6.5mm round in a more accuracy minded package will be far more enjoyable and economical to shoot if you're wanting to go down that road.


Edit...After thinking about it for a few minutes I'll throw this out for thought if you think you'll want to do some target shooting. Consider a short action Remington 700 or 700 clone or something with a 700 footprint. That opens up by far the most number of aftermarket parts available to you, no other action comes close in that regard. Buy it as a hunting rifle and scope it with more of a hybrid hunting/tactical optic rather than a straight hunting scope. Something with a good reticle and medium sized turrets that aren't too big to get in the way hunting but reliable enough to spin knobs at the range in a pinch. Then after hunting season is over you can throw it in a stock more conducive to target shooting whether that's bipod use, bags, or what have you.

Cartridge wise, 30-06 would be off the table (long action) but a 308 is pretty close in performance with a long track record on deer, Elk, and targets at the expense of a little more on the recoil end. Since you're not a reloader, the other option IMO is the 6.5CM. Tons of good ammo options but on the smaller side for Elk but a better choice for range work and less recoil.
 
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Loopwing said:
I see people and talk to people that complain about recoil all the time . when was the last time you felt the gun go off when you were on an animal? Use a lead sled when you're sighting the gun in and then when you pull the trigger on your quarry recoil doesn't matter.
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The lead sled is great for getting a gun zeroed. Unfortunately that's a very small percentage of my shooting. The overwhelming majority is from various practical shooting/hunting positions. The sled sitting over on the bench does nothing to mitigate recoil in those situations. Also not a fan of an aggressive brake on a hunting rifle. I've only managed to remember to put on hearing protection one time when shooting at a deer in over 20 years of hunting.
 
Skeeter said:
The lead sled is great for getting a gun zeroed. Unfortunately that's a very small percentage of my shooting. The overwhelming majority is from various practical shooting/hunting positions. The sled sitting over on the bench does nothing to mitigate recoil in those situations. Also not a fan of an aggressive brake on a hunting rifle. I've only managed to remember to put on hearing protection one time when shooting at a deer in over 20 years of hunting.
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Wearing hearing protection while hunting is something I have never done with my 7mm mag with the muzzle brake. It is louder than a gun without one but usually only have to fire 1 or 2 rounds and the difference between the two is not gonna be that much.
 
My brake comment was more tongue in cheek about putting a brake on a 6.5. I don't run a brake. If I ran anything extra on my rifles, it would be a can.
My biggest thing is a spent 5 summers dealing with Kodiak brown bears almost daily. The majority of people on here are whitetail hunter (myself included, now) WE have whitetail and the occasional scared a$$ black bear encounters. Grizzlies/brown bears are a completely different animal than black bears. Now in my 5 summers I carried a gun 1 day of guiding. When I went hunting up there that was different. When you pull the trigger it is a dinner bell for apex predators (which 95% of us never deal with). When I have a grizzly, brown bear, or mountain lion coming down on me I DON'T want my rifle that I enjoy shooting at the range. I want the rifle that has the kinetic energy and huge piece of lead/copper to put that animal down now at 10 yards. If you shoot that "charging" animal farther away that 5 yards, it was not really charging, it was a false charge (been there many, many times). I get passionate about this, because I have personally gone in to get someone unstuck. When we found him he was clutching his 243, BECAUSE he was deer hunting. I berated him for over an hour about how STUPID he was for carrying a 243 into bear county. I was backed up by the hunting guide and state trooper that was with us. Leave the little guns at home when you go into bear country!!!
 
6.5 Creedmore in one of the heavier bullets will be fine for Elk and the recoil is very managable. I would hestitate shooting an Elk at 400 yards some with one but if you are any type of hunter you should be able to get well under that. Like with any gun its about accuracy and the recoil of a .300 Win mag or an 06 is a bit much for most folks, they say no but I see more guys flinching shooting the bigger calibers than is imaginable. Shawn
 
Oh, I should of also said you do not need to spend much money on a new gun. Buy a Ruger American and fill the stock with some bondo and lead shot than go out and spend more on a good scope and rings and you will be set. I have 800 bucks into my 6.5 Ruger American Predator and it is a one hole gun out to 300 yards and in the right hands will hit consistantly at 1000 yards. I am sure beyond that as well but I have only taken it out to 1000 yards. shawn
 
woodsdog2 said:
I haven't read all the responses but I'm prone to the short action cartridges off the .308 case like the 7mm-08 and the .243 which are all just necked down .308's. I believe the .358 win is also based on the .308 short action but necked up. 7mm-08 in a Model 110 Remington Handgun or a TC Contender would be an awesome saddle hunting package. No need for a pull up rope just wear a chest holster and climb with it.
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The case head on a 308 is too large for a Contender. It is not strong enough. I believe the Encore is strong enough but there will be a lot of unburned powder with a short barrel.
 
If you want a great deer cartridge out to 150 yards and in a single shot handgun than the 7-30 Waters shooting the 120 grain Nosler is a great gun. Mine is dead accurate out to 200 yards but that is stretching it a bit on whitetails. The .308 can be had in the Encore handgun but recoil is a bit harsh but in the 14" barrel shooting 168 grain bullet you still get speeds up around 2600 fps with some hotter loads. I like bj139's thinking!! Shawn
 
bj139 said:
The case head on a 308 is too large for a Contender. It is not strong enough. I believe the Encore is strong enough but there will be a lot of unburned powder with a short barrel.
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The 308 case head is fine, the pressure is too high for that diameter of case. Contenders are available in 45-70 for example. The larger diameter the case, the lower the pressures have to be.
 
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