Best all round Australia calibre

[dayzmagnumhunter]

Now this is a big debate of what is the best all round Australian calibre .

Some say the 25-06, some the 243 and so on...

I was just wondering what all of you think

[Chronos]

It's a long standing argument. .22lr has shot millions of rabbits, cats and foxes. the harder hitting rimfires too, 17hmr, 22 magnum. then the 22 hornet, .222 and 223. then there's the .204, 22-250, .243. .308, 270,

Looking at it purely from a point of view of the quantity of Australian game you could shoot with one I'd say 12G with a mix of shells you can take birds, rabbits, cats, foxes, goats, pigs and deer.

Chronos

[Westy]

it's a long standing argument. .22lr has shot millions of rabbits, cats and foxes. the harder hitting rimfires too, 17hmr, 22 magnum. then the 22 hornet, .222 and 223. then there's the .204, 22-250, .243. .308, 270,

looking at it purely from a point of view of the quantity of australian game you could shoot with one I'd say 12G with a mix of shells you can take birds, rabbits, cats, foxes, goats, pigs and deer

Chronos

X2 but you did forget my favorite 6.5x55

[Chronos]

X2 but you did forget my favorite 6.5x55

Not by accident either....Bahahahaha!!!

Just kidding, there's a bunch of other multi purpose rounds like the sweede that can shoot light and heavies, 7-08 among them, but if I had to choose one gun... SHOTTY!

Chronos

[farmerstuff]

25.06 Fast & flat. Wouldn't be without one.

[MeccaOz]

All Great answers in my humble opinion. I am choosing the .308 as my all rounder ( not yet received but on it's way ) I chose it for barrel life, ammo is available everywhere, also the gun I bought fits my configuration needs ( Barrel Chested and stubby arms,lol ). Anyway I thought it would be a good all rounder since donkeys, pigs and maybe a few camels will be thrown into the mix ... Now if i can work out how to shoot a rabbit with a 308 and not have it explode into pink mist I'll be happy lol

[Combat_Wombat]

I would have to throw the 45-70 out there it will drop a water buffalo, mildly wound a drop bear and it's also handy for mincing and pre cooking your rabbits

[on_one_wheel]

All rounder....... 12 gauge

[MeccaOz]

I would have to throw the 45-70 out there it will drop a water buffalo, mildly wound a drop bear and it's also handy for mincing and pre cooking your rabbits

All Top points ! 45-70 gets my vote now too ! lol

[Lorgar]

I'm a recent addition to the 7mm-08 fan club and I'm casting my vote for that (ignoring shotguns).

A good range of pills for different purposes, I use:

120gr pills for small game and varmints while keeping the recoil down. Recoil's manageable for anyone with the lighter pills available, good for the ladies.

140gr for bigger game, large deer etc.

I don't really do target shooting but there are heavy longe range and match bullets like the 175gr ABLR and VLD options if needed.

Does it all comfortably without excess IMO.

[Lorgar]

Er, should amend that to say does it all comfortably except for the heavy horned critters up north. But I'm not up north so that doesn't matter for me.

[Norton]

Er, should amend that to say does it all comfortably except for the heavy horned critters up north.

Bah, useless then!

[Lorgar]

At least I can still feel my arms after shooting it for a day.

Silly Rigby

[Norton]

[Monty]

mildly wound a drop bear

But then you're in real trouble.

Before you shot him you were just food, now he's angry at you...

[Turkle]

mildly wound a drop bear

Combat's last words

[Atter]

Recoil is always a factor.

Maybe .243 for the ladies, .270 for the fellas?

[1290]

Best all round would have to take care of ALL game and pests encountered in Aus - comfortably.
Don't come to VIC without at minimum a 308 - or equal energy, yes 6.85mm x130gr is the minimum, but we are not advanced enough or intelligent enough to consider energy, apparently...

little things up to the big horn-y things, in open and in the thick stuff... I would suggest a level above the 308win

[Chronos]

Best all round would have to take care of ALL game and pests encountered in Aus - comfortably.
Don't come to VIC without at minimum a 308 - or equal energy, yes 6.85mm x130gr is the minimum, but we are not advanced enough or intelligent enough to consider energy, apparently...

little things up to the big horn-y things, in open and in the thick stuff... I would suggest a level above the 308win

I would have to disagree. Anything capable of a clean kill on Sambar would have to be overkill on the majority of pests in Oz. That would make it a specialty caliber, not a good all around caliber. common sense could exclude all birds, rabbits, hare, foxes, wild dogs, small deer, small pigs and goats if you're carrying a .338 win mag

I would say 95% of pests and game shot in Australia would be under 100kg, I'll stick to my pick, 12g

Chronos

[bobnob]

No such thing as an allrounder. A well thought out compromise is your best hope.

You'll all think I'm mad but I am gonna say 325 WSM.

150g SPs for small stuff like foxes, goats and even pigs of all sizes. 220g heavy hitters for scrubbers, buffs etc. 170 to 195 grainers for your large deer species.

The 150s can be loaded down near 30-30 levels if you want something mild.


Most people will be thinking something milder, but if you truly want something that can do it all you really need some decent horsepower.

[MeccaOz]

Hey Bobnob. I'm in the 308 crowd myself, BUT what your saying is dead on, I just have never had the chance to have a go with one. Might pay I look into the 325 a little more

[1290]

I would have to disagree. Anything capable of a clean kill on Sambar would have to be overkill on the majority of pests in Oz. That would make it a specialty caliber, not a good all around caliber. common sense could exclude all birds, rabbits, hare, foxes, wild dogs, small deer, small pigs and goats if you're carrying a .338 win mag

I would say 95% of pests and game shot in Australia would be under 100kg, I'll stick to my pick, 12g

Allrounder I take to mean one gun solution.... It has to be enough for all from Rabbits to Buff... In practical terms you wont use 1 rifle for all, but....

[teekay0]

I love my .260Rem, but I'd say the .243w gets my best all round vote

[Mick375hh]

25/06 I've shot rabbits to red deer and every thing in between with my Ruger No 1

[Chronos]

Allrounder I take to mean one gun solution.... It has to be enough for all from Rabbits to Buff... In practical terms you wont use 1 rifle for all, but....

It's an interesting discussion. Guess it really depends on what you want to do with the snimal. Simple pest destruction, food for the table, skins, each probably has different demands

Chronos

[headspace]

Er, should amend that to say does it all comfortably except for the heavy horned critters up north. But I'm not up north so that doesn't matter for me.

It will put down a Buff, you just have to put the bullet in the right place. I will abstain from mentioning the number of elephant shot with a 6.5 by Karamojo Bell.

[bobnob]

Would YOU shoot an elephant with a 6.5?

[headspace]

No, in fact I don't really have any ideas of shooting an elephant at all.

It's a matter of perspective, just because something can be done doesn't mean it should be.

The all round calibre doesn't exist really. However I think that 7mm you mentioned could be used on a Buffalo, there are pro's up there using 308's all the time.

My Grandpa used to shoot them from horseback with a 44/40 Winchester. But that's another story.

[on_one_wheel]

Would you go duck hunting with a 6.5 ? If you have answered no then its not really an all rounder.

[Warrigul]

Would you go duck hunting with a 6.5 ? If you have answered no then its not really an all rounder.

Honestly I think the idea that one calibre can do all is crap, especially a shotgun which is limited in effective range to 50 meters and is especially not an all rounder(and don't burn me as anti shotguns as I have six at the moment).

There have been plenty of ducks poached with a .22LR

But if you could only take one firearm with you around Australia it would be one of the shotgun/rifle interchangeable barrel jobs, a drilling or a Savage rifle/shotgun combo.

But I don't think that is what the OP is after.