Which new calibre?

[Oldbloke]

Sooo, I currently own a 223 and 3006 x 2. I'd like to fill in the gap for perhaps the odd Fallow deer & dogs and I guess goats or pigs given the opportunity. I don't get out a lot but as I'm getting closer to retirement I figure if I'm going to get one, now is the time if the price is right.

I'm thinking about looking at 243, 7x57 & 7-08. (unless someone has a better suggestion, and I'm sure a few will. )

They are all popular rounds & as I reload all my ammo are the 6mm or 7mm projectiles or the cases significantly different in price?

Now I don't really need this rifle as I have a spare 3006. (the other is loaded with 180 gr projectiles for deer) I could load it up with 130 grain projectiles & it's already fitted with a 4x40 scope ( perhaps up grade the scope) that I figure would do the job OK.

What do you blokes think? What would you do? Use the 3006 or buy a rifle, if so what calibre?

[Bent Arrow]

25-06. Fast flat, and pretty much in the middle of what you've already got. Neck down your 30-06 cases.

[AusTac]

I think you need a .303

[Mick280]

A nice little .243 running 80 - 90 gn pills would fill your gap nicely I reckon!!
Mick.

[Oldbloke]

25-06. Fast flat, and pretty much in the middle of what you've already got. Neck down your 30-06 cases.

Mmmmmm, hadn't thought along that line. Worth thinking about.

[Gun-nut]

I think you need a .303

I second this motion.

[Mick280]

Vanguard S2 in .257 WBY!!

[Oldbloke]

I think you need a .303

I second this motion.

I new some bugger would suggest a 303.

[yoshie]

44 mag lever action

[Oldbloke]

6.5 x 55 sounds like a contender. But I don't recall seeing it often in modern bolt actions.
Do howa market one?

[juststarting]

308. End of story.

[Oldbloke]

308. End of story.

Silly boy. I have a 3006, a man's gun. Not a boys.

[juststarting]

It hurts so deep.

[GLS_1956]

The 7-08 will do anything the 7x57 will do and will work in a short action. 243 will give less recoil, the 7-08 heavier bullets. You could split the difference and go for the 260 Remington.

[COLLECTOR 1]

Have to agree, quarter bore..... 25/06 would be handy, especially necking down 30/06.... or a 257 Roberts...love em both....
257 wetherby mag are good but noisy and expensive to run in my opinion....but jeeezzzzzzz they reach out..

Collector 1

[bladeracer]

Sooo, I currently own a 223 and 3006 x 2. I'd like to fill in the gap for perhaps the odd Fallow deer & dogs and I guess goats or pigs given the opportunity. I don't get out a lot but as I'm getting closer to retirement I figure if I'm going to get one, now is the time if the price is right.

I'm thinking about looking at 243, 7x57 & 7-08. (unless someone has a better suggestion, and I'm sure a few will. )

They are all popular rounds & as I reload all my ammo are the 6mm or 7mm projectiles or the cases significantly different in price?

Now I don't really need this rifle as I have a spare 3006. (the other is loaded with 180 gr projectiles for deer) I could load it up with 130 grain projectiles & it's already fitted with a 4x40 scope ( perhaps up grade the scope) that I figure would do the job OK.

What do you blokes think? What would you do? Use the 3006 or buy a rifle, if so what calibre?

I'm loading .243 and 7mm-08, 7mm can be a little more expensive, but I wouldn't say it's significant. Hornady used to do a .243 ZMax that was very cheap (about $150 for 500) but I emailed them and those have been stopped indefinitely. So I have a mould arriving this week to play with cast bullets for light plinking fun loads instead

You could load the '06 down for smaller game, even with cast lead, but you're still stuck with the long action.
I'd go 7mm-08, .243 isn't a big enough step up on .223 and still falls short of .30-calibers. I like more overlap between calibers.

[Mitch]

I'd be looking to 6.5 cal.

Tikka/sako still make rifles in 6.5x55

otherwise im a fan and own a 260rem and love it.

[Tom Foolery]

25-06 for mine.

[vmaxaust]

Sooo, I currently own a 223 and 3006 x 2. I'd like to fill in the gap for perhaps the odd Fallow deer & dogs and I guess goats or pigs given the opportunity. I don't get out a lot but as I'm getting closer to retirement I figure if I'm going to get one, now is the time if the price is right.

I'm thinking about looking at 243, 7x57 & 7-08. (unless someone has a better suggestion, and I'm sure a few will. )

They are all popular rounds & as I reload all my ammo are the 6mm or 7mm projectiles or the cases significantly different in price?

Now I don't really need this rifle as I have a spare 3006. (the other is loaded with 180 gr projectiles for deer) I could load it up with 130 grain projectiles & it's already fitted with a 4x40 scope ( perhaps up grade the scope) that I figure would do the job OK.

What do you blokes think? What would you do? Use the 3006 or buy a rifle, if so what calibre?

Given your criteria I would look at 300 Blackout. I know many people don't like this calibre but frankly if you are a reloader it is very practical and a great middle of the road between 223 and your 30 06. You can cut down 223 cases and use a 135gr 308 projectile with fast burning AR2205 (17.5gr) they work extremely well for me. I use this formula in a Ruger American Ranch rifle (16" barrel) and a Holosun red dot. Despite what all the ballistics say, I have no trouble getting accuracy sufficient for what you are looking to use a mid range calibre for.

I'm not talking fully scoped bench target shooting here. Just a good all round "powerful enough" round that's reasonable in cost to reload.
The photo was taken last Sunday at Little River...at 50 metres, using a bipod, Holosun red dot. I was there to zero in the Holosun. Was using the ammo I described above. This group of a dozen shots is just over 2" and I'm pretty blind. A good aimer could do better for sure. So, at 100 metres even a spread of 4" would be very easy to achieve. I don't think too many dogs or other pests would be getting away. In fact the Holosun allows one to acquire a target very quickly without parallax problems and with both eyes open.

Just a thought. I know many will not agree but each to his own.

Sam

[Mitch]

Sooo, I currently own a 223 and 3006 x 2. I'd like to fill in the gap for perhaps the odd Fallow deer & dogs and I guess goats or pigs given the opportunity. I don't get out a lot but as I'm getting closer to retirement I figure if I'm going to get one, now is the time if the price is right.

I'm thinking about looking at 243, 7x57 & 7-08. (unless someone has a better suggestion, and I'm sure a few will. )

They are all popular rounds & as I reload all my ammo are the 6mm or 7mm projectiles or the cases significantly different in price?

Now I don't really need this rifle as I have a spare 3006. (the other is loaded with 180 gr projectiles for deer) I could load it up with 130 grain projectiles & it's already fitted with a 4x40 scope ( perhaps up grade the scope) that I figure would do the job OK.

What do you blokes think? What would you do? Use the 3006 or buy a rifle, if so what calibre?

Given your criteria I would look at 300 Blackout. I know many people don't like this calibre but frankly if you are a reloader it is very practical and a great middle of the road between 223 and your 30 06. You can cut down 223 cases and use a 135gr 308 projectile with fast burning AR2205 (17.5gr) they work extremely well for me. I use this formula in a Ruger American Ranch rifle (16" barrel) and a Holosun red dot. Despite what all the ballistics say, I have no trouble getting accuracy sufficient for what you are looking to use a mid range calibre for.

I'm not talking fully scoped bench target shooting here. Just a good all round "powerful enough" round that's reasonable in cost to reload.
The photo was taken last Sunday at Little River...at 50 metres, using a bipod, Holosun red dot. I was there to zero in the Holosun. Was using the ammo I described above. This group of a dozen shots is just over 2" and I'm pretty blind. A good aimer could do better for sure. So, at 100 metres even a spread of 4" would be very easy to achieve. I don't think too many dogs or other pests would be getting away. In fact the Holosun allows one to acquire a target very quickly without parallax problems and with both eyes open.

Just a thought. I know many will not agree but each to his own.

Sam

Blackouts are great, i love mine. I get superb accuracy out to 400m, not that i would shoot to kill at that distance.

Mine shoots 5 shot in 1 ragged hole at 100m

[Oldbloke]

Lot of options there.
Has anyone had experience in loading a 3006 with 110 or 130 grain projectiles? Are they generally fairly accurate? I don't recall the twist rate.
I can live with the long action and would make use of my currently retired Winchester M70

[Gwion]

Get your spare 30-06 rebarrelled to a 6.5mm of some description, for instance a 260rem... or a 6.5creedmore (very similar ballistics to 260rem), or, if you really want to boot some 6.5mm bullets out the end of it, go a 6.5/284! Hell, lets go nuts and order a reemer in 6.5x284shehane.....

[Mick280]

.280 Rem!!
Could also make use of your 3006 cases if you don't mind sticking with the long action!!
Mick.

[Gamerancher]

For a hunting rifle to fill that gap Oldbloke, I'd recommend .257 Roberts. Will work well in that M70 action with a new barrel. Go 1 in 10" twist. Covers all bases from 75gr varmint loads up to 120gr heavy loads for your pigs, dogs and deer. .25 cal pills are a lot cheaper than 7mm and there is a pretty good range suited to hunting. 100 grainers @ 3200f/s were my go to all rounder, never found anything they wouldn't drop out to 400+m.

[TheDude]

6.5 x 55 sounds like a contender. But I don't recall seeing it often in modern bolt actions.
Do howa market one?

Yep howa do them. Tikka I'm pretty sure due them too.

[bladeracer]

6.5 x 55 sounds like a contender. But I don't recall seeing it often in modern bolt actions.
Do howa market one?

Yep howa do them. Tikka I'm pretty sure due them too.

Same performance as 6.5mm Creedmoor which is likely to be better supported outside of the milsurps.

[brett1868]

Get your spare 30-06 rebarrelled to a 6.5mm of some description, for instance a 260rem... or a 6.5creedmore (very similar ballistics to 260rem), or, if you really want to boot some 6.5mm bullets out the end of it, go a 6.5/284! Hell, lets go nuts and order a reemer in 6.5x284shehane.....

Feels like you violated my mind as I was thinking to suggest exactly that same pair. I like to have multiple firearms in the same caliber, since I have a 6.5-300 sitting in customs I have been considering another 6.5 and the 260 and Creedmore are top of the list with the 260 a pubic hair in front. The Sako distributer has a 85 Varmint laminated S/S 260 in stock, I have a PTA in the mail so I'm very tempted to pull the trigger on the 260.

[<<Genesis93>>]

What a silly question.... do you NEED another gun??...... of course you do... you mightnt know it, but you always need another....

I have a similar gap, the selection is top heavy, only got a 223(actually the wife's) and nothing less than 30cal (as far as I recall anyway)..... so I'm leaning to 243win, the performance and projectile selection looks the goods.... I've thought a 25-06, perhaps a 260Rem...... but circle back to the 243.... anything bigger than that and its getting close to 308win territory.....else a faster 30.....

[Oldbloke]

Soooo, to day I looked more seriously at comparing some calibres by making use of the Hornady ballistic calculator. I have indicated the energy under the charts for 250 yards.I have also included my two current loads for the 223 55gr & 3006 180gr deer load. I have included:

243 87gr 3100 fps
7x57 120gr 3100 fps (close enough to 7/08)
3006 130gr 3100 fps

Notice the bullet drop at 250 yards all of the above 3 are between 4.8" and 5.2" (I figure 200 to 250 yards is as far as I will shoot in field conditions)

Keeping in mind this is intended for dogs, fallow deer, goats, perhaps pigs. My current 223 would be a little under gunned for these and my Sambar deer load using 180gr may be inclined to "whistle" through dogs or goats. So I'm looking for a compromise/middle load. I'm beginning to think the 130gr load for the spare 3006 is making more sense. Almost no cost but might be OK for dogs & goats. My research leads me to believe the 110gr projectiles generally result in very poor accuracy but the 130's are usually OK. What do we think now, money is tight, should I lash out?

Comparison.JPG (94.56 KiB) Viewed 6540 times

[Tom Foolery]

Mate loads 125gn Accubonds in his 308. They work extremely well on smaller goats through fallow to larger pigs. No accuracy problems, although a bit pricey compared to the Sierras etc.

I can't see why they'd be any less effective in a man's gun like the 30-06.