Best "One Rifle" Caliber?

[Dougfir]

If you're not reloading, I'd rather have the '06 than a 6.5 PRC. I still think it's the king of versatility, unless you're planning to shoot past 400 yards.

 

[Pescetism]

Y

Won't I lose velocity with the 308? I thought the 30-06 was basically 308 +P with the same grain weight bullets (e.g., 150s).

I'm not particularly set on the bass exclusive, it's just hard to find the new threaded Tikkas in diff calibers and that's the easiest one to get.

I could get the older T3x versions with a 6.5 or 6.5 prc since they don't have much recoil. I'm shooting my 308 right now with no muzzle brake.

Yes, 308 will be slower than 30-06 with the same weight bullets and same barrel length. But unless you are shooting the heaviest weights and/or long distance is the extra velocity needed? Cherry picking the first mono factory load I see available in the same bullet weight in both 308 and 30-06 the claimed starting velocities are 2810/2920. Assuming the reliable expansion threshold is 2,000 fps, at sea level the 308 load maxes out ~ 375 yards and 30-06 at ~ 410 yards. Not knocking the 30-06 but for me there isn't enough gain in usable distance to warrant the larger cartridge. Especially, if you plan

I like other posters, like prefer 6.5CM over either one anyway.

 

[Ringbill27]

The 30-06 is a solid choice but I’m thinking a do everything rifle cartridge for me would be the 7mm08. With the 120TTSX and the 139LRX.

 

[wpeach1912]

Hard to beat a 6.5 creedmoor. Cheapish to shoot, easy to shoot, readily available ammo, and definitely effective on game. Holes in vital organs kill animals, and animals aren’t bulletproof. If it doesn’t die from a 6.5 creed, a 30-06 probably isn’t going to make a difference

 

[Lock3]

Hard to beat a 6.5 creedmoor. Cheapish to shoot, easy to shoot, readily available ammo, and definitely effective on game. Holes in vital organs kill animals, and animals aren’t bullets proof. If it doesn’t die from a 6.5 creed, a 30-06 probably isn’t going to make a difference

The thing I'm worried about is a screw up on my part leading to a shoulder shot on boars. That plate will slow down a 6.5 cm significantly while a 30-06 will just blow right through it.

 

[Ajsomp]

The thing I'm worried about is a screw up on my part leading to a shoulder shot on boars. That plate will slow down a 6.5 cm significantly while a 30-06 will just blow right through it.

can’t tell if you are serious or trolling?

 

[wpeach1912]

The thing I'm worried about is a screw up on my part leading to a shoulder shot on boars. That plate will slow down a 6.5 cm significantly while a 30-06 will just blow right through it.

Just don’t screw up lol

 

[satchamo]

243

 

[Matt5266]

I have to shoot mainly copper because I'm in CA. Was hoping to get something with a bit more weight than 6.5CM. It doesn't seem like copper bullets are available in heavier grain weights, which also seems to give some margin of error on larger animals.

Also, I every time I go out with a guide, my friend with the 6.5CM gets relentlessly trolled haha.

Is it wrong to be thinking about grain weight on bear / elk?

A good mono will still do the job, not what I would pick but I don't have the restrictions you do in CA.

Who cares what people say. If it works it works.

Black bears are not hard to kill. My experience is the opposite. They are pretty fragile creatures when you put a bullet in them. Make sure you aim "middle of the middle" their anatomy is different. Thousands of elk are killed every year with a 6.5 creed.

 

[wyosam]

If you only want one gun, I would get a .243, personally. With a good bullet it will kill anything you desire out to 500 yards.

If you want something bigger, hard to go wrong with a 6.5 CM, 6.5 PRC, .270, or .30-06.

My combination of “modern” rifles is a Tikka .223 trainer and a Tikka 6.5 CM main rifle.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

243 isn’t great for high volume practice though since barrel life is a stated concern. 223 trainer (or everything if you’re into that) and whatever standard cartridge floats your boat from 243 to 30-06 is a great combo.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Matt5266]

The thing I'm worried about is a screw up on my part leading to a shoulder shot on boars. That plate will slow down a 6.5 cm significantly while a 30-06 will just blow right through it.

This is simply not true. If you havnt read the .223 for big game thread I would take a look. It will give you some major insight.

I currently own 3 rifles. 300 wsm, 243, and 223. The 300wsm has set in the safe for years. I drew a elk tag this year in a area where I expect shots out to 400 yards. I'm taking my Tikka 223 on that hunt. That's the confidence I have in it. Hopefully that tells you something.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

243 isn’t great for high volume practice though since barrel life is a stated concern. 223 trainer (or everything if you’re into that) and whatever standard cartridge floats your boat from 243 to 30-06 is a great combo.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If I only had one rifle, planning on getting a new barrel every 2000-3000 rounds would not be a real concern for me. I’d have plenty of money after selling all the other rifles and ammo!


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[S-3 ranch]

30-06 over a 6.5prc all day everyday, ammo choice & availability + longer term barrel life , get a 24inch barrel over a 22 imo , to get true factory load velocity
I love my pre 64 M70 featherweight but wish it was a 24 inch one

 

[kkp005]

Honestly why not just a 308 superlite ? You’ve already got a 308 so could focus on only 1 caliber…. If you’re worried about barrel life , 308 is almost infinite

 

[kkp005]

The thing I'm worried about is a screw up on my part leading to a shoulder shot on boars. That plate will slow down a 6.5 cm significantly while a 30-06 will just blow right through it

man.. you might spend a little more time here reading the 223 thread and 6mm/243 kill thread. I’ve killed literal truck loads of hogs at night with a 7.62x39 shooting cheap Russian soft points out of a 10.5” barrel. Hogs shoulders arent bullet proof… and the shield hasn’t ever stopped one of the my bullets.. here’s a pig my literal girl just killed a few days ago with a 223 and 77gr tmks…zipped right through his shoulder and “shield” … and another that died from a 6mm creed and a match bullet

 

[MuleyFever]

The thing I'm worried about is a screw up on my part leading to a shoulder shot on boars. That plate will slow down a 6.5 cm significantly while a 30-06 will just blow right through it.

You must be new here.

 

[Jhconnected]

30-06 will work fine out to normal hunting distances. It was the original one gun cartridge.

If you’re wanting something with less recoil you can look at 280AI, 6.5 PRC, 6.5 CM, 6.8 Western, etc etc.

 

[Bamban]

Summer of 74 Cape Lisburne, Alaska. 30-06, irons, 180 grains Silvertips. No fancy camo, thermals under fatigues, wool socks and Chuck Taylors. The blue background is the Arctic Ocean.

Shot was shy of 200 yards.

For the duration of my tour I carried this same 30-06 hiking down the shores of the Arctic Circle where the nanooks roam on occassion.

 

[Tinyfish89]

I made the jump from a .308 to a 7mm PRC. I regret nothing but if you wanted a SA and less recoil a 6.5 PRC with a good break would be a dream to shoot.

 

[Pilsner]

The thing I'm worried about is a screw up on my part leading to a shoulder shot on boars. That plate will slow down a 6.5 cm significantly while a 30-06 will just blow right through it.

That is not at all true. Where the heck did you ever get that idea and was it because you tried them in a 1:1 situation because I will wager one 6 pack of good beer that you haven't done so.

Let me see if I understand your argument:
The same boar plate that won't stop a 2.23/5.56 ELD-M bullet will somehow magically stop the same ELD-M from a 6.5 creed but will allow an ELD-M from a 30-06 to pass?!

Do I understand your argument correctly? Because I want to get it correct before I address it.

-Doc