Too many calibers?

[Kenai_dtracker]

I have a self induced dilemma. I have a bunch of inherited rifles from my dad, and two Remington pump 7600 30-06 carbines that are staying put. I also have a Browning A-bolt II in 300wsm and a recently bought Tikka lite T3X in 270win. I'm a lefty, so the Browning and Tikka are both left handed bolts and have each taken a bull elk.

The 270 has no sentimental value, but the browning I've had for over 20 years, shot plenty of deer with, and will probably keep. I'm thinking rebarreling the Tikka 270 to 30-06, or sell it and buy the same in 30-06 or 300 wsm. I do like the 270 win, and man it was nice at the range compared to the 300 wsm, but I just feel like it's an extra caliber that's not needed.

 

[BagsandBullets]

Sounds like you want a lighter recoiling caliber on hand, but your other calibers are either more effective or have sentimental value. Maybe sell the 270 and then buy a more common “lighter” caliber if you need it?

 

[JimIsland]

I don't sell any guns that have been passed down but that's just me. I do understand streamlining calibers though. I've tried it a few times but it never worked! I just bought another safe! lol

 

[Kenai_dtracker]

Sounds like you want a lighter recoiling caliber on hand, but your other calibers are either more effective or have sentimental value. Maybe sell the 270 and then buy a more common “lighter” caliber if you need it?

The lighter recoil was a nice change, but I'm not recoil shy if that makes sense. I like the weight of the tikka and it's my first synthetic stainless rifle. The 270 would be perfect for my daughter to grow into as she's shooting a .243 now, but she's not a lefty.

 

[Axlrod]

The lighter recoil was a nice change, but I'm not recoil shy if that makes sense. I like the weight of the tikka and it's my first synthetic stainless rifle. The 270 would be perfect for my daughter to grow into as she's shooting a .243 now, but she's not a lefty.

I started with a 243, then a long time with a 270. Then a bunch of bigger calibers. And now I'm back to shooting .243" bullets. So maybe if the stock will fit her on the 243 she has arrived!

 

[Chris in TN]

Welcome to the struggle of most gun nuts over the age of 40.

 

[Ringbill27]

I’m the opposite I suppose. I think it’s weird to have two rifles in the same chambering.

Being an owner of the tikka T3x 30-06 I’d stick with the 270win. The 30-06 is a shoulder thumper.

 

[BagsandBullets]

The lighter recoil was a nice change, but I'm not recoil shy if that makes sense. I like the weight of the tikka and it's my first synthetic stainless rifle. The 270 would be perfect for my daughter to grow into as she's shooting a .243 now, but she's not a lefty.

In that case, if you don’t have a good reason to sell it then it sounds like the .270 should stay in the arsenal.

 

[bnewt3]

I see zero reason to ditch the 270 for .30-06....especially another .30-06. 270 is a fantastic, versatile option.

In fact, unless you have plans to hunt brown bear or big African game, I dont see any reason for anything "bigger" than 270 and even then its only a need in Africa if you arent allowed to use less than .30-06 but your 300WSM covers all of that with ease.

As others mentioned, what I see as missing in your lineup is something smaller/lighter. 243 is excellent, 6CM, 6ARC, 25-06 maybe.


Does the Tikka shoot well?

 

[IDElkmagnet]

Another vote for keeping the 270. If anything I'm letting the 06 go. It has too much crossover with the 300wsm and the 300wsm and 270 are better rounds in my opinion.

 

[Kenai_dtracker]

I see zero reason to ditch the 270 for .30-06....especially another .30-06. 270 is a fantastic, versatile option.

In fact, unless you have plans to hunt brown bear or big African game, I dont see any reason for anything "bigger" than 270 and even then its only a need in Africa if you arent allowed to use less than .30-06 but your 300WSM covers all of that with ease.

As others mentioned, what I see as missing in your lineup is something smaller/lighter. 243 is excellent, 6CM, 6ARC, 25-06 maybe.


Does the Tikka shoot well?

Honestly, the Tikka shoots great and handles well. I got a decent bull elk last year in CO and of course I had my drops at distances all down, but ended up with a 75 yards shot, haha.

Both my 30-06 pumps are 18" barrels, one with a peep sight and one with a 1-4x scope. I've shot 200lb whitetails with both, and love those guns for the northeast and tracking.

 

[Kenai_dtracker]

Another vote for keeping the 270. If anything I'm letting the 06 go. It has too much crossover with the 300wsm and the 300wsm and 270 are better rounds in my opinion.

What's crazy is that Remington is not making the 7600's anymore. So these $400 guns from 20 plus years ago are now selling for crazy amounts.

 

[Macintosh]

Why rebarrel to something you already have multiples of? Just so you can share ammo? I mean, when would you take one and not the other? I guess Id rather get something truly different. I would argue that 270, 3006, 300wsm are all splitting hairs at 350-400 yards or less. Flip a coin, all plenty sufficient, I challenge anyone to shoot the difference. Id rather rebarrel or trade to get into something thats functionally different so theres an actual reason to use it instead of one of your collection of guns that all +\- do the same thing.

 

[Sadie]

I thinned my herd down to 22,30 and 338 to reduce the different calibers in stock.

 

[RWT]

Sell everything and get down to 2 calibers. I had over 12 different chamberings. I have since narrowed down to 4 chambers but 3 calibers.

223/556 0-300 yards for anything I want to hunt
6.5 Grendel 0-400 yards everything
6.5 CM. 0-600 yard for everything
308. As some ranches I hunt will not allow a 6.5CM Yeah I know


I was tired of having too many boxes of ammo on the shelf and trying to remember what shot what well. I narrowed it down and shooting is more enjoyable.

IMO Pic the two you want to spend your life with and buy more ammo those two prefer.

 

[Cherokeeguide]

I do like the 270 win, and man it was nice at the range compared to the 300 wsm, but I just feel like it's an extra caliber that's not needed.

Why have "almost an ought-six" when you've already got the real thing? I've owned a few rifles in .270 Winchester, but only because way back in the wayback when, before Al Gore invented the Internet, I wanted a particular rifle (Ruger No.1 B, Interarms Whitworth Mauser) in .30-'06 but, not finding one locally, settled for the .270 Winchester version in stock. I've got nothing against the .270 Winchester and filled seven elk tags with it but it didn't do anything for me that a .30-'06 couldn't do.

I would agree that if you have a 300 WSM, having a .270 Winchester is kind of superfluous.

I don't understand this part, though:

I'm thinking rebarreling the Tikka 270 to 30-06, or sell it and buy the same in 30-06 or 300 wsm.

I get that the .270 Winchester, .30-'06, and 300 WSM look different on ballistics tables, but they all do the same thing in the real world and a properly-placed shot with any of those three is going to kill any North American hooved game animal stone-cold dead.

I'd sell the Tikka .270 and not buy another Tikka, personally. I know they're all the rage on this forum, and personal taste is just that, but I'd rather get my A-Bolt II Medallion in .257 Roberts back, or have ANY A-Bolt II Medallion, than a Tikka.

I don't see what a Tikka is going to do that an A-Bolt II can't.

 

[Kenai_dtracker]

Why have "almost an ought-six" when you've already got the real thing? I've owned a few rifles in .270 Winchester, but only because way back in the wayback when, before Al Gore invented the Internet, I wanted a particular rifle (Ruger No.1 B, Interarms Whitworth Mauser) in .30-'06 but, not finding one locally, settled for the .270 Winchester version in stock. I've got nothing against the .270 Winchester and filled seven elk tags with it but it didn't do anything for me that a .30-'06 couldn't do.

I would agree that if you have a 300 WSM, having a .270 Winchester is kind of superfluous.

I don't understand this part, though:





I get that the .270 Winchester, .30-'06, and 300 WSM look different on ballistics tables, but they all do the same thing in the real world and a properly-placed shot with any of those three is going to kill any North American hooved game animal stone-cold dead.

I'd sell the Tikka .270 and not buy another Tikka, personally. I know they're all the rage on this forum, and personal taste is just that, but I'd rather get my A-Bolt II Medallion in .257 Roberts back, or have ANY A-Bolt II Medallion, than a Tikka.

I don't see what a Tikka is going to do that an A-Bolt II can't.

The A bolt is a nice gun, especially the action compared to the Tikka. I guess at the time I wanted a stainless synthetic stock and the there were no 300WSM in stock for the Tikka when I got the 270 win. Tikka is still solid and shoots great with the Trijicon credo.

 

[BagsandBullets]

Sell everything and get down to 2 calibers. I had over 12 different chamberings. I have since narrowed down to 4 chambers but 3 calibers.

223/556 0-300 yards for anything I want to hunt
6.5 Grendel 0-400 yards everything
6.5 CM. 0-600 yard for everything
308. As some ranches I hunt will not allow a 6.5CM Yeah I know


I was tired of having too many boxes of ammo on the shelf and trying to remember what shot what well. I narrowed it down and shooting is more enjoyable.

IMO Pic the two you want to spend your life with and buy more ammo those two prefer.

I agree with this approach. Keep it simple and find 2-3 calibers that work. Spend the money you would have spend on another gun on good ammo and other training tools. But I know some folks just like having different options, but at that point it’s a personal interest more than any real justifiable decision making, and that’s ok too