What should be my next cartridge?

[handwerk]

280AI

 

[SloppyJ]

22 creed or 6 creed.

For sure. But there's a case to be made for the 280ai as well. There's some slick 7mm projectiles that work well in that chambering.

 

[49ereric]

410 shotgun a quality double barrel or a single. Some RMC bass hulls to boot.

 

[WormSportsman]

.25-06, .280AI or 7mm-08. Any of those either pair up with your current offerings or fill in between.

 

[eric1115]

Always looking to add something new that fills a niche that I don't already have covered in terms of hunting and target shooting.

I have a decent range of cartridges (listed below), what's a new cartridge that will fill one of my current gaps?

1. 12ga
2. .22 LR
3. 9mm
4. .357mag/.38spl
5. .223/5.56
6. 7.62X39
7. 6.5X55
8. .308
9. 30.06
10. 338 WinMag
11. 375HH
12. 416 Rigby
13. 45-70
14. 458 Winmag.

I have my sights currently set on either the 6.8 Western or a 7mm for some longer range hunting application, leaning towards the 6.8. Any others worth considering?

I recently sold a 7mm RM that was my long range hunting rifle to make room and funds for a .243AI for my new long range hunting rifle. I would do it again. (Though I'd strongly consider a 6CM instead if I were doing it over).

Do you hand load? I'm liking this .243AI, but a 6CM would realistically do everything I want. A 6-284 or 6PRC would be a step hotter if that's your thing (though from your current line up it doesn't seem like it is).

22CM is also a great choice.

 

[Rippey715]

25-7PRC or 30-7PRC or both. Both is good.

Retire the 6.5x55 and the 30-06 and go 6.5-06Ai

 

[peaches]

6mm ARC

This.

Although I think you have everything covered.

 

[eric1115]

What do you have for a .223 bolt gun? If you don't have a good quality, fast twist .223 bolt I would do that.

 

[pacoalcracker]

7PRC and another lever gun...maybe 30-30 or a 32 Special

 

[Weldor]

280AI

Yeap. What he said.

 

[TaperPin]

My next bolt-action will be focused on a lightweight mountain rifle in a suitable flat shooting, sheep/goat caliber.

Light mountain rifle + 7mm = 284 or 280ai.

For a low volume varmint gun, like coyotes or rock chucks, everyone should have a heavy barrel 22-250 or 22 creed. I can imagine a pair of beady eyes looking and laughing at us from a rock pile 400 yards away - always bring a lot of ammo - we may need to shoot 50 rounds at that one that seems to bend bullets around him while laughing until it snorts.

I also can’t imagine not having a 243 (or creed, or 6mm Rem) as a truck gun/loaner/plinker. When you’re driving along in that new 4-door bro-hauler full of bros, see a nice white rock waaaaay out there, and bets for who pays for lunch are made, that 243 is a natural to bring it home. When your third cousin with the lazy eye and one legged girlfriend needs to borrow a rifle so she can smoke a mule deer, once again it’s perfect for the job.

For herds of small varmints to 150 yards or so, a 17HMR has developed a good reputation. Any big varmint shooting trip should include one of these or a 22 mag and 500 rounds of ammo/day, in addition to a 223 and 22-250 and loads of ammo for those. The one rifle varmint shooter will regret it when the stars align and more than a hundred dogs are looking at you at once and the barrel gets smoking hot early. Lol

 

[49ereric]

7PRC and another lever gun...maybe 30-30 or a 32 Special

3030 lever gun is actually a good idea idea along with 357 and/or 44 magnum lever rifles just in case they ever take our semi auto rifles away. Lever action will be defensive rifles.

 

[RS3579]

17HMR and a 22 hornet

 

[Northern Safari]

3030 lever gun is actually a good idea idea along with 357 and/or 44 magnum lever rifles just in case they ever take our semi auto rifles away. Lever action will be defensive rifles.

My 357 is Lever (Henry) alongside my 45-70 (Marlin).

I was debating back and forth for a while about adding a third lever in 30-30 but I just don't see what it does better than the 45-70 at lever action hunting distances.

 

[49ereric]

My 357 is Lever (Henry) alongside my 45-70 (Marlin).

I was debating back and forth for a while about adding a third lever in 30-30 but I just don't see what it does better than the 45-70 at lever action hunting distances.

30-30 cheaper to reload than the 45-70 obviously but the 357 is cheaper yet so I think you have it covered well.

 

[6mm Remington]

6mm Remington

280AI

 

[Hunter270Win]

Always looking to add something new that fills a niche that I don't already have covered in terms of hunting and target shooting.

I have a decent range of cartridges (listed below), what's a new cartridge that will fill one of my current gaps?

1. 12ga
2. .22 LR
3. 9mm
4. .357mag/.38spl
5. .223/5.56
6. 7.62X39
7. 6.5X55
8. .308
9. 30.06
10. 338 WinMag
11. 375HH
12. 416 Rigby
13. 45-70
14. 458 Winmag.

I have my sights currently set on either the 6.8 Western or a 7mm for some longer range hunting application, leaning towards the 6.8. Any others worth considering?

We are such enablers lol. Man you don’t need a new caliber at all you are set.

My advice to everyone right now is to limit yourself to like 5 calibers max. You really just need a shotgun (12ga or 20ga) an AR15 (.223) a .22lr a bolt action (.243 or stronger) and a self defense caliber. Anything outside of this is just boredom.

Ignore my advice if you’re rich and can do whatever you want though lol

 

[eric1115]

We are such enablers lol. Man you don’t need a new caliber at all you are set.

My advice to everyone right now is to limit yourself to like 5 calibers max. You really just need a shotgun (12ga or 20ga) an AR15 (.223) a .22lr a bolt action (.243 or stronger) and a self defense caliber. Anything outside of this is just boredom.

Ignore my advice if you’re rich and can do whatever you want though lol

Ha! I recently have sold a few rifles and have downsized to my old Browning A5 12 gauge, .17HMR bolt gun, 18" AR-15, T3 .243AI, and Glock 48. Kids have .22's, T3 .223, and 6mmARC but I don't consider those part of my collection. I'm focusing on getting reliable glass (pretty much done) and cans (getting close but still have a couple more to go) on everything before adding more rifles back into the mix.

 

[Raghornklr]

Go with the direction you’re leaning and get the 6.8w

 

[JK47]

I mean, if the money is burning a hole in your pocket, find a Ruger No1 in 25-06.

Not many things portray confidence like hunting with a single shot rifle. (As long as you’re proficient). Haha.