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Any of the calibers mentioned would work just fine and if I was watching you hunt with binoculars I would be hard pressed to know which one you were using even if I saw the shot in good detail. I have never had a .264 but want one and it's my sentimental favorite in your list, but it's hard to find ammo for it right now and who knows when that will improve? But get yourself a good Pre-64 M 70 and you have something for life.
Offhand the .308 is easier to find ammo for and is very adequate for all North American hunting. So that's my practical choice.
You didn't say overtly that you were going with a bolt-action rifle but I think most of the calibers you suggest rather hint at that.
OP you need to get some experience shooting targets at 300+yards before trying to shoot game at that range.
Don't shoot other people's reloaded ammo, for a variety of reasons. Learn to load your own or stick with factory offerings.
You don't really need one rifle to "do it all" you can have several if you want.
I am too dirt poor for more than one rifle right now.I want a lot of guns someday but I dont have the money and I possibly wont ever have enough money for it.I also cant afford more than one box of hunting ammo a year.I plan on practicing at 300 to 500 yards with a rifle when I get the chance and when I can afford to be a member of a shooting range.
Last edited by NewMexicoCowboy; 01-22-2023 at 08:11 PM..
Any of the calibers mentioned would work just fine and if I was watching you hunt with binoculars I would be hard pressed to know which one you were using even if I saw the shot in good detail. I have never had a .264 but want one and it's my sentimental favorite in your list, but it's hard to find ammo for it right now and who knows when that will improve? But get yourself a good Pre-64 M 70 and you have something for life.
Offhand the .308 is easier to find ammo for and is very adequate for all North American hunting. So that's my practical choice.
You didn't say overtly that you were going with a bolt-action rifle but I think most of the calibers you suggest rather hint at that.
OP you need to get some experience shooting targets at 300+yards before trying to shoot game at that range.
Don't shoot other people's reloaded ammo, for a variety of reasons. Learn to load your own or stick with factory offerings.
You don't really need one rifle to "do it all" you can have several if you want.
So why would you pick the .308 over a .30-06 for 400 to 500 yard shots on deer if the .30-06 has a higher velocity and is flatter shooting?Just wondering.Thanks.Maybe a .270 Win would be even better at 500 yards than a .308 Winchester.Can a .270 or .308 or .30-06 or 6.5 Creedmoor kill a trophy at 500 yards because my hunting buddy does not think a .270 is a good gun for trophy whitetail at that distance.
Last edited by NewMexicoCowboy; 01-22-2023 at 08:53 PM..
I guess our guides that we talked to have differing opinions.Personally, I plan on going with a .300 Win Mag or .300 WSM minimum if I have to get one gun for all my future big-game hunting needs.I cant afford a .338 Win Mag to add to a big rifle collection.There's no way in the near future that I can afford a battery of rifles without sacrificing my retirement.
Last edited by NewMexicoCowboy; 01-22-2023 at 11:31 PM..
I do not travel beyond the Midwest to hunt so the biggest game we have here in Illinois is white tail. More often than not I go to Indiana as I live close to the border, Michigan & Ohio as well but much less often. Many still hunt deer here with slugs and I use a 308 when I can (Indiana). My dad gave me riles chambered in 35 Whelan and 350 Legend when he couldn't hunt anymore (he lives in Ohio) so I expect to get more use out of the 350 now that Illinois has passed a similar law allowing the use of a straight walled, 30+ caliber round.
I guess our guides that we talked to have differing opinions.Personally, I plan on going with a .300 Win Mag or .300 WSM minimum if I have to get one gun for all my future big-game hunting needs.I cant afford a .338 Win Mag to add to a big rifle collection.There's no way in the near future that I can afford a battery of rifles without sacrificing my retirement.
Well, a well-placed shot with a good bullet design, such as a Barnes or Swift, in the boilermaker will drop any animal, no matter what the caliber. You should go with what the guide you're using suggests.
As for the expense of a 338 magnum, I'm not sure it's all that much more expensive than a 300 win mag, in respects to ammo prices, especially since you handload. Actually, if I was going to use only one rifle for all big game it would be the 7mm mag--less recoil than the 300 win mag and as flat shooting as anything on the market in the power range.
So why would you pick the .308 over a .30-06 for 400 to 500 yard shots on deer if the .30-06 has a higher velocity and is flatter shooting?Just wondering.Thanks.Maybe a .270 Win would be even better at 500 yards than a .308 Winchester.Can a .270 or .308 or .30-06 or 6.5 Creedmoor kill a trophy at 500 yards because my hunting buddy does not think a .270 is a good gun for trophy whitetail at that distance.
You are going to have to do a lot more than 20 rounds per year to be proficient to shoot at game out to 500 yards.
I would favor the 308 over the 30-06 (slightly) as 308 chambered rifles *tend* to be a bit more accurate and 308 ammo is easier to find around here than '06.
Again, any of the calibers on your list would be fine for deer in North America anyway. All are good for elk as well although the smaller rounds may need a premium bullet for best results.
Meanwhile what you need is a better job I guess! Being able to only afford one rifle and one box of ammo a year is true poverty.
You are going to have to do a lot more than 20 rounds per year to be proficient to shoot at game out to 500 yards.
I would favor the 308 over the 30-06 (slightly) as 308 chambered rifles *tend* to be a bit more accurate and 308 ammo is easier to find around here than '06.
Again, any of the calibers on your list would be fine for deer in North America anyway. All are good for elk as well although the smaller rounds may need a premium bullet for best results.
Meanwhile what you need is a better job I guess! Being able to only afford one rifle and one box of ammo a year is true poverty.
Yeah I shoot at least 300 rounds out of my .308 a year. Almost the same out of my 6.5CM. Maybe 30-50 out of the 7mm-mag. I do keep round counts in my log books- it could be higher.
So why would you pick the .308 over a .30-06 for 400 to 500 yard shots on deer if the .30-06 has a higher velocity and is flatter shooting?Just wondering.Thanks.Maybe a .270 Win would be even better at 500 yards than a .308 Winchester.Can a .270 or .308 or .30-06 or 6.5 Creedmoor kill a trophy at 500 yards because my hunting buddy does not think a .270 is a good gun for trophy whitetail at that distance.
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