Let’s hear everyone’s opinions on the caliber choice for a all around rifle

[summit151]

Hey everyone, I currently have a older 30-06 which I have been using on elk/moose around home. Shots have all been under 450 yards and currently have a lightweight 7mm-08 for my mountain sheep hunting rifle ( haven’t shot a sheep yet with it). Very light weight and compact with a 20” barrel,

I have been contemplating getting a larger caliber but a lightweight rifle still and using a muzzle break. I sheep hunt in a very high grizzly density area so I am always worried with the 7mm-08 if it would be enough to stop a charging grizzly.

I am considering getting a savage 110 ultralight in either the 300 wsm or a 280Ai. The 6.5 PRC seems a little to light for elk and moose? Hoping to have just one all around hunting rifle and still keeping it really light


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[DiabeticKripple]

Get the 300 WSM

[obsessed1]

I would go 280ai personally. But theres no real appreciable difference over the 06...never been a fan of the wsm my self. Seen lots of feeding issues with buddies guns as well as insane ammo prices and availability issues the last couple years...personally for an inside 400yd gun i could shoot a 308 and never be in want

[rugerfan]

Given those options I would definitely pick the 280ai. With the right bullet choice it will take anything we can hunt around here. It will likely feed better than the wsm and you will gain some magazine capacity.

[270person]

Off the list of cartridges shown the 28 Nosler and 6.5 PRC would interest me the most but not sure how much fun an ultralight in 28 would be to spend rangetime with.

Too bad the rifle didn't come in 26 Nosler and the best "all round" cartridge available for Ab hunting, the 7mmRM

[marky_mark]

7/08 will stop a bear
You just need to use the right bullets
I killed my grizzly last year with a 6.5x284
Ecklund killed his with a 6.5 prc
A do it all rifle is a rifle of compromise
If you shooting a big bullet out of a ultra light
It’s not going to be very friendly to shoot

Personally, if your looking at an ultra light rifle for sheep hunting
I would look at the Weatherby backcountry 2.0 in a 6.5 rpm

Just like what mountainti bought

It’s a step up from the prc and not quite at the hyper velocities of the 26 nosler and 6.5x300

I bought a 110 ultra light for my nephew
It’s alright but it’s just a savage with a proof barrel

[sns2]

Originally Posted by marky_mark

7/08 will stop a bear
You just need to use the right bullets
I killed my grizzly last year with a 6.5x284
Ecklund killed his with a 6.5 prc
A do it all rifle is a rifle of compromise
If you shooting a big bullet out of a ultra light
It’s not going to be very friendly to shoot

Personally, if your looking at an ultra light rifle for sheep hunting
I would look at the Weatherby backcountry 2.0 in a 6.5 rpm

Just like what mountainti bought

It’s a step up from the prc and not quite at the hyper velocities of the 26 nosler and 6.5x300

I bought a 110 ultra light for my nephew
It’s alright but it’s just a savage with a proof barrel

Is it at least accurate, Mark?

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by summit151

Hey everyone, I currently have a older 30-06 which I have been using on elk/moose around home. Shots have all been under 450 yards and currently have a lightweight 7mm-08 for my mountain sheep hunting rifle ( haven’t shot a sheep yet with it). Very light weight and compact with a 20” barrel,

I have been contemplating getting a larger caliber but a lightweight rifle still and using a muzzle break. I sheep hunt in a very high grizzly density area so I am always worried with the 7mm-08 if it would be enough to stop a charging grizzly.

I am considering getting a savage 110 ultralight in either the 300 wsm or a 280Ai. The 6.5 PRC seems a little to light for elk and moose? Hoping to have just one all around hunting rifle and still keeping it really light


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Had a goat hunter shoot a charging sow griz 4 years ago.He walked away she didn’t. What saved him was he had nerves of steel and ensured his shot counted vs shooting wildly from the hip. Guy was still shaking and crying 3 hours later when I caught up to him.

In reality unless you want a new gun it’s hard to beat a 308 3006 300wm 300wsm etc… for an all around rifle. Personally I use a 308 with 165gr accubonds for everything. Plenty of griz in my country and I’ve never felt under gunned.

[Ken3134]

Originally Posted by fordtruckin

Had a goat hunter shoot a charging sow griz 4 years ago.He walked away she didn’t. What saved him was he had nerves of steel and ensured his shot counted vs shooting wildly from the hip. Guy was still shaking and crying 3 hours later when I caught up to him.

In reality unless you want a new gun it’s hard to beat a 308 3006 300wm 300wsm etc… for an all around rifle. Personally I use a 308 with 165gr accubonds for everything. Plenty of griz in my country and I’ve never felt under gunned.

X2 have a Sako A7 in 308, it's loaded withe 165 accubonds and I use it for everything as well.

[Ryanpktaxiderm]

Originally Posted by fordtruckin

Had a goat hunter shoot a charging sow griz 4 years ago.He walked away she didn’t. What saved him was he had nerves of steel and ensured his shot counted vs shooting wildly from the hip. Guy was still shaking and crying 3 hours later when I caught up to him.

In reality unless you want a new gun it’s hard to beat a 308 3006 300wm 300wsm etc… for an all around rifle. Personally I use a 308 with 165gr accubonds for everything. Plenty of griz in my country and I’ve never felt under gunned.

What caliber btw? that would be a terrifying experience especially solo.. nerves of steel to get a well aimed shot off in the time its charging.. have watched several videos of charges they cover ground scary fast

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by ryanpktaxiderm

what caliber btw? That would be a terrifying experience especially solo.. Nerves of steel to get a well aimed shot off in the time its charging.. Have watched several videos of charges they cover ground scary fast

7-08.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by summit151

Hey everyone, I currently have a older 30-06 which I have been using on elk/moose around home. Shots have all been under 450 yards and currently have a lightweight 7mm-08 for my mountain sheep hunting rifle ( haven’t shot a sheep yet with it). Very light weight and compact with a 20” barrel,

I have been contemplating getting a larger caliber but a lightweight rifle still and using a muzzle break. I sheep hunt in a very high grizzly density area so I am always worried with the 7mm-08 if it would be enough to stop a charging grizzly.

I am considering getting a savage 110 ultralight in either the 300 wsm or a 280Ai. The 6.5 PRC seems a little to light for elk and moose? Hoping to have just one all around hunting rifle and still keeping it really light


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If you look at the ballistics for the 6.5PRC it will kill elk and moose just fine within its parameters .
6.5, .284.,30.338, it doesn't matter so much the cartridge / caliber as the shot placement for the largest part as far as killing an animal goes we tend to fuss and worry far too much sometimes about stuff like that and not about our marksmanship
Cat

[Vigsy]

If by all around rifle you think you might practice with it lots Id still stay under the 30cal. 300wsm in 6ishlb rifle still might not be the most fun unless you like that kinda thing. Still a great cartridge especially since you have a .284 already. However my vote would be to the 280 AI.


Another note if weight isn't a huge issue I put a bell and carlson sporter stock on the 6.5creed ultralite I bought for the mrs. Got Rod to open up the barrel channel a bit for the proof barrel. Added maybe 3/4 lb but feels like a darn nice gun now other then the ugly 90 bolt lift. I did just find a light bolt handle extension and carbon fibre knob so going to see if that makes it feel bit better.

110 ultralite, B&C stock, gunwerks MB, talleys and vortex diamondback tactical it came out to 8.3lbs.

[wallz]

I'm partial to the 6.5 PRC. 2 years back I was having this same debate, while I was already shooting a 300 wm.

The 6.5 PRC is way more polite to shoot, even without a break on it. I can watch my impacts way easier now.

If you look at the ballistics they will give you the numbers, but it is all still about shot placement when you get out in the field to do the real work.

[JCart]

I’d recommend having a very close study of ballistics for 6.5 PRC and ones you’ve mentioned. With 8” twist barrel and high BC bullets like Berger 156g EOLs it’s impressive. Hand loading is a must though. Winchester M70 with B&C stock, muzzle brake and factory ceracoat and nice scope you’ll be at 8lbs. Recoil is less than .270 and uses significantly less powder than other traditional calibres for equal or better ballistics. The downside currently is loading components and/or factory ammo is challenging to source.
Cheers

[huntinstuff]

If I could wave my hands and turn my sons 300wsm and my 30-06 into 300 win mags, I would.

[REMINGTON JIM]

Originally Posted by summit151

hey everyone, i currently have a older 30-06 which i have been using on elk/moose around home. Shots have all been under 450 yards and currently have a lightweight 7mm-08 for my mountain sheep hunting rifle ( haven’t shot a sheep yet with it). Very light weight and compact with a 20” barrel,

i have been contemplating getting a larger caliber but a lightweight rifle still and using a muzzle break. I sheep hunt in a very high grizzly density area so i am always worried with the 7mm-08 if it would be enough to stop a charging grizzly.

I am considering getting a savage 110 ultralight in either the 300 wsm or a 280ai. The 6.5 prc seems a little to light for elk and moose? Hoping to have just one all around hunting rifle and still keeping it really light


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280ai . Rj

[gulo]

.375 H&H if you are hunting in grizzly country. Loaded with lighter bullets is a fine deer, elk, moose and black bear calibre. Does little meat damage typically and recoil is relatively modest with lighter bullets. Range and trajectory of .30-06 with twice the energy at impact which means if you get into a pickle with a big bear it will stop a charge. If you ever go on Safari it can be loaded to take anything that walks.

[338wea]

The PRC is my favorite, it drops elk and gets bullets touching at 500 yards.
I has mild recoil and great ballistics.

[Cageyc]

I have an x- bolt speed in the 280 AI and absolutely love the gun. I’m achieving 2900+ fps with 150 grain eld-x and a moderate powder load. The muzzle brake reduces the recoil to be comparable to a 243. There is so much you can do if you’re a reloader. Accurate as hell. My son has the savage ultralight with the proof barrel in 280AI and has nothing bad to say about it. The recoil is very similar to the 30-06.

Whatever your choice, enjoy!

[sns2]

Sorry, Pathfinder. We were typing at same time I think.

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[nekred]

6.8-06

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by nekred

6.8-06

Lol

[aardvaark]

I shot a 25-06 for many years, till the barrel got shot out. At the time the next gun in my cabinet was a 270W. Last weekend I was with a friend on an elk cow hunt near Grande Prairie and he shot a cow broadside front 410 yds (ranged, 270W as well, 130gr SST), and it took out both front shoulders, broke the bone both sides that’s under the blade. Which caused the unfortunate loss of both front shoulders cuz the cow thrashed for too long causing massive hemorrhaging in there.

How much more power does one really need?

[Pathfinder76]

Out to 500 yards it really isn’t going to matter much. Bullet choice is of far greater concern if you are worried about killing something.

[philintheblank]

300wm for me.

Coyote to bull moose has fallen to it over the last couple seasons