Choosing rifle caliber

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I am on my phone and don’t know how to post a pic, but the rifle is based off the Ruger single shot ( full custom from barrel to wood ) and is chambered in.303 British.
If you search my started threads in my profile I think there is a thread on it .
Bill Leeper built it fir me in 2010 but I never got it checkered until 2016, I just started hunting with it right away!
Cat

I'm assuming you are handloading for that rifle, what kind of velocities are you getting? Sticking relatively close to the factory velocities or are you getting them closer to .308 speeds?

I've got a bit of a soft spot for the .303, and if I didn't exercise vigorous restraint unloved Lee Enfields would probably follow me home until my house was overrun with them. To me the effectiveness of the .303 British almost seems like a big loud "IN YO FACE!" to the modern trend towards overkill rounds. Especially in the days before telescopic sights were common, that round offered more performance than the average sportsman could even make use of, and I still tend to think that if you're shooting irons they may as well be sitting on a .303 Brit.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Bushleague

I'm assuming you are handloading for that rifle, what kind of velocities are you getting? Sticking relatively close to the factory velocities or are you getting them closer to .308 speeds?

I've got a bit of a soft spot for the .303, and if I didn't exercise vigorous restraint unloved Lee Enfields would probably follow me home until my house was overrun with them. To me the effectiveness of the .303 British almost seems like a big loud "IN YO FACE!" to the modern trend towards overkill rounds. Especially in the days before telescopic sights were common, that round offered more performance than the average sportsman could even make use of, and I still tend to think that if you're shooting irons they may as well be sitting on a .303 Brit.

I hand load yes but have also shot factory ammo out of it as well as my other Enfields
I am loading 41 grains of Varget and it is an extremely accurate and powerful round with either 280 grain bullets of the big 215’s
It is on the upper end of the pressure range for the 303 and should only be loaded in the 1917, P14 or the Stronger actions like the Ruger
Cat

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Tortex

Cat;

Now I must know, what is this custom rifle? What chambering?


Mike

Here it is .
Cat

[gopher67]

25-06 or 270 cal great guns

[Dean2]

Alternate perspective. I have a Tikka T3 lite in 338 Federal. Great all round gun. Use 160s for deer, 210 or 220 for Moose and elk. Based on a necked up 308 case, kicks very little, very accurate round. Has caught on big in Europe, not as popular here in Canada or the states.

[Redneck 7]

Originally Posted by Bmj89

Thank you to everyone for the input. I’m stuck between 7mm-08 and playing it safe with a 30-06.

I’m a big fan of my 7mm-08 but if you’re considering a 30-06 still, maybe look at a .308 or .270. Either way both great calibers, if you reload then you’ll always have 30 cal bullets if you went with the 06.

All the ammo is pretty readily available in small towns sticking with .270, .308, 30-06

[spoiledsaskhunter]

…...redundant post, but who cares?

I love my t3 in .270, but as most have said, you can't go wrong with several of the cartridges mentioned. recoil in .06 or the .270 is not insignificant in these light rifles.

[grouse_hunter]

Beauty of a rifle, Cat!

[32-40win]

I just acquired another #1, had to have one again, this time in 7-08. I have faith in that cartridge, used it for about 30 yrs now. I have all the stuff to load 7-08, so, it was really the best choice, for me. I did look hard at a 6.5, nice wood on it, 28" bbl too. But, I'd have to buy dies, brass and bullets for that, and with the long barrel it would be a bit heavier than I wanted..
Although I did just order a neck bushing/bump die for it as well. I'll sell the other one i have, which is a bolt action, and then all the rifles except 2 .22's will be singleshot or SXS.

[Savage Bacon]

Me and the boss both went with 7-08. Great caliber. Not overly affected by wind. Flat shooting. Kill anything. And what's very important to me is she can shoot a box of ammo at some targets and it doesn't beat her up too bad.

I shopped around for a long time and this is what we both settled on and we're very happy with the decision.

And sharing calibers saves on our reloading. Only thing we don't share are the fire formed cases.

Long story short.... 7-08. Hope this helps

[Ken3134]

Originally Posted by Bmj89

Thank you to everyone for the input. I’m stuck between 7mm-08 and playing it safe with a 30-06.

As others have said, I would pick a gun you like first and then the caliber. Most would find a significant difference in recoil from a 30-06 to a 7mm-08. But end result would be the same. I have both a 308 Sako and 7mm-08 BLR, both suit me well and capable for big game. If only keeping one, it would be the more common 308.