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06-29-2022, 06:24 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 581
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Let’s hear everyone’s opinions on the caliber choice for a all around rifle
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
Last edited by roper1; 07-06-2022 at 10:19 PM.
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06-29-2022, 06:31 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Blackfalds
Posts: 6,968
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Get the 300 WSM
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06-29-2022, 06:41 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,988
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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
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06-29-2022, 06:51 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 465
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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.
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06-29-2022, 06:58 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 6,531
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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
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06-29-2022, 08:14 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 5,700
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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
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06-29-2022, 08:51 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: My House
Posts: 13,592
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Quote:
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
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Is it at least accurate, Mark?
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06-29-2022, 09:10 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Dodge City
Posts: 1,283
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Right now it might be wise to make sure you can get the ammo first for whatever caliber you decide on...
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06-29-2022, 09:31 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Quesnel BC Canada
Posts: 5,627
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All around 30-06 is excellent, you can use a huge variety of bullet weights, ammo is more available and there are excellent light weight rifles chambered in 30-06. Sako 85 for example.
I'd avoid wsm and other obscure calibers because you most likely will have a hard time finding ammunition, if you look through the for sale ads lots of wsm rifles are up for sale, I wonder why?
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06-29-2022, 09:42 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: In the woods
Posts: 9,080
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Quote:
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
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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.
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06-29-2022, 10:43 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 5,700
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sns2
Is it at least accurate, Mark?
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Ya it shoots pretty good
But you know it’s a savage when you shoot it
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06-29-2022, 11:26 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: 53.6713° N, 113.4903° W
Posts: 201
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Browning X Bolt Speed LR in 6.8 Western.
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06-30-2022, 08:15 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ft. McMurray
Posts: 38,872
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The cartridge I choose for a hunting round has more to do with the rifle it is chambered in than the cartridge itself.
Realistically there are dozens of cartridges that overlap for any given animal or situation.
That being said, my goto rifle for quite a few years has been chambered in.303 British, running a 150 grain bullet at 308 Winchester velocities. But I have hunted with others as well.
This year I will start the season off shooting a drilling in 16x16x9.3x72R, just because I really love the gun!
I don't care if an animal is too far to shoot , small ,large or record book , with this rifle my shots will be inside 100 yards.
Cat
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Anytime I figure I've got this long range thing figured out, I just strap into the sling and irons and remind myself that I don't!
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06-30-2022, 08:21 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ft. McMurray
Posts: 38,872
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Quote:
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
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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
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Anytime I figure I've got this long range thing figured out, I just strap into the sling and irons and remind myself that I don't!
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06-30-2022, 09:49 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Sherwood Park, Ab
Posts: 516
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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.
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06-30-2022, 10:28 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 415
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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.
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06-30-2022, 10:33 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 111
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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
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06-30-2022, 12:35 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 9,891
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If I could wave my hands and turn my sons 300wsm and my 30-06 into 300 win mags, I would.
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06-30-2022, 01:06 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Strathmore
Posts: 1,606
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Owned most of them at one point. 280 AI is my go to.
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06-30-2022, 02:18 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Near Drumheller
Posts: 6,994
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These days I mostly use my 30R Blaser for hunting, it'll do what needs doing in a SxS rifle, because I really like the gun. I used to have a 338WM that I bought when hunting northern BC and the mountains here. I've hunted most of the same places, and shot more stuff, with a 7-08, and never really had any reason to feel "undergunned". 6.5 to 30cal in a 308 or 30-06 sized case is plenty good enough.
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06-30-2022, 03:03 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Blackfalds
Posts: 6,968
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7mm PRC was just released as well. Slots in between the 7mm Rem Mag and the 28 Nosler. If you reload that would be a good choice as well in a few months once dies and factory rifles come out.
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06-30-2022, 03:22 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: On the border in Lloydminster
Posts: 8,458
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I’m on the 280AI boat recoils not bad, good range of bullets weights fairly easy to get components kills everything I shoot at
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Si vis pacem, para bellum
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06-30-2022, 03:24 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Dreadful Valley
Posts: 14,779
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.280AI if you reload.
.30-06 if you are a factory fodder kinda guy.
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There are no absolutes
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06-30-2022, 03:50 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: On the border in Lloydminster
Posts: 8,458
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Duplicate post
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Si vis pacem, para bellum
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06-30-2022, 08:09 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 19,433
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.257 Weatherby Ackley Nosler Government
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06-30-2022, 08:22 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Whitecourt
Posts: 834
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If that's the list then to me the .30-06 is clearly the choice.
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"Placed correctly Swift A-Frames will reliably kill big bears. So will North Forks, Nosler Partitions, Barnes TSX, Kodiaks, Woodleighs, GS soft points, Hornady Interbonds and Speer Grand Slams - and if I missed your favorite bullet -it probably will too.
It's time to go hunting and quit all this ballistic masturbation."
Phil Shoemaker
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06-30-2022, 08:27 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Whitecourt
Posts: 834
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Quote:
Originally Posted by huntinstuff
If I could wave my hands and turn my sons 300wsm and my 30-06 into 300 win mags, I would.
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What I say to that is get a .30-06 for deer(and anything) and a .338WM (for anything else).
The perfect tandem of cartridges, to my peanut sized brain.
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"Placed correctly Swift A-Frames will reliably kill big bears. So will North Forks, Nosler Partitions, Barnes TSX, Kodiaks, Woodleighs, GS soft points, Hornady Interbonds and Speer Grand Slams - and if I missed your favorite bullet -it probably will too.
It's time to go hunting and quit all this ballistic masturbation."
Phil Shoemaker
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06-30-2022, 08:41 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Calgary
Posts: 174
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30-06 good for everything plus you probably have a bunch of ammo already. If you do or decide to reload it's "less components" between the two guns. That or 308 for a little less recoil and same sort of thought process with reloading.
Last edited by icecold; 06-30-2022 at 08:59 PM.
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06-30-2022, 09:56 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Wheatland County
Posts: 5,826
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Quote:
Originally Posted by huntinstuff
If I could wave my hands and turn my sons 300wsm and my 30-06 into 300 win mags, I would.
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Hands down the 300WM my favorite
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06-30-2022, 10:28 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,281
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Everyone knows the 6.5 Creedmoor in the hands of a Power Engineer is the most dangerous combo out there…
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