Which caliber????

[TZS Gunfire]

Hello,

I am deciding which caliber (308 or 300 winmag) to re barrel my current 30-06 in. I mainly hunt, but I want something that I can practice for long range competitions. I currently have a used PAC-Nor barrel i believe in 26-28" heavy barrel with flutting, B&C M40 stock, Tubb heavy duty recoil lug and ordering TPs rings and base. Before I ship it to my gunsmith, Im not sure which way to go. Ive even thought of a 260 cal. Any suggestions. Ive asked on other forums also. Im just gathering information so i can make the best choice.

 

[270guy]

Guess it depends on a couple of things...
What do you hunt? How far do usually have as a hunting shot? What sort of long range shooting are you going to be practicing for and what distances? Is it from a fixed position or on the move?
Are you ok with recoil (300winmag), or prefer something a little milder (.260)? Do you reload or use factory ammo?
Will enable you to get the replies you want to help in your choice.

 

[robbor]

what about 6.5x284 or even 300 WSM?

 

[DennisH]

Or a 7mmWSM would be a choice.

Personally I like a 284 Winhcester, long range, and a 308 600yds!

Big difference in all the caliber's mentioned.

To practice or shoot long range, might want one that's easy on the shoulder!

 

[Shynloco]

Personally, I be going after a 260 or any of the 6.5's because they make for extremely good shooting long range calibers. Even a .280 would serve you better than the 300winmag because your barrel would last longer. I've actually had more success with a rebarrel conversion from a 22-250 to a 6.5 X 55 though I wish I'd gone to a 6.5 X 47 for better barrel life. But this rifle with an MG barrel keeps up with my 6mmbr quite nicely.

 

[Raptor]

I have or have shot most of the calibers mentioned. My two choices with the long action would be the 284 or the 6.5x55.

Heres why, you can get at least 3000 accurate rounds out of both. Both are deadly accurate to 1000+yds. Both are very easy to load for and both have a great selection of bullets to choose from.

All the calibers mentioned are good and you wold not be disappointed with any of the above. I quit the magnums and the 6.5x284 because of short barrel life. I would go with the magnums only if you want to shoot past 1200yds other wise the non mags will do just fine for you.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Hello,

I am deciding which caliber (308 or 300 winmag) to re barrel my current 30-06 in. I mainly hunt, but I want something that I can practice for long range competitions. I currently have a used PAC-Nor barrel i believe in 26-28" heavy barrel with flutting, B&C M40 stock, Tubb heavy duty recoil lug and ordering TPs rings and base. Before I ship it to my gunsmith, Im not sure which way to go. Ive even thought of a 260 cal. Any suggestions. Ive asked on other forums also. Im just gathering information so i can make the best choice.

Pick a cartridge with a standard bolt face (like the 30-06), if you go with a magnum, you will need to open up the bolt face.

 

[effendude]

Before German jumps in, you really can do everything you want with a 30-06! Great hunting cartridge to any reasonable distance with quality bullets, and it holds it own on targets in competition also. Long barrel life, easy to load and a wide range of bullet choices. If you already load for it, you are part way there.

In your OP, you stated you have a used .30 caliber barrel you are going to ship to the gunsmith to be rechambered for the rifle? IMHO, unless the barrel has some sentimental reason for re-use, I wouldn't waste my money on a project with a used barrel. You will be money ahead buy starting with a new barrel from a reputable manufacturer.

As Erik posted, you have a standard bolt face. With a new bolt or extra work to open the bolt face up, you could go magnum but standard cartridges will do all you want to do. .260 Rem., 6.5x55 Swede, 284 Win., .308 Win., or the goood old .30-06 will do what you wish to accomplish. Some are traditional short action cartridges, but weth the high BC bullets making use of case capacity, they work best on long actions. I love the 6.5x284 and so does my gunsmith and the barrel shops, very short barrel life!

Scott

 

[DennisH]

you really can do everything you want with a 30-06! Great hunting cartridge to any reasonable distance with quality bullets, and it holds it own on targets in competition also. Long barrel life, easy to load and a wide range of bullet choices. If you already load for it, you are part way there.

Agree 100% with the above. I competition shot with a person who shot a 30-06 and he kicked butt pretty often!

It's that they have been around so long, people think there is something better since this cartridge is so old!

 

[Rtheurer]

+2 on the 30'06. Cant go wrong with that one.

 

[Shynloco]

TzsGunfire,
After reading the last few comments, I must RELUCTANTLY agree with their comments about sticking with the 30-06 caliber. When I use the word "reluctantly", its because I've turned into a "pansy" in my older years (just joined the ranks of Medicare) and hate what my former 30-06 does to my shoulder. But given that you mentioned you want to primarily hunt, I'd much rather use the 30-06 than the 6.5 X 55 any day for that purpose. But I love the comfort at the range when target shooting my 6.5 as I can shoot it all day long without the impending discomfort I know I'll feel in the morning after cranking off 20 rounds from my "former" 30-06. Besides, my son (new owner of my former) loves shooting it and actually does very well while target shooting. BTW, I never kept count of rounds down the tube on my 30-06, but know darn well that in 2832 more rds down the 6.5 (if I'm lucky), it'll be time to go buy another barrel. I guess thats just the cost of comfort these days.

 

[dansig]

the 300 winmag is a great caliber for hunting, not many animals that will walk away from a 230gr Hybrid.

but the recoil is a bitch.. after 10 rounds I just put it back in the bag and take out my 6mm BR so I can use my arm the next day...

stick to what you got, it's a good caliber and you already know how it shoots...

 

[Shynloco]

the 300 winmag is a great caliber for hunting, not many animals that will walk away from a 230gr Hybrid.

but the recoil is a bitch.. after 10 rounds I just put it back in the bag and take out my 6mm BR so I can use my arm the next day...

stick to what you got, it's a good caliber and you already know how it shoots...

dansig,
If I might suggest, go look into a suppressor for the 300 winmag. I was at the range a few months ago and one of the accuracy freaks had one there with a suppressor on it. It had just had a Match Grade barrel put on it and it was shooting incredible groups at 100 yds. He asked me if I wanted to shoot the rifle and I said HELLO NO.... I don't want to end up in the next county. He assured me it wouldn't kick any more than a .308 at the most. So I fired three round and he was absolutely right. That 300 win mag kicked less than my .308. And the groups it would shoot were extremely impressive as well. I could have sat there and shot up the rest of his ammo it was that comfortable. Now I'm not claiming any expertise in suppressors, but you might want to look into one for that rifle so you can get more than a "MAJOR KICK" out of it when shooter her. Just a thought.

 

[dansig]

I am looking into a supressor for my 300 and my 6br, but getting a licence for a suppressor in Iceland is about as easy as getting elected for president..

they are allowed if needed, and showing that you "need" them is not so easy. you'd have to be a licensed exterminator or something like that to get a license for a suppressor.

the .300 winmag is fine with 150-180gr bullets, but the 210 and 230 are sholder killers.

 

[.260 james]

+1 vote for the .30-06. You already have experience with it. It will do most anything you need for hunting and target work. Only slightly adverse thing about the old 06 is that with a good .30-06 You really need few other rifles.

 

[BigDMT]

Erik Cortina is right. There's a lot more work involved than switching barrels if you go from a .473" cartridge to a .532" cartridge. Not only will you have to open up the bolt face (or switch it out for a Savage) you will also more than likely experience magazine feeding issues. May have to change the pitch of the feed ramp out of the magazine, cut out the side walls of the magazine and modify the follower, so on and so on...There are ways to make a magnum round work, but you may only be able to fit two .300 WM sized rounds in the bottom instead of your normal four rounds for the 30-06. And bullets on a .300 WM case would have to be seated WAY off the lands to fit in the magazine. Might shoot that way, might not. But it's the only option you will have and certain bullets like Berger VLD's will be totally out of the question.

If you are willing to do all the extra work to make a magnum round feed and work properly and "reliably" since it is a hunting rifle, I think the 300 Ruger Compact magnum and 300 SAUM are often overlooked medium power rounds capable of ethical long range hunting with considerably more power than the 30-06 but not much more recoil if any. Plus a shorter 30 cal round like that would eliminate the bullet selection and seating depth restrictions.

For a 6.5mm round. I would just turn it into a 6.5mm-06 because I'm sure you already have a bunch of 30-06 brass. It's a great long range performer and all you'd have to do is neck down the brass you already have.
Might have to turn the then thicker downs-sized necks too, but that should be done for accurate reloading anyhow.