Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: jstone on December 26, 2014, 11:43:41 AM

Title: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: jstone on December 26, 2014, 11:43:41 AM: Ok i already have a 7mm Remington magnum, but i also am thinking of buying a 270. Cause i am going to try for antalope and deer in Wyoming. So other than just getting a new gun, is the 270 good enough? Thinking about a ruger or even a new TC 270. Any other ideas??
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: bobcat on December 26, 2014, 11:53:19 AM: The 270 is a perfect cartridge for deer and antelope in Wyoming. It's not any better than your 7 Mag but will recoil less, so that's a nice benefit. The 270 is the only rifle I've used for big game since 1997, except for this year I did shoot two antelope in a Wyoming with my 223 WSSM.
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: splitshot on December 26, 2014, 11:56:56 AM: go 25-06. mike w
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: Bob33 on December 26, 2014, 12:29:34 PM: You don't need a new rifle for antelope and deer. The 7mm is perfectly adequate. If you want a new rifle, I wouid suggest not getting a 270 since it's pretty close to what you have with the 7mm. For deer and antelope I'd go smaller: a .25 caliber like the 257 Weatherby or 25-06 would be ideal.
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: fastdam on December 26, 2014, 12:59:50 PM: You already have the "all around rifle". I would go to a smaller caliber like the other guys said. Maybe a .243 or a .260 or. 257 bob. Something with less recoil. I love my. 270 but i consider it to be in the same class as 7 Rem Mag or real close.
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: Piscatory_5 on December 26, 2014, 09:12:16 PM: With 130 to 140g bullets the 7mm should be great for deer and goats. I like the 257 Roberts and have 2 of them and a 257 weatherby. I say go 25 for lighter recoil.
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on December 26, 2014, 09:30:08 PM: I second the .243 :tup:
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: Charlie on December 26, 2014, 09:50:41 PM: :yeah:
Everything so far.............Good advice!!
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: Nature Boy on December 27, 2014, 11:31:36 AM: I hunt Wyoming and IMO the 7RM is a excellent "all around" cartridge for deer, antelope and anything else in North American for that matter. I would recommend sticking with the 7RM over the 270 for several reasons (flatter shooting, longer down range energy, higher sectional density, etc.) to name a few. That said, IMO the best "all around" rifle caliber for Western Big Game is a 300WM. But owning and hunting with only one rifle is no fun at all so get all three. :)
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: Biggerhammer on December 27, 2014, 11:53:01 AM: The 7mm Magnum and a 160gr Nosler Accubond covers you for everything in North America. I would be taking a step up in bullet diameter if purchasing a second rifle. Then again I have all sorts of stuff, I don't need or hardly use rifle wise.
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: Hunterman on December 27, 2014, 12:09:24 PM: The .270 would be a great rifle for what you would like to do.

Hunterman(Tony)
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: VarmintVentilator on December 27, 2014, 12:17:30 PM: I agree with nature boy, owning one or two is no fun. Start with a 243 and work your way up to 300 win mag or 338. Make sure you get a different scope with each rifle to see which one you prefer. In a few years you'll know which one is your baby, then you can sell a few of them that you don't shoot to H-W members. :chuckle:

(Besides whats money anyway, you can't take it with you.) :chuckle:
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: wildweeds on December 27, 2014, 12:49:52 PM: Deer and speed goats would fall easily to the .260 rem or the 6.5 creedmoor,and both would also easily fit into the category of yote shooter.
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: b23 on December 27, 2014, 12:53:53 PM: Quote from: jstone on December 26, 2014, 11:43:41 AM
Ok i already have a 7mm Remington magnum, but i also am thinking of buying a 270. Cause i am going to try for antalope and deer in Wyoming. So other than just getting a new gun, is the 270 good enough? Thinking about a ruger or even a new TC 270. Any other ideas??

Maybe take a look at a Savage in 6.5-284 or just a 6.5 something in anything, or, if you are a reloader you'll already have 7mm components so maybe think about 7-08. I'm a bigger fan of going with something in 6.5 caliber though.
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: carpsniperg2 on December 27, 2014, 01:55:47 PM: 270 wsm would be a fine choice as well.
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: T Pearce on December 27, 2014, 02:21:27 PM: Quote from: deerhunter_98520 on December 26, 2014, 09:30:08 PM
I second the .243 :tup:
Starlings to Elk...... back then it was all I had and it worked.
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: huntnphool on December 27, 2014, 02:52:41 PM: I agree with most everyone else, you already own arguably the best all around caliber for anything in North America. 7mm-08 would be a great addition too.
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: coachcw on December 27, 2014, 02:59:11 PM: I believe a 300 Wm or woman is the estimate all around choice, if I could chose two one would be a 338 mag and a 6.5 x284 or260
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: starbailey on December 27, 2014, 03:33:28 PM: I'll second or third the 357 weatherly! I just don't think there is that much difference between the 7mag and 270 to make that much difference.
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: T Pearce on December 27, 2014, 06:00:21 PM: Quote from: huntnphool on December 27, 2014, 02:52:41 PM
I agree with most everyone else, you already own arguably the best all around caliber for anything in North America. 7mm-08 would be a great addition too.
Good God man!
My wife may read this.......... do you have any idea what a statement like that could do to my Rifle Loonyism!
I can hear her now....... Nah uhh. :'(
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: huntnphool on December 27, 2014, 07:18:15 PM: Quote from: T Pearce on December 27, 2014, 06:00:21 PM
Quote from: huntnphool on December 27, 2014, 02:52:41 PM
I agree with most everyone else, you already own arguably the best all around caliber for anything in North America. 7mm-08 would be a great addition too.
Good God man!
My wife may read this.......... do you have any idea what a statement like that could do to my Rifle Loonyism!
I can hear her now....... Nah uhh. :'(

Send her the link for next year's Christmas list. ;)
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: birddogdad on December 27, 2014, 07:28:37 PM: for ALL north America big game, I would argue a 375 h&h as the best overall rifle, if you could only have one... good thing that isn't the case!!! brush guns, long range and big bore are all tools for specific situations...
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: fastdam on December 27, 2014, 09:16:03 PM: LOL....
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: addicted on December 28, 2014, 11:50:31 AM: All around North American game probably a 338 variation.

Long flat antelope and deer... There a some cool bullets out these days in 6.5/25cal.
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: jasnt on December 28, 2014, 02:17:11 PM: Quote from: deerhunter_98520 on December 26, 2014, 09:30:08 PM
I second the .243 :tup:
Quote from: T Pearce on December 27, 2014, 02:21:27 PM
Quote from: deerhunter_98520 on December 26, 2014, 09:30:08 PM
I second the .243 :tup:
Starlings to Elk...... back then it was all I had and it worked.
:yeah:
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: CAMPMEAT on December 28, 2014, 02:32:00 PM: 22 WMR............... 8)
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: birddogdad on December 28, 2014, 08:06:58 PM: Quote from: birddogdad on December 27, 2014, 07:28:37 PM
for ALL north America big game, I would argue a 375 h&h as the best overall rifle, if you could only have one... good thing that isn't the case!!! brush guns, long range and big bore are all tools for specific situations...

more gas on the fire : ask Finn Aagaard, who was he anyway?

http://webpages.charter.net/375magnum/allrd.htm (http://webpages.charter.net/375magnum/allrd.htm)
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: Hornseeker on December 29, 2014, 08:24:25 AM: I thought EVERYONE knew the 06' was the best all around cartridge for north america....

I see your question is actually caliber... ugh...

284 or 30 I guess is my answer then...
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: blindluck on December 29, 2014, 09:13:41 AM: I cant imagine needing another gun as the 7mm is basically the same, just a bit faster with more energy.
Title: Re: Best all around caliber rifle
Post by: C-Money on December 29, 2014, 09:25:07 AM: The .270 would be perfect for Wyoming deer and antelope. Heck, I'd use one on moose and elk as well. Point being, the .270 win to me is in the same ball park as the 7mm mag. For antelope and deer, the 25-06 or 257 WBY would be very cool options that you could still hammer an elk with if needed. I've always wanted a 25cal rifle, they just seem cool to me. Flat and fast.