One caliber away from contentment... who else?

[CoElkHunter]

You two should just get .375s and be done with it. Superior BCs and better downrange energy.

I have a .375 HOLLAND and HOLLAND. I prefer my .338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM because it's flatter shooting with a 225gr bullet for elk hunting and Elmer Keith helped develop it.

 

[CBH Australia]

My 9.3lb unscoped CZ .458WM isn't bad at all to shoot. Just a little more kick than my .375 H&H and/or .338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM. Never shot a .425 Express though. Have Russ make a video of you shooting it and share it with us here. LOL

I've seen a video of his lad shooting it so Bob's gonna go ok. Shaun is much younger and fitter than Bob but Bob is a big boy.

I wonder if Russell will be chasing a .35Whelen when he returns or are they actually shopping for a .243?

 

[baxterb]

I'm not a cartridge away from happiness, more a 'battery'. I am thick in the middle like most guys (270, 30-06, 338, 9.3) but wish I could simplify into the old :"three guns (small, medium , large bore) plus a shotgun and a .22" battery.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I have a .375 HOLLAND and HOLLAND. I prefer my .338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM because it's flatter shooting with a 225gr bullet for elk hunting and Elmer Keith helped develop it.

Oh, and it weighs 8.5lbs scoped and Bob doesn't like it. Two more good reasons. LOL

 

[Flewis]

Oh, and it weighs 8.5lbs scoped and Bob doesn't like it. Two more good reasons. LOL

Those NABs in 225 have a BC of 550. That’s what we shoot in 338.

 

[Forrest Halley]

I have a .375 HOLLAND and HOLLAND. I prefer my .338 WINCHESTER MAGNUM because it's flatter shooting with a 225gr bullet for elk hunting and Elmer Keith helped develop it.

That 2500 fps with a 300 gr bullet is what I like to call a baseline, starting point, or guideline. You aren't so flat anymore short and stubby tree-turdy-ate. Long, lean, and mean...the .375...she is the Queen. Nobody cares about anything other than the H&H. The others will always try differentiate themselves because they're compensating for their failures.

I've seen a video of his lad shooting it so Bob's gonna go ok. Shaun is much younger and fitter than Bob but Bob is a big boy.

I wonder if Russell will be chasing a .35Whelen when he returns or are they actually shopping for a .243?

We'll he will definitely have received a timeshare sales pitch on the turdy-phive by the end of the meeting.

Oh, and it weighs 8.5lbs scoped and Bob doesn't like it. Two more good reasons. LOL

Salient points indeed. Now if we could just get that bore diameter and bullet diameter up.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Hey everyone...

I have decided that I am only one caliber away from complete contentment... does anyone else feel the same?

I thought I had the complete armoury but looking again l think l'm missing something...
Looking in my safe I have everything from rabbits to long-range deer hunting to close-range elephant hunting covered -but I'm missing one caliber that would be perfect FOR ME.
And l believe that caliber is the .243 Winchester.

I have always owned bigger calibers but my absolute favourite hunting spot in the world (@CBH Australia this is where we hunted ) is where l hunt Fallow deer - and not particularly big Fallow at that. There's no Sambar, just Fallow so a bigger caliber isn't required.

Now, having said that I have hunted this spot with the following calibers... .458 Win Mag, 425 Express, 338 Win Mag and my next trip l was going to bring my 308 Norma Mag.
All have done - or will do the job, but all of the above are expensive, kick hard and are big for Fallow... and l think a .243 Would be perfect for this hunting spot.

Why the .243 over other certain calibers?
Well for one l really like the .243.
I also like the idea of walking into a gun shop and have a selection of readily available ammo off the shelf.
I can choose ammo from 55 to over 100gn.
Recoil is mild so my wife and kids can comfortably shoot it.
Pretty flat trajectory - similar to my 308 Norma.
It's effective on Fallow sized game. I've personally seen with my own eyes a mate drop 2 Fallow with one shot using factory Federal blue-box 100gn ammo.
I think it would be a nice step down from my 308 Norma.

As far as rifles go, l think my perfect .243 would be housed in a Winchester M70 with a 22" barrel with a nice trim 3-9x scope on top.
If l couldn't find a Winchester M70 it would have to be something that is nice light and trim.

Now, all the above is just me dreaming as l have NO budget for a new rifle!
BUT!
If l could afford one more rifle it would be a .243 Winchester.
I know it's not everyone's cup of tea and it's not very exotic or exciting, but l already own enough exciting calibers so a .243 it would be

Is anyone else one caliber or rifle away from complete contentment?
If so, would love to hear what it is! And it can be as exotic or rare as you want.
And l bet it's not a .243!

Russ

Blasphemy that Bob 35 Whelen would send a like. Just kidding!

I took like the .243 caliber/( +/- 6mm) for all the reasons you listed. It's bigger and IMO better than that Damn 223/5.56 caliber.

I actually need a few more calibers/ firearms:

.22 mag rifle and revolver.

. 243 rifle.

6.8 SPC.

Another .357MAG/38 SPL revolver and lever action rifle.

.44 mag lever (or preferably a semi auto) action rifle.

.45 Colt (Long) in a double action revolver and lever action rifle.

Then there are the double rifles: cartridge and black powder.

Then there's the 36 or 40 caliber BP flintlock rifles.

So to say one caliber away(?)......NAAAHHH...I love shooting and shooting various calibers. Whether hunting, at a rendezvous, or just out for a little fun at the range.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

What's the Petrove version?

@CoElkHunter
The Petrov version is similar to the AI with the sharper shoulder but I don't think it's blown out like the AI. Just gives a more defined shoulder to headspace the 375 and 400 Whelen.
Bob

 

[Badboymelvin]

Greetings Russ,

Hi again Russ,

The world is small and getting smaller.
Back about the same time as companies in your country were marketing “sporterized” Scandinavian Mausers in 6.5x55 caliber, companies in my country were doing the same.
From my point of view and with only a very select few exceptions, “sporterize” is almost always synonymous with “vandalize”.
Be that as it may, in my limited experiences with said surplus Scandi-Swedish Mausers, they were pleasantly accurate.

The .264 Winchester Magnum ya, it’s a screeching laser beam for sure.
I will guess that it shines for long shots at thin skinned game but I’ve never shot anything with that cartridge, except paper targets.
It’s one caliber that despite my wearing ear plugs and ear covers both, the loud and sharp sound hurt my eardrums, right through said double protection.

Even with that crybaby memory of trying a .264 Magnum, at a rifle range, indeed I agree with you that a vintage Winchester Model 70, in that caliber might be fun to hunt thin skinned game with, in the wide open places.

Meanwhile, in the pics attached here, you will see my CZ 550, in caliber 6.5x55, with vintage Leupold 3X scope in lever rings.
Generally speaking, I do not care for short barreled hunting rifles.
However, this little 6.5 of mine is a noted exception.
It’s a delight to carry and easy to shoot, even for recoil sissies like me.

Cheers Mate,
Paul.

View attachment 565895View attachment 565896View attachment 565897

Wow! What a beautiful Rifle
That has class written all over it...

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Wow! What a beautiful Rifle
That has class written all over it...

@Badboymelvin
It's a bit like you, @CBH Australia Chris and myself mate. Just pure unadulterated class.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Bob

 

[colorado]

264 Win Magnum, great caliber, great rifle. I still maintain that the last significant hunting cartridge was the 7mm Rem Magnum in 1962. All the rest are unnecessary and most of the newer ones are not as good.

 

[CoElkHunter]

264 Win Magnum, great caliber, great rifle. I still maintain that the last significant hunting cartridge was the 7mm Rem Magnum in 1962. All the rest are unnecessary and most of the newer ones are not as good.

I would argue the .300 WINCHESTER MAGNUM introduced in 1963 would fit the "last significant hunting cartridge" category? Sure, 'ol Roy introduced the .300 WEATHERBY MAGNUM in 1945, but like every other Weatherby cartridge back in the day, it was chambered in their Mark V and the hunter with average means couldn't afford one. Same with Weatherby's proprietary cartridges. The .300WM was chambered in rifles everyone could afford along with the ammo.

 

[colorado]

You're right I stand corrected

 

[Northern Shooter]

You two should just get .375s and be done with it. Superior BCs and better downrange energy.

As much as I love my 375 the 338WinMag has superior downrange ballistics and most loads overtake 375 loads by 125m.

 

[mark-hunter]

Hmmm
Let me think about it...
338 wm, maybe.... 45 acp in 1911...maybe...
Those two would fit nice with my collection.
I still find no need for 6.5mm class.

 

[colorado]

For 40 years the only two weapons I owned were a Rem BDL in 270 Win and a Springfield 1911 in 45 ACP. They served me well. Somehow the firearms have multiplied in my gun safe since then lol

 

[mark-hunter]

@colorado

"Be aware of a man with only one gun..."

The more guns I have, the less I use each of them.
And the gun I used the most, is the one I handle the best. For me this is tikka T3, 308 win.
I am sure you are most skilled with your 270.

 

[Forrest Halley]

"Be aware of a man with only one gun..."

Well...maybe...unless he's a snowflake...then he may be too incompetent to use a Glock.

 

[mark-hunter]

Ups!

 

[colorado]

@colorado

"Be aware of a man with only one gun..."

The more guns I have, the less I use each of them.
And the gun I used the most, is the one I handle the best. For me this is tikka T3, 308 win.
I am sure you are most skilled with your 270.

I did. Dozens of elk, 9 bears, too many mule deer and javelina to count. It was like part of my body.