N+1 What Caliber Next?

[Magsrgod]

Looking to get a new rifle shortly and was probably going to target a new caliber. For fun would love some feedback on what you folks would look at to further round out the quiver.

I’ve got a classic caliber selection that I enjoy and has served me well with hunting and range shooting over the years.

Current selection I own.
22LR
223/556
22-250
243
270
30-30
308

I’ve been looking at 300 mags, maybe a win mag or a PRC. But there is also a strong case for a 6.5CM or even a 7mm-08… so many good options out there.

 

[sako2]

6.5x55 swede or 7mm prc.

 

[JD338]

It's tough to beat the 300 Win Mag as an all around do all cartridge. It can handle everything from mice to moose. Known for its inherited accuracy, the 300 Win Mag has won many long range matches, including the Wimbledon Cup.
The 7-08 Remington is also an excellent choice. It became very popular on the metallic silhouette circuit. With an excellent choice of high BC bullets, it can check off many boxes.

JD338

 

[NYDAN]

I agree with what Jim (JD338) says above. If you ever plan to hunt in the west, the 300 Win. Maq. is an excellent choice. The 7mm-08 is also a great deer cartridge.

Looking at your current selection, you seem to be well covered with a few classic deer cartridges such as 243, 270, 30-30, and 308. It may be a lot of fun for you to try one of larger caliber rounds for hunting such as 338 Federal or 358 Win. You may be amazed at the knock down power of the larger diameter bullets. A 358 bullet is almost as big going in as a 270 bullet is fully expanded...

 

[salmonchaser]

Absolutely you need a 375HH

 

[xphunter]

A 25, 6.5 or 7mm is the route I would go

 

[wvbuckbuster]

What will be your primary use of said new rifle and caliber? Distances normally shot at game, that sort of thing. Plenty of good rounds available that overlap one another so fill the void that is between the rifles that you use the most. Maybe buy two

 

[Magsrgod]

Great suggestions and along the thought train that I’ve had. A 300 Win Mag is guaranteed to be in the safe at some point as I will be adventuring west at some point in my life. When I do head that way, I will spend some $$$ on that rifle.

The rifles I’ve been looking at are the Ruger G2 Predators, they look good, probably shoot acceptable, and will most likely be my sons when he gets older. Was considering the 25-06 as well because of this. The 243 I have is not a teenagers rifle, it’s a late 80’s / early 90’s Sako M591 Forester Deluxe, it collects years of age more than shots down the barrel.

@NYDAN - I have an affinity for lever guns and I have been eyeing them again with the marketing garbage I’ve been seeing with the Buckhammer or whatever they’re calling that slightly modified round. One of those style rounds will be something I pick up in the future as well.

 

[JD338]

Absolutely you need a 375HH

I concur

JD338

 

[Magsrgod]

You guys are masochists! Ive shot a 375 HH once when I was 18ish at a range in Colorado. I don't have a ton of desire to shoot them again. I think I would lean towards 338WM if I was looking at calibers that hot.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Something .338 or bigger.

338-06, 35 Whelen, 35 Rem, 338WM, 444, 45-70???

 

[Firebird24]

You are lacking in the .284 family. I’m a huge 7mm-08 fan but if you are looking at the magnums, I suggest a 28 nosler or 7 prc.

I agree on a .375 but if you don’t have Africa in your sights. I can’t justify that one

My old rem 700 bdl in .300 wm is one of my favorites-has served well from Africa to Montana and points in between!

This was 15 or more years ago (20?!) but the .300 wm and 180 AccuBond were awesome!

 

[Slimfinn]

considering the 25-06 as well because of this.

Try a 25 creed

 

[salmonchaser]

You should try the 375 again. My experience is the 338 wm or any of the fast 33s kick harder than a 375HH. I wouldn’t lie, honest!

 

[JD338]

You should try the 375 again. My experience is the 338 wm or any of the fast 33s kick harder than a 375HH. I wouldn’t lie, honest!

I agree. The recoil from my 375 H&H Mag is similar to a 12 ga 2 3/4" magnum.
There's 2 aspects on recoil. The first is the impulse from pushing the bullet down the bore. The second part is the speed of that reaction pulse. This is what is noticed the most, especially when it's a heavy high velocity bullet.

JD338

 

[PJGunner]

You guys are masochists! Ive shot a 375 HH once when I was 18ish at a range in Colorado. I don't have a ton of desire to shoot them again. I think I would lean towards 338WM if I was looking at calibers that hot.

"You guys are masochists!" Like hell we are. When it comes to masochism start with a Ruger #1 in .416 Rigby with Ruger's skimpy red excused of a recoil pad. The .404 Jeffery is a little bit better but the #1 in .375 H&H is actually fun to shoot. Yes, I have all three and until recently I even shot them. However, common sense prevailed and more due to age than anything else they're retired. I've shot a lot of the big boomers over the years, the largest being the .600 Nitro Express. That one was rather interesting. But now I'm at the upper mid level 80s where problems like potential retinal separations are a potential problem I do not wish to experience.
Considering the OP's choices I like the .300 Win. Mag. So much so that I have five of them. Four are Ruger #1s. I have no interest in any of the 6.5s not the 7-08 but I have been playing with the 7x57 which is very mild on factory guise but can be loaded using 7-08 data. I run the 140 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip at 2800 FPS with W760 and the 150 gr. Partition at 2800 F PS with RL17. I think that latter load would work just fine on elk at reasonable ranges. I've never gotten around to using a 160 gr. bullet in the 7x57 but the late Jack O'Connor and his wife used the cartridge on most of their animals while on an African hunt. IIRC, they ran them right around 2600 FPS.
I'm seriously considering selling off most of my rifles with the exception of my Ruger #1 collection and a few favorites and doing what little hunting I'm able to do with that 133 year old cartridge loaded to modern pressures.
Paul B.

 

[TexasLife]

You guys are masochists! Ive shot a 375 HH once when I was 18ish at a range in Colorado. I don't have a ton of desire to shoot them again. I think I would lean towards 338WM if I was looking at calibers that hot.

this is how you handle that cartridge or similars.........like a catholic during lent

sprinkle some holy water on it while saying "you we built as a 375h/h and now you're a 223" problem solved.