Dual Purpose Rifle - The Firearms Forum

ryan_marine · 11-21-2004, 08:37 PM

What Caliber would you want for a rifle that would be used for groundhogs and deer. I am going to have one built for my 'ol man. I was thinking of 243 win. But tell me what caliber that you would use. I already know that the rifle is going to be a short action. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

Ray

dcon12 · 11-21-2004, 08:38 PM

Hmmnnm 243.. I think I like it already. Don

ken w. · 11-21-2004, 09:16 PM

I have a Rremington 700 in 6mm.Just about the same as a .243.I use a 100gr soft point bullet for deer,rarely have an exit wound,yet tears up the inners well.Deer rarely go 50 yards.For varnits,I use an 80 grain bullet and can hit anything out to the 300 yard range if I can hold it still enough.

ryan_marine · 11-21-2004, 09:21 PM

I am thinking on doing it with your old rifle Don..... After I get the bolt turned.

Ray

dcon12 · 11-21-2004, 09:31 PM

Turn the bolt first then see how you like it. Don

AlleninAlaska · 11-21-2004, 11:16 PM

260 Remington. 100 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips for varmint and 125 grain Nosler Partitions for deer. Could even go down as light as an 85 grain bullet for varmint, but a 100 grain bullet at 3100 to 3200 FPS is nothing to sneeze at.

pickenup · 11-21-2004, 11:56 PM

Both calibers I like, have already been mentioned, the 6mm or the 243.

358 winchester · 11-22-2004, 04:50 AM

6.5 x 55 Swed it is a fine round and can take varmits to moose

just my 2 cents worth.
Ron

CountryGunsmith · 11-22-2004, 07:57 AM

I've got a Yugo 48 action laying around here somewhere that I intend on building out for the wife - same concept.

Haven't decided yet on caliber... either .257 Roberts Ackley Imp or 7x57 Ackley Imp.

Well.... we dont do much varmint huntin'....

inplanotx · 11-22-2004, 08:47 AM

I vote for the 257 Roberts Ackley Improved. I love mine.

Laxcoach · 11-22-2004, 09:13 AM

There's only one answer---- 25-06. Looks at bullet selection, trajectory, and energy and you'll agree.

inplanotx · 11-22-2004, 09:48 AM

The 257Roberts AI will do everything the 25-06 will do with 3% less powder and a shorter action.

Craig · 11-22-2004, 10:30 AM

6.5 x 55 was the first to come to mind, but a 6mm would make ammo easier to come by.

Crpdeth · 11-22-2004, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laxcoach

There's only one answer---- 25-06. Looks at bullet selection, trajectory, and energy and you'll agree.

I agree completly, I did alot of research before I bought mine, and while I know alot of other calibers may be better in certain areas, the 25-06 is a well rounded caliber that IMO is hard to beat for both of these applications. If I were going to stay with 100 Grn bullets the 25-06 wont do anything that Ken's 6mm wont do, but for deer hunting...Anyone would be served well to try Hodgdons 4831 Short Cut (H4831SC) behind a 120 Grn Sierra Gameking in the 25-06...I have also had real good luck with IMR 4320 behind the same bullet, dropped three wild hogs from about 100 yards (need to remember to walk that off) weekend before last without a hitch...Unfortunatly I understand that the IMR isan't as temp tollerant.

~Crpdeth

45Smashemflat · 11-22-2004, 03:34 PM

Short action, right?

Is there a 6mm version of a .308?

CountryGunsmith · 11-22-2004, 05:29 PM

Yep, they call it the .243 Winchester.

Crpdeth · 11-22-2004, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45Smashemflat

Short action, right?

Was you asking me?

ryan_marine · 11-22-2004, 06:48 PM

Well after alot of thought it comes down to 25/06 or 243. I am leaning to the ol '06. I already have dies and stuff for it anyways. If the action is long enough (I think it is) it is going to be the quarter bore. If not then it is the 243.

Thanks for all the help.

Ray

armedandsafe · 11-22-2004, 08:29 PM

Well, 24s and 25 are alright if you really like needle guns, but I prefer the old faithful 30-06. Even in the .308 case, it is more tolerant of bullet weight and will digest many different powders well. I've used the -06 for ground squirrels to rock chucks to moose and have never felt under- nor over-gunned.

Pops

ryan_marine · 11-22-2004, 08:36 PM

Pops,
You talking about the 30-06??? I am talking about the 25-06(25/06,25'06). Hope I did not confuse you. I like the 30 but my 7mmMag does anything that it can do with less recoil.

Ray

armedandsafe · 11-22-2004, 08:58 PM

I am, indeed, talking about the 30-06. As in Springfield, Garand, BMG and BAR. I know that the needle guns have less recoil and fling their tiny bullets out there quite well, but I like the ballistics of the .30 (.308/7.65mm) the best of any I have tried for a multi-use cartridge.

And, yes, I DO happen to be an old phart. And, NO, I'm certainly not trying to stir the pot, any, at all, some.

Pops

dcon12 · 11-22-2004, 09:34 PM

Pops, he is just a youngin. I try to teach him but he is also a Marine. Don

Crpdeth · 11-22-2004, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryan_marine

Well after alot of thought it comes down to 25/06 or 243. I am leaning to the ol '06. I already have dies and stuff for it anyways. If the action is long enough (I think it is) it is going to be the quarter bore. If not then it is the 243.

Thanks for all the help.

Ray

Should you happen choose the 25-06, since you are doing some varmint hunting, I'd love to hear a review on the 75 Grain Hornady V-Max in this caliber...I dont get to do much varmint hunting myself, in fact the only 'otys I've shot with mine were loaded up for bigger game as I was hunting bigger game and just decided to drop the coyotes when they presented themselves, but I've always wanted to load some up and try them since I've heard that they are quite devistating on the small varmints.

Good luck whatever you decide!

~Crpdeth

Laxcoach · 11-23-2004, 08:17 AM

crpdeth, my experience with anything under 90 gr. bullets in my 3 25-06's has been that you sacrifice accuracy for speed and flatter trajectory. My favorite all-around handload is topped off with a 100 gr. Nosler ballistic tip chronoed at 3300 fps.

josh · 11-23-2004, 05:47 PM

Dont rule out the 308. I loaded up some 110 v max im just dying to shoot a groundhod with.And the selection of heavier 30 cal bullets is awesome.
Other than that id vote for the 243 or 6mm.

11-21-2004, 08:37 PM	#1
ryan_marine Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 919	Dual Purpose Rifle What Caliber would you want for a rifle that would be used for groundhogs and deer. I am going to have one built for my 'ol man. I was thinking of 243 win. But tell me what caliber that you would use. I already know that the rifle is going to be a short action. Let me know what you think. Thanks Ray -->

11-21-2004, 08:38 PM	#2
dcon12 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Albany, Ga. Posts: 1,128	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle Hmmnnm 243.. I think I like it already. Don __________________ "I wouldn't mind being the last man on Earth-just to see if all those girls were telling me the truth."

11-21-2004, 09:16 PM	#3
ken w. V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Buffalo,New York Posts: 216	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle I have a Rremington 700 in 6mm.Just about the same as a .243.I use a 100gr soft point bullet for deer,rarely have an exit wound,yet tears up the inners well.Deer rarely go 50 yards.For varnits,I use an 80 grain bullet and can hit anything out to the 300 yard range if I can hold it still enough.

11-21-2004, 09:21 PM	#4
ryan_marine Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 919	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle I am thinking on doing it with your old rifle Don..... After I get the bolt turned. Ray

11-21-2004, 09:31 PM	#5
dcon12 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Albany, Ga. Posts: 1,128	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle Turn the bolt first then see how you like it. Don __________________ "I wouldn't mind being the last man on Earth-just to see if all those girls were telling me the truth."

11-21-2004, 11:16 PM	#6
AlleninAlaska V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bethel, Alaska Posts: 252	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle 260 Remington. 100 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips for varmint and 125 grain Nosler Partitions for deer. Could even go down as light as an 85 grain bullet for varmint, but a 100 grain bullet at 3100 to 3200 FPS is nothing to sneeze at. __________________ Allen Glore Delta Firearms & Supply P.O. Box 1228 Bethel, Alaska 99559 (907)543-2080 aglore@gci.net

11-21-2004, 11:56 PM	#7
pickenup Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains Posts: 6,838	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle Both calibers I like, have already been mentioned, the 6mm or the 243. __________________ The gene pool needs chlorine

11-22-2004, 04:50 AM	#8
358 winchester TFF Admin Staff Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pensacola Fl. area Posts: 7,335	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle 6.5 x 55 Swed it is a fine round and can take varmits to moose just my 2 cents worth. Ron __________________ Administrator & Owner RangeDay.com Proud, White, Heterosexual, Gun Owning, Southern American, Christian. Any question about where I stand?

11-22-2004, 07:57 AM	#9
CountryGunsmith Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Deep Piney Woods of East Texas Posts: 5,116	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle I've got a Yugo 48 action laying around here somewhere that I intend on building out for the wife - same concept. Haven't decided yet on caliber... either .257 Roberts Ackley Imp or 7x57 Ackley Imp. Well.... we dont do much varmint huntin'.... __________________ The autonomic nervous system provides for involuntary muscle function - the work of breathing, digestion, and so forth. On some folks, that's a pure waste of ingenuity.

11-22-2004, 08:47 AM	#10
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle I vote for the 257 Roberts Ackley Improved. I love mine.

11-22-2004, 09:13 AM	#11
Laxcoach Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Lynchburg, VA Posts: 43	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle There's only one answer---- 25-06. Looks at bullet selection, trajectory, and energy and you'll agree.

11-22-2004, 09:48 AM	#12
inplanotx Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 8,897	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle The 257Roberts AI will do everything the 25-06 will do with 3% less powder and a shorter action.

11-22-2004, 10:30 AM	#13
Craig Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Pa. Posts: 561	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle 6.5 x 55 was the first to come to mind, but a 6mm would make ammo easier to come by. __________________ If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went. -Will Rogers My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am. -Unknown

11-22-2004, 03:34 PM	#15
45Smashemflat Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,494	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle Short action, right? Is there a 6mm version of a .308?

11-22-2004, 05:29 PM	#16
CountryGunsmith Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Deep Piney Woods of East Texas Posts: 5,116	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle Yep, they call it the .243 Winchester. __________________ The autonomic nervous system provides for involuntary muscle function - the work of breathing, digestion, and so forth. On some folks, that's a pure waste of ingenuity.

11-22-2004, 06:48 PM	#18
ryan_marine Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 919	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle Well after alot of thought it comes down to 25/06 or 243. I am leaning to the ol '06. I already have dies and stuff for it anyways. If the action is long enough (I think it is) it is going to be the quarter bore. If not then it is the 243. Thanks for all the help. Ray

11-22-2004, 08:29 PM	#19
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle Well, 24s and 25 are alright if you really like needle guns, but I prefer the old faithful 30-06. Even in the .308 case, it is more tolerant of bullet weight and will digest many different powders well. I've used the -06 for ground squirrels to rock chucks to moose and have never felt under- nor over-gunned. Pops

11-22-2004, 08:36 PM	#20
ryan_marine Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 919	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle Pops, You talking about the 30-06??? I am talking about the 25-06(25/06,25'06). Hope I did not confuse you. I like the 30 but my 7mmMag does anything that it can do with less recoil. Ray

11-22-2004, 08:58 PM	#21
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle I am, indeed, talking about the 30-06. As in Springfield, Garand, BMG and BAR. I know that the needle guns have less recoil and fling their tiny bullets out there quite well, but I like the ballistics of the .30 (.308/7.65mm) the best of any I have tried for a multi-use cartridge. And, yes, I DO happen to be an old phart. And, NO, I'm certainly not trying to stir the pot, any, at all, some. Pops

11-22-2004, 09:34 PM	#22
dcon12 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Albany, Ga. Posts: 1,128	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle Pops, he is just a youngin. I try to teach him but he is also a Marine. Don __________________ "I wouldn't mind being the last man on Earth-just to see if all those girls were telling me the truth."

11-23-2004, 08:17 AM	#24
Laxcoach Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Lynchburg, VA Posts: 43	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle crpdeth, my experience with anything under 90 gr. bullets in my 3 25-06's has been that you sacrifice accuracy for speed and flatter trajectory. My favorite all-around handload is topped off with a 100 gr. Nosler ballistic tip chronoed at 3300 fps.

11-23-2004, 05:47 PM	#25
josh V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 56	Re: Dual Purpose Rifle Dont rule out the 308. I loaded up some 110 v max im just dying to shoot a groundhod with.And the selection of heavier 30 cal bullets is awesome. Other than that id vote for the 243 or 6mm.