Hunting Target Allrounder

S

SAshooter

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Hi Guys

I’m posting this thread on behalf of a friend of mine, who has asked my advice regarding which calibre rifle he should have build? This Friend is a Ranch/Lodge owner here in RSA and he is looking for a "fun gun" that he can punch paper, vermin control and hunt with.

He wants it to be accurate out to 300-400meter for controlling Jackal and other vermin, yet at the same time (and with the same weight point) he wants to be able to shoot game fron the 120 too 440 pounds weight class @ ranges from 50-250m.

The rifle will be using reloads, which I would reload, but it needs to be a standard calibre because if he runs out of Reloaded ammo he needs to be able to use factory ammo if the need arises!

He currently has a .243 and .375. The .243 has been doing most of the vermin work and the .375 is an open sight rifle and only used when backing up dangerous game with clients. So something in between is needed?

I have a custom built .308win which I use for all the purposes mentioned above, Loaded with 150gr points. My suggestion to him would be to go with the same calibre, but I would like to hear if there are any other suggestion as I'm probably a little bios...:D

Looking forward to hearing your suggestions

Thanks
Gav..
 
SAshooter

Given your friend's criteria your advice nails it. With the range of possible applications I'm not sure I would limit myself to just one bullet weight though.

Greg
 
Greg Culpepper said:
SAshooter

Given your friend's criteria your advice nails it. With the range of possible applications I'm not sure I would limit myself to just one bullet weight though.

Greg
Click to expand...

I agree. I would load 308 Win with 110 V-Max for the 308Win for the small stuff, and go with a 165gr-180gr for the heavier stuff.

Or:
8x57 Mauser with 124gr Hornady SP or HP (handloaded), 123gr Norma, and 196gr factory loads by S&B, Norma etc. would work as well.

30-06 has Remington Accelerators in 55gr, but they are not common.
 
What about the 6.5X55 Swedish Mauser?
Loaded to modern pressures in a modern action it is a good performer.
You need to be a sophisticated enough reloader to make the higher pressure loads.
Is 6.5 ammo available there?
 
Without spending the rest of my life tying, I would suggest the .30-06 for the perfect all around do just anything he wants ctg. It has been all over the world and has satisfied many a hunter. He all ready has a .375H&H, with the addition of a .22 rf, I would say he is covered for anything he would ever need.:D
 
Thanks for the suggestions....

The reason I stipulated one bullet weight, is because this rifle will be kept with him in his Pick-up most of the time and there won't be time to re-zero the rifle for the different weight points. When a client wounds an Animal or a Jackal presents itself.... he needs to be able to grab the rifle and make the shot.

I perfer the .308 over the .30-06, especially with the 150gr points. Am I correct in saying the .308 does everything the 30-06 can do with a 150gr point, just using less powder??

Ok so If we decide on a .308.... what length barrel and twist rate should we be looking at and why?
 
If you are staying with the common 1-10 twist I would prefer the 180 grain bullets. No .308 Winchester can keep up with the .30-06. Just does not have the horse power. If I was scratch building a .308 Winchester I would go with a 1-12 twist and for a truck gun I would want a 20" barrel.
 
The .308 is a good choice, as mentioned you probably have access to 8x57, when loaded to it's full potential it mas more pop than the .308.
You may also consider the 7x57, in a modern bolt gun with all the bullets available from about 115 grains up to 175, you can take quite a few different species. The 130 grain speer SPBT is an extremely accurate bullet for use on game up to about 100 kilo's. It would be the cat's meow for jackals. 160 grain mag tip or grand slam for the bigger stuff.
 
Considering the requirement that it needs to be a standard caliber in case he runs out of reloads and the size game he is looking at I would recommend the 308 as a first choice and the 30-06 as a second choice.

The 30-06 can outdo the 308 in every aspect because of its larger case but the 308 treads hard on the heels of the 30-06, at least until you get above a 180 grain bullet then the 308 is not as much of a contender.

My reasoning for the the 308 is - less recoil and a ready availability of military surplus ammo (at least in the U.S., that may not be so in the RSA).

Bullet choice for your reloads - if they are available I would go with the 165 Nosler Partition as the choice. I have used them for years in both 308 and 30-06 and they have performed flawlessly on game from the size of a coyote (25 to 40 lbs,) and also on game up to the size of elk (600-800 lbs).

drover
 
Gav,
I think you are on the ball from experience with both calibres shooting game, vermin and paper I would go for the 308 or the 7-08 - probably lean towards the 7-08. Versatile rounds that will do the job. If you are only looking at one bullet for all seasons I would go with a Nosler BT. If you go for something too 'solid' would be overkill on jackals, or vice versa on 400lb beasts

Cheers Rich.K
 
Back in 2002 we built a pair of Savage Model 16 rifles. These are the SA Stainless rifles with the removable clips.

We used a 308 chambered Kriger 1-12 Twist Stainless 26" barrel with a Palmer contour. We used the shoulder mount rather than the Savage barrel nut as switching barrels is easier.

This barrel shoots almost all loads and bullets to about the same POI. Everything we have shot in it seems to be within 3" @ 100 yards and most are under 1.5". This is the variation using different bullets and different loads.

Shooting the better load and 150 grain Berger match bullets the barrel will agg under 1/2".

We continue to be amazed just how stable this 30 barrel is!

My hunting buddy just took delivery of a new Model 12 SST Savage in 308 with a 26" Varmint barrel. Still working on this one but I think it too will be fairly good with different loads and bullets.

I also have a light weight 21" 308 barrel for the Model 16 Savage. With the right load and bullet it shoots three shots in to 1". BUT, different loads and different bullets get to be pie plate size at 100 yards.

Based on the above and my other experience over the years I suspect if you want to shoot different types and weights of bullets in the same barrel and expect them to hit near the same point of aim you will need to be planning on a stiff barrel. And the barrel and action need to be pillar bedded in the stock by a good gunsmith.

Octopus
 
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