Suggestions on caliber?

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Around here the 30-06 is by FAR the most popular caliber. Followed by 30-30, 308, 270. It is virtually all white tail deer hunting here so anything from the 243 up to a 300 win mag will do the trick. From an ammo availability stance I would go 30-06.
700 yards is a mighty long way to be shooting at an animal. Any of the common cartridges will shoot targets at 700 yards but few shooters can do it consistently. I know I can't.
My new "go to" rifle is a Swede in 6.5x55 but I don't know if Savage offers that caliber. Prior to using the Swede I mostly used a Savage in 30-06. I still occasionally use a Marlin 336 in 30-30 but I sort of doubt it would be effective at 700 yards.
 
I sense a little bit of confusion and want to clarify that I will NOT be taking shots at any game at 700 yards or anything close to that. Even if the gun might be capable I don't feel like that would be an ethical shot choice at all.

I do want something that I will use for hunting but the ~700-800 yard shots will strictly be at paper targets.
 
then you definitely dont need anything more than a short-action caliber like the 6.5 creedmoor, 308, or 7mm-08
 
What Tim said, at those ranges a 7MM mag is King. Anything smaller tends to be less stable beyond 600 yards. I would also consider a .22-250.
If they still make 30-06 sabot rounds, those things were pretty good.
 
For what you put any of the above... I would say a good .223... Before the haters attack, I say that because you'll become a rifleman with it. Then go straight to .30-06. You'll likely never 'need' another. Get one with a 1 in 9" or better (lower number) so you can shoot heavy.

Greg
 
I've been using a .270 Winchester for years. Easy to find ammo in 150,130 &100 grain depending on your game. My Ruger has a nice trigger and less kick than a 30-06 or .300 mag.
 
Personally, I'm just glad I didn't think too hard when I got my all around hunting rifle cartridge. I would have gone nuts had I really thought too hard about it. There are many good choices for what you want to do.
 
ExAgoradzo said:
For what you put any of the above... I would say a good .223... Before the haters attack, I say that because you'll become a rifleman with it. Then go straight to .30-06. You'll likely never 'need' another. Get one with a 1 in 9" or better (lower number) so you can shoot heavy.

Greg
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And 223 is cheaper so you'll enjoy more target shooting with it. Or go 308 to get plenty of punch out there and still have fairly cheap bulk ammo to play with.
 
.243 will for sure reach out and touch some paper at 800m you do your part in loading the ammunition with hand weighed powder charge, heavy for caliber bullet, into properly resized and trimmed brass, then do your part on aiming and trigger pull. .243 is actually pretty good as a distance gun.
 
Thank you for the suggestions that have come in. Some are quite intriguing, the .260, 7mm-08 and now the .22-250.

I already have rifles in .243, .25-06 and .223 that have been mentioned and I am sure those calibers could do what I want, I am wanting something different to add to what I have and that will be a designated longer range caliber along with a new/different coyote gun.
 
Well you can't go wrong with any of the cartridges already mentioned.

308 would give you a wide gallery of rifles to choose from if you decide that your Savage needs company later on.

It has the capability to take anything in this hemisphere, long barrel life, and plenty of factory ammo types too choose from if you don't roll your own.
 
id consider the creedmore, its becoming popular fairly quickly and is a great, well rounded 6.5mm cartridge, matches the 6.5x55 ballistics in the short actions.. 6.5x47 is pretty interesting too
 
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Sounds like you already own the gun you want in the 25-06. Perfect varmint buster with 75-85gr, think skinned game with the 100gr and up to medi sized game with the 117-120gr. Of reloading it gives you three different calibers in one. I love mine and it's the only centerfire I own besides a AR.
 
I use a .243, they will shoot very well past 1000 yards with heavy bullets, and with varmint weight bullets are deadly on 'yotes as far as you can see them. And of course they have a long well deserved reputation for deer sized game using anything from 85 gr. SGK's to 100 grain Partitions.

I would consider the Creedmore strongly also, it's a great round for long range shooting.
 
We used to shoot prairie dogs with the same gun we used to shoot elk. Winchester Model 70 in .243. Just change the bullet. That is now a bit pricey to shoot prairie dogs so we use 223 or 17 HMR based on where we are shooting.
 
.308 is a nice choice for a medium cartridge that doesn't overdo it but *can* reach out to 1000 yards+ with a skilled shooter, although the drop is substantial. It is more than adequate for deer under 300 yards and isn't overkill for the coyotes like say 300winmag might be.

Now, if you *really* need accuracy at 800-1000 yards and have the skills and glass to do it, then 300 win mag is the way to go. Flatter, faster, better. Personally I don't enjoy shooting it nor do I enjoy it when others at the range park next to me with theirs, but it is a really good choice for long distance shooting, if that's your thing.

Consider that at 500 yards, 30-06 and 308 are both moving about the same speed, which is 200-400fps slower than the 300 win mag.
 
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