Which Caliber.

[Spec ops Grunt]

I live in Broken Arrow near Tulsa. All we have to hunt here are Varmit, Whitetail, Bobcat, and cyotes.

I've narrowed it down between 4 calibers.

.223
+cheap
+little recoil
+great for varmit
-A bit small for Whitetail

.243
+ Still pretty cheap
+ Flexible enough for all the animals around here
- Supposed barrel burner (Proof?)

.270
+ Enough for Whitetail
- a bit much for varmit
- more expensive

.30-06
+ Pretty close to what I consider a bit much for Whitetail
+ Cheap
- Recoil
- way too much for varmit

Also are there left handed Springfield 1903s?

 

[Schleprok62]

If limited to only THOSE choices: I'd go with the .270 Win...

BUT!! (you knew there'd be one...)
In my research... I've found that the .280 Rem. outperform both the .270 and '06 in about every category (when comparing apples to apples). Is plenty strong for Deer, Muley, and Elk(if you ever get out to the OK panhandle). Lighter loads for smaller critters.

Disclaimer:
There are a lot of more knowledgeable folk here... This is just my .02

I'm still debating .280 or 7mm-08...

 

[MCgunner]

Varmint to white tail is the .243s bailiwick. I don't know what "vermin" you plan to hunt, but if it includes LOTS of shooting, the .243 is easier on the shoulder and won't heat up the barrel like the .270. The .223 just ain't enough for deer for the reasonable sportsman. I know it WILL kill deer, but is it reliable on body shots? The bullet selection is a good part of the problem, but it just ain't enough to satisfy me.

 

[CB900F]

Grunt;

Why just those? I'll throw two more into the pot for consideration.

6.5 X 55 Swede. Surplus ammo is available = cheap
Low recoil, it's what I gave my (then) 16 yr old son for his 1st centerfire hunting gun. Flexibility - OH YEAH. On up to elk believe it or not. Though possibly a bit much if a lot of varmint shooting is on the agenda. Very highly regarded as an accurate cartridge.

6mm Remington. More of a roll yer own kinda cartridge for ammo. But plenty cheap then. Same bore size as the .243, more oomph. Still low recoil. Outstanding deer/antelope cartridge. Excellent accuracy potential. I've harvested both mulies & whitetail with mine. In a short barrel 788 I can easily & repeatably shoot under MOA, well under. And that's with a garden variety Weaver V-9. This is my #1 coyote gun.

900F

 

[WYO]

I voted .243 but agree with CB900F that that Swede does everything well.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

I picked these because I could pick them up at wal-mart. I think all go with the .243.

 

[Roudy]

While no cartridge is perfect for everything, if you reload I'd opt for the 30-06.

When loaded with 110 gr hollowpoints it is a devastating varmint round. With 100-130 grain solids it can be a good fur getter for cyotes and bobcats, with 150+ grain bullets it is very good for deer and larger game. With the possible exception of the 30-30 it is the most abundant ammunition in case you need to buy any. Components are myriad.

You custom load you ammo to the velocity that you need for your application, ie: slow solid rounds if you dont want to destroy the game, fast high velocity if you need it.

I use several calibers, but if boiled down to only one it would be the '06.

 

[thorned1]

Grunt, Go with the .243. You can pick up a gun in 243 fairly cheep. The ammo is cheep and avalible. Factory you can get any thing from 75 gr. to 120 gr. Moving any where from 3400 fps with the 75's to 2900 fps with the 120. If you reload you can go as low as 55 gr and shoot varmits. The 120's are plenty for a OK sizes deer or hog. I have a 243 in a Rem 700 ADL that will shoot 2 inch groups at 200 yards.

 

[dakotasin]

25-06.

if limited to your choices, a 270 and a rockchucker kit is the way to go.

 

[Essex County]

I picked .223 just barely over the .243 now that Nosler makes a 60 gr. partition that should do well on whitetail.........Essex

 

[Legionnaire]

Given your application, I voted .243. My son uses his .243 for the range of game you describe ... from woodchucks to whitetail. Very satisfactory results.

Roudy makes a good point on the .30-06 for versatility, but the difference there (and with the .270) is the long cartridge. The shorter cartridge length of the .243 allows for a shorter action ... if that matters to you.

 

[Preacherman]

Another vote for 6.5x55mm. Swedish. This round will do everything you want, and for varmint shooting, there's lots of milsurp ammo available if you look around.

 

[coyote204]

.243 if you gotta pick from this list. I chose the .257 Roberts over the .243 myself.

 

[shane justice]

Who says 06 is too big for varmints?

Loaded with 125 FMJ's....

Put a pin hole on both entry and exit....

No way....try it...06 can be loaded for it all fellas....

Shane

 

[db_tanker]

If you widened it to include the 257 Roberts...then thats the number I would go with...

As it stands, the 243 is basically what your looking for. Good oompf to take a whitetail, and easy on the shoulder with the Winchester 55 gr. bullets.

Barrel steel being what it is nowadays...I wouldn't concern myself with burning up a bbl.


D

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

Just would like to add. I also have a 20 gauge. This could affect the decision somehow.

Also, what else can a 30-30 be used for besides whitetail?

 

[Sunray]

"...what else can a 30-30 be used for..." Black bear, elk, moose. It's no slouch with the right load.
"...Supposed barrel burner (Proof?)..." There is no proof as it's nonsense.
20 gauge for birds and small game.
"...a bit much for varmint..." Nope. It's a good round for what you want to do.
"...what I consider a bit much for Whitetail..." Not with 150 grain bullets.
"...way too much for varmint..." Nope. Use lighter bullets.
There are no left hand 1903's either. When it was the issue rifle, lefty's were expected to change.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

I didnt know the aught six was so versitile. I may go with that. Any left handed mil sups at all?

 

[rangerruck]

even though it is the xecond most expensive ammo here, it is the most versatile, no doubt.

 

[kenjs1]

thorned

who makes factory 120 grain ammo for the 243?

 

[Skipper]

If versitility is the prime concern, the 30.06 always wins that race. The .243 on your list would meet your needs quite nicely,but the '06 trumps everything on your list as a "do it all" gun,especially if confined to factory ammo.
This is worth what you paid for it.
Regards,
SKIP

 

[jerkface11]

I voted for .243 but ONLY because .257 roberts wasn't a choice. 6.5x55 would be good too.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

I going with the .243. I can borrow a 30-30 for larger game, and use a shotgun for birds and squirels. (Or whatever I feel like using the scattergun on )

 

[rbernie]

Dakotasin's right; 25-06 is probably the best all-around chambering for the uses you've outlined. But 243 ain't too shabby, either.

 

[Wilburs Horse]

I didnt know the aught six was so versitile. I may go with that. Any left handed mil sups at all?

No No 30-06 for what you mentioned. The .243 is perfect. Tremendous factory ammo choices out there and I will not overgun you and make you form bad habits. I use a 6mm Rem. for these critters and it works great, recoil is nothing, and I can find any type of bullet I want (I handload) for it.