Edward429451
Moderator
I was out of pointy bullets once and for the heck of it I loaded some Hornady 170 gr JFP's in .308 and they shot so good that I loaded more later. Maybe they wont shoot at 600 or 1000 yards, but they sure do inside 200.
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Beginning Rifle?
- Thread starter jbuck92
- Start date
You didn't mention anything about other firearms you own or calibers. Given that you mentioned the word "RANCH" more than once, carry via horse back can be cumbersome with bolt actions and pumps.
The only firearm I own is the one I mentioned in my first post, a .22 pump action long-rifle. The ranch is my girlfriend's grandfather's. No horseback, we go by foot. He owns quite a few rifles, shotguns, handguns, limited edition series, etc. He has a 30-06, a 12 gauge, sawed off (18 in barrel) 12 gauge, 20 gauge, 30/30, .22 long rifle, .308 bolt action, a custom made .45 ACP with red-dot sights, a 9mm Glock 19? (I forget which Glock model it is), and a few other miscellaneous guns that I'm probably forgetting.
Considering that this ranch is a good 6.5 hour drive from where I live, I wouldn't consider any of these rifles readily available for my use. One day I'll own my own set of Brownings, a .308 and a 30-06 from my uncle, but that won't be for quite some time.
I haven't been into long-range target shooting simply because I don't have the gun for it. It is definitely something that I would enjoy though. Most of the time when I go shooting I take my .22 to a 50 yard or 100 yard range and go at it from there. A 100 yard shot for an iron sighted .22 long is quite a long shot for me though, definitely good practice.
I'm looking for something that's good for long-range target shooting and then I guess big game hunting. From what I've read a 30/30 (assuming I can make the shot) would be enough for that, or a .308 would also get the job done, correct? The blackbuck I killed last week was with a 30/30 from about 90ish yards out. I got a spine shot on it to take it down. No meat damage at all, went in the upper back, hit the spine and the bullet embedded in the liver.
300 yard gun
For 300 yard shots, a 30/30 would be less than ideal.
It is a fine caliber for hunting at under 150-200 yards, with moderate recoil and factory ammo available everywhere. Handloading for lever actions (most, but not all 30/30's are lever guns) is a bit harder, and bullet selection more limited.
A .308 Winchester bolt action would do everything you want to do, with a bit more recoil than the the 30/30. Ammo is nearly as common, though a bit more expensive most places. Handloading is easier and you need not worry about pointed bullets in a tube magazine.
A .243 Winchester, as somone above pointed out, I believe, is simply the same case as the .308 Win, necked down to take a .243 (6mm) diameter bullet. The lighter bullet makes for less recoil, higher velocities and a flatter trajectory (at under 400 yards, anyway). Ammo is easily found.
A .260 Remington is a relatively (compared to the .308 and .243) new offering, and is the .308 case necked down to take a .264 (6.5mm) bullet. I really like this one- the longer 6.5 mm bullets are very ballisticly efficient at deer hunting bullet weights ....... Were I to buy a new deer rifle, or one for informal target shooting at under 600 yards, it would be in .260 Remington.
From what I've read a 30/30 (assuming I can make the shot) would be enough for that, or a .308 would also get the job done, correct?
For 300 yard shots, a 30/30 would be less than ideal.
It is a fine caliber for hunting at under 150-200 yards, with moderate recoil and factory ammo available everywhere. Handloading for lever actions (most, but not all 30/30's are lever guns) is a bit harder, and bullet selection more limited.
A .308 Winchester bolt action would do everything you want to do, with a bit more recoil than the the 30/30. Ammo is nearly as common, though a bit more expensive most places. Handloading is easier and you need not worry about pointed bullets in a tube magazine.
A .243 Winchester, as somone above pointed out, I believe, is simply the same case as the .308 Win, necked down to take a .243 (6mm) diameter bullet. The lighter bullet makes for less recoil, higher velocities and a flatter trajectory (at under 400 yards, anyway). Ammo is easily found.
A .260 Remington is a relatively (compared to the .308 and .243) new offering, and is the .308 case necked down to take a .264 (6.5mm) bullet. I really like this one- the longer 6.5 mm bullets are very ballisticly efficient at deer hunting bullet weights ....... Were I to buy a new deer rifle, or one for informal target shooting at under 600 yards, it would be in .260 Remington.