AusVarmint

Been thinking about buying a bigger calibre lately as I have gotten access to a property with more pigs and goats available. Currenty the largest calibre I own is a 243 in a vanguard. Which calibre do you guys recommend and which rifle?

I would prefer a stainless over a blued. I was thinking about a 308 however the gun shop suggested a 25-06. I know it is flatter shooting but the largest projectile weight it can handle is 125gn compared to a standard 150gn 308.

I don't require a massive round and would like the recoil kept down if possible.

Example - the gun shop has a 25-06 Howa Blued Synthetic with mounts, scope, scope flip covers and a bag for $565 or the same package in 308 for $605. To me the barrel looked quite short, does anyone know the length of them (if not i will give them a call)?

Any other suggestions that i haven't thought of?

Thanks for your input
Brett

My first thought is shit thats cheap Think there 22" barrels from memory. One shop near me is doing the same .308 for 795 i think so thats a good price, the magnums come with a 24" barrel so for a bit of a go between what about a .270wsm maybe? If your local can get them in of course?

So far I only have acces to one property that (supposedly) has goats and saw one mob of pigs too on my only trip so far. Nevertheless i want a rifle for each purpose so wanted fill the medium game slot with something.

After researching lots of places including ChuckHawks I setteld on a 7-08 (Rem BDL DM stainless synthetic)

I have settled on 120 gn projies (hornady soft points and Nosler BTs hit within an inch of same POI at 100mtres) but factory ammo is loaded with 140gn. Its the 308 necked down to 7mm and has a huge following in the states.

I was loading 40gn of 2208 in my 243 behind the 70gn bt and this is using 44gn with a 120gn. It kicks more than the 243 but nowhere near the 300wsm.

Everyone has a favourite calibre, this is my vote. Seriously considered the 260 rem but thought it was just too close to the 243 to be worth it.

Trevort

Is factory brass available for the 7-08? If not, what is the easiest way to form brass?

Id imagine winchester makes it but Remington definitely does from memory!

Yeah, its a factory calibre. I have remington brass. I am telling myself fair and square that this is a minute of goat rifle and resisting the very strong urge to upgrade dies for this too like I have done for varmint calibres. So far the wallet is winning but I have stopped loading with a thrower for every calibre and weigh each charge. Good thing I do more talking about it than actually pulling the trigger!

bsimps05,
The 243 is suitable for goats and pigs at reasonable hunting ranges with the right ammunition. I don't understand the reason for wanting to go to a larger caliber. If you shoot the 243 well and are comfortable with the recoil why not keep using it

Winchester 243 Factory ammunition CPX2 95grn Ballistic Silvertip at 3100fps would carry plenty of knock down out to 300 yards. I seriously doubt you'd get many crawl offs if you did your bit and hit them right

Now on the other hand if you're just looking for an excuse to add to the collection, have a look at the 30-06, loaded with reduced loads it's a pussy cat, but can still be loaded up to take most, if not all game in Australia.

A bigger caliber for pigs??? in scrub or open??

A pump action remington or browning would do the trick?

A mate of mine has one.. with detachable mag. in 30-06. Topped it with a small Leupold and its a winner!!

They are light... and its more accurate than I would have expected.

Get one in 308 and enjoy!!

Cheers
AI

Max Rockatansky wrote: Now on the other hand if you're just looking for an excuse to add to the collection

Definitely, I know i don't really need another rifle but .....

Ps Thanks for all the feedback fellows

708 is a great cartridge plenty of brass avail get rem its better then Win imo and there are heaps of proj choices from 100gn to 175gn, the 7mm08 is one of my faves. 25-06 is better than the 243 but I would get something a bit bigger to make the difference a bit more wide. How about a 270 they are great as well!

308, 270, 25/06, 7/08, 30/06 (In no particular order) ... All will do the job you want with power to spare

Another vote for the 30-06 here, have dropped heaps of pigs and goats with it and it really doesn't kick that much more than your 243 in the field.

G'Day all,
I've used a .270 .308, 338WM but if I ever had to buy just one rifle for all large game it would be 30-06 because you can launch heavier bullets than the 308 and this allows you to hunt sambar with a little more confidence. That is not to say that the .270 and 308 can't do the job, they can but bullet placement is more important. Also you have the added advantage of rebarrelling to 338-06 or 35 Whelan for even more punch later on.
Cheerio Ned

bsimps05 there's a .30/06 for sale on this forum and its a good price too.

Keith, or anybody else with a 7/08, can you please give me an idea as to what sort of groups this cartridge shoots at 100 and 200 yards?