Results 11 to 20 of 27
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19-03-2024, 10:00 #11
- Join Date
- Aug 2022
- Location
- Pretoria
- Posts
- 83
Thanks for the comprehensive replies Andrew & Desperatezulu. I tend to agree that calibre choice is my main driving factor. I don’t want to get 5 years down the line and end up struggling to find ammo.
In terms of the 300WM. I tend to do more bush hunting than open plains hunting and I found that the 300WM was just damaging everything (I tested at a number of different gr but to no avail, and to much meat wastage). I also found that the rifle was too expensive to shoot if I felt like going down to the range and hitting a few targets. I’ve noticed that the 7x57 ammo at the shops in Pretoria tends to be a bit cheaper than the 308.
Recoil wasn’t a major consideration (having only hunted with a 300WM, and 30-06 so far and having been successful), I would like something that I can pass over to younger family members and woman in the family to use too.
To an extent I also don’t want to go and do what I did when I got the SM, spend a large amount of money upfront and not like the rifle that much (although I do still miss it). The 7x57s I’m finding look like they are cheaper in general for what I’m looking for vs the 308s. I’ll look for a few non-Mauser type actions though and see what I can find.
I hadn’t considered the 6.5x55 swede, I’ll look around for this. Main concern here would be ammo availability.
Thanks again!
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19-03-2024, 10:49 #12
- Join Date
- Jul 2011
- Location
- BFN Freestate
- Age
- 45
- Posts
- 12,070
Re: Advice on deciding between my next hunting rifle
Ammo or reloading components?
What is the performance specs of the ammo you buy on the shelf for the 7x57, type of bullets and velocity?
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19-03-2024, 11:28 #13
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
- Location
- Bryanston, JHB
- Age
- 48
- Posts
- 489
Re: Advice on deciding between my next hunting rifle
Definitely a contender in the mid-range class but as you rightly point out, factory ammo options are rather limited (and anaemic because of concerns over old Swedes in circulation). If looking in the 6.5 class, I guess a Creed is a better bet for a non-reloader
But I would not put a Creed above the 30-06/308/7x57 as an all-rounder.
With a silencer, the '06 is the best all-rounder IMHO for the usage you describe. If you're looking for a one-gun solution (which is sacrilege in most people's eyes and on this forum!). There have been some nice 30-06's up for sale recently (the Ruger M77 sticks in my mind) that you would not go wrong with, and for sensible money too.
While we're in full rabbit-hole mode and ignoring your original request for advice between two calibres - is getting into reloading a realistic option? Forgetting the eocnomic argument (which is valid once you shoot more than 200 rounds of premium ammo), reloading brings a lot more calibres into the mix that might otherwise be rejected on ammo availability concerns. And it enables you to pimp the bog standard calibres too, if that's what you end up with.
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19-03-2024, 11:59 #14
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- Aug 2022
- Location
- Pretoria
- Posts
- 83
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19-03-2024, 18:49 #15
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- Philippolis
- Posts
- 4,777
Re: Advice on deciding between my next hunting rifle
In a hunting context, there is no practical difference between the 7x57 and the .308 win, as far as performance on game is concerned. I have been hunting with a 7x57 for the past 35 years and have taken game ranging from springbok to eland with it out to 350m. As I replaced my .308 with the 7x57, I have not used the .308 for the same period of time but I have guided a lot of hunters using the stubby little .308 win and its performance on the same variety of game have never disappointed as long as the hunter did his part. If you do not handload, I would recommend the .308, if you do reload either will work really well.
While neither are traditionally considered to be long range hunting calibers both will work really well out to 400m provided you own a rangefinder, a scope that can compensate for bullet drop, use accurate handloaded ammunition and practice from field positions out to your maximum chosen distance.
I have hunted ± 1200 head of game with the 6.5x55 and about half that number with the Creedmoor, and there is nothing to choose between the two 6.5mm's as far as hunting is concerned. I love the 6,5mm's but for an only rifle the .308 win or 7x57 make a lot more sense.
Controlled feed actions are preferable for dangerous game hunting (and even that is debatable) but for normal hunting a push feed action will serve you just as well. Pick the rifle that handles the best for you.
There are some excellent scopes available that will work as well for open country work as they will for bushveld hunting. Three that I have personal experience with are the Leupold VX-3 HD 3.5-10x40, the Leupold VX-5 HD 3-15x44 and the VX-6 3-18x44. All of them have lockable elevation turrets that can be used for dialing at longer ranges.
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19-03-2024, 18:55 #16
- Join Date
- Feb 2009
- Location
- Brackenfell
- Posts
- 1,862
Re: Advice on deciding between my next hunting rifle
I have had many different calibers and different rifles.
My first was a cz550 in 308W. Great rifle but the action is a standard length action fitting to a 30-06. Not a big issue but the feed rails on the action is cut for a 30-06 length cartridge. This causes the shorter 308W to pop out in some cases and the round is loaded push - feed ... if it does not get stuck between bolt and the rear of the barrel. The longer 7x57 might be better than the 308 but I have my doubts.
I had a 308W in a Howa Varminter and managed to shoot out the barrel after I rebarreled to 6 Creed.
A 300WM in a light Rem700 kicked like a mule, although very accurate, I decided that I do not need all that.
Settled on a Tikka T3 Varminter in 30-06 and got the barrel cut down to 20" for a handier rifle. For my normal use I will not need anything else. Ammo is abundant and reloading components as well.
For smaller game in the bush I have a Ruger No1 in 243 Win with a 22" barrel. For the Karoo I have a 26" Rem700 also in 243 Win.
I have shot an Eland bull with my 338 LM, just because the 30-06 was at home and I had the 338 as backup in case there was a wounded animal that had to be put down at distance.
The 30-06 is boringly versatile and the Tikka Varminter awesomely precise. These were on special for R12k (some years ago) ... you might find a secondhand Tikka Varminter or perhaps an older Sako for a good price.
Get a suitable rifle platform in an appropriate caliber with matching optics that will suit your long term vision. Everybody will have a different opinion/answer to the above statement.
Final advice: Do not be in a hurry and have the money ready and waiting for the deal of a lifetime ;)
Lots of great deals going around, and it is a buyers market if you have patience.
Sent from my SM-A528B using Tapatalk
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19-03-2024, 19:00 #17
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- Boland
- Posts
- 8,008
Re: Advice on deciding between my next hunting rifle
Bugrit, if I could justify another hunting rifle I would have bought that 7x57 CZ and made the choice easy for you... it would be a no-brainer for me!
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19-03-2024, 20:10 #18
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- Philippolis
- Posts
- 4,777
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19-03-2024, 21:07 #19
- Join Date
- Dec 2010
- Location
- Boland
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- 8,008
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20-03-2024, 07:14 #20
- Join Date
- Aug 2012
- Location
- Pretoria, South Africa
- Age
- 34
- Posts
- 12,555
Re: Advice on deciding between my next hunting rifle
If I had to buy an only rifle now, it'll probably be a 6.5CM (or another 6.5mm that's similar to it). My brother in law shoots one, and (if I remember his numbers correctly) it launches a 143gr bullet at 2,800 FPS, and it's not a very hot load. That's very close to .308 Win (with a 168gr bullet) levels of energy at the muzzle, and it exceeds the 308 at distance. It also generally shoots bullets with better ballistics, so it shoots flatter and maintains speed over distance better. It also recoils less.
The downside is expensive brass, but it makes up for that with less powder and cheaper bullets. I'm also sure it makes a perfectly capable small to medium game hunting cartridge, and while it won't be my first choice every time if I'm to go hunt Eland, if you do your part, it'll do the job just fine.
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