I have a handirifle light in .223. It is having extraction problems. So I have to send it back under warranty anyway, I might as well get an extra barrel. 7mm-08 is not available as an extra barrel yet. I have a bolt action .308 and 30-06 already. So I am leaning toward 25-06, .270, 30-06. However, 25-06 only comes as 26 inch barrel which defeats the purpose of this short light gun IMO. So I was thinking .270. But the more I look at it, the more I think well 30-06 will do everyting .270 will and more. Bullets come as 110 grains to 240.. Looks like winchester makes a 125 grain right off the shelf factory loaded ammo.. The 30-06 barrel is even the cheapest at $77 vs. $79, only $2. Am I missing something? Why would I pick .270 over 30-06? I live in WV and the average shot on deer is about 70 yards or less. I think the most I ever shot at a deer was 110 yards. BTW I have two young boys (oldest age 4) and another son due in December. So this is going to be someone' s deer gun one day in all likihood (probably mine when they take the browning bold action, ha ha). So I don' t think it matters that I already have a 30-06.. Any comments would be appreciated! And I know this thing is going to thump me because the gun is under 6 pounds without scope. My browning Abolt is 6pounds 11 ounces without scope and it is not too bad in .308. I could shoot 125s in the 30-06 or 130s if I get a .270 and it would be ok.
I was faced with the same choice when I sent my H&R Ultra in. I opted for the 45-70 barrel and I' m glad I did. it shoots great and with less recoil than you would think. If you have sons coming up that will need a deer rifle have you considered the 243 barrel?
I thought about it. It seems like the .243 is pretty limited for deer. And I don' t want to combine someone just learning and probably not shooting too well with a cartridge that requires precise shot placement to be effective. I may be wrong on this...
You don' t want to beat them to death with recoil either. After looking again I see you have the lightweight frame. I don' t know if I would want anything above a 243 on that thing. As far as the 243 Win being light for deer, you can ask the dozen or so dead deer I have shot with one if they would rather have been shot with something else. If your kids can' t shoot that good then maybe they need more time at the range beacause as far as I know all cartridges require precise placement. Not trying to offend you, but thats how I feel about it. Too bad they don' t make a 260 barrel yet. I am sure they will if we keep pestering them about it. They finally came around and chambered the 7mm-08. You might want to just wait on the 7mm-08 to become available as an accessory barrel.
I hear you about the 7mm-08, but I need to send it back now because of the extractor. Can' t justify sending it twice... Anyway, 30-06 with 125s shouldn' t be too bad. If it is, I' ll teach them to shoot with the .223 barrel and send them out with my 8 pound bolt action 30-06 with 125s... The other thing is the gun will be over 6 pounds, maybe close to 6.5 with that 30-06 barrel. Also, with scope, it will be 7plus pounds. Not too bad with factory ammo. I could also have someone handload me some 125s at 2700fps or something. Still would kill a deer but would have much less recoil.
Then again it might be a good time to get that 25-06. Oh, they have 308 barrels too. I think the 308 Win tolerates lighter loads a bit better than the 30-06. At least in my experience.
.308 is so close to the 30-06 that I don' t see the point. I wanted the 25-06 but the only barrel they have for it is 26 inches!!!! Kind of defeats the point of a light short rifle!! I might still go that way but it is also $19 more than the 30-06 barrel and locks you into 100 and 120 grain bullets. 30-06 will shoot 110 (and certainly 125 grain accurately) up to 220.. What do you think of that?
I think I have never seen a 30-06 handle 110 or 125 grain bullets worth a flip. The reason I mentioned 308 is because it has a little less recoil and with its shorter powder column it loses less in shorter barrels than the 30-06.
Oh, another thing is those 125 grain bullets, most are designed for varmints, not deer. Make sure you find a good hunting bullet if that is what you decide to shoot.
I was just reading an article in guns and ammo where they loaded a 30 06 with all weights of handloads and found one 110 grain that shot well and a couple 125s... I guess I could go with a 270 and shoot 130s. Or I could get the 26 inch 25-06 barrel. It would still be 1/2 inch shorter than my browning .308 medallion with a 22 inch barrel and a good inch plus shorter than my 30-06 bolt action.
30-06 or .270 barrel??? Help me decide!
Oh, they have 308 barrels too. I think the 308 Win tolerates lighter loads a bit better than the 30-06. At least in my experience.
