I'm new to this site and so far have enjoyed crawling through it and over it and round it. Now I need some opinions from those with more knowledge than me. I currently own 2x.22 b/a 1 a mod 1 brno and the other a 10 shot voere and a Rem700BDSL in .243 and shoot when ever I get the opportunity, anything from rabbits to roos, pigs and dear if the chance arises. My dilemma is what to buy. .222, .223, .25-06, or .270. I was going to go towards .222 or.223 for mid way between .22 and .243 and for less noise but then thought I can go lighter with projectiles for .243 down to 55gn and less powder = less noise.
So then looked at .270 for the sometime longer ranges that can be encountered. Whilst researching this aspect the matter of the .25-06 being almost equivalent of the .270 and a flatter shooting bullet out to around the 400m mark has been pointed out and gone and thrown another spanner in to the works as to what to buy.
Any thoughts from others with experience of the pros and cons would be appreciated.
Roimon

Just my opinion, but you can shoot .308 win with just barely more recoil .243 win, and I would bet the report isn't much greater either. It's a proven long range caliber, and can be loaded to suit your purposes.

l would think that the 223 would be just about right,l have two and
love them.l sight in at 225 yards and they will shoot into one inch
at this range.
l also have a 6mm Rem.about the same as a 243. with bullets of
80 to 100 they are very good on varment to deer out to 500yds.
l only use handloads.
good luck with what ever you get...
Jon D.

Gidday roimon13

I reckon any of those caliber you said are good. Just get the one you feel most comfy to shoot with, because if you feel comfy with the gun, you will usually shoot better.

oh and .. welcome another Aussie

Before anyone can give good solid advise, based on two or three cartridges you need to make up your mind about smaller or larger.

Most probably the 243 will do just about all you want for a larger gun in Australia. The 243 is a very good deer or goat cartridge. It also serves well as a varmit round. When you reload, as is obvious you do, the 243 can be a lot of gun for a shooter with medium sized game to shoot.
Ed

SwampFox wrote:

Before anyone can give good solid advise, based on two or three cartridges you need to make up your mind about smaller or larger. Most probably the 243 will do just about all you want for a larger gun in Australia. The 243 is a very good deer or goat cartridge. It also serves well as a varmit round. When you reload, as is obvious you do, the 243 can be a lot of gun for a shooter with medium sized game to shoot. Ed

...yep

Guys thanks for your thoughts. In Aus to accquire a firearm you need to apply and pay a $30 fee, you then when approval is granted have 90 days to purchase or you lose your $30 so I will be buying a centrefire and at this point I think its looking like either the 25-06 or the .270.
Any further info or advise will be gratefully considered.
Roimon

Ok, WE go larger.

Of the two cartridges listed, the better of the two, based on duplication of performance, plus extension past the other, is the 270. It simply sticks around year after year because it is an excellent cartridge that will do just about everything asked of it and it will do it well. A better cartridge than the 25x06 is the 6.5x06 but it is a wildcat and the 270 is in lockstep with the 6.5x06 I know this sounds odd, but I happen to be a 6.5 nut. Of course, the 6.5x284 is a duplicate of the 6.5x06 and the cases are made by Norma. So 6.5x284 is a, let's see, house cat.

Truth is if you can find a 700 Rem in 270, you should have a real winner.
Ed

Have owned .270 wins chambered in both rifles and handguns and can fairly say I've killed a couple/three piles of Whitetails and a pile or two of Bear with 'em.....as well as earned a few sillouette trophies with a particularly favorite BDL sporter class.

I was always partial to the heavier weight bullets in the 140, 150 and 160 weight range.


That said I'd not trade my 25-06 for any of 'em if the choice had to be made. The versatility of the available varmit bullets makes the quarter bore priceless for longrange critter crunchin'....my personal favorite is the Nosler BT in 115 grain weight.

The premium big game bullets available, such as the Noslers or the Barnes will without doubt or nary a problem kill Game up to Elk sized animals.

The 25-06 gets my vote for less recoil, flatter tragectory, more speed and thusly a bigger hit when a hit counts....and IMHO, better accuracy than any .270 could ever offer.

The 100 TSX and the 115 TSX at 3000ish fps, for Big Game, ROCK................

I'm with wildswalker...i think the 25 would be the way to go. I am a huge 270 lover but as for accuracy the 25 should shoot better and has a good range of light to heavy bullets. Also IMO i believe that you can find more accurate bullets for the 25...i don't really think there has been alot of R&D for 270 match bullets as opposed to 25 cal bullets which to me would equate into better "standard" bullets...maybe i'm wrong but that's just my .02

roimon13 wrote:

I'm new to this site and so far have enjoyed crawling through it and over it and round it. I currently own 2x.22 b/a 1 a mod 1 brno and the other a 10 shot voere and a Rem700BDSL in .243 and shoot when ever I get the opportunity, anything from rabbits to roos, pigs and dear if the chance arises. My dilemma is what to buy. .222, .223, .25-06, or .270. I was going to go towards .222 or.223 for mid way between .22 and .243 and for less noise but then thought I can go lighter with projectiles for .243 down to 55gn and less powder = less noise. Roimon

Welcome to the worst kept secret on the internet Roimon. Sit a spell, grab a Tooheys Old and enjoy mate. As Gelan said, great to see another aussie in here.

Now, as for your dillema on what calibre to buy. Where do you hunt? If you hunt mainly withing the Illawarra / Southern Highlands area then the .243 is more than enough gun. I believe that you already have probably the best calibre for Australian conditions in your gunsafe.....the .243 WIN. Having said that, my obvious choice for a larger calibre would be the .308 WIN. There is nothing on the aussie continent, with the possible exception of a buffalo, that will walk away from a well loaded heavy .30 calibre bullet.

As wildswalker said, the 25.06 has a great reputation so this is also a consideration.

My battery consists of several .22 rimfires, a 12g O/U shotgun, a Winchester Mod 94 in 30.30 and a Weatherby Vanguard in .243 and I reckon I have all game available in Australia well and truly covered.

Once again, welcome to the site and feel free to jump in with your two bob's worth mate.

Cheers, Vince

All of the cartridges mentioned are just fine. There are many reasons to get another gun and being unable to make a single selection is one of them. Take care...
Joe

Well its done. I've gone and committed to a Rem700 308 Stainless synthetic BDL with a Nikko Sterling 6-24 on top for $800. I missed a couple of others that may or may not have been as good. I will enlighten you all further after I have thrown a few rounds through it.
Also at the same time I bought a .22 Henry L/A for my left handed 16 year old daughter to use.
The 2 boys 14 & 12 are about 6 weeks off getting their junior permits so the competition in our family is about to hot up.
Thanks again for all your words of wisdom,
Roimon13

Good for you....

I think you are going to be happy with the 308 BDL for the shooting you will be doing in Australia. The 700 is accurate and the 308 is accurate.

If you ever want to shoot factory ammo, give the Winchester Supreme Elite XP3 premium stuff a try. I have never seen a factory round like it. My hunting buddy has a Wetherby 308 and uses the SE to hunt with. The factory ammo shoots .10 to .20 of an inch groups in his rifle!
Ed