What Caliber

[LWD]

And I think sometimes those of us with more knowledge and experience forget that others don't have that knowledge and experience. The .308 is the archetypal keep it simple, stupid choice for the beginner. Will a .300 Win Mag loaded with 208 AMax do a lot of stuff the .308 won't? Yes, but it comes at a cost: increased recoil and cost, lesser ammo availability and barrel life, et cet.

Crawl, walk, run.

LWD

[huntindude]

Ok, I need to retract a bit. My comment may have come across as a little bit snarky. For that I apologize.

It's just that I've noticed, a lot lately, on the Green Screen, when someone asks a Caliber question, multiple folks pile on with advise on calibers that were not asked about and if you did shoot those calibers, you'd better be one hell of a re-loader. Most people are not.

It's sort of like: "Does anyone know where I can get a good steak"?

Answer: "You want pork chops".

Actually, "what's the best caliber?" questions are part of the reason I quit going to other hunting sites, because it started to sound like the gun counter at Academy. A whole lot of advice without a filter.

So, for my comment above, I apologize if I seemed crass.

I know I am guilty for giving some "out of the norm" suggestions. I look at advise giving as if I were the one asking the question. Any internet search, here or elsewhere on "what caliber" will bring up the same stuff, "7mm 08, .308, 30-06, .270, .300WM is to much gun, 22-250 is not big enough yatta yatta." I try to give advise that maybe the OP didnt already know about or that may go against the grain of "normal."

[BTGuard]

Some of you may have seen my ar thread, and I've been looking into a 6.5 Grendel ar pretty seriously. Ar platforms intrigue me, so this might be a good place to start

[huntindude]

6.5 grendel is good for the long range stuff you are interested in but dont forget about the 6.8 for hunting and general shooting especially if you dont reload

[BTGuard]

6.5 grendel is good for the long range stuff you are interested in but dont forget about the 6.8 for hunting and general shooting especially if you dont reload

So, what trade offs would u be looking at going to 6.8? I see a lot if people say lost range, but how much range would you lose? I'm not going to be shooting animals over a few hundred yards I wouldn't think, so all the discussion of bc and Ft/lbs doesn't really interest me. So at. 400 yard shot on an animal how would the two compare? And would there be more upper options with a 6.8?

[huntindude]

yes there is some lost range with the 6.8 but from the way I understand it the difference doesnt really show until you are outside of most hunting ranges. personally I consider 400 yards to be considerably farther than normal hunting ranges and I personally wouldnt shoot at a buck of lifetime with either caliber at that distance. I think the 6.5 is better for the 400+ target/varmit shooting, but that advantage is also going to go to the reloaders who can load heavy, high BC bullets for the 6.5. This is something that cant be done with the 6.8 because of the longer case you are limited to shorter lighter lower BC 6.8 bullets. If you dont reload it doesnt matter anyway and my nod would go to 6.8 as there are alot more factory ammo options readily available. Also yes, there are more upper options too made by more companies. with the 6.5 you either have to build, buy an alexander arms or buy one made from 3rd party marketed under a different caliber name such as the 6.5 LBC. (which is a copy of the 6.5 Grendel but AA has a patent on the name "grendel")

[Tommyh]

While the 7-08 ammo is easier to find, dont hesitate to look at 260 or 6.5x55.

[Boomerang]

You should look at what a .22-250 does to deer, hogs, and coyotes. An AR-15 or AR-10 is a nice platform. If you go with a 6.8mm you need to look at the bullet type. ANY bullet will kill a deer, you just want to minimize the tracking by using the correct type of bullets and shot placement.

[Stan R]

Savage 11/111 Hog Hunter in 308. You can get for one for about $430 at Buds + FFL fee at delivery. Then you have funds left on a good scope.

http://savagearms.com/firearms/model/11HOGHUNTER

I was close on getting the HH yesterday but ended up with this Savage. I liked the shorter barrel better.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/savage-10pt-sr-308-winchester-bolt-action-rifle/pid-1320219?N=385933178+4294963040

[Zen Archery]

.308

[east tx hoghunt]

X200 on the 308