What's your favorite hunting rifle caliber?

[radar ralf]

I am partial to the .30-06 Springfield, but I am thinking of purchasing a new rifle, and I am trying to decide between the .300 Remington Ultra and maybe a .416 Rigby. I own several hunting rifles in various .30 calibers and some bigger calibers, but nothing above the .375 H&H. To be realistic, I'll probably never hunt outside the Americas, so I probably don't need anything bigger.

Maybe something smaller, like a varmint rifle. Does anyone have any experience with the NEF / H&R rifle? Maybe a heavy barrel .223 would be the way to go. I wonder how awkward this single-shot rifle is to reload?

Hopefully some of you folks can give me some good feedback on hunting rifles.

[avalongod]

I don't hunt (poor critters!) but I do have a rifle I use for sport shooting...an L1A1 .308 which could shoot through a brick wall if you wanted it too. Not good if you want quiet, but if you are bringing down big game,...and I am talking bear, this is your rifle.

[radar ralf]

L1A1 (.308 / 7.62mm) on bear? You must mean those itty-bitty black bears you folks have down in the Lower 48. I would hate to have a close encounter with an enraged grizzly armed with anything less than .30-06 Spgfld loaded with very heavy (220 grain) bullets. I personally would not go afield anywhere in Alaska where there is a chance of meeting a brown bear without a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with slugs and buckshot or a reality-based heavy rifle like the .375 H&H Mag. Yes, I know some people are content to hunt bears with a .30-06, or a .300 WinMag, or a .338 Mag. My brother, a big game guide for years all over Alaska, is firmly convinced (because of a very scary incident backing up a client on a charging 12'9" grizzly) that the .375 H&H Mag is the minimum for brown bears in Alaska. Dang, that L1A1 you're talking about shoots a 150 grain bullet! I've seen brown bears soak up 5 shots of .338 250 grain bullets and still have enough life left to do lots of damage!

Anyway, thanks for the response. I already have a rifle styled like the one you mention - mine is an H&K 91.

[avalongod]

lol...I was not meaning to be taken literally about the bear...I have never hunted and only use my gun for target shooting, so I would not know WHAT it could bring down...in reference to the grizzlies absorbing 5 .308s, however, remember that the L1A1 carries a 20-round clip. I think I could "dissuade" him from charging.

[Scylla]

I have a Savage .223 Bull barrel that I'm not thrilled with. The advantage of range that the gun gives you is kind of lost because it's almost impossible to shoot in the standing position. If you put it on a bipod or shoot prone, it's so close to the ground it brings the horizon in, and you still can't shoot past 50 yards.

For varmints I'd recommend a light .22 hornet with a tight sling for standing accuracy (my all time favorite rifle,) or a .22-250 if you want a but more ooomph.

If you like the .30-06, you might want to try a .25-06. It's a very nice, flat shooting round. A little too powerful for my tastes though.

[radar ralf]

avalongod: I imagine an entire 20 round magazine (not clip, BTW) could do some damage to a bear, but hunting regulations restrict the firearm to a 5 round capacity for magazines.

Scylla: Sorry to hear that you are having troubles with your .223. I don't understand the problem you mention about shooting from the prone position, however, unless you are shooting at something like small targets close to the ground (varmints). You might try firing from a shooting bench or a new product that Stoney Point has that utilizes a plastic bucket w/lid - it supports the buttstock and is used in conjunction with a tall bipod, which enables you to shoot from a folding chair.

I have heard that the .22 Hornet can cause problems with barrel erosion. Any experience with that caliber? I have been thinking about a .22-250 for some time, but I am geared up for several .223s right now and so will probably pass on the .22-250. I own a .25-'06 and use it on coyotes and foxes. I don't consider it too powerful for that size game. BTW, what Savage model is your .223? I have an older Savage 110 M&P in .308 that is very reliable, but every time I shot it in IPSC, I got the cold shoulder from the guys and gals who are shooting M1A1s, FALS (L1A1s), Steyrs, ARs, etc.