Anything but a .308

Tintin said:
Hey Chris - for history and classic status, what about a .318 Wesltey Richards.

Swans in Brisbane will do a barrel for you, Bertram cases and projectiles from Bertram or Woodleigh.
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Squeeze all that into a Lithgow action for good measure it’s all Aussie except the chambering.
 
Use to be a .308 guy and had a full stable of hunting rifles in various calibers. I got rid of all of them with the exception of one rifle in .300wm. I use that rifle for everything and never feel over or undergunned.

While I do this with hunting rifles, pistols are another story. I have an incurable 1911 addiction
 
BryceM said:
If I had to make do with a single rifle for PG and North America, the .300 Win always gets my vote. The .300 Wby is pretty good too. I’d want a match barrel, reasonably heavy 24” barrel, threaded for a suppressor, preferably a TB Ultra 5. A Mauser style action would be my preference, but there are a few I’d be happy with. A 3 position safety and quality trigger would be great. Up top, I’d probably have a Nightforce scope, maybe a Swaro. A VX-5 or VX-6 Leupold could work too.

The available range of bullets in .308 is as broad and deep as it gets. With a suppressor, anyone can shoot it well - certainly as well as a regular .308 Win or .30-06.

This is adequate for brown bear, eland, and lion. I might rather have a .338 for the last 3, but the .300 will do fine.

For hippo, buffalo, and elephant, pair it with a .404 Jeff or .416 and you’re all set.
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Sounds like a description of my .300 wm. Mauser action, three position safety, etc. Animals have died in the US, Canada and Zimbabwe. Nothing has walked away. A fine choice!
 
318 Westley Richard’s- great penetration and very classic. 9.3x62 - more thump than a 30-06 and 358 Norma Magnum.
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HunterX said:
318 Westley Richard’s- great penetration and very classic. 9.3x62 - more thump than a 30-06 and 358 Norma Magnum.
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I own two 9.3x62 mausers and a 358 norma magnum. In no way do I believe that a 9.3x62 has more thump down range than a 358 norma. I love and use both cartridges. The only advantage the 9.3x62 has is a heavier bullet in standard loads.
 
Spent alot of time thinking about this when I was getting a larger caliber rifle to add to my collection for anything up to elk. I went with a 280AI - a 7mm Rem Mag in all but name, and without the magnum issues or the kick. Push out a 168GR accubond at 3000 FPS and it'll deal with most things, while also being friendly recoil wise. That and a 6.5x55SE cover all my hunting bases, outside of something for the African Biguns/Moose.
 
jruby said:
I own two 9.3x62 mausers and a 358 norma magnum. In no way do I believe that a 9.3x62 has more thump down range than a 358 norma. I love and use both cartridges. The only advantage the 9.3x62 has is a heavier bullet in standard loads.
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Sorry, I meant the statement in its own. 9.3x63 has more thump than a 30-06. The .358 Norma is my recommendation for a third option. I am looking forward to building a prewar style safari rifle on a 1903 Springfield action, with a 3 position safety in .358 Norma Mag.
 
CBH Australia said:
If someone wanted one good versatile hunting rifle as opposed to multiples what chambering or cartridge would you suggest.

Where I’m saying hunting rifle I’m thinking hunting deer and pigs in Australia, Plains game in Africa, Deer in the UK or Elk or whitetail in the US or something in Europe. Generally any huntable species excluding varmints and dangerous game or rifles configured to those purposes.

The context is that the .308 common so if you wanted a nice scoped rifle in some other cartridge that is better or has a bit more prestige, history or classic status what would you choose?
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For you stated discriminators, specifically for deer through large plains game with classic status, my vote would be the 300 H&H if you hand load. Can handle the large selection of 308 bullets available so you could tailor it to the task at hand. Pure class.

If you don’t handload, 30-06, 300 weatherby or 300 win mag would be more practical and still have some history and class. All the above would easily handle any of your stated hunts.
 
I have a bunch of nice blued steel/walnut stocked rifles because I like them. I have 1 stainless steel rifle for hard use. It’s my failsafe all-weather rifle. A “beater”, if you will, that goes along when it’s wet or I’m around saltwater.

When selecting a cartridge, I needed something that shot flat enough in open country and hit hard enough to kill anything in North America. I chose the 300 Win Mag.

I also chose it in a 6 lb 3 oz rifle. Great to carry!
 
No 8x57 fans here? My favorite round. Big enough to do the job and doesn’t kick the snot out of you. I have 3, an Orberndorf action, 20 inch very light part octagon barrel built in 1914, a rifle built in 1933, open sights, no scope 24 inch part octagon barrel, and a Brno full stock built in 1948.
Mike
 
ARHinAK said:
Hand loaded 7x57 if history, prestige or classic status is important.
7mm08 if you just want a nice little round that will take the game animals you mentioned.
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Ron Spomer’s last post says exactly this
 
I'd go .30-06 Springfield in a nice pre 64 Winchester, CZ, or custom Mauser.
It's got real history and prestige, crushes the common .308 with better heavy bullet performance for elk, bigger plains game, or pigs, while staying mild enough for deer everywhere. Ammo's everywhere, loads from light to 200gr cover your whole list perfectly without being overkill. Classic, capable, and timeless one rifle done right.
 
I’ve yet to go to Africa and have never hunted grizzly or moose, but I wouldn’t want to take those off my wish list because I didn’t fully trust my rifle caliber. So rather than my 30.06 , which I’ve had since age 12 and love, I would keep my 300 Weatherby. I’d trust it it on all plains game, moose, grizzly, and anything else short of buffalo, elephant, rhino and hippo. It might be too much for antelope or whitetail, but id rather use lighter loads and bullets in an otherwise overpowered rifle than come up short on a charging grizzly or moose. Just my 1.5 cents.
 
35 Whelen will do all the OP ask for and is a safe bet with the big bears in the US and recoil is easily managed. Next choice would be a 303 on a No4 or P14 action, matches the 308, last pick would be the 8X57. All proven performers.
 
yamoon said:
No 8x57 fans here? My favorite round. Big enough to do the job and doesn’t kick the snot out of you. I have 3, an Orberndorf action, 20 inch very light part octagon barrel built in 1914, a rifle built in 1933, open sights, no scope 24 inch part octagon barrel, and a Brno full stock built in 1948.
Mike
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I have a nice Zastava model 70 with dual triggers. I like the rifle and handload for it. I feel it is an excellent non magnum cartridge. I use 198g hornady interlocks. I am a. Fan. After saying that in my opinion there is not a lot of good hunting loads for it in the U.S. so it needs to be handloaded. As time goes by the 8mm mauser will slip into obscurity. Its too good a cartridge to fade away. The nice option to this is the 8mm-06. I have had an 8mm06AI and it was a fine cartridge. They need to bring out more bullets for it.
 
jruby said:
I have a nice Zastava model 70 with dual triggers. I like the rifle and handload for it. I feel it is an excellent non magnum cartridge. I use 198g hornady interlocks. I am a. Fan. After saying that in my opinion there is not a lot of good hunting loads for it in the U.S. so it needs to be handloaded. As time goes by the 8mm mauser will slip into obscurity. Its too good a cartridge to fade away. The nice option to this is the 8mm-06. I have had an 8mm06AI and it was a fine cartridge. They need to bring out more bullets for it.
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It seems like anything in 8mm dies a quick death. The 325 WSM and 8mm Rem Mag could be the perfect elk and moose cartridges. But with the popular 30s on one side and the 338 Win Mag on the other, there just doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm.
 
Gomer said:
It seems like anything in 8mm dies a quick death. The 325 WSM and 8mm Rem Mag could be the perfect elk and moose cartridges. But with the popular 30s on one side and the 338 Win Mag on the other, there just doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm.
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Yep, a mate has the .325wsm. I get excited when I read about the latest and greatest and then the urge to grab one fades and I’m still back to some common cartridge.
 
CBH Australia said:
Squeeze all that into a Lithgow action for good measure it’s all Aussie except the chambering.
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That would be a cool challenge. I reckon 'challenge' would be the operative word ;-)
 
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