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> Your ultimate close-range caliber
Your ultimate close-range caliber
@ 04:14 pm (GMT) |
Rob BirdI know a lot of emphasis is given to long-range shooting and hunting here, and rightly so. But I am curious to know what your favorite or optimal cartridge would be--if all of your shots on anything from goats up to elk or moose--were within 75 meters/yards.If you had asked me a year ago, I might have said 6.5x55 or 30-06. Now, I'm starting to think it might be 45-70 or 50-70 or similar. I have gotten into 1870s military bolt actions, many of which are chambered in 45-50 cal in the U.S. or 10-11mm in Europe. I shot a whitetail this fall with my 1870 Springfield trapdoor in 50-70. I meant to put squarely in the shoulder but, as it was a 60 yard quartering-to offhand shot, ended up putting it into his liver and it passed through the offside hip, coming to rest, as is often the case, under the offside hide. It was a 450 gr 30:1 bullet that might as well have been a freight train. I wish I could post a picture of it here. What are your favorite close range cartridges (and actual rifles, if you want), and why? Any cool stories? |
Replies
@ 02:00 am (GMT) |
Ed SybertRe: Your ultimate close-range caliberSince you've included elk and moose, I'd have to go with my Pre '64 Winchester M70 in 35 Whelen. The rifle was originally a 30-06 standard weight that a previous owner probably shot corrosive ammo through and failed to clean the bore properly. As a result the barrel had some pitting. It fouled quickly and didn't want to group more than 2-3 shots to point of aim. Rather than purchase a new barrel, I decided to try having the original barrel bored out and re-rifled to 35 Whelen. It was one of the best decisions I've made regarding customizing factory rifles. It handles very well and shoots MOA or near MOA with several good hunting bullets. It is one rifle that I'll never part with. |
@ 02:06 pm (GMT) |
Scott StruifRe: Your ultimate close-range caliberHi Rob. Does nostalgia kill? I don’t have a cool story, but your question should be of interest to the thousands of whitetail hunters in the eastern and midwestern US states, who may now hunt with straight wall rifle cartridges, in addition to shotgun slugs. Illinois, for instance, as of 2023, has no restriction on the size or power of straight wall cartridges. Their only restriction is it has to be available as a factory load. They list your 50-70 cartridge as “overkill,” in a “Ten X Cowboy 500 grain RNFP”, apparently an abbreviation for “lead, round nosed, flat point.” They claim it has an effective range of 600 yards, based on a muzzle velocity of 1216. |
@ 06:53 pm (GMT) |
David LenziRe: Your ultimate close-range caliberI'd probably just keep on using the venerable .308 Win.You have some interesting choices in the 195-225 grain range if you tire of more conventional options like the 150/165 SST, 168 ELD-M, 178 ELD-X/ELD-M, 180 SST/TBBC/Partition/A-Frame, 130/150/165 TTSX and so on. If I wanted cool points, there's always the Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70 or something like a Winchester M70 in .35 Whelen. ;-) I talk myself out of that latter option somewhat regularly. |
@ 03:14 am (GMT) |
brendan wheatleyRe: Your ultimate close-range caliberRuger Hawkeye Laminate compact in .308It's light weight(sub seven lbs) and shorter than a yardstick which is perfect for hunting in woods and deep brush. With 168 ttsx Barnes it does everything I want it to do and being a bolt action if I want to reach out a little farther. [/img] 
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@ 12:10 am (GMT) |
Ed SybertRe: Your ultimate close-range caliberSince you've included elk and moose, I'd have to go with my Pre '64 Winchester M70 in 35 Whelen. The rifle was originally a 30-06 standard weight that a previous owner probably shot corrosive ammo through and failed to clean the bore properly. As a result the barrel had some pitting. It fouled quickly and didn't want to group more than 2-3 shots to point of aim. Rather than purchase a new barrel, I decided to try having the original barrel bored out and re-rifled to 35 Whelen. It was one of the best decisions I've made regarding customizing factory rifles. It handles very well and shoots MOA or near MOA with several good hunting bullets. It is one rifle that I'll never part with. |
@ 06:59 pm (GMT) |
Craig SanfordRe: Your ultimate close-range caliberI will dare to be a bit different here and say that if all shots were within 75 yards, as originally posited, my choice would be a .357 Magnum lever action rifle. With the rifle length barrel, this little handgun cartridge achieves velocity and energy in the ballpark of the .30/30 but with a 10 round capacity. Plus a brace of revolvers alongside packing the same ammunition feels rather handy to me. One could make a similar case for the .44 Magnum, but the .357 keeps it all nice and light while still very fast handling and surprisingly hard hitting. |
@ 11:40 am (GMT) |
Mike DavisRe: Your ultimate close-range caliberBakail SxS in either .30/06 or better still .45/70WHY?? can find out which barrel is best/which trigger is best,work out a really good load for that barrel and have something completely different in the other,either hot n heavy or go other way completely and something gentle to use. that way if smaller animal encountered pop it off without using your superduper loads and if you do need quick follow up shot in either senario its right there without doing anything other than moving trigger to 2nd trigger. |
@ 11:51 pm (GMT) |
David LandwehrRe: Your ultimate close-range caliberWhile my 308 will easily do what's asked, I love my Ruger No.1 in 375h&h and it doesn't get enough use.With 225gr hornadys (only about 80 left) or 235gr speers the goats are well accounted for. The hornadys are emphatic for the smaller game being light construction. The 235gr Woodleighs will account for the elk. A good fast stout bullet and I still have an acceptable supply. I'll keep my 300gr woodleighs for the proper heavy stuff. |
@ 01:30 pm (GMT) |
MARK SCHOFIELDRe: Your ultimate close-range caliber.358 Norma Magnum if scoped- my 9.3x64 Brenneke if not. |
@ 02:43 am (GMT) |
Fernando CundinRe: Your ultimate close-range caliber - interesting issueI have blended advice taken from these pages and Sierra and adjusted the 30-06 down to near 307 WIN velocities and use either a 170 Nosler Partition (excellent results) or the more economical Sierra 170 FN (equally excellent - penetrates slightly less than the Nosler).From snap shot distances out to 150 yards/meters either bullet operates on Whitetails very well. The recoil is a little less, the trajectory is acceptable and the terminal performance is acceptable. Best FC |
@ 01:29 am (GMT) |
Henderson MarriottRe: Your ultimate close-range caliber (.348-458)I have more than my share of original pre-war-1930s Winchester Model 71s.They were and are the last of the original Winchester -Browning lever actions without an extra questionable safety. An Alaskan Moose was KIA with a 348 Ackley Imp version at 90 yards with a 270 gr Hawk bullet. One shot at base of neck. The .348 is an impressive cartridge, especially with 200-225 gr bullets on deer to elk. Swift makes a bonded 200 gr A-Frame, while Hawk offers bullets from 200-270 grain. The better the bullet construction, the less the bullet needs to weigh. The Model 71 is a hunters rifle and with iron optical sights like the original 98A bolt peep-very reliable. Lyman 56 receiver sights are also very practical and resilient. Alaska Bullet Works made a 250 gr bonded core bullet, while Barnes still offers their original 220-250 gr bullets . Alaska Kodiaks are no longer made, but I still have a box of their 250 gr bonded bullets. As a closer relative to the 1873 Springfield mentioned, I use a Winchester original 1885 HiWall SS in 45-70 made in 1887. Its 30 in barrel is equipped with mid-range tang sights as well as sporting rear sight. Using a handload of IMR 4198 powder, and Oregon Trail 400 gr Silver cast flat nosed bullet- it has slain coyotes at various ranges. None suffered long nor got away. Lt Col HRM |
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@ 02:39 am (GMT) |
Rob BirdRe: Your ultimate close-range caliberLt Col HRM: Very cool. I've been curious about the 348 Win. Wasn't aware of the AI version.I just got my first 1885 style action, in the Browning BPCR version in 40-65. It's by far the most popular configuration for black powder silhouette. 45-70 is a great round. For silhouette, I've been using a custom rolling block in 45-90 but loaded down to 45-70 loads. |
@ 05:16 pm (GMT) |
John StewartRe: Your ultimate close-range caliberMy biggest moose to date was taken with my No5Mk1 303 Enfield Jungle Carbine, two shots at about 80 yds broadside with the old Dominion 215 grai RN bullets. I am going to be using my CVA 45-70 with some 440 grain gas checked cast bullets for the big fall black bears here on Vancouver Island, BC.I have taken two record black bears here already, one with the tried and true Remington 700 in 30-06, the other with a Remington 700 in 25-06. I still like the Jungle Carbine, I have 10 rounds in the mag and one down the tube, I've never had to use that many but it's nice to know you got'em. Happy hunting , John |
@ 04:47 pm (GMT) |
Michael RoachRe: Your ultimate close-range caliberI asked myself a similar question (though we dont have moose in NZ) about a year ago. On the cleaning bench I have a Ruger made Marlin SBL 45-70 with a 2MOA aimpoint attached. At the range you described the combination is at least in my experience bordering on unfair.[b]2 |
@ 05:18 pm (GMT) |
Geoff HolmesRe: Your ultimate close-range caliber9.3x62 still in general usage here in South Africa for Bushveld ranges - would be my pick. |
@ 06:09 am (GMT) |
Michael HebertRe: Your ultimate close-range caliberMy somewhat close range tool, for moose, is 30-06. Nothing fancy, 180gr factory Accubonds. Of course, in rough terrain you take what you can and last time that was 260yards for 950lbs of quarters with head. The shot was perfectly side on, thru the heart and stopped in offside hide. The bullet works well from close out to 300yards, more or less for 2000ft/lbs of energy. When the ammo runs out, I’ll reload 210gr aclr. There is nothing like weight to convey energy.On the ‘want’ side, I would say .358win in a lever with a moderate scope, say 2.5-8. The energy from bullet weight is there with a compact rifle. It requires honesty from the shooter when distances increase. |
@ 12:47 pm (GMT) |
[email protected]Re: Your ultimate close-range caliberclose range?a good 9,3x62 semiauto with a Norma oryx or alaska. Or a 450 bushmaster |
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