Most versatile chambering for handloaders?

[Antonio m]

If you include sheep, there is no ideal multipurpose rifle for all of the above.
The .375 H&H is ideal but far to heavy to pack to a mountaintop. The little .270 wcf is its little brother , imo .The two are a fantastic combo. The little brother is easy to load for, easy to carry and hits harder than it shows on paper.
I have hunted interior Grizzly with it, and the 30/06- sweet rounds, especially these days. My little old opinion. It is a two rifle answer

 

[Alibiiv]

What do you define as "small game"? He set his max yardage at 400 yards. I'm pretty sure with a solid vitals shot, and inside of that distance, the .308 will have no problem killing most anything in the western hemisphere. Remember, it shoots the same bullet as the .30-06, and is not far behind in velocity...Especially comparing handloads. And lots of folks seem to be agreeing with the .30-06 bandwagon. So, just tossing out my opinion. It's only worth what someone wants it to be.

If he needs more velocity, the .300 Sherman might be worth taking a look at. It bests the .30-06 AI by a fair margin, and is -----near on par with a .300WM in the velocity spectrum.

Remember, I also have a .308 Win and a custom .30-06 AI. And while the .30-06 AI is impressive for what it is, it's still pushing the same bullets as the .308 Win.

Now, that being said, I don't cast my own bullets, and I don't shoot cast lead, so I can't comment on that part. He asked what our opinions were of the most versatile cartridge for handloaders. So, I was just tossing out a reloader-friendly well-known cartridge that [from a ballistics standpoint] should be good for most game inside of 400 yards.

Hi Mud, I kind of agree with you on the .30 caliber stuff, but.............the part of the equation "shooting lead" puts a damper on most of the cartridges that have been suggested. Especially if someone is using this rifle for hunting brown bear with cast bullets. I personally do not like, nor would I use a .30 caliber anything to hunt brown bear with, jacketed or cast bullets! While bear hunting one year I watched a 225lb black bear being skinned out for processing. The bear was shot from 40-50 yards, 165gr Gameking, 300WSM a perfect shot quartering from behind the shoulder into the lung area. The shot stopped inside of the lungs and never exited. The bullet was the perfect mushroom, showroom what you want to see from a bullet performance, but..........it never exited the bear. I was not impressed with what the caliber/cartridge/bullet had to offer. My black bear rifle is a 35 Whelen with 225gr Barnes TSX bullets, they always leave an exit hole and lots of internal tissue damage.

 

[XTR]

Cast bullets is only a small part of the equation. The op also wants to be able to handle large game at some considerable distances. I wouldn't trust a 30-40 at close range for some of his criteria, nor would I want to haul a Krag around the wilderness. If your building a rifle for the OP's focus, the 30-40 might not be the last choice I'd take, but it would be close to the bottom. It's a cool round in it's original home, and also neat in the 1895 Winchester; but it's pretty out of place in this application

I don't know if it's that out of place. Any time you try to find something to do everything you have to decide on the compromises you are willing to make, whether it's bicycles, motorcycles, sailboats, or rifles.

For which of the rounds listed in this thread would you load cast bullets? It's first on the OPs list of possible projectiles. I cast for my 45-70s and they would be a great choice, but not usually past 200 yards. Those big thumpers drop 18-24" from 100 to 200, out past that you can hit at known distances, but you better have the range right. I shoot a Sharps and a Highwall. Yep, I can hit targets with them a long range. Hunting they hit like Thors hammer, and a 400gr bullet will shoot all the way though pretty much anything from any angle but I never carry one if the shots might be past 200.

The 35Whelen is probably a great choice, thought I've not cast for it. The neck might be a bit short for cast. The guys down in MS get a lot of mileage out of them in the primitive season.

Back to the 30-40. I'd not want one of the original Krag rifles, just not to interested though they are reported to be one of the smoothest, fastest cycling bolt guns out there, (look at some of the "mad minute" videos from Europe) but they aren't strong, the cartridge is capable of more than that action can stand. In a single shot like a Ruger#1 it's effectively a rimmed 308 with a really long throat, and as I noted above, it's one of the original cases that PO Ackley blew out to make a whole lot more powerful, doing the AI thing puts it into 30-06 power ranges by getting rid of the large taper.

So, I don't think it's out of place. Far less so than some of the other large capacity bottle neck cartridges listed.

 

[XTR]

won't let me edit... meant to write "neck" not "throat"

 

[memtb]

If you include sheep, there is no ideal multipurpose rifle for all of the above.
The .375 H&H is ideal but far to heavy to pack to a mountaintop. The little .270 wcf is its little brother , imo .The two are a fantastic combo. The little brother is easy to load for, easy to carry and hits harder than it shows on paper.
I have hunted interior Grizzly with it, and the 30/06- sweet rounds, especially these days. My little old opinion. It is a two rifle answer

Antonio, You can easily get a .338 WM, or a couple of .375 H&H's at or under 9.0 pounds....scoped, loaded, slung. While that is not a lightweight sheep/goat rifle.....it should be completely doable for someone in decent "sheep hunting" condition! It's been a while, but my 9.0 pound .375 AI was a non-issue....and was adequate for sheep!

If money is not a problem, they can be lighter! But, the cost and the recoil both go up. Some folks would "recoil" (pun intended) at the expense, while others may find recoil an issue! memtb

 

[Antonio m]

Antonio, You can easily get a .338 WM, or a couple of .375 H&H's at or under 9.0 pounds....scoped, loaded, slung. While that is not a lightweight sheep/goat rifle.....it should be completely doable for someone in decent "sheep hunting" condition! It's been a while, but my 9.0 pound .375 AI was a non-issue....and was adequate for sheep!

If money is not a problem, they can be lighter! But, the cost and the recoil both go up. Some folks would "recoil" (pun intended) at the expense, while others may find recoil an issue! memtb

I hunt sheep alot, my first choice. Sheep hunters weigh and measure everything .
Sheep are easy to take and easily taken with a .243.
I use something a little bigger but nothing oversized. A 7x57, .270 or .280 works well for me.
An 61 now and weight and bulk is more of a consideration than ever- use a takedown these days. I am very fit for my age and work at it.
There is no one ideal chambering fir all things, imo- my view

 

[Lasiter]

View attachment 129713

I'm curious if people commenting have "actually" ever seen a live moose, elk, or a big brown/grizzly.

It's pucker time!

"Have you seen the elephant?"

 

[Orange Dust]

375HH would be hard to beat. A wildcat 358 with about 70-80grs powder would give it a run for its money. Either would give you the range you are looking for, ability to shoot cast bullets when you want, and the power you need for any North American game.

 

[memtb]

375HH would be hard to beat. A wildcat 358 with about 70-80grs powder would give it a run for its money. Either would give you the range you are looking for, ability to shoot cast bullets when you want, and the power you need for any North American game.

Much like the Choice Hotels commercial, "boda book - boda boom.....This guy gets it"! memtb

 

[ncwg2boatguy]

Since brown bear made the list, I would go 300wm, you can run 150-165gr for smaller game and up to 240gr for game that eats you if you don't kill it.

 

[Mustang72]

That is one of the reasons I plan on getting a whelen! I really like and respect the 338,but since I now have shoulder problems it's just to much for me without a brake.


Mud---the 308 is an excellent round. I still have 2,but when you throw big bears in the picture I don't think it makes to many people's short list. I haven't ever loaded any for my 308 but how much difference would there be with it and an /06 with a 200 partition?

 

[68formalGT]

My all around, everything, if I only had one rifle is a 340 Weatherby.

 

[30calyooper]

Quite the spread of game species! I must confess that I have not hunted the big bears, but from what I've read, seen on video etc. adding dangerous game to the mix makes a significant difference in how you might view this question! Drop the big bears and I have no qualms with saying 300 Winmag/30-06 are the front runners, with several others coming in as honorable mentions (7mm Remmag and 308 come to mind.) I know, boring choices but they really do touch all the bases.

Thus my earlier statement - not sure I could recommend any of those for dangerous game. IMO the good old 375 H&H is probably the best starting point when you add the critters that'll fight back, though I certainly would not disrespect the 338 Winmag either. Also, upgrading to a hotter cartridge in either .338 or .375 makes the longer range work a possibility for those who can deal with the recoil, provided the shooter uses a bullet tough enough to handle the chore at closer range too. That does run right into the old question of being "overgunned" but for argument's sake, dead id dead! I wouldn't go out of my way to hunt pronghorn with a 375 RUM, but it would get it done if I had to!

 

[Velvet]

Taking into account the premise of cast bullets, an excellent option is the 9.3x62 Mauser. With Accubonds of 250gn you get well at 400. The heavy ones for browns (285-320) at short distances. It is a very versatile caliber. Medium action, short rifle, good selection of bullets and powder. The magnums do not comply with the premise of lead bullets, since it is necessary to lower the speed a lot.