What are your favorite rifle calibers?

[Joe Link]

As much as I try to consolidate calibers, I find it much more difficult when it comes to rifle calibers.

I'll be adding either a .308 or 6.5 Creedmore once I get my Ruger Precision Rifle. Leaning toward the 6.5 because I'd like to get into distance shooting, but the 308 is such a solid universal round that I'm on the fence. Maybe I need both?

I'd have to say my favorites are probably the .243 for how flat it shoots or the .30-06 for it's hard hitting and the history behind it.

Curious to hear which rifle calibers are your favorite and why

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[withak]

Good question. For now, my rifle calibers are:

.308
.223/5.56
7.62x39
7.62x54

Does .22lr count too??

How about .50 cal round ball for the Hawken?

From what I've heard from many folks, .308 is a great all around caliber - hunting, long range, paper punching. Works in bolts and semi-autos like the AR-10 and M1A. And, it's available in 7.62x51 NATO in bulk to help save some $$ when you just want some 'plinking' ammo. Plus, lots of established loading data for .308 if you want to reload.

 

[Joe Link]

From what I've heard from many folks, .308 is a great all around caliber - hunting, long range, paper punching. Works in bolts and semi-autos like the AR-10 and M1A. And, it's available in 7.62x51 NATO in bulk to help save some $$ when you just want some 'plinking' ammo. Plus, lots of established loading data for .308 if you want to reload.

That's the dilemma right there!

 

[Texfisher33]

.223/556
.308/7.62

If availability and price didn't matter, I loved the 6.5x47 lapua i shot.

 

[2sixguns]

6.5 X 55

 

[DunRanull]

In no particular order:
7.62X63,
7.62X51,
7.62X39,
5.56X45,
7.92X57.
All are well-proven cartridges in their class which have been around for decades, often available in "bulk" or case-lots in mil-surp, and a variety of rifles are available for each of them. All make useful hunting calibers out of the case or handloaded.
A couple more wherein one or another of the above criteria may not necessarily apply are:
.303 British,
7.62X54 Russian,
6.5X55 Swedish.
I use each of these calibers with the exception of the .30-06, for which I no longer have a rifle chambered altho in the past I have had several and still sit on a small supply of hunting ammo.
Thinking about it, all my hunting rifles are chambered in a current or former military round.

 

[Bayou]

223/556
308
300 Black Out

Got an SBR that's amazing to shoot. Only sound is the recoil spring.....for now!

 

[Joe Link]

223/556
308
300 Black Out

Got an SBR that's amazing to shoot. Only sound is the recoil spring.....for now!

Which suppressor do you have on it?

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

As much as I try to consolidate calibers, I find it much more difficult when it comes to rifle calibers.

I'll be adding either a .308 or 6.5 Creedmore once I get my Ruger Precision Rifle. Leaning toward the 6.5 because I'd like to get into distance shooting, but the 308 is such a solid universal round that I'm on the fence. Maybe I need both?

I'd have to say my favorites are probably the .243 for how flat it shoots or the .30-06 for it's hard hitting and the history behind it.

Curious to hear which rifle calibers are your favorite and why

man thats a tough one. i really like:

5.56 for little recoil and theyre cheap to load/buy. i love the AR platform. i kinda want a bolt gun because why not.

300blk for how quiet it is suppressed

308win because mine, for a hunting rifle is a tack driver. it doesnt have that much recoil, i can reload it to perform to 30-06 velocities(but usually stick around 2750fps for hunting) the guns are generally lighter so that when hunting, it doesnt start digging into your shoulder.

30-06 because i inherited a 1903-a3 and it makes me think of my grandpa.

300win mag for the power behind it.


im generally a .30 cal guy.

love the 30-30 too.

 

[v0lcom13sn0w]

223/556
308
300 Black Out

Got an SBR that's amazing to shoot. Only sound is the recoil spring.....for now!

yep pretty much the same here. i reload for my blackout and my subs run an average of 1034 thru my 10" barrel. super quiet suppressed

 

[MadDuner]

I have a number of calibers on hand, but for the past couple of years my favorite plinking rifle has been my 5.45x39 Olympic Arms AR. I shoot most all of them fairly often, but the 5.45x39 usually goes with no matter what.

 

[Joe Link]

I have a number of calibers on hand, but for the past couple of years my favorite plinking rifle has been my 5.45x39 Olympic Arms AR. I shoot most all of them fairly often, but the 5.45x39 usually goes with no matter what.

How's 5.45x39 ammo cost/availability been? I remember when the milsurp stuff was everywhere for cheap.

 

[MadDuner]

The 5.45 ammo cost and availability remains on par with the 7.62x39 steel cased ammo. I watch for guys dumping ammo and buy up a bunch when it's cheap.

 

[Joe Link]

The 5.45 ammo cost and availability remains on par with the 7.62x39 steel cased ammo. I watch for guys dumping ammo and buy up a bunch when it's cheap.

Ah that's not bad at all then. Is the 5.45 you shoot steel cased as well?

 

[jsparky747]

Out of the ones I have shot:
.308 Winchester
6.5mm Creedmoor
30-06 Springfield
.300 Winchester Magnum (with good recoil pad and a silencer w/ a muzzle brake (same object))
17 HMR

 

[11Charlie]

5.56
.308 / 7.62
Gotta go 308 because there is so many platforms to choose from

 

[MadDuner]

Yes.
The 5.45x39 ammo is all steel cased.
I think it would be a pretty good tack driver if the operator was better. LOL

 

[Joe Link]

I think it would be a pretty good tack driver if the operator was better.

Story of all my guns!

 

[11Charlie]

I just bought a Tikka T3 varmint in 308. I'm hoping that it will help make up for some of my short coming's

 

[Joe Link]

I just bought a Tikka T3 varmint in 308. I'm hoping that it will help make up for some of my short coming's

Nice! I've heard great things about those.