Need new caliber recommendations please

[tac]

Time to 'invent a new calibre then.

For general four-footed game in North America, how about the correct dimensional designation for the .303 British? Use the usual .312 bullet and trim a couple of mm off the case, maybe just one?

.312x 56 NWF [for North West Firearms, right? ]

Sounds cool, and that 174gr bullet will do the biz on most stuff where YOU live at reasonable ranges.

Lots of barrels for the .303, lots of cases you can trim. Only downside I can see is the rimmed case, but what the heck.

I'll get a friend of mine with a .303 L-E to make one, so we can take a look, 'kay?

 

[orygun]

Dad carried a 303 for years. It's mine now. Been in my possession since '16 when he passed away.
Dad "sporterized" his way back when, but most people wouldn't think of doing that with a No4 MKI(T) these days.
Still, that 303 is a capable cartridge. I doubt a MM or two in length would make a difference.

 

[tac]

Dad carried a 303 for years. It's mine now. Been in my possession since '16 when he passed away.
Dad "sporterized" his way back when, but most people wouldn't think of doing that with a No4 MKI(T) these days.
Still, that 303 is a capable cartridge. I doubt a MM or two in length would make a difference.

Wait, he sporterised a $10K rifle?

 

[DeanMk]

Time to 'invent a new calibre then.

For general four-footed game in North America, how about the correct dimensional designation for the .303 British? Use the usual .312 bullet and trim a couple of mm off the case, maybe just one?

.312x 56 NWF [for North West Firearms, right? ]

Sounds cool, and that 174gr bullet will do the biz on most stuff where YOU live at reasonable ranges.

Lots of barrels for the .303, lots of cases you can trim. Only downside I can see is the rimmed case, but what the heck.

I'll get a friend of mine with a .303 L-E to make one, so we can take a look, 'kay?

Keep it AMERICAN .30-40 Krag...er, I mean 7.62x59 NWF in something that isn't a Krag.

 

[357 MAX]

360 buckhammer,,,,,,,lever or singleshot

you can buy a Henry singleshot for less than $600.

compares well to some of the old school rounds (30 40, 303 etc.)

 

[orygun]

Wait, he sporterised a $10K rifle?

He bought it in the late 50's. It wasn't even a $200 rifle then.

 

[DeanMk]

360 buckhammer,,,,,,,lever or singleshot

you can buy a Henry singleshot for less than $600.

compares well to some of the old school rounds (30 40, 303 etc.)

You know, I never understood why people clamor for the buckhammer or the legend cartridges, when the .375 Winchester's been around since 1978.
More than capable in performing the same job those other cartridges do. Why create new cartridges when a perfectly capable one has been around for years.
Just don't understand why the .375 didn't find a new audience, if people were looking for something like that (or HAD to use something like that, because of state laws).

 

[orygun]

You know, I never understood why people clamor for the buckhammer or the legend cartridges, when the .375 Winchester's been around since 1978.
More than capable in performing the same job those other cartridges do. Why create new cartridges when a perfectly capable one has been around for years.
Just don't understand why the .375 didn't find a new audience, if people were looking for something like that (or HAD to use something like that, because of state laws).

The case length is too long on the 375 to meet the requirements. These laws also eliminate the 35 Remington, which in factory form is not an fast as the Buckhammer.

 

[bpyycpyy]

The case length is too long on the 375 to meet the requirements.

I'm pretty sure I've read all the comments but maybe I missed it...where is the case length maximum size requirement listed by the OP?

 

[orygun]

I'm pretty sure I've read all the comments but maybe I missed it...where is the case length maximum size requirement listed by the OP?

Didn't say the OP mentioned it. (you'll notice I didn't quote the OP) I was referring to the regulations of the "straight wall" cartridges in several midwestern/eastern states, which is what @DeanMk was referring to when comparing the new cartridges to the 375 Win. I believe the case length spec for that is 1.800 max.

 

[bpyycpyy]

I was referring to the regulations of the "straight wall" cartridges

That makes more sense, but since the 35 Remington isn't a straight wall cartridge, it made me think the comment was based on the OP's quest for a new cartridge recommendation. I was pretty sure that the Buckhammer & Legend rounds were brought about due to the "straight wall cartridge states" and saw that the 375 Win was also straight walled but was unaware that there was also a length requirement involved in those straight wall requirements.

 

[DeanMk]

The case length is too long on the 375 to meet the requirements. These laws also eliminate the 35 Remington, which in factory form is not an fast as the Buckhammer.

Ah yeah, you're right.
Thanks, forgot about the case length issue.
...and the .35 Remington is actually a bottle necked cartridge, so that rules it out.

 

[NeoBlackdog]

Where did we get the idea that it had to be a straight walled cartridge?
From the OP's first post...

Here is what I need:
A) ability to take Roosevelt Elk sized critters at less than 200yds in moderate to heavy brush.
B) be relatively inexpensive or less difficult to reload
C) not a military caliber

 

[monks]

I know it's been mentioned before and I know you mentioned under 200 yards but the 7mm Remington mag ticks all the boxes. They are common and popular as well. I don't know if I missed anything reading through the thread that makes it a no go for you but another plus is that you can get that chambering in just about any brand of bolt or your preferred auto loader.

 

[P7M13]

It isn't really that hard. If i had to suggest only one, I'd say 450 Bushmaster in an AR15 setup. It's about the same as the low end of 45/70 in ballistics.
It will have the lightest weight and tamest recoil of any big game killing cartridge.
If I recall, you talked about taking a sailing trip with your son to the South Pacific. Are you thinking about red stag, roo, water buffalo or banteng?
For those, I'd probably take a 338 Win Mag.
Take a look at this Chuck Hawks article on killing power: https://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_killing_power_comp.html

But to beat the horse, here are some options:
Mature cartridges : 416 Rigby, 338 RUM, 338 Win Mag, 338 Federal, 35 Whelen, 35 Remington, 300 Win Mag, 300 RUM, 300 Savage, 300 WSM, 7 Rem Mag, 284 Winchester, 7 WSM, 7mm-08 Rem, 270 Winchester, 260 Remington, 6.5 Swede (modern loads)
Newfangleds : 6.8 Western, 6.5 Needmore, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC (I'm sure there are other super-secret-squirrel ones)
Straight walled : 45/70, 450 Bushmaster, 458 Socom, 350 Legend

In semi-auto, I have 35 Remington, 300 Savage, 30-06, 7mm-08, 6.8 SPC, 6.5 Grendel and 450 Bushmaster. The lightest one by far is 450 Bushmaster, in an AR15 format at 7lbs with glass. The 300 Savage and 35 Rem are about 8 lbs. The 30-06 is just shy of 9lbs, and the 7mm-08 in AR10 format is ~10.5 lbs.
This fall, I'll be using bolt action rifles for Elk because where I'm hunting, I expect ranges to be 300-400 yards. For Coastal buck, I'll be using a Rem 600 in 243.
If you go with 450 Bushmaster, buy one that was built for that cartridge. The port is much larger than on a typical AR. Also get quality magazines.

 

[DeanMk]

Where did we get the idea that it had to be a straight walled cartridge?
From the OP's first post...

That's a 7mm-08

 

[NeoBlackdog]

That's a 7mm-08

Or a 270 Winchester, or... It could be any of a hundred different cartridges.

 

[orygun]

Where did we get the idea that it had to be a straight walled cartridge?

We didn't'. It was just a little drift when the 375 Winchester was brought up.

 

[MTmountainhunt]

Hi guys, I'm going on a trip and looking for a new caliber for a rifle, to compliment the handguns, and a carbine in (both in 30SC) that I'll already be carrying.

Here is what I need:
A) ability to take Roosevelt Elk sized critters at less than 200yds in moderate to heavy brush.
B) be relatively inexpensive or less difficult to reload
C) not a military caliber

I prefer semi-automatics in general, but don't mind if I end up with something that I'll find chambered in only a bolt-action. So far the 350 & 400 Legend look interesting

One vote for 6.5 creed

 

[trukinbear]

My dad's ol' elk rifle was a really nice 98 Mauser in 8mm, but the OP said no military rifles, so...
.460 Weatherby Magnum.
It fits all your criteria, although the only gun you're going to find it in is a Weatherby bolt action, but they're fine rifles. I don't know of anyone who wouldn't be proud to own one.
If that won't drop whatever you're after, nothing will (aside from the 12.7x99 or a 3" Naval Gun).

My dad had a .460 Weatherby, and a .375 H&H. I fired the Weatherby when I was a 90# 12-year old, and it nearly knocked me in a loop (the 10 gauge double did). Sadly my bubblegum half brother stole them from dad in the early 1980's to fuel his drug problem. :-( They were truly beautiful pieces of art, I hadn't thought about them in decades. Thanks for the memories.