Gaps in coverage

[dcreiss]

Most here I assume are thinking about their next caliber addition to their rifle cabinet, I am definitely in that mode lately as I am regularly thinking about some of my rifles leaving someday soon with 4 growing kids. Two of my kids (16 yr old girl and 12 yr old boy) are already hunting and shooting with two to follow. Its the preseason itch and I am thinking about picking up another gun to get worked up with fall quickly approaching. Currently I have 2 .22lr's, 1 .223 wylde, 2 .243's, 1 6.5 PRC, 1 7HT, 2 30-06's (1 lefty for a lefty kid), and my 50 cal muzzleloader. Kids are shooting the .243's for deer and the 7-08 for elk. We hunt open prairie units primarily with some timber hunts in the national forest and target antelope, mulie and whitetail deer, and elk. Any guidance on future additions?

 

[popeyoung12]

You have a great mix. I would look at a 7prc or 300 prc. The new browning speedbolt is sweet, $1100 , muzzlebreak, cerakote.

 

[Caseknife]

257AI Roberts, 22 Creed, 6 Creed, 7x57, and the list goes on.

 

[Keep on]

Sounds like all the bases are covered. If you guys are hunting pretty open areas, you could always add something whiz bang fast to the cabinet like a 257 Roy, 26 Nosler or 6.5-300 and not have to mess with holdover out to 400 yards or so? They are totally over bore cartridges, but sounds like your looking for something beyond the run of the mill.

 

[Ought Six]

Most here I assume are thinking about their next caliber addition to their rifle cabinet, I am definitely in that mode lately as I am regularly thinking about some of my rifles leaving someday soon with 4 growing kids. Two of my kids (16 yr old girl and 12 yr old boy) are already hunting and shooting with two to follow. Its the preseason itch and I am thinking about picking up another gun to get worked up with fall quickly approaching. Currently I have 2 .22lr's, 1 .223 wylde, 2 .243's, 1 6.5 PRC, 1 7HT, 2 30-06's (1 lefty for a lefty kid), and my 50 cal muzzleloader. Kids are shooting the .243's for deer and the 7-08 for elk. We hunt open prairie units primarily with some timber hunts in the national forest and target antelope, mulie and whitetail deer, and elk. Any guidance on future additions?

 

[Forkyfinder]

300 prc, 338 lapua, or 300 norma

Youve got almost everything covered except big LR magnum, to me anyway.

 

[Don Fischer]

Don't think he needs a big long range magnum. Need cartridges that will do the job at normal distances without jaring the kids. If he hand loads, 6.5x55, 6.5 Creedmoor or 260 Rem. I have the 6.5x55 and the 260 Rem. 6.5x55 was bought some years ago hoping my grand daughter might take up hunting, ain't gonna happen. Wanted to try a mild cartridge to team up with my 6.5x55 and had a 243 re-barreled to 260 Rem. Nice thing about the 260 is I have a ton of 308 cases to load it with and they are easy to find.

If I was to go larger cartridge I might think about the 7mm-08 and the 7x57. Anything larger is saying recoil is going up and could be hard on small and young people. But keep the bullet weight down and might just work. have had several 7x57's and really liked them. had a 25-06 re-barreled to one for the ex-wife and she walked away from her 6mm for it!

I think the smaller 6.5's are about perfect but one 25 sticks out to me and that would be the 250-3000. I have a 25-06 and recoil isn't all that bad but muzzle blast get's your attention! Not big on the bullet's in 25 cal either if you add elk to the program. I've used my 6.5x06 on elk with 140gr Hornady spire points and it's deadly. I suspect my 6.5x55 with 140gr bullet's would be also.

Chase energy, velocity and long range ability and your simply kidding yourself. No way to know if the kids will develop that way unless they are encouraged to. Fact is some people can put in the time at long range but most either don't or simply can't afford all the ammunition. Knew a guy on a different forum that was shooting a big magnum. He'd got it because he wanted to kill an elk at 1000 yds. Told me once he does that he's giving up rifles and going back to his bow. Simply wanting to kill something at 1000 yds has little to do with hunting. Teach your kids to hunt!

 

[belshawelk]

I have a 6.5x300 Weatherby. Its a laser beam to 400 yards. sight in at 300 and anything 100-400 yards is dead meat. The have great 127 and 140Gr loads available.

 

[jimh406]

I'd think about adding more/better optics including binoculars/spotting scopes. It seems to me you that you have a good caliber mix.

 

[std7mag]

For younglings, and versatility there are a couple i'd recommend .

First would be the 257 Roberts.
600 yard target, 400 yard deer, coyote, groundhog.
Not sure how far i'd poke at an elk with it, 100-200 yards Yeah, I'd go for it!
Light recoil.
All the ones I've seen have been plenty accurate.
And something about the 25 caliber. It seem to be way more an effective killer than it would suggest.
With the 100gr & 115gr bullets, Hodgdon Hybrid 100V is your friend.


Second & third are kind of a tie.
7mm-08 and 7X57 Mauser.
Both about equal in speed & power.
100gr through 150gr bullet in either will get the job done with boring efficiency.
140gr bullet in the 7mm-08 seems the perfect match.

I built a large ring Mauser in 7X57 Mauser for my daughter.
Shooting 120gr Ballistic Tips over a charge of RL17.

Another advantage of the Mauser & Roberts.
Buy 7X57 Mauser brass.
If for 257 Roberts, just run it through a full length sizing die and trim.

 

[VikingsGuy]

25-06Rem - a flat shooter.

 

[EastTNHunter]

50 BMG. Of course everyone needs a 6.5 creedmost.

Seriously, sounds like you have everything covered from a practical perspective. I have several “overlaps” that make me wonder why I even have them at times. I probably ought to downsize my list of firearms to just a few really nice rifles and glass.

Speaking of glass, maybe that’s where you should consider upgrading or adding

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Anymore I don’t long to hunt with anything bigger than a short action 6.5 but more so even a 243 or 6 creed. Seems like you’ve got it covered. If the 243s or 7 HT walk off with the kids, just get another 243, 6 creed, 6.5 creed, or 7 HT.

Buy more ammo, better glass, better rangefinder, etc.