Rifle Calibers...What is your preference and why?

[Guest DonRickles]

My choices are .22lr, 7.62 x 39, 51, 54R. The .22 is great for practice and small varmit hunting. The 7.62 x 39 is my choice for a SHTF rifle as well as a medium range hunting round. The increased penetration and terminal ballistics of the x 39 makes me prefer it over the .556 as most engagements are going to happen at less than 300 meters. For long ranges I would have to go with the 7.62 x 51, and 54R. The x 51 NATO has proven its effectiveness over a long service life and its popularity guarantees no shortage of bullets and loading supplies/data for this classic performer. With the onset of war the availability of x 51 surplus is all but dried up so that leads to my other choice the x54R. The x54R has been in service for well over 100 years. It is still the main long range round for many European and Asian countries most notably Russia and China. The x54R is more powerful than the x 51 more closely resembling the .303 british or 30.06. It will take down anything you are likely to encounter in North America. The russian ammo is also much cheaper to stockpile in relatively large quantities. Those are my choices......what about you guys?

[Im Neero]

I'm gonna go with .308. I'm an old 30-06 fan, but seeing as I never shoot a 220 grain bullet there's no real advantage to the 30-06, and I have all of the reloading gear for .308.

[The Rabbi]

My choices are .22lr, 7.62 x 39, 51, 54R. The .22 is great for practice and small varmit hunting. The 7.62 x 39 is my choice for a SHTF rifle as well as a medium range hunting round. The increased penetration and terminal ballistics of the x 39 makes me prefer it over the .556 as most engagements are going to happen at less than 300 meters.

Yeah, buddy. Give me the .556 calibre any day. Tear some holes!

For the little bit of rifle shooting that I do, I like to .223 or 5.56mm NATO. It is easy to control, fun to shoot, and I love the AR platform. And the 7.62x39 isn't going to be much good under 5 ft anyway.

[LA_357SIG]

Considering I only own 2 rifles, I chose 6.8SPC and 7.62x39mm. The Silver State Armory stuff is great. The AK is for the "zombies".

[Guest DonRickles]

And the 7.62x39 isn't going to be much good under 5 ft anyway.

Que?........

[DaveTN]

.22 Or 5.56 for shooting paper or small animals that are not shooting back.

7.62 Or 30-06 if I need to end a threat immediately.

[Guest bkelm18]

.223 for plinking or general defense. .308 for when I need to reach out and touch something (or someone).

[Smith]

.270 for all purpose hunting round. Can do almost anything. I have 7.62x39, 5.56, and .270

[Guest ETS_Inc]

.22 for plinking, and 5.56 for social work. I don't intend to be shooting people at excessive distances, so I don't see a need for a long-range bolt gun right now. Therefore, I'll stick to my M-16's and AR for the time being. That'll take care of most two-legged threats out to 500 meters or so. If I change my mind later and decide to get a bolt gun, it'll be .308.

[creeky]

.22 for small game and plinking...

.223 for knocking pins over and basically just having fun...

.308 (My bolt gun.) for longer shots (deer and bowling pins manily)

[mousegunner]

I'm not a hunter so I like my ammo cheap and comfortable to shoot. Right now I have rifles that shoot .22, 30/30, 7.62x39 and 7.62x54R. My preference is 7.62x39, and I think I had better hurry and buy some more before the price goes up AGAIN.

[molonlabetn]

5.45x39 'commie'

Nearly equivalent to the 5.56 NATO in terms of external ballistics, and well-executed internal ballistics characteristics as well. Low recoil, flatter trajectory than 7.62x39 (again, similar to 5.56), and cheaper ammo.

I'll own a .308 semi-auto someday... but it's not in the budget currently.

[The Rabbi]

Ive got a case of that stuff and wish someone would come and buy it.

[molonlabetn]

Ive got a case of that stuff and wish someone would come and buy it.

Case of 5.45?

What make is it, and how much are you asking? I'd hate for good ammo to go to waste...

[KahrMan]

.22lr for plinking

.270 for most all of my hunting needs

Although you can never have to many guns chambered in to many calibers...

[Guest Phantom6]

...Although you can never have to many guns chambered in to many calibers...

Roger that!

[Guest CrazyLincoln]

I would have to say .700NE. Who doesn't like paying $125/round for factory ammo?

[mousegunner]

I like the .22 and 7.62x39 as well. They are easy on my elderly shoulder.

[SHbicycle]

.54 round ball is all I have used for hunting for the last 19 years. 1 shot no looking.

[Guest Shooting Coach]

My .02 is, the 22LR for plinking, or small game, and the 223/5.56, 308/7.62, and the 30/06. All centerfires are or were military rounds, which means cheaper ammo, plentiful brass, components and loading data.

Standards like the 223, 308, and 30/06 are fast enough to be useful at extended range, and slow enough to not eat barrels. Joe Bob's Backwoods Grocery store is likely to have at least 22LR, and 30/06 hunting fodder.

Last but not least, they are all VERY accurate. The 30/06 is about as big a gun as most folks can shoot without flinching. The 308 is only punishing in a featherweight rifle, and the 223/5.56 is virtually recoil free.

With that said, the 6.8 Rem is VERY interesting. It is powerful and accurate enough for precision shots on game or ? to 300 yards, and recoil is negligible. Unfortunately, ammo and brass is expensive and hard to find. It is not and may never be a standard. If we ever are at peace again, we might have the bucks to change the military caliber over to this round. It fits the AR platform, and is powerful enough for squad machine guns. One can hope!

[Guest Mugster]

Favorites:

.223/5.56 is probably my overall favorite...it does it all

.30-.30, sentimental favorite in an M94

7mm rem magnum...when you need to make a big noise

.444 marlin, there's just something really cool about it

.30 carbine on veterans day

[Mark@Sea]

308 does what I need it to do at any range I can see what I'm shooting at.

MolonlabeTN - what flavor of 308 are you looking for?

[towerclimber37]

For a bolt gun, I have the 8mm mauser (its fortuitous that I have quite a bit of ammo for it as well...)

my preference would be either that 308 or 7.62nato.

for plinking? .22 of course

[molonlabetn]

308 does what I need it to do at any range I can see what I'm shooting at.

MolonlabeTN - what flavor of 308 are you looking for?

I'm not looking yet, but I'd be very interested in a JLD PTR-91KPF, or a DPMS AP-4 .308, eventually.

[tnroadrunner]

I have a marlin 22lr, marlin 30/30, and a Stag AR in 5.56