Common Caliber Guns And Their Use

Every year, with the setting of the Big Game season, aspiring and seasoned hunters are out looking for ammunition.

While several gun stores do stock a great collection, some might find it a tad bit difficult to find the desired cartridges for use. The likes of 8mm Mauser, Weatherby, and Winchester Short Magnums alone are hard to come by. Moreover, 30-30 Winchester as well as .30-0 Springfield are also selling out really fast. 

Undeniably, the last year has been quite a setback in terms of ammunition availability, and the dearth continues in 2021 as well. With the COVID pandemic still going strong in major parts of the world, like other businesses, the supply of ammunition is also affected. 

 

Does that pretty much answer the question as to why you should own a rifle in a common caliber? Not only are common caliber rifles or guns excellent shooters, but the cartridges are easy to find, and one doesn’t have to look in places. 

This post discusses a great deal about how to choose rifles in common calibers and make the most out of them, like nothing else in comparison. 

Read on!

 

.300 Winchester Magnum

One of the most desired common caliber guns in Winchester, the .300 Winchester Magnum, fires really big cartridges. 

Albeit, this can get a bit overwhelming, especially for first-time shooting enthusiasts who aren’t practically in the flavor of Big Game just yet. Essentially a lightweight caliber rifle, the .300 Winchester Magnum is a perfect pick for deer hunting, owing to its powder-heavy structure that pushes bullets at a commendable velocity. 

For anyone who is aiming at over and around 300-400 yards, the long barrel can not be so much fun to carry around. However, one must not forget the trade-off that always exists between the recoil and weight of the rifle. 

While you can always up your game with bigger bullets, the recommended ammunition to go with .300 Winchester Magnum would be the Browning BXR 155-grain, and the choice of rifle would be the Browning X-Bolt Long Range.

 

.223 Remington 

The .223 Remington is one of the most desired among all common caliber guns in Remington owing to its less recoil—a pleasure for newbie shooters. 

It uses a highly efficient cartridge compared to bigger casings like .22 centerfires. Furthermore, it also runs with commonly available 55-grain bullets that pack in way less than 30 grains of powder, which, in combination with the brass, makes reloading a delightful affair. 

Also, the 25-degree shoulder accounts for some great headscapiong, and using a well-oiled bolt-action rifle, you will be surprisingly pleased with its shooting accuracy. 

The .223 Remington is a perfect pick for anyone looking for endless shooting on a budget, and the biggest advantage is probably the availability of a truckload of surplus ammo. From matching loads to frangible bullet choices that can take down varmints and deer alike, the .223 is a great choice not only for bolt guns but also for other options like the Ruger Mini-14 and other autoloaders in the same category.

 

.30-06 Springfield

There’s no turning away from the classic .30-06 Springfield, which has always counted itself among the most popular deer hunting cartridges. With a proud history tracing back to over a hundred years, the .30-06 Springfield dotes over its consistent performance like no other. 

Outright versatile, the .30-06 cartridge can easily accommodate bullets weighing between 100 grains and the really heavy ones, like over 200 grains or similar. Take Federal’s Trophy Bonded Tip, for instance; a 165-grain controlled expansion bullet, it would slip in easily in a Savage 110 Lightweight Storm rifle, offering a wide range of shooting from deer to elk and whatnot. 

In case you run out of ammunition, just ask around; the .30-06 Springfield is so damn popular!

 

 

.270 Winchester

If you are in the Big Game hunting exclusively for North American deer, the .270 Winchester can be your ultimate choice. 

Owing its lion’s share of popularity to Jack O’Connor, the shooting editor for “Outdoor Life” magazine, and gun writer Townsend Whelen, the .270 Winchester is clearly among the best common caliber guns in Winchester, as its chambering, if offered, comes across a wide range of firearm options, namely, single-shots, bolt actions, lever-actions (like the Browning BLR), autoloaders (like the Remington 7400), pump-actions (like the Remington 7600), and double rifles.

With a combination of Winchester’s Deer Season XP 130-grain and Winchester XPR Hunter, you can pull in some great shots for over 400 yards, packing in some massive killing power. 

 

Conclusion

Common caliber rifles or guns are not only handy to use, but one can also find stock ammunition for the same just about anywhere. 

Given the scarcity in the supply of ammunition spanning a couple of years now, there’s no greater reason why every hunter or aspiring big game shooter should have one common caliber in their collection.