Three European calibers for a do-it-all R8

[Kalthoff]

Lead projectiles are illegal in Denmark and several parts of Germany. It is very likely that other countries in Europe will follow suit.

This affects caliber choice for European hunting.

If you only intend to hunt where lead projectiles are legal, then two barrels will do fine for most European species and types of hunts: 6,5x55 and 9,3x62

My post-lead-ban experience is too limited to make any caliber or projectile recommendations. I am gaining experience with several types of copper/tin projectiles in .270W for roe and fallow deer.

 

[Scandihunter]

Lead projectiles are illegal in Denmark and several parts of Germany. It is very likely that other countries in Europe will follow suit.

This affects caliber choice for European hunting.

If you only intend to hunt where lead projectiles are legal, then two barrels will do fine for Europe: 6,5x55 and 9,3x62

My post-lead-ban experience is too limited to make any caliber or projectile recommendations. I am gaining experience with several types of copper/tin projectiles in .270W for roe and fallow deer.

Exactly my concern as well. As I am mostly hunting in lead-free only territories, I want velocity for the hard monolithic bullets to expand properly. But I think 6.5 for fox and roe, 8.5x55 (900 m/s with 160gr TTSx) and then .375 for bear, moose and eventually buffalo would be an interesting battery. However, I do like the results from the .270win with the 130gr RWS Hit so far.

 

[grand veneur]

Lead projectiles are illegal in Denmark and several parts of Germany. It is very likely that other countries in Europe will follow suit.

This affects caliber choice for European hunting.

If you only intend to hunt where lead projectiles are legal, then two barrels will do fine for most European species and types of hunts: 6,5x55 and 9,3x62

My post-lead-ban experience is too limited to make any caliber or projectile recommendations. I am gaining experience with several types of copper/tin projectiles in .270W for roe and fallow deer.

I switched all my rifles, except the big bores, to lead-free bullets, it was not a problem. It is sure that it is easier if you are a reloader, otherwise it is a little bit expensive, but you can in all cases find something for your rifles. This will not affect the choice of the caliber.

 

[Kalthoff]

Exactly my concern as well. As I am mostly hunting in lead-free only territories, I want velocity for the hard monolithic bullets to expand properly. But I think 6.5 for fox and roe, 8.5x55 (900 m/s with 160gr TTSx) and then .375 for bear, moose and eventually buffalo would be an interesting battery. However, I do like the results from the .270win with the 130gr RWS Hit so far.

I bought the .270W because of the lead ban in Denmark. It sure is capable of delivering impressive velocity with little felt recoil:

Factory numbers:
1080 m/s with 6,2 gram projectiles (eg. RWS Evolution Green)
960 m/s with 7.8 gram projectiles (eg. Sako Powerhead Blade)

Do you intend to engage in something like topjakt for Tjur in Sweden or mountain hunting for Gemse in the Alps? Such more specialized hunts might call for a caliber especially suited for that type of hunt.

 

[Scandihunter]

I bought the .270W because of the lead ban in Denmark. It sure is capable of delivering impressive velocity with little felt recoil:

Factory numbers:
1080 m/s with 6,2 gram projectiles (eg. RWS Evolution Green)
960 m/s with 7.8 gram projectiles (eg. Sako Powerhead Blade)

Do you intend to engage in something like topjakt for Tjur in Sweden or mountain hunting for Gemse in the Alps? Such more specialized hunts might call for a caliber especially suited for that type of hunt.

I completely agree. Planning on a Gemse hunt for next year actually - so yes. Also going for Topfågel eventually.

 

[HWL]

My personal choice of a three European cartridges combination for do-it-all would be the 300 H&H Magnum, the 9,3x64 Brenneke and the 12,7x70 Schüler. All three rifle are already in my gun safe.

There are so may kinds of small game around the globe.
Think about the tiny ten in Africa, reh deer in Europe or all the little predators.
Don't you think, a .300 H&H Magnum is a little bit to much for all those?

HWL

 

[Phil Giordano]

Late in the party, but to me 7x64, 8x68S, 9,3x64 - maybe because I have and love all three! Fantastic European continental calibers, with tons of performance and tradition, readily available in top factory rounds (RWS / Brenneke have all three, Norma the first two)

 

[steve white]

Late in the party, but to me 7x64, 8x68S, 9,3x64 - maybe because I have and love all three! Fantastic European continental calibers, with tons of performance and tradition, readily available in top factory rounds (RWS / Brenneke have all three, Norma the first two)

Great choices, but maybe substitute 7x57 at the low end?

 

[Phil Giordano]

Great choices, but maybe substitute 7x57 at the low end?

Yes, why not... maybe better yet
It's a great little cartridge, also readily available as a factory round, too...
Good choice

 

[Scandihunter]

Great choices, but maybe substitute 7x57 at the low end?

Would love to have 7x57 at the low end. However, availability of factory ammunition is extremely limited if not non-existing when it comes to lead-free ammunition.
The 6,5x55 is one of the most popular calibers in Sweden for everything up to bear (including moose).

 

[cmk]

6.5x55 on the low end. Tons of tradition and history. No need to go for a lesser calibre/cartridge. It is cheap, available, virtually recoil-free and with the 156gn bullets it is capable of taking large game at ideal angles. If/when a ban on lead happens, consider it for use on roe deer and smaller only. Maybe also for fawns of the larger deer species. Maybe the 120-130 gn lead free bullets are as good as "they" say on large game, but I have a feeling that one cannot shoot a moose or boar at any angle with them. As experience in the hunting community grows (the light, lead-free bullets in 6.5x55 became legal for big game only a year ago), I may have to revise my opinion.

8.5x55 on the medium - if you already have it. Good for anything at home. And most things worldwide. Continental European - Yes, tradional with history - No. Also, a reasonable gap between it and the 6.5, so not much overlap. Alternatives with history and tradition: 8x57, 300 H&H, 9.3x62, 8x68s.

On the heavy side, if going 8x57 or 300 H&H for the medium, then 9.3x62 or 375H&H. The 9.3 may not be legal for everything everywhere. If staying with the 8.5x55, or choosing 8x68S or 9.3x62 as the medium - then consider going for a 416Rem - even though it is not "traditional European". Unfortunately, Blaser do not seem to chamber rifles in 404J, which would have the the 'correct' choice.

So in short;
a) 6.5x55 - 8x57/300HH - 9.3x62/375HH
b) 6.5x55 - 9.3x62/8.5x55/8x68S - 416RM

Choose a) or b) depending on whether your plan is to hunt mostly at home, or if you plan for more than a few DG.

 

[Scandihunter]

6.5x55 on the low end. Tons of tradition and history. No need to go for a lesser calibre/cartridge. It is cheap, available, virtually recoil-free and with the 156gn bullets it is capable of taking large game at ideal angles. If/when a ban on lead happens, consider it for use on roe deer and smaller only. Maybe also for fawns of the larger deer species. Maybe the 120-130 gn lead free bullets are as good as "they" say on large game, but I have a feeling that one cannot shoot a moose or boar at any angle with them. As experience in the hunting community grows (the light, lead-free bullets in 6.5x55 became legal for big game only a year ago), I may have to revise my opinion.

8.5x55 on the medium - if you already have it. Good for anything at home. And most things worldwide. Continental European - Yes, tradional with history - No. Also, a reasonable gap between it and the 6.5, so not much overlap. Alternatives with history and tradition: 8x57, 300 H&H, 9.3x62, 8x68s.

On the heavy side, if going 8x57 or 300 H&H for the medium, then 9.3x62 or 375H&H. The 9.3 may not be legal for everything everywhere. If staying with the 8.5x55, or choosing 8x68S or 9.3x62 as the medium - then consider going for a 416Rem - even though it is not "traditional European". Unfortunately, Blaser do not seem to chamber rifles in 404J, which would have the the 'correct' choice.

So in short;
a) 6.5x55 - 8x57/300HH - 9.3x62/375HH
b) 6.5x55 - 9.3x62/8.5x55/8x68S - 416RM

Choose a) or b) depending on whether your plan is to hunt mostly at home, or if you plan for more than a few DG.

Thank you very much for this insightful post!
I think I will replace my .270win with the 6.5x55 primarily for fox, roe deer, and doe and fawn. Since I already have the 8.5x55, I will keep it and use it for boars and fallow (buck), red deer, and hunts where reach is important (i.e., mountains). Then the .375HH will mostly be used for "fun" in Europe on moose, bear (eventually), and Africa when that time comes. This will give a good and optimal spread between the calibers i guess.

 

[cmk]

Probably a good choice. I just realized that the 300 H&H is not an option for Blaser anyway.

 

[Scandihunter]

Just to give an update: I decided to switch the .270win to a 6,5x55 SE and ordered the fluted barrel today. So my battery will look as follows: 6,5x55, 8,5x55, and .375H&H. Should be covered for everything worldwide with a decent gap between the cartridges.

 

[HUNTROMANIA]

Nothing compares to use .243 win on roebuck hunting. Low recoil and excelent stopping power for any game up to 100 kg in summer coat.
Magnum caliber for European game? Only if shooting distance is over 300m. Otherwise for what? For heavy recoil and gun jumping?
Second choice is 9,3x62 for all big European game. Low recoil, excelent stopping power for any big game. Big hole, blood for tracking…small recoil for second bullet with minimum effort.
Caliber for long distance if necessary … .338!!

 

[grand veneur]

Nothing compares to use .243 win on roebuck hunting. Low recoil and excelent stopping power for any game up to 100 kg in summer coat.
Magnum caliber for European game? Only if shooting distance is over 300m. Otherwise for what? For heavy recoil and gun jumping?
Second choice is 9,3x62 for all big European game. Low recoil, excelent stopping power for any big game. Big hole, blood for tracking…small recoil for second bullet with minimum effort.
Caliber for long distance if necessary … .338!!

For Europe, that's right, you don't need a Magnum cartridge, maybe only when hunting in the mountains, the last area where you can shoot at longer range with more or less safety in our countries.

But by this topic we often talk about hunting worldwide, and in this case a magnum cartridge is necessary in the battery and one caliber .338 is certainly a very good choice. Unfortunately you are with cartridges caliber .338 in Europe over-gunned for hunting chamois or even Ibex.

There is no ideal combination of three cartridges for hunting worldwide. It's not for nothing that at the end of their hunter lives, many of hunter who hunted worldwide and have shot very different game species, have more than three rifles in their gun-safe, and despite it one was always missing in the battery.