What's your go-to medium game hunting cartridge?

[Hammer 35]

Well, I liked the Browning AB3 alot but wasn't real thrilled about the 300wm chambering. I could have loaded it down, but that's always a crapshoot as to wether it'll be accurate where I want it.

Managed to trade straight across for the same model in equal condition but in 7mm Rem Mag. Flatter shooting and less recoil? Yes please. This model even has the BOSS muzzle break to help tame it even more. First choice for chambering would have been 280AI, but the 7Mag is practically the same.

Now my to do list is get my new Leupold mounted up and zeroed, work up a good load (I'm thinking a 140gr SPBT for general purpose hunting) and go perforate something.

Now

 

[Ace22]

Hopefully ill be hunting deer, Yote and javelina with my 25 Creedmoor this year shooting the 131 gr Ace bullets. In the process of getting the parts together for a light weight 280 ai build for my do it all rifle

 

[iammaxwell]

I'm itching for a new rifle, mostly for coyote, deer and javalina. Figure if I ever decide to go chasing elk I'll get a dedicated rifle if needed.

As much maligned as the ol' standby 270win is, I'm heavily considering one. I think the 280AI sounds like it'd be just the ticket for a do-all though. Not a whole lot of rifles chambered in it though. 7mag is very similar, just a little more oomph though. Plenty of guns in 270 or 7mag. The 270 just doesn't have the twist for the heavies I like (but don't really need) and the 7mag isn't as cheap to handload for, the 280AI fits right in that niche though, cheap to load, and heavy bullet friendly.

All that being said, what's your guys go-to's?

What maximum ranges are you considering? All the calibers you mention are elk calibers IMO. If you're considering a dedicated elk gun, I'd lean toward something with lighter recoil for smaller critters. Unless you're looking at >400 yard kills...

For me: 223 for varmints and javes, 308 deer and elk.

 

[Hammer 35]

Right now, my max range, in good conditions, settled in with a bipod and a bedded down target with a chance to tag it with my rangefinder would be about 300 I'd say. That's only if all the stars align.

Detract distance depending on how far from perfect each variable is.

I've gotten rid of the Abolts, and am dedicating my trusty old 308 Remington 700 to a purely hunting rifle. I've already got a few good loads dialed in for it with 168gr SMK's and 165gr SGK's. Without rebarreling and restocking it wouldn't make a great range toy with its sporter barrel and blind mag. As it is it's a great hunting rifle for anything I'd chase after so I'm leaving well enough alone.

With the cash from dumping the Abolts (which were nice rifles, just didn't really fall in love with them) I picked up a turnkey dedicated range toy. A Savage 110 Varmint 223 for long range sessions.

Best of all, I have plenty of ammunition and supplies to keep them fed for at least a few years.

 

[Racewin]

I like the various 6.5's depending on needed energy/range...Grendel, Creedmoor, and PRC.

 

[Edge]

243

 

[Vinnie B]

For the last 20 years or so my go to for deer has been the .257 Weatherby. Before that I always used a 243

 

[Joelafives]

Always liked my .280 Rem. 7mm bullet ballistics and range of weights from 115 to 180
https://www.ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/280-remington-amazing-history-performance/

 

[marlin39a]

Played with most cartridges over the years. I now go for .308 and .223 for all my needs.

 

[shawnff]

My 6.5 grendel has taken 5 deer so far, but last year a buddy used my 7mm mag of a whitetail at 798 yards, one shot kill perfect broad side shot.

 

[Bill Poole]

6.5x55

 

[A65453]

Since you mentioned hand loading I'd want to toss the 358 Winchester into consideration. It's happy inside 300 yards, can use pistol bullets for coyote, and heavy 220-250gr for elk.

I put one together because I wanted a lower velocity bullet that would bruise less meat while still making it through large game.

Ballisticstudies website has a good discussion of the cartridge.

 

[mike400]

I absolutely love the 6.5 Grendel. Might even be cheaper than you think. Just buy or assemble a upper and a magazine and you are set with an existing AR15 lower. Extremely accurate and would easily take all the game you are talking about. I built an 18” and immediately am getting.5 MOA groups.

 

[Hammer 35]

I've got a 243Win barrel on its way. A buddy pulled it off a rifle and cerakoted it FDE. Fingers crossed it headspaces OK on my rifle. If I've got to ream it a little, no big deal. I just hope I don't need it set back first. If it needs set back, I'll probably just order a pre-fit Remage barrel for about the same cost and set it aside for some future project.

I'll probably take a bunch of pictures and post it up when I do the install.

 

[Racewin]

Depends on how far you want to shoot the deer and barrel length, but generally I'd say 6.5...
Grendel 200 yards
Creedmoor 400 yards
PRC 600 yards

and add about 400 yards to each for Coyote assuming you have the accuracy.

 

[stomp442]

You're original thought of a .270 Win is a fantastic choice. They are accurate, and plenty powerful for even elk if you wanted to. Ammo is always available and seems to be easier to find even during all the panic buying. That being said I like to be different, my do all coyotes to deer rifle is a custom 6mmXC. I am pushing a 105gr Berger Hybrid at 3080fps and have taken multiple deer out to almost 800 yards with it no problem. Its fast, efficient, has awesome ballistics and extremely deadly with very litte recoil.