Firearm BS thread

Planning to pick up a Weatherby Vanguard Select or Vanguard S2 but have been debating which caliber to get. This is my first true hunting rifle. First off .308 was my initial choice, and easy of ammo due to some other current stuff I have. But if there a better round for use in hunting in CA (to start). Choices are .243 win, .243 wtby .270 win, 7mm rem, .30-06 or 300 win mag or 6.5 creedmore There are a few others but need to narrow it down.

I was looking 6.5 creedmore as it in tests it tends to come out on top compared to .308.

.30-06 was another options a bit common but possibly better for hunting than .308. Just some comments I heard.

.243 - .270 have been brought up a few times as good rifles but more for smaller folks (.243).

I wanted to get some opinions here. Hoping to order one soon. Its going to be paired up with a Leupold vx-3i 4.5-14x50 scope I recently picked up.

 

What will you be hunting? I have all of the calibers you listed and then some but what caliber is best in my mind depends on your needs. I’m more of a minimalist as in I use a 257 Roberts for my whitetail deer gun. 308 for black bear (soft skin). Of the calibers you listed you could easily use the 308 as a jack of all trades. Like many others I also have a 6.5 Creedmoor and it is nice as well but I’d take a 308 if it was down to only one choice. But, gun guys could and likely will debate the what works best scenario forever. I’d say figure out what you are going to use the gun for and buy accordingly. The last gun I’d recommend for a first rifle would be a larger caliber like a 300 mag. Been there done that when I was younger.

 

You guys got pics

 

The website has some nice pics. I love my slings but don’t have any pics! LOL. It’s getting time to clean the guns in the coming weeks (read it’s overdue) so I’ll snap a few when I do if you want some pics.

 

yall ever see those people at ranges that just sit there and stare at everyone, waiting for someone to make the tiniest mistake, so that they can go over and lecture about how good at guns they are?

had a dude in the stall next to me go full trigger discipline sjw on me since I had a new shooter with me. new shooter wanted me to adjust the mag on the optic, so I had her shoulder the ar (from the bench) as I adjusted it for her. Her trigger finger apparently drifted into the trigger guard (Rifle was on safe, and her finger didn't even actually fucking touch the trigger) as I was adjusting the magnification and the dude went off

Now, I'm all for enforcing trigger discipline and range safety but jesus this dude would
not
stop

"I know you weren't watching BUT I SAW, OKAY?
GOTTA TEACH THEM RIGHT THE FIRST TIME
I DONT WANNA DIE TODAY, DO YOU WANNA DIE TODAY? SHE COULD KILL PEOPLE
SHE WILL KILL PEOPLE WITH HOW YOU'RE TEACHING HER"

10 minutes later

same fucking dude comes over during the range all-clear target reset and starts going off again
"I'm sorry, but we've had a lot of incidents here.
proceeds to list several "incidents" of amateur reloaders having misfires
which then somehow rolled into this dude trying to give shooting techniques, since I apparently know nothing about guns


Dude did you guys know, you should never, ever, hold the magwell when firing an ar15. You'll put too much pressure on the lower and can cause catastrophic malfunctions!

 

I have not had this happen. If it did I pry would just leave and come on another day, or I would of said I appreciate your concern but if I needed someone to wipe my ass I would ask.

I dont go to the range because I dont like people. We shoot in the local deserts.

 

You can have guns in CA?

 

Too funny! We just shoot out in the fields somewhere but I’d have to ask “that guy” to let us work it out or just ignore him. I’m quiet at the range and quieter in the gun stores. If someone asks I’ll tell them what I think or know, or even help someone that needs it, especially since I’ve needed my share over the years. No one knows it all, no matter how much they think they do. Guy sounded like a narcissist but I’m sure in his mind he was trying to help.

 

My local range will kick you out if you so much as touch your shooting table when the range is cold after 1 warning. There are about 100 benches and idiots everywhere so it does make sense but some of the rangemasters are fudds also leads to some entertaining moments.

 

I wish I had more alternatives. Hooray hawaii!

Kinda felt bad about getting butthurt, since overall I'd prefer people be safer than not. But goddamn was I salty lol
I tried to ignore him but the 2nd time he came back I think he realized I was tuning him out and he walked away

I feel like this is the standard for ranges. I understand they don't want anyone touching anything until the line's hot but the obligatory old dudes that run the line gotta get their kicks in somehow

 

Makes sense. Starting off not sure so want to get a jack of all trades. Dove tails, black bear, boar. probably will not venture out from CA right away.

Kind of how I feel on the 6.5 creedmoor. Its a fast round and travels nicely but I have always liked the .308 and in a crunch would be easier to get stuff especially now that its harder to get ammo in CA. You put a notch for me towards .308 as a go to round. Eventually I would plan to move out into multiple calibers for intended purposes but for now starting with 1.

 

A 308 always makes sense to me. I had issues getting ammo for my Creedmoor initially but it’s not as bad now. I’m sure it’s tougher in CA. To me the 308 has very manageable recoil and used properly will drop about anything in NA. I’d prefer a bit more for larger Moose or Grizzly but I don’t hunt those. I also like a 7x57 Mauser but that’s kind of like trying to find a rare truffle nowadays (no, I don’t truffle hunt ). I haven’t used my Creedmoor enough to form an opinion other than the ballistics are impressive but maybe some other guys can chime in as to barrel life. 308 is just good all around for me but my middle age years have seen me get soft, hence the 257 Bob for me. Best of luck and I’m sure there’s a wealth of knowledge on here to draw from.

 

Makes sense, always been a fan of .308 and have other stuff in. I can always get another round later on if I feel I want a lighter load or I get more specific. Figured my fellow TW's would have some good insight.

 

My vote is for either .308 or .270, personally. I hunt with a 30-06 but a short-action is nice for faster follow up shots. Either the .270 or the .308 will take pretty much anything in North America with the right load (even though I wouldn't personally go after moose with a 270, I'm sure there's people that do it), and they're both dead common rounds so if you ever forget your box of shells at home when you go on a hunting trip you can find more pretty much anywhere that sells ammo.

 

Boutique ammo is for safe queens.

 

I picked up some of these. I can actually fit MORE than the mfg stated gun capacity..... No affiliation, just a user.

https://www.storemoreguns.com/products/rifle-rod-kit

 

Shhhhh

 

Do you have any photos of those in action?