Lightweight, high velocity bullets,,from 17 calibre up to 30 calibre and over 2500 fps velocity are USELESS in the bush. The bullets deflect too readily. Plus the bullet spin rate is so high that they self-disintegrate if they hit even a leaf I do not hunt game anymore, too old.. but when I did, I found that the 30.06 was the most versatile load available off the shelf. Lots of choices about muzzle velocity, bullet type and bullet weight. These will kill any game animal at extreme ranges or in cover anywhere, if the cartridge is wisely selected. With a bullet drop compensating scope I have taken a standing mule deer at 1200 yards with one shot, from a sandbag rest on my truck hood, using a handloaded cartridge and hornady 165 gr soft pointed bullets @ 3200 FPS. from ten inch twist douglas bbl. and in a bolt action mauser action glass bedded montecarlo stock rifle with a set trigger, on a dead calm 35 degree day. The bullet penetrated the heart. The deer just fell where he stood. For large game (moose, bear) I used the 220 gr silvertip round. zeroed for 100 yds.
I am, of course a military trained sharpshooter with an expert marksman rating..or I was, back in that day. I did not like the military 308 round or 7.62 MM -too much recoil, too loud a report. Over kill in a hunting weapon...and not much flexibility for hand loading as the case is too small for sporting powder loads. Military ammo for this round uses a hot powder, hence the big bang and the big kick..and the bore wear..
I regard the 17 calibre weapon as a highly accurate calibre, but good for only varmit shooting in open country. The bullet is simply too light weight for most kinds of game shooting and factory loads are of inconsistent quality. I don't think I would ever buy one. I do have a bull barrel 223, which is good for long shots and small game in open country. I have killed Canada Geese sitting on water at 600 yds with that rifle and many many prarie dogs on the open plains from a prone sandbag rest and a very good Leupold scope sight zeroed to the 600 yd point. I always use handloads. Cheaper, more accurate, more consistent if loaded carefully. I have no use for that calibre in New Brunswick...no open country around here. This is .30 .30 country, mostly I prefer the 30.06 becoz of its wide assortment of factory loads. Works well anywhere for anything if you carry the right shells with you, and have an easily adjustable scope on your rifle.
Bolt action for me..only, preferably the mauser type action. One shot or no shots at all.
