What to do? 25-06, 7mm-08, 308, 338-06, or 458 win mag
What's your opinion
Backstory:
Currently I already have hunting savages in 243 (2 of them), 6.5x55 (2 of them), and 300wsm. I also have an LR308 in 7mm-08 with a 24" barrel I built. I also have multiple 223 and 300 blackout AR's. My hunting property is open hard woods with a field that is 1100 yards long and 150 yards wide. We have plenty of hogs up to about 250# and deer up to 190#. I have an old flat back savage 30-06 barreled action sitting here that I picked up for $60. I'm already covered from short range to long range so whatever I build is just overkill. I also have a wife (243), 10yo son (243) and 17yo daughter (6.5x55) that hunt too. I reload so commercial ammo cost is a nonissue.
Goal:
Cheap rifle for $600. Cheap action $60, Boyd's stock $150, barrel <$200, AICS DBM bottom metal $180
Problem:
I've always been intrigued by quarter bores. However, the 25-06 doesn't really offer me anything my other rifles can't do. It will be a bonus on bullets if I build an AR in 25-45 sharps. Cheap to load for. Cheaper barrels are too skinny to thread for suppressor
I already have a 7mm-08 AR, but it is heavy!!! Shoots **** good though. I love the caliber and I'm already set up to load for it. Cheaper barrels are too skinny to thread for suppressor
I'm not a 308 fan, never have been as the ballistics don't impress me. 7mm-08 can do everything the 308 can. But... everybody has one, it's a common caliber, and if SHTF it would be a plus to have. Could find a heavy take off barrel to thread for suppressor.
338-06. Interesting caliber. Easy to neck size up 30-06 brass. Bullets are expensive. Unique but what does it really offer me other than something different. I'd shoot this with a suppressor
458 win mag. Beast. Expensive to load for. Overkill for anything I hunt but there is a definite smile factor to launching 500gr bullets. I'd shoot this with a suppressor