Indians For Guns

Pretty much like the title says. If someone was to enter the rifle business or if the existing companies launch a new rifle, What caliber(s) would you guys want it to be?

From my perspective, this would depend on what the rifle is to be used for. Is it for big game like Africa, or not so big game like deer, moose, and elk, or varmints, long range or brush hunting, or other?

Tastes differ, but even individual tastes change, so here's some that catch my attention when looking through catalogs or browsing on line:

308 - probably the #1 most useful cartridge in my mind. It's useful for all but the biggest game, in a pinch can be used for varmints, it has good long range accuracy, It can operate in short bolt action guns (which are lighter), and finally, as a personal consideration, makes a good choice for cast bullets because it doesn't have an oversized case.

300 H&H - This is heading the other way from above, taking a long action and having lots of powder capacity. Why? I just like it!

22 Hornet - low noise, light recoil, works in light handy rifles, and cheap to shoot (especially for reloading).

6mm PPC - I would like a rifle chambered in this cartridge for varmint hunting. It's known for supreme accuracy and 6mm is a better bullet than 22 for longer range shots.

270 Winchester - Still a good cartridge that I like a lot, and I would always consider a rifle chambered for this round.

7.62 x 39 - This cartridge has some accuracy potential and makes a great cast bullet round. It can work through very short actions. This, to my way of thinking, would make an excellent light weight backpack rifle one could carry on the trail. Depending on the ammo used, a careful shot could hunt a lot of things with this round, and it would be cheap and fun to shoot. Ammunition used to be very available and cheap from Russian companies, and for the reloader, it doesn't take too much powder, making it fairly cheap to shoot. Cast bullets can work in the upper velocity ranges this round supports.

Big black powder cartridges of .40 to .50 caliber always interest me, especially single shot.

I am in the process of moving from an IOF .315 which was hurriedly bought for protection after six firearms were stolen from our farm in Kheri, UP to a .375 Holland and Holland Magnum. The choice of calibre is dictated by the increasing number of fatalities involving tigers and leopards in my area. I had almost decided to buy a .404 Jeffery along with eighty cartridges but was dissuaded by the non-availability of fresh ammunition of this calibre in India.

Another useful cartridge is the .22 Hi Power Savage. My wife owns a double barrel in this calibre.

Among black powder cartridges an old favourite is the .44/40 Winchester

Looking at the cost of ammunition, .22lr would be most preferred. Otherwise .308 could prove to be very popular among all types of shooters. Still, 3006 is here to stay for a long time, more rifle options in this calibre will also be appreciated by Indians.

.22 Long Rifle or .17 HMR

6.5 Creedmoor is the flavor of the future

miroflex wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 31, 2021 2:46 pm

I am in the process of moving from an IOF .315 which was hurriedly bought for protection after six firearms were stolen from our farm in Kheri, UP to a .375 Holland and Holland Magnum. The choice of calibre is dictated by the increasing number of fatalities involving tigers and leopards in my area. I had almost decided to buy a .404 Jeffery along with eighty cartridges but was dissuaded by the non-availability of fresh ammunition of this calibre in India.

Another useful cartridge is the .22 Hi Power Savage. My wife owns a double barrel in this calibre.

Among black powder cartridges an old favourite is the .44/40 Winchester

Your decision is right in terms of .404, the cartridge is a legend but in India it's only a story now. I am not sure about .375 H&H magnum price and availability.
30.06 and .22 LR is reasonably priced as of now apart from .315 etc.

I own M1 .30 Carbine and I love it. Lightweight, compact, 15 and 30 rounds magazine, original wooden stock and aftermarket folding stock, beautiful design. Excellent weapon for self/home defence.

Vineet wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 01, 2021 8:14 am

I own M1 .30 Carbine and I love it. Lightweight, compact, 15 and 30 rounds magazine, original wooden stock and aftermarket folding stock, beautiful design. Excellent weapon for self/home defence.

Vineet Bhai you can have a access to all class of weapons as you are indulge deep in this trade
more over Punjab area from long back have a good no of foreign made weapons.
For us transfer of weapons on family heirloom is also a tedious task

Shivaji.Dasgupta wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 01, 2021 10:09 am

Vineet Bhai you can have a access to all class of weapons as you are indulge deep in this trade
more over Punjab area from long back have a good no of foreign made weapons.
For us transfer of weapons on family heirloom is also a tedious task

Yes, in Punjab it’s easier to get license as compared to other states in India. All you need is little bit of approach and some money.

What do the market forces dictate? You seem to have your finger on the pulse. Thats good.
I would look at .308 and .22 LR.
I’ve taken the .308 out to 900 m. Good performance. The factory ammo availability and the range of bullet weights certainly make it a winner.

The ubiquitous .22 LR wins. Everytime. Use decent wood, unlike the IOFB’s compressed cardboard. Epoxy bedding is always an option. The venerable Brno mod 1 & 2 have served many rifle clubs. My nephew used the same .22 Brno I used 35 years ago, to win his golds in the same events, in the same club.

.308 Winchester
.300RUM
6.5 creedmoor
.375 H&H
.50BMG
.577 trex, .600 & .700 nitro (double barrel rifle)

,.223 Rem, .308 Win. these commercial calibers I guess will be in great demand for some specific reasons. Of course they should be made to withstand high pressure of Nato rounds as well. IMHO.

Marksman

ritwik wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 10, 2021 11:16 pm

.308 Winchester
.300RUM
6.5 creedmoor
.375 H&H
.50BMG
.577 trex, .600 & .700 nitro (double barrel rifle)

375 I would like to have

270 Win ,223 Rem and 6.5 BR in rifle and it would be good if smaller shotgun gauges like 20 and 410 gauge gun and cartridges were manufatured in india.