Bullet Effectiveness...a Compromise?
 

1. Generally speaking, heavy, slow, blunt- nosed bullets are better brush busters than fast, light, pointed bullets.

2. Pointed, high velocity bullets are better for long range in open country, but are more easily deflected by brush.

3. Ideally, the best stopping power is achieved when the bullet remains in the target and thus expends all of its energy IN the target.

I don't see how it's possible to have a weapon/ammo combination that's really suitable for all geographical areas of the world.

In almost every situation, one or more of the above factors has to be compromised.

Your thoughts?

Airborne! Steve / 82Rigger

If I could only have one caliber it would be a 30 - 06

I'll agree with DMZ-LT. The 30-06 was an ideal long range round and was good in heavy brush. The round is not easily deflected as it is a 160 grain bullet. A good shot with a star gauged bbl. and a scope should be able to get kills out to 1,000 yards with it.
The .308 is just about as good. My 'druthers is an M-14 with 10x Unertl Scope. I carried one in Vietnam and loved it. Put the scope on when we were in the perimeter whether a NDP or a Fire Base. Used the iron sights on patrol.

That M14 with scope...
 

...sounds like a winning ticket. Especially if you could get ahold of a supply of M118 Match ammo with 172 gr. boattails.

How many M14 magazines did you carry?

Airborne! Steve / 82Rigger

I have to be honest and say I hated the M-1 Rifle, it knocked the hell out of me every time I fired it. At the time I was a city boy who weighed just 135 lbs, had never fired a gun of any kind. On rapid fire I would actually have to crawl back up to my firing stake, in the squatting position it would put me on my rear every time I pulled the trigger. Finally they told me to just use the sitting position, thank God. Now I don't have any problems at all with large caliber rifles, it is a joy to go to the range and shoot. Once I get past the strange looks, I meet a lot of fellow shooters who are not too shy or put by the tank to come over to see what I'm shooting that day.