Background: I’ve gotten bored with the 9.2 lb 300 Win Mag I have been hunting with for the last 5 or so years. I have been shooting the 6.5 Creedmoor in the AR platform for the last 2 years at paper, I really like the cartridge for on targets. The AR is too heavy (~15 lbs) to lug around most of the areas I hunt. I have a 308, but it’s pretty heavy too. I usually hunt CA, either CO or ID for deer and elk. The last 3 animals I have shot have been 1 shot DRTs with the 300 WM at between 200 and 330 yards, last two were right through the heart. I am comfortable shooting the 300 at game out to about 450 if I have a stable platform. Most of the areas I come across animals won’t require a shot longer than 350 yards.
I am conservative with what shots I will take at animals. Typically, I have been a believer in the “hope for the best, plan for the worst” in terms of caliber selection, hence the 300 WM. I am starting to think, for my application (distance and species) that the 300 WM is overkill. I also want a lighter weight rifle.
My goal: I would like a light (<8 lbs scoped) rifle in a 6.5 or 30 caliber. I’m already loading for the 6.5 CM, .308 Win, and 300 WM. I would like a caliber capable of taking deer to 600 yards given appropriate conditions. I am interested in a 6.5 CM, 6.5x55, .264 WM (hesitant about his one…), 6.5x284 (know nothing except its reputation as a BR ctg), .308 Win or ?? I would like to go with something a little outside of the ordinary 30-06 308 300 WSM window. I’ve almost said F*** it and bought a .270 Tikka T3 Lite the last few times I have been shopping… Having written this, I seem to be most interested in a 6.5 cal rifle, but would like to hear any thoughts ya’ll have. Thanks.
Questions:
1. 6.5 CM vs 6.5x55 – how similar are these rounds when the 6.5x55 is loaded to pressures that could be tolerated in a modern rifle? I understand that a lot, if not all, of the load data in my books reflects pressures deemed safe for older rifles. Could the 6.5x55 have any advantage on the 6.5 CM when loading longer/heavier bullets?
2. Any other 6.5 cartridges I should be looking at?
3. What 30 caliber cartridges would be fun/interesting to load for?
4. I would like suggestions on what rifles I might find off the rack that fall into these calibers… Otherwise I’ll have to rebarrel something.
I am conservative with what shots I will take at animals. Typically, I have been a believer in the “hope for the best, plan for the worst” in terms of caliber selection, hence the 300 WM. I am starting to think, for my application (distance and species) that the 300 WM is overkill. I also want a lighter weight rifle.
My goal: I would like a light (<8 lbs scoped) rifle in a 6.5 or 30 caliber. I’m already loading for the 6.5 CM, .308 Win, and 300 WM. I would like a caliber capable of taking deer to 600 yards given appropriate conditions. I am interested in a 6.5 CM, 6.5x55, .264 WM (hesitant about his one…), 6.5x284 (know nothing except its reputation as a BR ctg), .308 Win or ?? I would like to go with something a little outside of the ordinary 30-06 308 300 WSM window. I’ve almost said F*** it and bought a .270 Tikka T3 Lite the last few times I have been shopping… Having written this, I seem to be most interested in a 6.5 cal rifle, but would like to hear any thoughts ya’ll have. Thanks.
Questions:
1. 6.5 CM vs 6.5x55 – how similar are these rounds when the 6.5x55 is loaded to pressures that could be tolerated in a modern rifle? I understand that a lot, if not all, of the load data in my books reflects pressures deemed safe for older rifles. Could the 6.5x55 have any advantage on the 6.5 CM when loading longer/heavier bullets?
2. Any other 6.5 cartridges I should be looking at?
3. What 30 caliber cartridges would be fun/interesting to load for?
4. I would like suggestions on what rifles I might find off the rack that fall into these calibers… Otherwise I’ll have to rebarrel something.
