Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

[raider1v1]

I am looking for a new caliber and frankly I am getting lost between all the different variations. I want to build a bolt action rifle fed from a magazine. Most of my other rifles are semi's.

I will be using it for varmints, targets, and possibly deer.

The criteria that I'm using are:

1. Wont lose sight picture/low recoil (.308 or below)
2. Used for Varmints, Targets, and possibly deer
3. Wont run through a semi-auto
4. Easy to obtain brass - No fireforming, but resizing is OK

<span style="font-weight: bold">The cartridges that are still on the list:</span>
1. 260 Remington
2. 6.5 creedmoor
3. 6mm creedmoor
4. 6.5mm Super LR - reamers not readily available - expensive dies
5. 243 - short barrel life

Cartridges looked at and then eliminated:
6 XC - no due to fireforming
243 ai - no due to fireforming
6.5-284 - Too much recoil/lost sight picture
6.5x47L - Better choices with the Creedmoor and 260
6-284 - Too much recoil/lost sight picture
6mm Super LR - Not much/if any improvement over 6mm Remington
6mm Crusader - Too much powder/lost sight picture
6mm Dasher - no due to fireforming
6mm rem - 6mm crusader is a better choice, too much powder/lost sight picture
6mm rem ai - no, due to fireforming, too much powder/lost sight picture

Right now, the 6mm cases are winning due to them having the same or very close windage adjustment with significantly less elevation adjustment. Am I correct in my findings? I have been loading the values to compare into shooter using averaged FPS from the hogdon sites and the other online sources.

The rifle I am thinking of is going to be most likely a GAP rifle (the are local) from a Long action Surgeon, Templar Action, or M2008.

Can you guys help me sort through all these options?

 

[PowerstrokeOBX]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

I'd throw one more in there - 6 creedmoor.

 

[tigerfan_9]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

260 has lots of brass options with many makers for 260 and it is easily made from 243 or 7-08 in one sizing. It also meets the rest of your stipulations.

 

[[email protected]]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

I recently bought a remington 700 chambered in .308 and absolutly love it. what's your budget? at first i wasnt happy with the recoil but after putting a new heavier stock, muzzle break and recoil pad on and you can aquire your target easily after each shot. I Use .308 because it is versitile especially if reloading. lighter loads for varmint heavier for deer. .308 is the way to go

 

[dmpowder]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

Well since I already shoot a 6.5 Creedmoor and 243 I would either go with the super LR or the 6 Creedmoor. Downside to the LR is dies are pricey but I also haven't priced the Creedmoor either. But 243 brass can be found anywhere and they say to not use the expensive brass anyways.

Don't waste your time with the 308!

Also don't be to afraid of fire forming most shoot just as good as the finished round just less speed.

 

[[email protected]]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

.308 is a nice round, reloading isnt too expenisve but i agree with .243 for small game. The .308 is more for large game but .243 is the lowest caliber I would should a deer with though. They have the same casing but .243 is a smaller bullet

 

[Beef Curtain]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

 

[raider1v1]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys. I do have 6mm creedmoor in the list already.

As far as 260, ill add that to the list. Thats pretty even with 6.5 creedmoore for me, so if i go that way ill have to pick between the two later.

Am i correct in my findings with the 6mm bullet being the better choice for my application vs the 6.5?

Will my plan to use a long action and feed short action with longer seated bullets work as I plan or will I run into snags?

 

[Joebill]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

I've looked at the 6.5's too the 260 is my pick. Not sure about the creedmore but the 260 will push the 142's better down range vs the 6.5x47. And Lapua is making 260 brass now.

The 6.5's have a high BC. If the 6's are light and fast the only problem will be wind and I don't know how much of that you fight in your area.

 

[raider1v1]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: joebill</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've looked at the 6.5's too the 260 is my pick. Not sure about the creedmore but the 260 will push the 142's better down range vs the 6.5x47. And Lapua is making 260 brass now.

The 6.5's have a high BC. If the 6's are light and fast the only problem will be wind and I don't know how much of that you fight in your area. </div></div>

for my calculations, i was using 90 degree wind at 10mph. It really varies, so i just decided to do some mild wind at a constant between all projectiles.

 

[Joebill]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

Ok I am still learning to read the wind so I like the extra mass. My friend that shoots the lapua is using the 120ish bullets. The thing is very accurate and if I didn't plan on using the 260 to hunt with I would probably gone that way. The 260 just has a slight edge when it comes to delivering the bigger bullets. Sounds like you have run all the numbers. Spin drift is another thing I have noticed that is different between the 260 and my 308. That is the only other factor I could come up with for consideration if you want to go that far. Hope this is helping.

 

[dmpowder]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Raider1v1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the suggestions so far guys. I do have 6mm creedmoor in the list already.

As far as 260, ill add that to the list. Thats pretty even with 6.5 creedmoore for me, so if i go that way ill have to pick between the two later.

Am i correct in my findings with the 6mm bullet being the better choice for my application vs the 6.5?

Will my plan to use a long action and feed short action with longer seated bullets work as I plan or will I run into snags? </div></div>

We won't even touch the 260 vs Creedmoor as there is plenty of threads on that.

You didn't mention the range you plan to shoot at? The short answer is the 6.5 will hit the target with more punch!

I'm not sure why you want to run a LA with a SA round in the first place? I'm almost positive every caliber you mentioned will handle the longer VLD bullets in a SA. Only one you MIGHT run into a problem with is the .260 but again it depends on which mag setup you plan on running.

Guess you kinda need to decide how much money your wanting to spend on the rounds themselves? But a 115gr going 3000fps sounds pretty fun!

 

[scotharr]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

You'll have to decide between the 6mm and 6.5. 6.5 will have better barrel life and more recoil. Based on your activities/criteria, I'd narrow it to:

6XC
6.5CM
260REM
243WIN

 

[TOPGuN050]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

.260rem., great performance and good barrel life. and many options for brass.

i am looking into the savage model 12LRP in .260

 

[steve123]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

I think the 6 Crusader requires forming as well.

6x47L is my favorite cartridge for more than a few reasons.

 

[raider1v1]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: steve123</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think the 6 Crusader requires forming as well.

6x47L is my favorite cartridge for more than a few reasons. </div></div>

from what i read, the 6 crusader is made by just running the 6mm rem though dies. i didn't think that fireforming was necessary

what i would like to get a straight answer on, is how people are running 260's in long actions. I called and talked to surgeon and GA and they both said that you cant, but I keep finding people who say you can, and they are.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Scooter-PIE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You'll have to decide between the 6mm and 6.5. 6.5 will have better barrel life and more recoil. Based on your activities/criteria, I'd narrow it to:

6XC
6.5CM
260REM
243WIN </div></div>

about that, i have one more, the 6.5 super lr. it seems to be a 260 AI-ish type cartridge that you just have to run the brass through the die and then you are set. I have contacted the creator of that cartridge for more info. I requested a comparison between their 260, 6.5mm super lr, and their 260 IMP 30 deg.

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

Why not a straight .284win? Best bullet selection in 7mm, very capable of loooonnnng range shots loaded up with heavies, low recoil downloaded with fast lightweight bullets. More versatile than anything on your list in my opinion, just buy brass and load it to your application.

You want long range varminting, then you'll want less wind drift, the higher BC bullets are the key to that. You can make up some BC disadvantage with superfast light bullets, but then lose some deer capability. If you go with the 284 you can have both.

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

260 rem and don't look back, hunting ammo is available if you don't reload and if you do, the sky is the limit on what you can do with it. I have a 260 and I don't shoot any of my other calibers anymore.

 

[raider1v1]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KYpatriot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why not a straight .284win? Best bullet selection in 7mm, very capable of loooonnnng range shots loaded up with heavies, low recoil downloaded with fast lightweight bullets. More versatile than anything on your list in my opinion, just buy brass and load it to your application.

You want long range varminting, then you'll want less wind drift, the higher BC bullets are the key to that. You can make up some BC disadvantage with superfast light bullets, but then lose some deer capability. If you go with the 284 you can have both. </div></div>

I did look at the 284 cases, but they have too much recoil so ill lose sight picture. Between us, shooting prairie dogs isn't worth it, if you cant see the hits...

I figure that i have the "close" PD hunting covered with the 204 and Grendel, so i needed something longer range. Thats why im leaning toward the 6.5 vs the 6.

Any ideas on how people run 260-size cases in long actions?

 

[raider1v1]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

well i did find out about feeding the long actions with a short action case. i wasn't able to get a straight answer from dustin at GA (who was actually pretty rude), I talked to Russ @ Stillen and he was able to recommend an action to me as well as let me know the differences in feeding and what action would be best for my use. He was a super nice guy as well.

 

[turbo54]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Raider1v1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I did look at the 284 cases, but they have too much recoil so ill lose sight picture. Between us, shooting prairie dogs isn't worth it, if you cant see the hits...

I figure that i have the "close" PD hunting covered with the 204 and Grendel, so i needed something longer range. Thats why im leaning toward the 6.5 vs the 6.

Any ideas on how people run 260-size cases in long actions?
</div></div>

You need a 6CM, then. Almost zero recoil, flat, improved barrel life over 243.

 

[RobertB]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Scooter-PIE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You'll have to decide between the 6mm and 6.5. 6.5 will have better barrel life and more recoil. Based on your activities/criteria, I'd narrow it to:

6XC
6.5CM
260REM
243WIN </div></div> I would limit your search to this. You can't go on debating it. If you are newer to LR shooting you won;t be able to tell the difference between any of these. All of em are AWESOME. The way I look at it, just go ahead and get any one of these and then you can start learning then. You are not benifiting by debating which one to get when they are all so close. I have shot all of those calibers. None will make you "better off" than another. Get to it, start shooting, have fun, and good luck

 

[onyx1357]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

personally I would go with 6xc or the 6.5cm both great rounds.

 

[raider1v1]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Raider1v1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I did look at the 284 cases, but they have too much recoil so ill lose sight picture. Between us, shooting prairie dogs isn't worth it, if you cant see the hits...

I figure that i have the "close" PD hunting covered with the 204 and Grendel, so i needed something longer range. Thats why im leaning toward the 6.5 vs the 6.

Any ideas on how people run 260-size cases in long actions?
</div></div>

You need a 6CM, then. Almost zero recoil, flat, improved barrel life over 243. </div></div>

is there a thread that details it? i did some searching for 6cm 6mm creedmoor and 6 creedmoor and cant seem to find a thread detailing its comparison from 6.5 cm and 243.

 

[tigerfan_9]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

FYI - 6mm creedmoor and 6CM (champion match) are not the same thing

 

[coug]

Re: Need help choosing a caliber for a new rifle

6.5x47L the brass is great and not hard to get. I know it costs more to start but I am going on Load# 14 on my original 200 rounds of brass i got when I first got my rifle. So I think the good news about it is that 200 rounds of brass is going to last as long as your barrel.

as far as choosing a caliber goes. Just be like the rest of us custom build junkies and every three or for days think up the next build you want to make. I can never make up my mind on that stuff.
GOOD LUCK.