What caliber for light weight bolt gun?

[AK4900PA]

My current lineup consists of...
6.25" 300BLK AR-15
12.5" 6.5 Grendel AR-15
12.5" .308 AR-10
24" 6.5 Creedmoor bolt action

I'm looking to build or buy a lightweight (<7lb scoped) bolt action for hunting here in Texas. Primary use would be whitetail and hogs with the occasional mule deer, pronghorn and axis deer. Ranges would be under 500 yards (most under 200). Basically I'm looking for something with more power than my Grendel without the heft of my Creedmoor. I'm not setup to handload so factory ammo is a must and I'd also prefer a short action. I've considered everything from the .243 or 6mm creedmoor to a 300 WSM. Opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Kadams1563]

6 creed

Good factory ammo and shouldn’t recoil too mich in a lighter gun.

Or a .243.

 

[kthomas]

.300 WSM is way overkill for Texas.

If you were a reloader, I would've suggested 6BR. Because you don't reload, I would suggest .243 or 6mm creedmoor. Though I'm not sure what (if any) commercially loaded hunting ammo is available for 6mm creedmoor.

Quite honestly, you could get away with a smaller cartridge such as a .220 swift or .22-250 for what you are doing.

 

[BurnOut]

Man, I'll be honest... that weight is going to be tough unless you're willing to use a pencil barrel and a tupperware stock.

I'm in the midst of building what I consider to be a fairly lightweight 6 Creedmoor, and between weighing the parts that I have (everything except the barrel) and estimating the rest, I'm coming in at 10.178 pounds with scope and five rounds of ammo. That's using a Boyd's Prairie Hunter stock and a 22" medium sporter barrel. I could lose some weight by going with a featherweight barrel (maybe a pound) and forgoing the muzzle brake/suppressor mount (.18 pounds), but the rest would have to come from the stock... which is 2.4 pounds (read: not all that much to give; a carbon fiber stock would probably get me maybe .6 pounds off of that). By my estimation, going with the featherweight barrel and a carbon fiber stock would get me down to ~8.4 pounds. Shortening the barrel and giving up some of the velocity would also help, but I don't think there's enough to give there.

FWIW, the build is using a factory Howa short action and internal mag/hinged floor plate, the rings are all-in-one units from DNZ (read: no separate base), and the scope is a Bushnell LRHSi (~28 oz). There's some room in all of that, I imagine, in terms of weight budget, but not enough to hit what you're talking about.

In any event, to echo what others have said, I think 6 Creedmoor or even .243 Win would be a good choice for you... since you aren't a reloader, I'd go with the .243 Win for the availability of off-the-shelf ammo.

 

[Baron85]

Why not a light weight 6.5 creedmoor. You already have one so could share the ammo

 

[Milo 2.5]

I had a Dasher built for a kid, Impact action, Manners EH1A, Proof carbon barrel, with a kahles scope on it, it was 12lbs, we shaved 1.6lbs off it with a Leupold hunting scope. Purpose target and hunting.
I really wish I had just built him a target gun, and bought a Tikka Forester for 600 when they were on sale, in 243.

 

[AK4900PA]

If I buy it'll likely be a Barrett Fieldcraft which comes in at just over 5lb. A set of Talley ultralight rings and ~16oz scope puts me well under my 7lb goal. Im considering building, but it'd be difficult to put together a rifle of equal weight/quality/accuracy for less money than the Barrett. I'm also considering the Remington Model Seven threaded as a budget option, but the only usable caliber it's offered in is .308 which isn't as flat shooting as I'd like.

The two Creedmoors are currently at the top of my list right now. While factory ammo is a must it doesn't necessarily need to be available at Wal-Mart. I live pretty close to Able Ammo which keeps a healthy inventory of ammo.

 

[CBDR]

My current lineup consists of...
6.25" 300BLK AR-15
12.5" 6.5 Grendel AR-15
12.5" .308 AR-10
24" 6.5 Creedmoor bolt action

I'm looking to build or buy a lightweight (<7lb scoped) bolt action for hunting here in Texas. Primary use would be whitetail and hogs with the occasional mule deer, pronghorn and axis deer. Ranges would be under 500 yards (most under 200). Basically I'm looking for something with more power than my Grendel without the heft of my Creedmoor. I'm not setup to handload so factory ammo is a must and I'd also prefer a short action. I've considered everything from the .243 or 6mm creedmoor to a 300 WSM. Opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Happiness is not getting what you want. It's wanting what you got. (Sheryl Crow) 6.5 CM is plenty providing my shot placement is achieved.

 

[strike33]

This, the caliber really doesn't have much to do with it, especially if you're sticking with the short action. maybe a 7-08 but the Creedmoor is extremely versatile.

 

[AK4900PA]

I agree, my 6.5 Creedmoor works great, but at 14lb it's a bit heavy to lug any real distance. I may very well get a 2nd 6.5 Creed, but it'll be 1/2 the weight.

 

[tnichols]

For just an around the farm/truck gun, I run a stock Savage Model 10 in 243. With a fairly light 4-9 optic, sling, and loaded mag (3+1), it comes in at 8.6 lbs. I run Federal ammo with the 80 gr Nosler and recoil is not an issue, although muzzle blast is a bit nasty ?. It feels like a feather after lugging around AI’s.

 

[alibi]

6xc will be my next one

 

[BurnOut]

If I buy it'll likely be a Barrett Fieldcraft which comes in at just over 5lb.

I'm not trying to be "that guy", but I'd have to see one of those Barretts on a scale to be a believer in the weights that they're claiming. Even the Fix with its aluminum receiver is 6.4 pounds in 6.5 Creedmoor (16" barrel). Granted, that's also a chassis with a folding stock, but we're not talking about a monster chassis like a Cadex.

If Barrett is using steel actions (and I believe that they are), I just have a hard time believing the weights that they're showing on their website. That said, I'm absolutely willing to be proven wrong.

 

[VP47PPC]

For your rifle I recommend 6.5C the factory ammo for hunting shoots great FED Fusion or HORND Precision Hunter.

My REM 270 @ 7lbs withe scope

Talley mounts
Swarovski Z3 3-9X36
Brown Precision carbon fiber stock
REM 700 LA
Lilja #1 24"

So with a REM 700 SA you should beat this weight

 

[AK4900PA]

I'm not trying to be "that guy", but I'd have to see one of those Barretts on a scale to be a believer in the weights that they're claiming. Even the Fix with its aluminum receiver is 6.4 pounds in 6.5 Creedmoor (16" barrel). Granted, that's also a chassis with a folding stock, but we're not talking about a monster chassis like a Cadex.

If Barrett is using steel actions (and I believe that they are), I just have a hard time believing the weights that they're showing on their website. That said, I'm absolutely willing to be proven wrong.

Getting a bit off track of the original intended discussion, but here you go.

 

[BurnOut]

Getting a bit off track of the original intended discussion, but here you go.View attachment 7020140

Well, shit. Color me wrong. I still say that .243 Win would be a good choice, or like others have said, 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[tree man]

Well, shit. Color me wrong. I still say that .243 Win would be a good choice, or like others have said, 6.5 Creedmoor.

I thought the same til I picked one up! Honestly there way to light for what I would want, taking long shots on game from a deer stand or the ground, weight is my friend when it comes to stabilizing that reticle. Not to mention the recoil of a 5 lb rifle

 

[Mrpike71]

18 inch 6.5 creed, 7-08 or 308 proof carbon barrel mated to the action of your choice. Ti action if you really want it light.

 

[doogie_howitzer]

For a pure hunting rifle and at those ranges I would look at 7mm-08. There are some hunting rounds available for 6.5CM but the selection is much wider for 7-08. This means you can tailor your bullet selection for game better. Not to mention factory 7mm-08 has more energy than factory 6.5CM; at least according to Hornady's website.

 

[Millron]

If I buy it'll likely be a Barrett Fieldcraft which comes in at just over 5lb. A set of Talley ultralight rings and ~16oz scope puts me well under my 7lb goal. Im considering building, but it'd be difficult to put together a rifle of equal weight/quality/accuracy for less money than the Barrett. I'm also considering the Remington Model Seven threaded as a budget option, but the only usable caliber it's offered in is .308 which isn't as flat shooting as I'd like.

The two Creedmoors are currently at the top of my list right now. While factory ammo is a must it doesn't necessarily need to be available at Wal-Mart. I live pretty close to Able Ammo which keeps a healthy inventory of ammo.

I have both of the rifles your speaking about. The model 7 in 308 does shoot amazingly well for having a crap stock on it. But By the time you replace the stock with a manners or mcmillan ultralight your into fieldcraft $$ territory. I was looking into building an ultralight with titanium action but did the math and could buy two fieldcrafts easily for what the build would run, and still probably wouldnt make the weight of the fieldcraft. Mine is in 6.5 creedmoor and shoots phenomenal, my first creedmoor. If i had it to do over again i would seriously consider going 7mm 08 to take advantage of the 3" magbox with 162 eldx, but if only buying factory ammo then creedmoor is probably the better option. Keep in mind if your used to shooting heavier rfles they take a bit of practice, but IMO do handle very well for being so light. With talleys mounts and vortex razor LH 3-15 its just a shade under 7#. There is a special edition out there with cerakote, green stock, and slightly heavier 22" #2 contour barrel. That would be my pick if i could do it over again.

 

[myronman3]

if you have a 6.5, i’d say stick with that in a hunting profile rifle. if you are jonesing for something different, 7mm-08.

the problem with the 6mm’s (i have 2 of them, so dont judge me) is that they lose energy fast and dont pack a punch out there. the 6.5 and 7mm carry their energy way out there.

 

[Shootinsurveyor]

Tikka superlite 6.5 CM