Mid-range deer cartridge

[GTshooter]

I have had the great fortune this year to be-friend the son of the owner of a great custom gun maker. With this friendship came the benefit of me being bit by the custom gun bug. That being said, I would like to build a mid range (out to 500 yd) short action rifle for my son for hunting/targets for his birthday. My wife, also a competition shooter and hunter, and I have kicked around a few calibers, 243 AI, 260 rem, 6xc, 6.5x47L, 6.5x55GWI, and one of the RSAUMs. Looking for something with a lower felt recoil but enough oomf to take a deer at mid range once I am comfortable with his shooting those distances. I prefer to stick with a 6mm/6.5mm/7mm. What are your thoughts/suggestions?

 

[rickiesrevenge]

I'd stay with the 6.5's or 7's for the extra bullet weight and diameter. I'd probably pick a 6.5x47L for my kids and those requirements. They shoot well too!

Aaron

 

[ShootDots]

A .260A.I. or 6.5 x 284 shooting a good bullet (140 grain) like a Nosler Partition or Accubond would hammer deer to those ranges.. They have very little felt recoil and either are extremely accurate.. Get a 1-8 twist barrel, should you get a 6.5 caliber, with a .165 - .170 freebore >>> that will handle the 140's nicely..

 

[mmcu]

7mm-08 or 7mm-08 AI would be tough to beat.

 

[XTR]

7-08 is my choice

 

[shadrac]

6xc would be my choice

 

[GTshooter]

A .260A.I. or 6.5 x 284 shooting a good bullet (140 grain) like a Nosler Partition or Accubond would hammer deer to those ranges.. They have very little felt recoil and either are extremely accurate.. Get a 1-8 twist barrel, should you get a 6.5 caliber, with a .165 - .170 freebore >>> that will handle the 140's nicely..

Sir, I have good dies and a lot of brass for the 260 rem, do you think the AI version would give me enough of an advantage to warrant buying more dies/fire forming brass?

 

[ShootDots]

A .260A.I. or 6.5 x 284 shooting a good bullet (140 grain) like a Nosler Partition or Accubond would hammer deer to those ranges.. They have very little felt recoil and either are extremely accurate.. Get a 1-8 twist barrel, should you get a 6.5 caliber, with a .165 - .170 freebore >>> that will handle the 140's nicely..

Sir, I have good dies and a lot of brass for the 260 rem, do you think the AI version would give me enough of an advantage to warrant buying more dies/fire forming brass?

I doubt it>>>I am just a HUGE fan of the Ackley Improved cartridges. Improving a cartridge is, in many instances, an effort to make "better" brass. You only have to trim back maybe 1 in 6 firings, it appears ,at least to me, to make the cartridge allow for a slight accuracy edge. But if you are not an "Ackley Guy" and don't want to fiddle with fireforming, just get the regular cartridge. I have extensive experience with the Ackleys and I like them. But, by the same token, they are not for everybody.

 

[swd]

Another vote for the 7-08!

 

[Racebannon3855]

Another vote for the 7-08. Great Bullet Selection and easy to work with.

 

[Jaybo]

260 rem or 260 A.I. would be a great choice

 

[GTshooter]

Looks like the 260 or 7mm-08 seem to be the most recommended. I have about 2 weeks to decide which way I want to go. I appreciate everyone's feedback thus far.

 

[brianc74]

My vote is for the good old 308 Win. Easy load development, great accuracy.

Brian

 

[Iowa Fox]

A .260A.I. or 6.5 x 284 shooting a good bullet (140 grain) like a Nosler Partition or Accubond would hammer deer to those ranges.. They have very little felt recoil and either are extremely accurate.. Get a 1-8 twist barrel, should you get a 6.5 caliber, with a .165 - .170 freebore >>> that will handle the 140's nicely..

Sir, I have good dies and a lot of brass for the 260 rem, do you think the AI version would give me enough of an advantage to warrant buying more dies/fire forming brass?

Nope! Stick with the 260 it will do everything you ask. My next choice would be the 7-08. I don't know what has happened to brass. Couple of years ago it got very hard to come by and very expensive. If one hundred pieces will get you by for the life of the rifle then its no big deal. If you shoot several hundred away from home each time your out its a different matter.

 

[jimbires]

I sure like the 7-08 .

 

[Cold Bore]

...the 260 rem, do you think the AI version would give me enough of an advantage to warrant buying more dies/fire forming brass?

No.

 

[Riesel]

Since we seem to be voting, I'm for the 6.5-284 if you don't mind the extra cost and loading/reloading. A real hammer and not to hard to shoot. I would follow this up with the 7-08, then the .260. There, my two cents, or maybe more.

 

[rwk]

25-06 will do you well.

 

[GTshooter]

25-06 will do you well.

To remain open to all suggestions, do you think the 257 AI would be a good short action alternative to the 25-06?

 

[onelastshot]

You can't go wrong with a 7mm Mauser. If you hand load there's a number of different bullet weights and you've got plenty of gun for a number of large game animals.