Caliber Dilemma

[grantre72]

Looking to buy a new rifle. Currently own AR223, 6.5CM, 300PRC and 45-70. Would like to consider something primarily for woodchucks/coyotes, but also practical enough for the range and versatile for hand loading. Was thinking something along the lines of a 22-250 or 6mm (BR/PPC), but am open to other suggestions/opinions.

Thanks.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Hard to beat a 20VT or if you want a little more power, a lot of folks like the 20 Practical.

 

[tthomp302]

22 creedmoor would be a good one to look at.

 

[Ggmac]

Bolt 223

 

[gambleone]

Looking to buy a new rifle. Currently own AR223, 6.5CM, 300PRC and 45-70. Would like to consider something primarily for woodchucks/coyotes, but also practical enough for the range and versatile for hand loading. Was thinking something along the lines of a 22-250 or 6mm (BR/PPC), but am open to other suggestions/opinions.

Average distance you will shoot?

 

[gambleone]

If you"re looking for the best accuracy & not shooting past 250 yards, I'd go with
the triple deuce. JMHO

 

[PopCharlie]

.243 would be a good choice too. If you reload, a .223 bolt gun would be a great choice (like Ggmac mentioned) because you already have components and dies, etc.

PopCharlie

 

[6.5 forever]

What's wrong with the 6.5 Creed? I have killed rock chucks 300-1000 yards. Dead steel out to a mile.
Always fun to get a new one. But don't forget the reason you bought it to begin with.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

22 creedmoor would be a good one to look at.

And look at, the 6 XC IF, wanting to Run the 80 gr. to, 110 grainers for,.. LR,.. Yotes / Chucks !
Lower Recoil than your 6.5 creed and GREAT,.. Barrel,.. "Life" !
I have, a 6 XC, 1-7.5 tw already and will build, the .22 Creed with,.. a 1-9 TW,.. NEXT !
I want to shoot, the 53 gr. V-Max up to, the 73 Berg BT's with, the Lil .22 Creed. ( Replacing My, .22-250 Rem )
Everyone NEEDS these,.. TWO,.. "Best in Class," cartridges !

 

[grantre72]

Live in PA, so not super long distances. Maybe 3-400, max.

 

[6.5 forever]

Live in PA, so not super long distances. Maybe 3-400, max.

That changes things for sure!

 

[grantre72]

What's wrong with the 6.5 Creed? I have killed rock chucks 300-1000 yards. Dead steel out to a mile.
Always fun to get a new one. But don't forget the reason you bought it to begin with.

Love my CM. Just want something that shoots a little flatter and is maybe a little more economical for the range and reloading.

 

[grantre72]

.243 would be a good choice too. If you reload, a .223 bolt gun would be a great choice (like Ggmac mentioned) because you already have components and dies, etc.

PopCharlie

Yep. Both good options. Thanks.

 

[grantre72]

And look at, the 6 XC IF, wanting to Run the 80 gr. to, 110 grainers for,.. LR,.. Yotes / Chucks !
Lower Recoil than your 6.5 creed and GREAT,.. Barrel,.. "Life" !
I have, a 6 XC, 1-7.5 tw already and will build, the .22 Creed with,.. a 1-9 TW,.. NEXT !
I want to shoot, the 53 gr. V-Max up to, the 73 Berg BT's with, the Lil .22 Creed. ( Replacing My, .22-250 Rem )
Everyone NEEDS these,.. TWO,.. "Best in Class," cartridges !

Don't know much about the 6XC. I'm not looking to build and want to stay with a factory option if I can. There are so many 6mm options these days - 243, 6BR/PPC/CM/XC/Dasher/BRX/AI and probably some others I don't know of - that it makes your head spin. But, there's definitely a lot to like about the 6mm's in terms of versatility/reloading, accuracy, barrel life, recoil, etc.

 

[mmcu]

Based on your requirements, you'd have a tough time beating the 6BR.

 

[69mach]

you can’t go wrong with a good ole 6br. everyone should own one.

 

[jdh47]

Gmac made a good suggestion. An accurate bolt .223 will allow you to reload with what you have. For small varmints like chucks you're going to burn some powder. It's plenty for that and coyotes. .243 and 6mm Creedmoor are good but you're going to burn barrels and powder if you shoot a lot in one sitting. You can go exotic if you want to but it's going to be harder to get components. I built a .220 Beggs Russian that is great but it's more to go through considering the bolt, dies and all. You get a shot out PPC and chamber for that and you'll have about what you can get out of the little .223.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Don't know much about the 6XC. I'm not looking to build and want to stay with a factory option if I can. There are so many 6mm options these days - 243, 6BR/PPC/CM/Dasher/BRX/AI and probably some others I don't know of - that it makes your head spin. But, there's definitely a lot to like about the 6mm's in terms of versatility/reloading, accuracy, barrel life, recoil, etc.

The 6 XC Uses 3 or 4 grains LESS Powder than, the 6 Creed, but HAS a Longer Neck so that, you can Seat Bullets up and out of, the Doughnut area. About 100 FPS less Velocity and MUCH Better Barrel Life than MANY, 6 MM's And,. "Feeds" Perfectly from SHORT Actions with, NO Hiccup's and NO, "Mod's",.. needed.
Norma and Petersen both, make Brass and Ammo, Forster makes awesome Dies = "BugHoles" with, .. reasonable Recoil+ GREAT, Barrel Life !
MANY 1,000 Yard Championships have been, Won with,.. IT,..
You might want to, Do some Research on it ( 6 XC Version 1, David Tubb's, design )
Criterion makes, Awesome RemAge Barrels Chambered for this, Cartridge.

 

[grantre72]

Gmac made a good suggestion. An accurate bolt .223 will allow you to reload with what you have. For small varmints like chucks you're going to burn some powder. It's plenty for that and coyotes. .243 and 6mm Creedmoor are good but you're going to burn barrels and powder if you shoot a lot in one sitting. You can go exotic if you want to but it's going to be harder to get components. I built a .220 Beggs Russian that is great but it's more to go through considering the bolt, dies and all. You get a shot out PPC and chamber for that and you'll have about what you can get out of the little .223.

I strongly considered a bolt 223 when I first started looking, but kept getting drawn to the accuracy of the 6's. If I did go with the 223, what twist/bullet gr/velocity would be optimal? Again, for where I live, wouldn't expect to be shooting more than 3-400 yds, max.

 

[grantre72]

The 6 XC Uses 3 or 4 grains LESS Powder than, the 6 Creed and HAS a Longer Neck so that, you can Seat Bullets up and out of, the Doughnut area. About 100 FPS less Velocity and MUCH Better Barrel Life than MANY, 6 MM's And,. "Feeds Perfectly from SHORT Actions with, NO Hiccup's or, Mod's,.. needed.
Norma and Petersen both, make Brass and Ammo, Forster makes awesome Dies = "BugHoles" with, .. reasonable Recoil+ GREAT, Barrel Life !
MANY 1,000 Yard Championships have been, Won with,.. IT,..
You might want to, Do some,.. Research on it !
Criterion makes, Awesome RemAge Barrels for this, Cartridge

Is there a good factory 6XC you'd recommend?

Appreciate your comments!