Looking for a new caliber.

[snert]

23 caliber.....

 

[nakneker]

There’s a bunch to choose from that will easily fill your requirements. I like rifles that double as varminters and big game rigs. I’ve enjoyed the 6.5x47 case. I’ve had a 6.5x47, 25x47 and a 6x47 built in the last couple of years. I like all three. I like the Lapua brass, just makes things easy. Lots of die options, lots of bullet options, not as much so for the 25 but plenty still. I use a 7saum for most of my big game hunting but I prefer the mid size calibers for shooting steel, Varmints and medium sized game. Less recoil makes it more enjoyable for me.

Lots of other good choices too,

260, 260AI, Creedmoor 6 &6.5, 243 AI, .....

Pick one of shoot, shoot, shoot - you can’t go wrong.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I am not a fan of these do it all builds because they usually never do anything really well. A varmint/deer/target rifle will most likely leave you underwhelmed. The only choice I really see is a 6mm. I prefer the Br case, BRA dasher ext. The BRA being my favorite. Theres also the 6x47, 6 creed, 243 ext. You could run 105 vlds for target and deer and still shoot 65 vmaxes for varmint. You really need a short freebore for the 55 grain bullets. Thats as close to an all arounder as you'll get. I would pick its main job though and let the others be its 2nd job. Build it for a purpose.

 

[Beruisis]

I was in the same situation as you are & then fell into a 257 Weatherby Magnum.
The quest was over for me.

 

[onelastshot]

6mm Remington.

I'd kick it up a notch and make is a 6mm Remington AI. Using 87 grain bullets you obtain excellent velocity, giving you that red mist effect and will reach out to 600 yards and more.

 

[th82457]

6mm Creedmoor or .250 A.I. Both will feed well out of a magazine and both will handle deer with the proper bullet. Both are accurate and low recoil. The Creedmoor will have the edge in wider bullet selection, better brass if you neck down 6.5 Lapua brand and likely better downrange performance on steel. With all that said, I have a .250 A.I. that performs very well in the dual role deer/varmint realm. Both of these cartridges should be much improved on barrel life that some of the higher powder volume cartridges mentioned. My two cents.

 

[smokinghole]

I saw 6 Creedmoor mentioned. Alpha Brass makes 6mm Creedmoor and 22 Creedmoor cases. Something to consider for ease of reloading.

 

[rob67gmc]

Unless your definition of target is competition and not just punching paper for fun, a .270 Win. will do all of that. My Rem. 700 will shoot 100 gr. bullets great for varmints, 130 gr. for deer, and the farthest I've shot it was 500 yds., easily hitting life-sized steel silhouette turkeys with 150 gr. Federal Fusions.

 

[hogpatrol]

Anotherl 2¢ on this subject. We go through these exercises every once in a while where the OP says he wants to shoot everything from prairie dogs to elephants and steel at two miles, and want's to know what's the best round. We all have our pets and favorites but the real answer is "There ain't none". Sure you can build a hotrod 6.5 and shoot dollar a round ammo at long range PDs but is that practical? What kind of freebore difference is there between an 85 and a 140? Going to jump or jam those bullets? How about the twist? I'm in the same camp as Mr. Wheeler. Define the SPECIFIC mission and build the rifle to suit. Anything else will be a compromise and maybe do one thing well.


We now return you to your regular programming.
Stay warm. It's colder than a well digger's A... here.

 

[fredo]

.243AI

Load Lapua brass & fireform with your varmint loads. Or, buy off the shelf .243Win varmint ammo, and use that brass...

Regardless, work up a full house load with formed cases and bang steel till your hearts content. Something like Berger's 105hunting VLD, or Hornady's 105 ELD will do ya proud on a deer and targets...

If ya wanna go bigger, as in .264 cal, step up to a 6.5SAUM. 130s @ 3200+ are incredible, they leave little to be desired for trajectory and killing performance. Or, you can throw a 95Vmax-107SMK @ 3600-ish if ya really wanna splatter vermin...

Will agree that "do it all" rifles have a hard time at matching a specialized, purpose built one. But, the above two do a pretty dang good job at it. Both will run on a short action, just pick a boltface...

Have fun!

 

[nakneker]

It’s nice to be able to build multiple rifles for every purpose but sometimes that’s not an option. When I was in my twenties and couldn’t afford a Tbone every weekend I built one rifle that did it all. I didn’t really build a rifle, I rebarrelled a 700 to .243. You can use those here in Arizona for everything including elk. Because I shot that rifle exclusively I became deadly with it, never lost a big game animal including six bulls. I wouldn’t recommend a 243 for Elk buts that what I had. I’m not advocating a do it all rifle just pointing out that not all budgets allow a person to cover all the bases with multiple rifles. You could suggest that maybe a guy buy three Tikkas in different cartridges instead of building one multi task rifle. It’s America, do what your heart desires

 

[JimT]

I think you mean cartridge, right????

 

[shadrac]

6xc

 

[Westhunder]

Anotherl 2¢ on this subject. We go through these exercises every once in a while where the OP says he wants to shoot everything from prairie dogs to elephants and steel at two miles, and want's to know what's the best round. We all have our pets and favorites but the real answer is "There ain't none". Sure you can build a hotrod 6.5 and shoot dollar a round ammo at long range PDs but is that practical? What kind of freebore difference is there between an 85 and a 140? Going to jump or jam those bullets? How about the twist? I'm in the same camp as Mr. Wheeler. Define the SPECIFIC mission and build the rifle to suit. Anything else will be a compromise and maybe do one thing well.


We now return you to your regular programming.
Stay warm. It's colder than a well digger's A... here.

I said nothing about p dogs or elephants. I can kill an elephant with a 22lr with a properly placed shot big guy, I am highly skilled professional. Think I did say deer and varmits, more specifically coyotes. And if I need to give a max range. Hunting 400 Target 600. If I knew specifically I would have stated. I do like the idea of nailing down a sole purpose and let it be great at that and good to fair at the others. So since we eliminated elephants from the mix, let’s hunt medium sized game 30-200 pounds at a distance. Like 400 yards. I do really like the 6br variants. Like xc. I’m looking for advice, and not looking for smart assery. I like to experiment, learn, and reload. It would be nice to cull my 6-7 calibers specific bolt guns into 2. Is researching these as they come in.

 

[JRS]

Here ya go:

 

[JRS]

Or this:

 

[Westhunder]

@JRS what are those?

26-06, 257 Ackley, 250 Ackley?

 

[L.Sherm]

If your wanting to whittle your inventory down from 6 or 7 rifles down to 2 i would do a 6mm of your choice for deer and targets and 20 or 22 cal for varments.

 

[JRS]

@JRS what are those?

26-06, 257 Ackley, 250 Ackley?

Top photo: 257 Weatherby. Bottom photo: 250 Ackley. Either one will do it all, from mice to moose to targets

 

[Westhunder]

Also I will add money is not as much the issue as time. Rather focus time on one or two rather than 7