PLEASE HELP NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

[Pigdog]

i didn't want to ask for help I thought I could do this on my own but as the title suggests I'm near having a nervous breakdown with cartridge selection. Iam in Australia and am looking to hunt and target shoot with more emphasis on target shooting. I come from a large family of hunters who all use the 270 calibre none target shoot. I was set on getting the 308 I will not be reloading but buying factory ammo hence choosing the 308 for ammo selection. I have been watching the sniper 101 series on YouTube by tibarosaurus Rex and his video on cartridge selection had made me rethink everything. His ballistic charts have me really looking at the 7mm08. From the charts he showed using I think a 162g amax left the 308 for dead in all departments. I think the 308 in his charts was figures using a 168g amax from memory. Anyway so I went to the hornady website and the amax seems to Be replaced with what's called an eld match round. The Hornsby ammo avail for the 7mm08 only seems to Ben hunting rounds and no match ammo? So does the 7mm08 get these awesome ballistics shown on sniper 101 using hunting rounds? There seems to be no match ammo for the 7mm08. The other issue I have is the 308 seems to have a eld 208g round?? Other sources I have seen say the 308 only goes up to 180-190g yet there is a 208g with a highish bc??? So what gives if you use the 308 with a 208g eld hornady round will this then hold its own against a 7mm08 using a 162g hunting round?? Sorry for the long post but this hobby is seriously the most technical and involved I've ever done I hadn't even looked at other factory ammo yet still trying to just compare with hornady ammo to keep interest apples vs apples please help I'm loosing the plot

 

[6MMsteve]

you need the 7mm zanbar 10 it will take away all your worries, just kiddin 260 rem would be my choice, stay away from recoil

 

[Zero333]

Stick with the 308win

I have a 7mm08 and a couple 308win... And the ballistics are only a little better for the 7mm08 if you handload.

You will not regret getting the 308win, guaranteed.

Factory ammo selection for the 7mm08 sucks too.

308win 10" or 11" twist
20" to 24" barrel and you're done.

 

[smokinggun]

I would recommend 6.5 Creedmoor. Take a look at the Hornady 147 ELD-Match with a BC of .697, just what thr Dr orders for your Nervous Breakdown. The factory barrels are twisted right for those slick bullets.

 

[rcparker1]

The 308 would be a likely candidate if you don't reload. Great choice of factory ammo. The 308 is more capable than a lot of shooters or the conditions they shoot in. In my erea every ones hung up on long range shooting. A 1000yd here is a long shot. Very hard to accomplish in a hunting situation. I try to tell people to look at their environment when choosing. A 308 would cover most of our area, especially hunting. Good luck.

 

[Raptor]

I agree with smokinggun, go with the Creedmoor. I have or have had all the guns your talking about. I love the 308 it's a great round and will fill the bill for both hunting and target shooting. It does not perform all that well with bullets over 175gr. Don't get me wrong it will shoot the 190s and shoot them well just to damn slow!! 7MM-08 is a nice round but you "Really" don't gain all that much over the 308 in the real world. It is really to weak to push the 162AMAX to the speeds that they shine at. You also need a LONG barrel for them.

I would really look at one of the 6.5s either in the 260, 6.5x55, 6.5x47 or the 6.5 Creedmoor. All are VERY accurate and make excellent target and hunting rounds for medium sized game. Any of the above are superior to the 308 or the 7MM-08s. You will be happy with anyone of the above....

 

[rcparker1]

I would agree with raptor and smoking the 6.5 is superior to 308 if you have ammo available. If you really want in the game look at reloading. There is a lot of good factory ammo but reloading open up a new world. What is your ammo situation like locally. I know the 6.5, 7-08, and even .25 ammo can be scarce in our area

 

[jr600yd]

I'd go 308. You can find ammo in just about every gun store, large selection of bullet weights and every ammo manufacture makes 308 ammo.

Within normal hunting ranges (less than 300 yds) really no difference between the two, dead is dead.

I'd check out the gun stores. Who has the most ammo in each caliber, what bullet weights, brand?

 

[hogpatrol]

You didn't say if this was a factory gun or a custom so I'll assume it's the former since you will shoot only factory ammo. I vote here for the 6.5 Creedmoor. Less recoil and a large selection of factory target and hunting ammo. Having said that, availability of high BC loaded ammo in any caliber doesn't guarantee it will work in your rifle. Good luck with your choice.

 

[Shoebox]

Hi pigdog
I'm from Queensland what do you mainly hunt, i just went through the which way do I go thing!
As mentioned earlier for target shooting recoil is a big consideration ! Not hand loading puts you at a disadvantage if you intend serious target shooting, I would look at 6s simply because of light recoil and long range ability + good BC, but I'm recoil shy, so take a deep breath and make a decision that covers your needs !!!
Good luck !!!

 

[6MMsteve]

6mm or 6.5 would be my choice lots more fun to shoot, and start reloading for the fun of a gun, it's fun to tinker

 

[Shoebox]

Anybody here that see target shooting and "I don't reload " are thinking that won't last long !
You will find the search for the mythical one hole goes way beyond buying bullets over the counter !!
You think your stressed now !
Reloading is the most important part of the fun !!
IMHO

 

[Judd]

I hope you not convulsing yet

As you can see, lots of different opinions. I'm not saying any of them are wrong. There just isn't an absolute right answer.

By limiting yourself to factory ammo I think you really have two choices...308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. Look at your ammo availability and if you can get Creedmoor ammo I think it's your winner. It has a ballistic advantage in the wind over the 308.

Good luck.

 

[Barlow]

6.5x55 or 260 rem. Barlow

 

[rcparker1]

I went to a well know supplier of ammo and reloading supplies. 260 had 14 products for loaded ammo, 6.5 creedmore 15, 308 137. It only takes one, but goes to availability.

 

[onelastshot]

A lot of positive votes for a 6.5 caliber. If the rifle was just for hunting I'd vote for the 308 or 7x57 Mauser. Of those two the 7x57 Mauser would be my choice; great ballistics and a wide variety of bullet selections right off the shelf. If you're choosing a rifle that includes targets as well then I'd definitely choose a 6.5 caliber, by choice being the 6.5-284. Great hunting caliber with a wide range of bullets but it's also a great caliber for long range target shooting. Difficult to beat the 6.5-284.

 

[wholman]

243 8t

 

[500Stroker]

6.5 Creedmoor with Hornaday 140 grain factory ammo.
I have a Savage Pro hunter in 6.5 C that has out shot some custom guns at 1000 yards.
I would not think twice the Creedmoor has more that earned its strips.
Good Luck

 

[DOGCAPPER]

284

 

[Pigdog]

Thanks so much for all the replies such a helpful website. First of all the 6.5creedmoor was te first gun I was looking into with an interest in target shooting. Ammo seems readily available in America just like everything else with rifles. A quick look at Australian websites this gun is as rare as hens teeth here it seems and factory Ammo is extremely expensive from my reaSearch so I crossed it off. Here it Australia we are pretty much beggars when it comes to guns and gun laws and beggars can't Ben choosers. To the qld guy that responded I'm also on qld and the hunting is pigs as well. If I was only going to hunt I would just get a 270 like everyone else in my family and everyone else I know as they seem to be one of the flattest shooting cartridges short of a 300wm. The 270 doesn't seem to be used for target shooting I'm guessing again due to lack of match ammo. In the 6.5 cartridges in Australia the only one with any chance of getting reasonable price ammo is the 6.5x55 swede. Oh btw the rifle will Be a tikka t3x stainless varmint model 24inch barrel