Rifle caliber suggestion

[markT]

Savage does make a great rifle.. Rem does too.. and rifle Basix trigger is a must on a Savage or Rem. And all the above is Made in USA.. how about that?

 

[17TACnes]

Yes, the 45-70 can be down loaded to around 1400 fps with a 405 grain bullet. Also, the 405 grain bullet at 1400 fps is a great hunting load too. We been shooting the 405 grain jacket soft point for year and have taken a few deer out to around 200 yards, but most were taken at less than 100 yards.
As far as what caliber to reload, availability and cost of brass, bullets and powder may been a factor too.

 

[DaveTooley]

A 243 shooting 80-85 gr. bullets . I shoot a 85 gr. SPBT. Works on everything up to Red Stags.
6.5 Creedmoor good up to a 1200 lb. Eland. I was there.

 

[hillbillydruggist]

I have the following: 6br, BRX, DASHER, 6.0x47, Creedmoor, and a 243

For hunting distances less than 400 yards, the 243 hands down. I shoot a factory Savage VLP 243. I bedded the Action, put a "Rifle Basix" trigger on it, a good scope, and it shoots factory ammo with ease.

I use Federal GMM ammo with 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips, 70 grain NBT's (short acronym), and the 90's nbt's. I have also shot Sierra 107's with excellent results. My favorite is the 70 nbt. It's fast and deadly. Below is a 5 shot group @ 100 yards with 70 nbt's hand loaded. I pulled one shot out of 5. IMO the Savage out of the box is a hard rifle to beat.

View attachment 1073320

that is amazing!!!

 

[alinwa]

……….

I will add that a 6 br is the most amazing round I've ever seen not a lot of debate there

I be call this "understatement of the day"

If you ever get to meet the owner of this forum ( he goes by Forum Boss ) ask him to recount exactically how THIS FORUM, in it's entirety, got started


LOL

 

[Kevin Taylor]

Dare to be different. 257 Roberts.

I think 257 Roberts would be perfect.

 

[GSPV]

I had read that the 6.5 creedmoor wasn't considered a good hunting round???? or was that just BS?

That’s just adverse reaction to the cartridge’s cult-like following.

6.5x47 Lapua, 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 Remington are all great cartridges for the task that you mentioned. Just select the specific bullet for the specific job and then put the pill where the pain is.

Addendum: As would most all of the cartridges mentioned. I’d stay away from the 45-70 for what you are wanting. Too much lead, not enough velocity. Never going to be “low recoil”.

Really, your choice is going to depend on fractional things like: Do you need to have readily-available factory ammo for it? Cost of factory ammo? Are you a Lapua brass bigot (I am). Do you need to pick from what, say, Cabelas has on special? Yadda-yadda. With my situation, for what you’re asking, I’d build an 8 twist 6 BR with .104 freebore on a Kelbly’s tactical Atlas. Maybe put it in a Magpul stock. But, that’s me.

 

[GSPV]

...The Sierra 85 gr hpbt #1530 can be a do all bullet when loaded with IMR or H4350 powder.

That bullet is the most versatile 6mm bullet on the planet. I’ve killed a dump truck load of varmints and deer with it in a 243. I liked the 4350, but for some reason, H414 also shot very well for me.

 

[Webster]

I had read that the 6.5 creedmoor wasn't considered a good hunting round???? or was that just BS?

Animals don't know cartridge names. Bullet wt and FPS.

 

[Tack Driver]

If you’re going to reload, .260 trounces all of the aforementioned options as far as the best combination of ballistics and energy down range. There aren’t a ton of factory loadings, but they’re good too. It edges out 6.5 creed in case capacity, and thereby velocity. The 6.5 Bullet selection is great, recoil is very little. Some where around 10ftlbs if memory serves. Also, you can form .260 brass easily from .308 if ever there were a shortage of brass. My .260 built by mike burns (the rifler on here) shoots Berger 130 VLDs half MOA all day long. It’s a Great all around cartridge

 

[Cade]

I had read that the 6.5 creedmoor wasn't considered a good hunting round???? or was that just BS?

That was BS. It is an excellent round all the way up to Elk

 

[DennisH]

Like many above have stated. 243 win is hard to beat. I shoot 22hornet, 223, 22-250 and 243 on a fairly regular basis. 243 is gona be a do all cartridge for you. If you pick a rifle that fits you well and can carry it in the woods plus bench or varmint shoot it you will learn it well and be proficient with it.

Interestingly, I also have a Savage VLP 22-250! I would have to state it's the most accurate "factory" rifle I own! I bedded the action, and also put a Rifle Basix Trigger on it.

Accuracy is unbelievable. I will attach a target @ 100 yards with load info which I am "NOT" recommending to anyone. I prefer my 6mm's as bullet choice for hunting is far greater.

With my 22-250, shooting FMJ's, it's all about shot placement, which is no problem out to 400 yards. My 6mm's with NBT's are very "damaging", putting it nicely!

IMO, most of my rifles require a little more skill past 400 yards. Some are just getting started at 400! Normally I site in 1" high @ 100 yards, then go straight to 600 yards. No problem with any of my rifles.

1/4' Diamond @ 100 yards, 4 shot group, this rifle would shoot a pattern like this any day of the week! Hitting something the size of a "sparrow" @ 100 yards was no problem. With the 52 grain Bergers, damage was substantial on small game. I would have to check, but I am pretty sure the barrel is a 12 twist!

My loads are sometime up to the "LIMIT", don't start here, always start your load lower, or follow Lyman's Reloading Book for their recommendations. I like shooting the 52 grain bullets, they are much faster and stay together. I followed the COAL in the Lyman Book as my Hornady gauge would not work. The 52 grain bullets were well off the lands.

 

[DennisH]

That’s just adverse reaction to the cartridge’s cult-like following.

6.5x47 Lapua, 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 Remington are all great cartridges for the task that you mentioned. Just select the specific bullet for the specific job and then put the pill where the pain is.

Addendum: As would most all of the cartridges mentioned. I’d stay away from the 45-70 for what you are wanting. Too much lead, not enough velocity. Never going to be “low recoil”.

Really, your choice is going to depend on fractional things like: Do you need to have readily-available factory ammo for it? Cost of factory ammo? Are you a Lapua brass bigot (I am). Do you need to pick from what, say, Cabela's has on special? Yadda-yadda. With my situation, for what you’re asking, I’d build an 8 twist 6 BR with .104 freebore on a Kelbly’s tactical Atlas. Maybe put it in a Magpul stock. But, that’s me.

To each his own.

I have a 45-70 and a lightweight 338 Lapua (7 lbs +/- a few oz's), both for hunting. Sadly, my shoulder cannot handle either one. This is me, everyone and their rifles are different! The damage the 45-70 creates is unbelievable. Same with the 338 Lapua. I shoot 300 grain bullets in the 338, and 300 to 400 grain bullets in the 45-70. The 45-70 is almost 1/2 the speed of the 338!

Below is a target from my 338 @ "300" yards. These three shots will fit "within" the rim of a quarter! My 338 is very accurate, even past 800 yards. I state this as I have never shot it further to test it!

I am "NOT" recommending this load to anyone. Always start lower and work up to see what your rifle likes. FWIW, a person on this site told me "Retumbo" would be my best friend, and he was right. My 2nd favorite powder for the 338 is RL17.

 

[DennisH]

Also, the 6.5x47 and 260 were mentioned above.

The 260 is one of the best hunting rounds available. People consider it "Grandpa's" rifle, and want something new! Just like a Lincoln Town Car, the younger generation does not want this vehicle even though it was one of the best made during it's time.

Below is a target from my 6.5x47 Lapua shooting 123 grain Lapua Scenars @ 100 yards. It also easily a sub MOA rifle @ 600 yards if you are doing your job. Ammunition usually is readily available for the 260. Lower target is shooting 120 smk's. I built this rifle to shoot competitions, to heavy for hunting!

I am not recommending this load to anyone, always start lower and work up.

I guess I will add I tested barrels for a major barrel manufacturer for several years. This is why I have a collection of pictures. I have nowhere near shoot "all" calibers available, but all are very close to something!

Expect the same from a 260!

Both are sub MOA @ 600 yards.

The "target red dot" is the size of a pencil eraser on a #2 pencil.

4 shot group, 123 Scenars, 100 yards, sub MOA @ 100 yards.


Same rifle shooting 120 grain smk's @ 100 yards, 5 shot group, one of several targets.

 

[GSPV]

To each his own.

I have a 45-70 and a lightweight 338 Lapua (7 lbs +/- a few oz's), both for hunting. Sadly, my shoulder cannot handle either one. This is me, everyone and their rifles are different! The damage the 45-70 creates is unbelievable. Same with the 338 Lapua. I shoot 300 grain bullets in the 338, and 300 to 400 grain bullets in the 45-70. The 45-70 is almost 1/2 the speed of the 338!

Below is a target from my 338 @ "300" yards. These three shots will fit "within" the rim of a quarter! My 338 is very accurate, even past 800 yards. I state this as I have never shot it further to test it!

I am "NOT" recommending this load to anyone. Always start lower and work up to see what your rifle likes. FWIW, a person on this site told me "Retumbo" would be my best friend, and he was right. My 2nd favorite powder for the 338 is RL17.

View attachment 1073902

I made the 45-70 dis-recommendation because the OP asked for a cartridge with low recoil and 300 yard coyotes and whitetail.

The 45-70 is a fine cartridge for many situations. The OP’s isn’t one of them.

 

[Steve Ladino]

I am just getting back into reloading, but I am still a newbie so to speak. I have sold all of my rifles and I am looking for a new round. it would need to be low recoil, flexible, and forgiving when reloading. distance out to 300yds for whitetail, coyote.
I have been looking at .243, 6mm, 7mm-08,257 Roberts,300 savage, 30-30.

any suggestions would be appreciated

45-70 for fun and 7mm 08 for everything else

 

[hillbillydruggist]

To each his own.

I have a 45-70 and a lightweight 338 Lapua (7 lbs +/- a few oz's), both for hunting. Sadly, my shoulder cannot handle either one. This is me, everyone and their rifles are different! The damage the 45-70 creates is unbelievable. Same with the 338 Lapua. I shoot 300 grain bullets in the 338, and 300 to 400 grain bullets in the 45-70. The 45-70 is almost 1/2 the speed of the 338!

Below is a target from my 338 @ "300" yards. These three shots will fit "within" the rim of a quarter! My 338 is very accurate, even past 800 yards. I state this as I have never shot it further to test it!

I am "NOT" recommending this load to anyone. Always start lower and work up to see what your rifle likes. FWIW, a person on this site told me "Retumbo" would be my best friend, and he was right. My 2nd favorite powder for the 338 is RL17.

View attachment 1073902

sorry what is "retumbo"?

 

[DennisH]

sorry what is "retumbo"?

RETUMBO is a Powder like "Varget", RL17, H4350, etc.

I never heard of it until a person mentioned it to me. I tried it and love it in several of my rifles.

Dennis

 

[stacy]

That bullet is the most versatile 6mm bullet on the planet. I’ve killed a dump truck load of varmints and deer with it in a 243. I liked the 4350, but for some reason, H414 also shot very well for me.

WELL SAID H-414 IS MY FAVORITE IN 7 243'S WITH THOSE 85 BTHP

 

[Webster]

I am just getting back into reloading, but I am still a newbie so to speak. I have sold all of my rifles and I am looking for a new round. it would need to be low recoil, flexible, and forgiving when reloading. distance out to 300yds for whitetail, coyote.
I have been looking at .243, 6mm, 7mm-08,257 Roberts,300 savage, 30-30.

any suggestions would be appreciated

If you don't want to spend $700 for a custom barrel I would go for a 243 Win. definite no 30-30 for 200-300 yrds. A 270 WIN or 308 would work.