Rifle caliber suggestion

[stosh]

All the calibers mentioned will work on deer, if the shot placement is good and none will work if it's bad. Having said what you all know already know, I think it is a matter of personal preference. I like the 7mm rem mag, my reasons are that I also hunt mule deer and Antelope with it and the cartridge has enough energy and is flat shooting for the farther shots. I try not to shoot any more than 500 YDS but when you get out to 400 to 500 yds I think the 7rem mag allows for a little more tolerance of a non perfect shot and still killing humanely.

 

[GSPV]

Unless you need to buy factory ammo, an 8 twist 6 BR is going to be the easiest cartridge to load for the best accuracy for the game and ranges that you mention.

This is not some opinion that I’m pulling out of thin air. The 6 BR and its improved variants hold all of the applicable benchrest records at mid (and long) range.

It will not be the easiest to cartridge to buy a rifle for off the shelf at the LGS. But, you can order one. Easy peasy.

This is a 100 yard target on 8.5x11 paper from a big “varmint match” called the Wabash Cannonball. No wind flags, no sighters, grip and rip. It took me 15 mins to cook up this load. The 6 BR is just stupid easy to load for. Here is a link to this site’s page on the 6 BR. Some good recipes there.

http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/6mmbr/

Now, many cartridges will work for what you want. There might be reasons to go with something else. But from the pure accuracy and ease of reloading, there are objective, as opposed to subjective, reasons that the 6 BR is the *very* best.

As an aside, if you took the deer requirement off, I’d change this to a 6 PPC. Danged near impossible to find a factory rifle, no factory ammo, not as easy to load for. But what is the thrill of you limit yourself to factory rifles, factory ammo, and the like...you only live once.

 

[Matt_3479]

If it were me I’d definately go with a 6mm or 6.5mm. The 6.5 will have better energy and knock down power for whitetail, and better barrel life of target shooting is there. The 6mm will be faster and flatter shooter, more ideal for the coyote hunting aspect. Both will do awesome for either. I’m putting together a 6mm creedmoor now, and have a 260. Rem currently.

As far as 6.5 goes I’d look at 260. Rem, 260 ai, or 6.5 creed, and for 6mm I’d go 6mm creed, 6xc or even 6x47 Lapua

 

[blackwidowp61]

Looks like somebody put a Yogi lower body on a waxworm to get a politically correct target

(don't know what possessed me to put those two together...just how my mind runs...narrow gauge and often off the track!...just ask the wife)

 

[Dgd6mm]

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

Have you made a decision on a cartridge?

 

[hillbillydruggist]

Have you made a decision on a cartridge?

I think 243

 

[Dgd6mm]

I think 243

Excellent.

 

[GSPV]

I think 243

It’s an excellent choice for what you’re wanting.

Try the Sierra 85 grain HPBT Game King pushed with H4350 or H414. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve been wanting to try Reloder 16.

 

[Mark W]

It’s an excellent choice for what you’re wanting.

Try the Sierra 85 grain HPBT Game King pushed with H4350 or H414. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve been wanting to try Reloder 16.

I’m pushing those 85 HPBTs at 3100 FPS with IMR 4064. I haven’t shot any animals yet but it’s making excellent groups for a sporter weight 243. This is in a 1:10 Twist CZ 550 American.

 

[Drop Port]

GSPV said: ↑
It’s an excellent choice for what you’re wanting.

Try the Sierra 85 grain HPBT Game King pushed with H4350 or H414. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve been wanting to try Reloder 16.

I’m pushing those 85 HPBTs at 3100 FPS with IMR 4064. I haven’t shot any animals yet but it’s making excellent groups for a sporter weight 243. This is in a 1:10 Twist CZ 550 American.

This is good advice, that Sierra 85 is hard to beat for your goal of inside 300 yards, it kills way better than it should.

 

[EBaker]

Outstanding choice. Buddy of mine hunts with a .243 and it kills deer very well!