Need help with caliber of new bolt rifle!

B

blacksky

New member
This process has been dragging on for the past 3 weeks or so. Everytime I make up my mind something or someone changes it.

First I was going with the 6.5G then the 6.5X47 Lapua, then I came to the 6.5 Creedmoor, then was put on to the 260 Remington, then back to the 308Now I'm on to the 6.5 Norma 284.

Help! My head is spinning... :p

I go to the range every Wednesday. I can shoot from 50 to 1000 yards there.
This will be a dual purpose rifle. Any hunting will be preditors up to deer.

The rifle I am talking about in this post is the same one that I have been rambling on about in several other posts over the past weeks.

When it comes down to the caliber I think I'm going to throw them all in hat and just draw one out! LOL!!! :eek:
 
Personally if I had access to a 1000yd range, I'd lean towards the .308. But then again I've always liked the cartridge anyway.

Stu
 
.308 for a couple reasons. Ammo is available wherever you are. Try finding 6.5 Creedmoor the night you arrive at hunting camp. It is plenty capable to take anything up to deer and has ammo commercially available suited for anything between varmint and deer.
 
If I was going to build a new rifle in the deer to varmints class, I would have to go with the 6.5x06. re-load only. but then I do. craig boddington likes it?
 
help with caliber of new bolt rifle!

"This process has been dragging on for the past 3 weeks or so. Everytime I make up my mind something or someone changes it."

Forget those 6.5mm cartridges, you need a 6.8 SPC:D, it is superior to everything:rolleyes: (at least if you read the internet BS)


"First I was going with the 6.5G..."

As much as I like the Grendel, it was designed as a "workaround" for the limitations of the AR-15 rifle.

In the AR-15 or another rifle with extra short action length it is a GREAT cartridge.

For a rifle with a longer action there are better cartridges...


"...then the 6.5X47 Lapua, then I came to the 6.5 Creedmoor, then was put on to the 260 Remington..."

Don't think there is much difference in the actual performance of any of these cartridges.

What makes a difference is more than exact performance...

For a non-handloader, I'd say the .260R is by far the best choice due to having the most difference in factory loadings available.

The 6.5 Creedmore is not far behind with 5 different loads but its limitation is that ALL are from Hornady...

The 6.5 Lapua is always going to have 2 disadvantages, high costs and few factory loads.

For a handloader all 3 have the same excellent selection of bullets and can be loaded close enough to each other not to matter.


"Now I'm on to the 6.5 Norma 284."

I think this cartridge falls into another class for 2 reasons.

First, I think of it more as more of a "specialty" cartridge. Although it can be used for other purposes, it is made for long range shooting.
(Kind of sounds like the 6.5G vs. 6.8 arguement! We both know a LR cartridge can be used at other ranges)

Second, it needs a long action which moves it into another class than the .260R, Creedmore and Lapua. I see it more as a 6.5-06 competitor.


"...then back to the 308..."

Again, I'm just expressing my views but I don't see these 6.5mm cartridges as a replacement for the .308W. I see it as a "supplement".

For me the .223R and .308W are "must have" cartridges. This leaves a HUGE gap.

To "fill the gap" I have gone to the 6.5mm cartridges.

Actually the 6.5mm is almost perfect at this.
(.224" + .308" = .532". .532" / 2 = .266" or almost exactly the diameter of 6.5mm bullets!)

T.

__________________
By the choices we make, we define ourselves, thereby revealing what we truly care about.
 
(Hey everybody, want to see Blacksky get really flustered?)

Blacksky, have you put much thought towards going Ackley Improved on either the .308, 7-08, or .260?
 
(Hey everybody, want to see Blacksky get really flustered?)

Blacksky, have you put much thought towards going Ackley Improved on either the .308, 7-08, or .260?
Click to expand...

You Sir, are a bad man. ;)
 
To "fill the gap" I have gone to the 6.5mm cartridges.

Actually the 6.5mm is almost perfect at this.
(.224" + .308" = .532". .532" / 2 = .266" or almost exactly the diameter of 6.5mm bullets!)
Click to expand...

He he. I went through the same math just a year ago when I started getting into rifles for the first time. .223, 6.5x55 Swede and .308 are my choices as well. I also have .30-30 and 7.62x39 for short range performance, but those were "chosen" because of the firearms, not ballistics. I like my Vz.58 and Marlin 336. :D

Other than .22LR of course, I don't see a need for any other rifle cartridges. I don't imagine I will need anything more powerful than .308 in my life, but if I did, I would choose ONE medium-bore rifle. No need for more than that.
 
Go with the 308

Its a nice round, generally you can have a shorter barrel without lost accuracy and you can Shoot the military 7.62x51 therefore your round can be readily available in most places even in a shtf situation.
 
If you handload, and if you can afford to buy 500+ cases, then I'd recommend the 6.5 Creedmoor. The case was designed as an accurate long-range round, and the 6.5 mm bullets are the best combo of killing power, light recoil and ballistic coefficient. The only downside is that it may go belly up, and if you don't have enough cases then you could be in trouble. With enough cases to last you, who cares if it stops being produced?
 
OK guys I did it... I made up my mind... well sort of

I made up little tabs of paper with each caliber on them, closed my eyes and drew one from a hat. It was the 6.5 Creedmoor. So I threw them all back together and drew again and it was the same again. I think that it was meant to be! So off to Blueline Ammo I went and ordered a Savage 12 LPR. I also bought 2 boxes of these to break it in... :)

6.5 Creedmoor Hornady Match A-Max 120 Grain 3050 fps

6.5 Creedmoor Hornady Superformance SST 129 Grain 2950 fps

I'm sure glad that's over... :eek:
 
Went through the same process and I chose the 260. Reasoning: The 6.5-284 comes from Savage in a 22" 116, and a 26" LR Hunter (weighs 9#). There is a significant price difference in brass, so what is the performance difference? About 100-150fps.
 
6.5 Creed, .260, 7mm-08, and 6.5 Swede are all similar enough that you could probably never tell the difference if you were put behind the trigger.

6.5 x47 Lapua is a barrel burner.

Just go with the hat idea. Seriously.
 
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