Which mid-caliber in which rifle?

Idfred

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I typically hunt with my 30-06 bolt action rifle and like to go to the range to practice with it as well. I plan on taking it on an elk hunt this fall. However I don't go elk hunting every year and as I get older am tiring of the recoil when practicing with this rifle.

I would like to buy a rifle that I could reliably use on deer but I don't want something close to the 30-06 in recoil.

I would like a gun that shoots a circa 120 grain bullet and list my order of preference as follows: .257 Roberts, .260 remington, 25-06, and 6.5 Swede.

If I go with the .257 Roberts, I have narrowed my search to two rifles; a Remington 700 CDL with a fluted stainless barrel and wood stock or a Ruger 1A light sporter. Both guns are limited edition models but are available NIB for circa $1,000.

Any thoghts or guidance would be appreciated.
 
6.5 swede will be the best choice. Get a M96 swedish mauser, they have great triggers and are MOA accurate with little to no tweaking.
 
Just a Thought, I know it's not on your list, but it's a pretty good step down in recoil with near identical ballistics of a 30-06 also if you put a limbsaver on you omost don't notice it at all. I'm talking about a .308 haha
 
Like you, I have used 30-06 for years. However, a couple of years ago one of my 270 fanatic friends talked me into trying one and it is a great caliber with less recoil than the 06.

About a year ago, another friend convinced me to try the 243 win and it is also a great caliber with very little felt recoil. My 243 is a Model 70 winchester with a Hogue stock and a great recoil pad. This caliber has killed many a deer and antelope based on what folks tell me. Personally, I have only been shooting the caliber and working on handloads for it.

Give it a try.
 
I had the same problem when I hit my 50s. I got a couple of 260s, a Ruger Compact and a Savage 16 WW. The Savage is remarkable. First six shots in 1.2" (3 in .579, 3 in .621). Low recoil and high performance. BTW, a 260 wil do everything a 243 and a 257 will.
 
If you deside on the 6.5/55 Swedish I just bought a howa 1500 very accurate rifle mine is a stainless steel with the synthetic stock .
So far it shoots the 140gr nosler with reloader 22. So far it has been sub moa and the recoil is great to the point that my 13 year old daughter prefers to shoot it over the
243 win .
Good luck in your rifle hunt.
 
How about the 6.5 Creedmoor? I have been reading alot of good stuff about it, but have no experience with it myself. I kind of have been wanting a good lite weight rifle in .260 or the 6.5 Creedmoor.
 
7mm-08-"270 lite" (well, .280) in all ways except very near equal capabilities 300 or so yds and under. Also, most of the goodness of its parent .308 without the shoulder push, but more capable/broader range of uses than its smaller .243 sibling. Also, more available "off the shelf" than many of the cartridges others have listed. A true "do all" short action wonder.
 
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All are good choices, the 25-06 would be the lest preferable to me because it is much closer to what you have. My personal preferece would be a 7mm-08, but I don't think any are a bad choice for your needs.
 
As far back as I can remember I have wondered why gun people wanted so many calibers. I mean, the '06 is great for anything in the Western Hemisphere right? And the best caliber for a pistol is the .45 ACP right? Magnums? We don't need no stinkin' magnums.

But, advancing age has me selling my boomers and buying .270 and .223 because of recoil. After reading the posts on this thread I finally understand why there are so many calibers. It's 'cause there are so many people.
 
I am a fan of the .308 based rounds and am of the opinion that you would be well served with any of these three cartridges - .243 win, .260 rem, or the 7mm-08. All perform well and are mild to shoot.

Just for fun also consider the 6mm remington, .250 savage, your above mentioned 257 roberts, and the 6.5 swede. all are excellent choices too, but are not nearly as common as the .308 based cartridges.
 
I'm a 270 guy,but a like to shoot 25-06 also,cant see 25-06 being heavy recoil more like a bump.my vote is 25-06.:D good luck
700 CDL is a good fit.
 
I would go with either the Swede or the 260 if it were on a short action.
I own a 25-06 and I am a gunsmith so I can make anything I'd like, but if I could go back in time, I would have built a 6.5 Swede instead of the 25-06.

Both are very good, but the 6.5X55 can do a bit more then the 25-06, and gives up nothing in return.
 
New site, however your post here piqued my interest as a I hunt with a 30-06 also (past 10 years). I to became uncomfortable shooting practice rounds out of it that would leave my shoulder bruised. es I practiced with the lightest rounds I could find. While at Academy sports once I noticed they had the Remington Managed Recoil, 125 grn SP for $17.98 a box and decided to pick some up. I is designed to zero at 150 yards. M
Let me tell you, my Stephens 200 recoils like a 22lr rifle shooting this stuff. Total wieght of my setup is maybe 6 lbs. Had a few friends shoot it with the managed recoil also and did not tell them the caliber until after they had shot it. They both ejected the shell and stare at the caliber casing head before they believed they had just shot a 30-06. So you know, one shoots a .270 and the other a .223. I save my Winchester 165 XP3 for Elk now.

So try some managed recoil before retiring it. To include it is perfect for deer/pig sized game with hardly any punishment.
 
You've mentioned the .260, but I'd like to submit a fourth vote for the 7mm-08. The 7mm has a fantastic variety of premium bullets available to it, if you're talking about elk I'd be completely confident in it.
 
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