What caliber for new rifle?

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David4516

David4516

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I'm thinking about getting a new rifle. This rilfe will most likely be a Ruger M77. I've also thought about getting a Winchester Model 70, but these days it seems like you can only find them in "WSM" calibers...

Anyway, I'd be using it mainly for deer hunting and target shooting. However, I may end up taking it elk hunting. I can handle recoil (I can shoot my dad's .338 WinMag pretty well), but I don't enjoy it, therefore I'm looking for something with medium or, even better, mild recoil. I'd also like something a little different. Everyone has a .30-06 or .308

There are several calibers I'm considering:

.257 Roberts
.25-06
6.5X55 Mauser
.260 Remington
7X57 Mauser
7mm-08
.280 Remington


I don't care about long vs short actions, I'll be happy with either. Just looking for something that will get the job done with as little recoil as possible. Accuracy is also an important factor. Ammo cost or availbility is not a factor.

As of right now, I'm leaning toward either 7mm-08 or .280, mainly because I can use a heavy bullet for larger game. This won't be the main pourpose of the rifle, but it would be nice to have that capability. I'm not sure a .257 sized bullet would be heavy enough for an animal the size of an elk. I think they only go up to 120 grains. But, with a .284 diameter bullet, I'm sure elk would be possible. If I were to go with a .284 round, I think accuracy would be the deciding factor. Will the average 7mm-08 outshoot the average .280? I've been told that cases based off the .308 tend to be more accurate than cases based on the .30-06, but I'm not sure if this is really ture...

The .264 diameter bullets have a better SD (better than .257 bullets anyway, the 7mm bullets have a pretty good SD) and you can get them in 160 grains, and everyone I've talked to who shoots a 6.5X55 or .260 loves it. Are these calibers capable to taking elk sized game? I know that if you're a good shot and you are close enough you can kill just about anything with a .22LR, but in a realisitic hunting situation, would a 6.5X55 or .260 be OK?

If .257 Roberts or .25-06 offers me some advantage on deer sized game that the larger calibers do not, I'd be willing to give up on the elk idea for now and go with one of these cailbers.


Anything you can tell me would be helpful, thanks in advance...
 
All of those would be fine for deer, If i were going to go elk hunting I would want the .338 or the 7x57 Mauser.

Why not just get a .338? It would handle deer without too much over-kill and would be perfect for elk.
 
I wouldn't choose the .257 or .25-06 for elk. They'll do the job, but I have more respect for the quarry than to use such a small caliber.

All your other choices are fine. The 6.5X55 is routinely used for moose in Scandanavian countries. The .260 Remington is ballistically identical to the 6.5X55 but in a short action format. Similarly the 7X57 and 7mm-08 are long and short action twins. And both are fine for elk.

The .280 Remington has a slight edge on the other cartridges, but not enough to matter.
 
If I were the one looking for ''something different'' I think I would go for the 7mm-08. It seems to be a very useful round and would certainly cover your requirements. I have liked what I have seen of it in the past.
 
I rather enjoy my 7mm-08
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Hopefully come October I'll be able to give a report on the effectivness of the 6.5x55 on Arizona cow elk. I'll be using Barnes 140gr XLC bullets handloaded to about 2700-2850fps (depending on accuracy). Platform is a CZ 550 American (23.6" tube).

A note on the .260 Rem. Most .260 rifles are set up for a max bullet weight of 140gr (standard lead core - the Barnes X bullets may be too long). Also, they typically have a twist rate of 1:9-10" vs the 1:7.7-9" for the 6.5x55. So, even if you reamed the throat of a .260 it may not have a fast enough twist rate to stabilize the 144-160gr bullets. That may make it a problem to try to use such a rifle for elk hunting where the penetration of heavy premium bullets is critical to making a humane kill.
 
Since you're including Elk, I'd go with a .280 rem, or maybe 7x57, since you're not requiring a short action. Both the .280 and the 7x57 can be loaded hotter than SAAMI in a modern bolt action if you like - the 7x57 factoring loadings are dumbed down quite a bit for old milsurps obviously, and the .280 is dumbed down a little because the original chamberings were weaker pump action rifles. But any of those would work well, cept the .25s may be slightly marginal for wapiti.

A note on the .260 Rem. Most .260 rifles are set up for a max bullet weight of 140gr (standard lead core - the Barnes X bullets may be too long). Also, they typically have a twist rate of 1:9-10" vs the 1:7.7-9" for the 6.5x55. So, even if you reamed the throat of a .260 it may not have a fast enough twist rate to stabilize the 144-160gr bullets. That may make it a problem to try to use such a rifle for elk hunting where the penetration of heavy premium bullets is critical to making a humane kill.
Click to expand...

Now there's some good info to have.
 
6.5x55 would be my choice. Handload to get the most out of it though.

There are a few guys around that have worked up some NICE loads for the old 6.5mm. A quick search should yield you all the info you want.
 
Thanks for the replys so far. I didn't know about the twist rates for the .260, thats good info...

Has anyone actually shot an elk or other large animal with any of these rounds? If so, how did it preform?
 
David4516;

Me, given the choices you put up, I'd take either the 6.5 Swede or the .280. Look at the sectional density of the .264 140 grain bullets for the Swede. You can just about put one of those thru a brick wall.

As Sumpnz stated, you do have to handload it to get all there is outta it. But, I got a Rem 700 classic in 6.5 Swede for my son's first centerfire rifle for his 16th birthday. There's no complaints about it after 10 years of use. It's highly accurate, very reasonable recoil, and effective as all get out.

900F
 
:D Guess I'm one of those guys who somehow manages to, 'muck through' with a good old standby 30-06. I always thought the reason so many hunters use this caliber is because it just plain works! Look at the wide range of bullet weights and configurations that are available for the 06! Coyote, elk, bear - the 30-06 can and does do it all. (Guess that's why I've always been a one rifle hunter!)

Every rifle has a particular twist rate that is optimized to a given bullet weight. (Sometimes bullet configuration, too) Anyway from the list of, 'high sex appeal' calibers you've mentioned my personal choice would be the 7mm-08. :cool:
 
I always preferred an Elk gun to start with a 3 or larger.

.30-06 and .308 being plentiful is part of their advantage. You'll never want for ammo. Every hardware store in the country has a box of .30-06 somewhere.
Rarer calibers are often hard to find, especially in the bonies.

Smoke
 
7X57 improved

If your willing to reload, get a 7X57 mauser and have it rechambered to the Ackley improved. it'll take anything you point it at, and it's different.
 
I would go with the 6.5 x 55. Never used it on an elk though (I have never even seen an elk, as I live in VA, and were not exactly overrun with them). I know a couple of people who are big fans of the 6.5's and take many deer with them. One of these guys has taken quite a few elk with a .264 winchester magnum. You may want to look into that.
 
SDM said:
I would go with the 6.5 x 55. Never used it on an elk though (I have never even seen an elk, as I live in VA, and were not exactly overrun with them). I know a couple of people who are big fans of the 6.5's and take many deer with them. One of these guys has taken quite a few elk with a .264 winchester magnum. You may want to look into that.
Click to expand...

The 6.5 is used on elg (pronounced "elk" and meaning "moose") in Scandanavia. I would think a 150 to 160 grain premium bullet would be great for elk.

Now, me, I shoot my elk with Bigfoot Wallace, my .35 Brown-Whelen, that drives a 225-grain Nosler PJ just over 2,800 fps.:p
 
If you’re going to include elk, I would go with one of the 7mm's. My personal favorite of the 7's is 7mm-08 if loaded with one of the 140 gr bonded core bullets it will do a fine job on an elk. If you forgo the elk and stick to deer and paper, I would opt for the .260 rem. or the .257 Roberts. The .257 Roberts is one of my all time favorite cartridges. My Current .257 is a plain jane Ruger 77 mkII and will consistently shoot .5" groups at 100 yards with an 87gr sierra SP and 42gr of IMR 4064. Many a deer have fallen to this loading and few if any have ever done anything but fold right where I have shot them.

Good luck with whatever you choose. A new rifle is always fun no matter what the chambering.
 
a man who wants a 257, 6.5 swede, a 7 08, or a 7 x57. BLESS YOU MY SON.

ALL will kill elk, the bob is a little light, but people kill elk with 243 all the time, or at least brag about it. I have seen moose killed with 6.5 Swede's. I think the 7 08 is terribly overlooked as a functional all around cartrige. and the 7x57 has killed every thing that walkes the earth too. is it first choice? nope but it will do the job. If you are shooting just deer, any of the cartrigdes will work. deer, antelope, and elk? chose the bigger three. Norma and Federal load +p loads for 257, 6.5 and 7 x57 with premium bullets if you do not handload. but a 6.5 160 grainer will just drill long holes in game.
 
I would have to vote for the 7mm-08 or .280

With either of these two rounds you have a good bullet selection to get the job done. I would stay a way from the .260 if animals larger than deer are in the future. I just sold my .260 because it only did an OK job on deer. I tried many different bullets and powders, but it never really KO'd them.

Between the .280 and the 7mm-08 I would pick the 7mm-08. I like short actions for hunting, although I realize this is not a big consideration for you. I have seen the .280 used with good effect on several deer and it hits them hard, puts them down and doesn't destroy much meat.

Hope this help you out.

Matt
 
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