Dr T
Member
A Tikka T3 in either of 6.5 CM OR 308 would fit the bill. For some reason, my Tikkas (and T/C Venture and Icon) have been more accurate than my Ruger American.
A good hunting/target rifle
- Thread starter Jbird45
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hossfly
Member
Ha. I have an old 95 Mauser I bought 30ish years ago I had notions of making a project out of. A little researched showed the juice wasn't worth the squeeze. Nothing has really changed. You'll spend more on that old clunker than just buying one.
robert4301
Member
308 gets my vote for what you're after. Nice long barrel life with plenty of power and accuracy. Plus, since you hand load, 308 can use nearly any 30cal. bullet you can get. 6.5 cm's use a fairly fast twist that works best with 140-ish bullets. I also have some overbore barrel burners that take lots of cooling time and I go to the range to shoot, not wait. In warmer weather I take three rifles. Maybe one barrel burner, one non barrel burner and one rifle with reduced loads.
I use a Lyman Cast Bullet guide and just load jacketed bullets using cast data (yes, you can do this). Today I brought a Howa 223 with 60gr V Max loaded with 9.5 to 10.5 grains of AA#9. Very accurate, low recoil, and I could fire 20-25 rounds fairly quickly with minimal barrel heating. 308 is also huge fun with cheap bullets at 1500-2000 fps. I actually got a 100 yard 9/16" group from a Howa 308 with a 150 gr Berry's plated bullet with 22.0 of AA5744, about 1900fps.
I use a Lyman Cast Bullet guide and just load jacketed bullets using cast data (yes, you can do this). Today I brought a Howa 223 with 60gr V Max loaded with 9.5 to 10.5 grains of AA#9. Very accurate, low recoil, and I could fire 20-25 rounds fairly quickly with minimal barrel heating. 308 is also huge fun with cheap bullets at 1500-2000 fps. I actually got a 100 yard 9/16" group from a Howa 308 with a 150 gr Berry's plated bullet with 22.0 of AA5744, about 1900fps.
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Skylerbone
Member
My choice would be 6.5 Creedmoor. Debate about old or new or rebranded makes no difference when it comes to ballistics and availability both of which Creedmoor has. Whether it’s BC or wind drift the 6.5 simply wins.
Add a muzzle brake and recoil is nearly eliminated so you can see your hits, and I’d argue that in practical terms barrel life should be neck and neck with .308
If you don’t need a bolt action, build an AR. A few charts to peruse.
Add a muzzle brake and recoil is nearly eliminated so you can see your hits, and I’d argue that in practical terms barrel life should be neck and neck with .308
If you don’t need a bolt action, build an AR. A few charts to peruse.
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Jbird45
Member
Thanks for the charts. Those are some pretty convincing numbers.
Do you think an AR is as accurate as a bolt gun?
Sounds like fun and great accuracy potential, but brass could be expensive or difficult to find/create. I'm not in that circle, so don't know.
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Jbird45
Member
I like the Ruger American predator. I know it's not an expensive rifle but it has some nice features. I like it has thicker than standard barrel but not a bull barrel. I don't want a bench gun but I don't need an ultra lightweight mountain rifle either.
If I were to jump up the chain I have drooled over the Browning x bolt hells canyon. I don't know why I am drawn to it, but I liked the feel of the stock and the look of the gun. I'm sure there are better rifles in the $1200 range, but I always liked that one.
I have narrowed down that I want a 6.5 Creedmoor or a .308, I ruled out the .270. I guess it comes down to now do I want the barrel life of a .308 or the performance and lower recoil of a 6.5.
The only other factor, and this being exclusive to myself, is I was reading an article last night that the 6.5 Creedmoor will do everything the .264 win mag will do with slightly lower velocity, less powder, and 3 times the barrel life. I think it would be cool to basically buy a modern day version of my grandfather's rifle I cherish so much, but that is strictly for nostalgia and personal reasons, and not performance.
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Jbird45
Member
That is a concern as well. Brass for the 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 are readily available at my LGS, but I have never seen 6mm BR, but in all honesty I never looked either.
It looks like an amazing round, buy I am just not sure it is right for me.
Nothing wrong with the Preds, or Americans in general, they are my favorite cheap rifle. Ive had 5 now and liked every one. I dont own but one right now, but each of the ones thats gone, got traded or sold to get something two, three, or even four times the cost.
I dont regret any of those deals, but id have been just as well off with the Americans.
Theres also nothing wrong with thr HC Xbolt. Your paying for some extra features, and a slick paint job, but those are where the cost is these days. Eventually Id like to get one....honestly Ive never forgiven browning for discontinuing the Abolt II, so never REALLY considered an Xbolt, but if i do the HC and the maple stocked Medallion are really the two im interested in.
FL-NC
Member
I have one of these, and I really like it. I get 1" or better groups at 100 yards with it, using Federal nontypical whitetail- 140 grain SP. This round is about $17 a box at academy sports. I killed my last buck this season with it. I have another hunting rifle (700 in 243) but I would be just fine if the Ruger was the only one I had.
Skylerbone
Member
I think for any shooting activity short of counting Xs they’re very close with a good barrel. I’ve been researching BHW by suggestion as a reasonable cost/elevated performance option and that’s probably where I’ll spend my money once I pick a caliber.
The biggest hurdles in my mind with accuracy from an AR are getting people to buy a decent barrel and loading to the length allowable by the magazine. Shooting factory FMJ from a $60 Bear Creek barrel might get you in the 1-2 MOA range but good hand loads and a better barrel should half that number.
Captcurt
Member
I can attest to this. I had three Creedmoors at the same time. The Predator shot better than my Vanguard from the start. It took awhile to find a load that my Bergara liked, but I finally found one that would shoot with the Ruger. What surprised me was the fact that the Ruger didn't care what I put through it. I had 4 different loads that would do 1/2 MOA when I did my part. Like an idiot I sold the Ruger and kept the Bergara. It is heavier and wears a 6X18 scope. With it I have shot a 3 shot group at 500 Yards that measured 2 1/2" with 2 of them in the black of a 6" bull. The Ruger with a 4X12 power was lighter and took deer out to 300 yards, but I never shot it at our 500 yard range.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Another vote for the 6.5 Creedmoor, even though I don't own one. I was a .308 fan for years, but have gravitated to 6.5 and 7mm for most things, though my "6.5" is a .260 Remington. The 6.5 Creedmoor will do everything you want with less recoil than the .308.
Nature Boy
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Lapua cranks out a lot of 6BR brass and will keep doing so as the 6BR variants (6 Dasher, 6BRX, 6BRA, etc) continue to gain in popularity across the major precision shooting sports
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Jbird45
Member
I have been really happy with my Ruger handguns, so maybe I will go with the predator. I can use the $700 I save to buy a good scope and accessories.
Of course if I was going to spend $1200 I could always consider the Ruger precision rifle too. Although not much of a hunter, it would be fun at the range.
If I could pick any rifle in the world right now I would buy an original Winchester 1886 in .45-70. I love the look and elegance of them. I'm a sucker for lever guns, even though I already have a model 94 and a 1895
I've got a Savage BA10 stealth in 6.5 creed.
It shoots great. I love the 6.5.
I also love my Remington .308 in a KRG chassis. She'll pop clay pigeons at 500 if i do my part.
So if given the choice between the two...I'd pick...yes (or both).
It shoots great. I love the 6.5.
I also love my Remington .308 in a KRG chassis. She'll pop clay pigeons at 500 if i do my part.
So if given the choice between the two...I'd pick...yes (or both).
Skeptic13
Member
I am a big fan of the .308. Ammo is very plentiful and reasonably priced. I reload .308 and there is a wide range of bullet weights and types that you can choose from. .308 may not be the best caliber at any single task but it does everything you need it to do well. The other calibers are also good choices but I just don't think you can beat the versatility of .308.
George P
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Back in 1980, I bought a "sporterized" Swede with a carbine length barrel, Williams peep sight and 200 rounds of Berdan Swedish/Norma ammo for $55. Had a gunsmith redo the bolt and put a 4X Burris (US) scope on it. That thing shot 1" 3-shot groups with 120 Sierra SPBT. It was dated 1907. That was a sweet gun and one I probably should have kept for grins and giggles
BigBL87
Member
I'd vote 308 as well for the slightly better barrel life and out to 500 yards with comparable loads it should have as much as or more energy than 6.5 Creedmoor. I think you'd be happy with either though, and the 6.5 will be lighter recoiling.
gotboostvr
Member
I'm a long time dyed in the wool 308win guy.
... but, if I was adding another caliber for general purposes, it'd be a 6.5 Creedmoor.
... but, if I was adding another caliber for general purposes, it'd be a 6.5 Creedmoor.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
The 1886 is a nice lever. I had one of the newer ones with the tang safety. It shot great
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