Help me choose a caliber.

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CarJunkieLS1

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So I'm getting a fairly large bonus at work in a few weeks and I want another deer rifle. I already have a .270 Win, 30-06 and my wife has a .243. I have decided that I definitely want a 24" barrel and a caliber larger than a .243 but smaller than a .270 and .30-06. This rifle will be a deer rifle primarily with the occasional range trip just for fun and some practice. I handload for my guns so ammo availability isn't a real issue, but I'd like the option to find factory ammo should I ever need it.

Here is what I'm thinking I want something that shoots a 110-140gr bullet with less recoil than a .270 but more "punch" than the .243. I have some caliber choices in mind .25-06, 7mm08, .260 Remington in no particular order. I'd maybe prefer a short action cartridge over another long action but not positive on that. I've even thought about "loading light" a .308.

I'm open to all suggestions as far as caliber choice and even bullet choice. The rifle will need to be one that is factory made and not a custom rifle. Looking to spend ~$550 or less on rifle alone. Thanks for you advice and sorry for such a long winded post.
 
I think you should go with the .308. If I understand correctly, recoil is an issue and you want something short. Bolt action, I guess? Plenty factory ammo available, fun for the reloader (vast choice of bullets and recipies), a little less kick than your .270.
 
I went for a Rem 700 Ti in 7mm08 as a "my legs went and got old" rifle. 6.5 pounds with ammo, scope and sling.

Anyhow, messing around with it, I really like the cartridge. Call it a .308 with ten grains less bullet weight.

Through the years I've mostly hunted with a .243 and an '06. The 7mm08 is a stand-in for the much heavier '06. I figure that to 300 yards, it's plenty good enough.
 
Recoil isn't an issue at all for me. I guess I just want something that I can shoot and feel like its a "manly" caliber and if my wife ever steps up from the .243 I'll have a step up that won't kill her shoulder. She has a small frame 5'7" and 130lbs so her shooting my .270 or .30-06 are out of the question.

And I think that factory loaded .308 ammo will be to similar to what I already have.
Common factroy loads are
.308 (150gr-180gr)
.270 (130gr-150gr)
.30-06 (150gr-220gr)

If I was to load a 110gr-120gr bullet in any of the calibers I mentioned at around ~2800 fps it will be deadly on any whitetail deer I'll ever see out to 300yds and be easy on the shoulder also.
 
I've never shot one, but might 6.5x55 Swede be what you are looking for? Those who shoot them seem love them for being light recoiling, accurate, and killing all out of proportion to their numbers on paper. Just a thought.
 
OldBrownDog I have thought about the 6.5 Swede, but I can't seem to find one with a 24" barrel and the ones I find are alot more than I'm looking to spend.
 
Another vote for the 7MM08.It is a well kept secret but is a fine cartridge and will do anything a 308 will do with less powder and recoil and better balistics at longer ranges with whitetail loads.:evil:
 
my first thought before i even finished reading was .260. but the 7mm08 would be a fine choice as well.
 
I'm a huge fan of the 6.5mm calibers, so my first thought was a 260 Remington. But in your price range, I think the best quality rifles may be a couple of Howa models..the Ranchland Compact is available in 7mm-08 and the Gameking in 6.5 x55. Why do you want a 24" barrel?
 
I would go with 308w.There is a wide range of bullet weights,cheap and plentifull brass,they are very accurate,and extremely easy to reload.There are multiple powders that shoot very well in them,and they are very common,so it won`t be hard to find a relatively inexpensive rifle.
 
I don't really know why I want a 24" barrel all of my other rifles are 22" barrels and they do just fine, but with a 24" I get a little extra weight and velocity but the longer barrel will reduce recoil slightly in theory. I've narrowed it down to most likely 2 choices 7mm08 and 6.5x55. I may even pay msrp $537 for a 24" TC Venture in 6.5...decisions...decisions. I thought this was supposed to be easy. :)
 
My first thought was the 7mm08, it feels the gap nicely between the 270 and 30-06. Ballistically speaking the 7mm-08 140gr bullet performs equal to the 150 gr 308. This alone will provide you with less recoil. The 308 has the advantage at 100 yds in energy but by only a very short margin of 100 ft lbs. At longer distances the 7mm-08 quickly catches up with a plus or minus ten to 20lbs. At 500 yds the drop on a 7mm-08 is -42.5 inches vs -46 inches for the 308.
 
CarJunkieLS1 said:
I already have a .270 Win, 30-06 and my wife has a .243. I have decided that I definitely want a 24" barrel and a caliber larger than a .243 but smaller than a .270 and .30-06.
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You already have a .30 calibre
Any 7mm falls between the two and does not meet your criteria
6.5X55mm it has to be.

This rifle will be a deer rifle primarily with the occasional range trip just for fun and some practice. I handload for my guns so ammo availability isn't a real issue, but I'd like the option to find factory ammo should I ever need it.
Click to expand...
6.5mm, great deer rifle, punches well above its weight and is very good out at long range. As a handloader you can really maximise the 6.5mm.

Here is what I'm thinking I want something that shoots a 110-140gr bullet with less recoil than a .270 but more "punch" than the .243. I have some caliber choices in mind .25-06, 7mm08, .260 Remington in no particular order. I'd maybe prefer a short action cartridge over another long action but not positive on that. I've even thought about "loading light" a .308.
Click to expand...
My 6.5mm shoots a 120gr. Sierra Pro Hunter, 130gr. Accubond and 140gr, Sierra Game King all with equal ease, normally get 0.6MOA with any of those configurations.

I am not fan of "light loading" that effectively means that one should have actually bought another calibre to start with? Select the weight bullet for the prey, the speed you want to shoot it at and corresponding ballistic performance and then select the appropriate calibre.

I'm open to all suggestions as far as caliber choice and even bullet choice. The rifle will need to be one that is factory made and not a custom rifle. Looking to spend ~$550 or less on rifle alone. Thanks for you advice and sorry for such a long winded post.
Click to expand...
Don't know what they cost in the US but I have a CZ550 and would vouch for it.

Finally, your wife will easily shoot the 6.5mm and this will give her more options. As a deer hunter you will also experience minimal meat damage from the 6.5mm.

I load 130gr. Accubonds to 2 850fps and 140gr. SGK to 2 575fpd. The 140's are my most accurate loads but there is actually diddly squat to chose between the three loads (120gr included) regarding accuracy.

Personally I would lose the 24" fixation (you have a .270 that thunders along at a great rate of knots) buy the F/S CZ ar 22" and you have an awesome carry rifle with excellent terminal ballistics and one that you missus will also enjoy. When I bought my CZ in th24" configuration I was also velocity concious and subsequently made a poor decision, did not buy the FS. Have kicked myself ever since but will not change now as my current one is a tack driver.

CZ550FS.gif

How sexy is that huh?
 
only thing i have to say about 6.5x55mm is that .260 remington is ballistically pretty much identicle, but operates within a shorter action which opens up a much wider possibility of rifles.. if i was going to get behind any short action cartridge it would be the 260 remington
 
Ruger M77 Hawkeye in 6.5 Creedmore meets your criteria, except perhaps for price. Short action, 24" barrel, low recoil, ballistic twin to the 6.5mm Swede & .260 Rem and the cartidge is made to be reloader friendly with load data printed on the boxes of Hornady ammo.
 
I agree with all that Andrew Leigh wrote. By all means go for a CZ if you can swing it, but the street price on the standard or FS models is $850 +\-, and not much less for well maintained used.

I think the only 260 Rem offerings within the OPs price point are a couple of Savage models, with a Remington Model 7 being slightly more?
 
Well guys I think I made up my mind...a Savage Model 16 TH/XP. Accutrigger, Nikon scope, and stainless for $550. That leaves the money I'd spend on a scope for an aftermarket stock and ammo...I HATE savage synthetic stocks. Now I need bullet suggestions lol
 
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