Recommend a new rifle caliber for me

[Olympus]

Being from the midwest, I will forever be a fan of the 243 Winchester. There's no animal within 500 miles that I can't effectively take with the 243. I have shot this caliber off and on my whole life and I get a LOT more practice time with it because of the mild recoil. That being said, I think I'd like to pick up rifle in another caliber just to have, but I have a few parameters I'd like to stay within.

Firstly is recoil. I prefer a mild recoiling rifle, something that tends to "punch above its weight" so to speak. I'm a reloader, so I can tailor a bullet and powder combination to get the most out of a caliber. Personally, I think the 243 also punches above its weight also. I have a friend that usually helps with the deer cleaning and every year he makes a comment about how devastating the chest cavities are on the deer I shoot with my 243.

I hunt hardwood timber and most shots are under 200 yards. I'm not opposes to a lever gun, but as I get older my vision isn't as good as it used to be so scope is pretty much a must-have now. I could care less about ammo availability since I reload. I'm always drawn to unique, lesser known or lesser seen calibers. I've also gotten to be more of a synthetic stock guy for hunting rifles. My safe is full of blued/walnut rifles, but I have grown fond of the utilitarian synthetic stock for hunting rifles. But I'm always interested in suggestions. Thanks!

 

[Ru4real]

I suggest the 7mm-08 because it definitely punches above it’s weight and it’s soft shooting.

 

[stringnut]

Honestly , for what you want I cannot imagine anything better than your 243. Without going to much larger bullets , or case, all are going to be similar. A lot of people will hate me for this, but, my wife loves her 6.5 Creedmoor. However it is not a huge difference than your current favorite.

 

[troy fairweather]

I'd say get a 7mm something for new rifles a 7-08 will be the easiest to find except for the 7rm but more then you need. 7x57 or 280 are about perfect deer cartridges if you can find rifles.

 

[Obturation]

I'm going to throw out a suggestion but not exactly what you're looking for. Pistol caliber carbine. Something like a 357 magnum or 44 magnum. Either will have mild recoil and gain considerable performance from the longer barrel. 200 yards is possible but you'll have to do your part. I was pleasantly surprised by the power and accuracy I can squeeze out of my 77/357, gets close to rifle energy and cartridges are inexpensive and simple to load, brass is common and lasts a long time plus you'll save powder with the smaller case .

I haven't hunted with my 77/357 but I'm confident I could cleanly take deer or smaller critters out to 100 yards + without an issue and recoil is nothing.

Just putting that out there.

 

[JJFitch]

What cartiges do you have now?

What game?

Are you interested in "precision rifle"?

Smiles,

 

[Charlie98]

.45-70 with Trapdoor-level loads.

 

[someguy2800]

An AR15 in 6.5 timberwolf

An AR15 in 6mm ARC

A Thompson Center Encore in 6mm or 6.5 JDJ

 

[Spclk]

.25-06

 

[bihj]

257 Roberts. You'll wonder why you haven't already tried it.

 

[jmr40]

If it ain't broke why try to fix it?

If you want something out of the mainstream something like the 257R, 7X57, 260, or 6.5X55 meet your parameters. Although 7X57 might be getting close to being too much recoil.

If you want to stay with commonly available cartridges 6.5CM, 7-08 and 308 are the top 3. Although both 7-08 and 308 might be getting close to your recoil limits. Especially in a lighter rifle. The 6.5CM has been outselling everything for several years for a reason. Recoil is between 308 and 243, but closer to 243. It shoots bullets in the 140-150 gr range making it a better choice for game bigger than deer than your 243. There are hunters who use 24 and 25 caliber cartridges to kill elk every year, but I'd feel better with the ability to shoot a heavier bullet than you can get with the 24's and 25's. A 26 caliber 140 gr bullet is as small as I'd feel comfortable with on game that size.

There is a lot of irrational hatred for the 6.5CM on the internet but is just works. I've had a chance to own or shoot 5-6 different rifles in 6.5CM. Every single one of them was more accurate than any other rifles I've ever fired. Strictly for hunting or strictly for target shooting you can do better, at least on paper. But if you want to play around with longer range informal paper punching and hunt with the same rifle the 6.5CM is an ideal dual-purpose hunting/target round.

 

[dh1633pm]

458 Winchester Magnum would be my worst guess, but comes to mind when you mention low recoil. Funny how I my thought run opposite.

If it ain't broke why try to fix it?

Like JMR said "If it ain't broke why try to fix it?" There are a lot of calibers that fit the bill, but you already have one of those. You could go with 6.5 CM or if your hunting is like our woods hunting in NY, maybe a 30-30 that would allow a top mount scope. I use a 45-70 for this type of hunting. Keep in mind that for deer, you can load it down for mild recoil. At least that's what I do. 4x Shotgun scope rides on top.

 

[someguy2800]

If it ain't broke why try to fix it?

If you want something out of the mainstream something like the 257R, 7X57, 260, or 6.5X55 meet your parameters. Although 7X57 might be getting close to being too much recoil.

If you want to stay with commonly available cartridges 6.5CM, 7-08 and 308 are the top 3. Although both 7-08 and 308 might be getting close to your recoil limits. Especially in a lighter rifle. The 6.5CM has been outselling everything for several years for a reason. Recoil is between 308 and 243, but closer to 243. It shoots bullets in the 140-150 gr range making it a better choice for game bigger than deer than your 243. There are hunters who use 24 and 25 caliber cartridges to kill elk every year, but I'd feel better with the ability to shoot a heavier bullet than you can get with the 24's and 25's. A 26 caliber 140 gr bullet is as small as I'd feel comfortable with on game that size.

There is a lot of irrational hatred for the 6.5CM on the internet but is just works. I've had a chance to own or shoot 5-6 different rifles in 6.5CM. Every single one of them was more accurate than any other rifles I've ever fired. Strictly for hunting or strictly for target shooting you can do better, at least on paper. But if you want to play around with longer range informal paper punching and hunt with the same rifle the 6.5CM is an ideal dual-purpose hunting/target round.

Its pretty hard to dislike once you've actually tried one.

 

[Oldschool shooter]

I'm a big fan of the 6.5x55. It doesn't beat you up and will take anything the Midwest has to offer game wise.

 

[rabid wombat]

I really like the 6.5x55, 7x57, and 257 Roberts answers above. If I was looking, I would copy Chuck Hawk’s data into a spreadsheet and filter it…see what fills your needs…

https://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

Step into the wild side, and go 257 Ackley Improved

 

[rabid wombat]

I'm not opposes to a lever gun

Two I REALLY want: 25-35 and 38-55…no luck finding the weapon as of yet….

 

[dcloco]

6.5x55

 

[Charlie98]

If you want to stay with commonly available cartridges 6.5CM, 7-08 and 308 are the top 3. Although both 7-08 and 308 might be getting close to your recoil limits. Especially in a lighter rifle. The 6.5CM has been outselling everything for several years for a reason.

There is a lot of irrational hatred for the 6.5CM on the internet but is just works.

I've shot a 6.5CM Ruger side by side with my .308 Savage model 10... there is no comparison, the 6.5 is simply easier to shoot, and easier to shoot well. It happens to be the darling of the dance at the moment, but there is good reason for it, even if it is a lateral cartridge from others already established, just maybe not so popular.

I like my .308, and I will continue with it, but if I was picking a new rifle and cartridge combo tomorrow... the 6.5CM would be pretty high on that list.

 

[Armored farmer]

I will suggest my current favorite is this 7.62x39.
I'm not sure it punches above its weight, but is mild recoil and good at 200yds.

 

[Slamfire]

You have so many choices. If there were deep throated 257 Roberts around, that would be dynamite. I have a pre 64 with the short magazine conversion parts removed and the factory throat is way out there. I can seat the bullet out to 3.00 inches and feed them from the magazine. And that is just great, I can get more powder in the case, get more velocity, without jacking pressures, and the cartridge is great.








there happens to be lots of used 257 Robert rifles out there, I have a Ruger M77. All it needs is a reamer to be run into the chamber to increase the throat, the magazine box will take a 7mm Mauser length round. The 257 Bob is based on the 7mm case. My Ruger is an early one, tang safety, faux controlled round feed. It has a Mauser looking extractor, but it is actually a push feed. Bad idea as the extractor will eventually break and they are unobtainable.

Or this, find a 6.5 X 55 rifle.





The recoil is lower than a 308 Win, very accurate. Guys who use it say it does everything they want.







this rifle did not like Rem Core Lokt's



this rifle did:





Loved SMK’s.




you go shoot a feather weight rifle, the things are so light, the whole rifle moves at trigger release!

Lacking a 6.5 X 55, why not the 6.5 Creedmoor? It is the latest and greatest, and has taken off. And, from those who use it, it is a great cartridge.

 

[Hugger-4641]

When I bought my wife a rifle for her entry into deer hunting a few years ago, I ended up getting her a 6.5 Creedmoor for many of the reasons you mentioned.
I considered 243, .270, and 7mm-08. I made the right choice with the 6 5 . Here were my main three deciding pro's for the 6.5cm :

1. Availability. Like the 9mm pistol, it's just so popular that ammo and rifles chambered in it are more plentiful than just about anything else.

2. Recoil-not any better than a .243, but not worse. Definitely better than .270

3. Bullet choice- there is a wide range of bullets available, but 6.5 cm shines in the 120 to 160gr range , with my favorite so far being the 143eldx. The the longer bullet and better B.C. make it shoot a little flatter with less recoil and less powder used. This gives it an edge over the typical bullets for .270 and .243.
When I looked at all these objectively, the 6 5cm came out on top despite dislike from many of my cohorts.

 

[Eagle103]

6.5 Grendel in an AR-15. Will work on any deer inside of 200 yards, almost no recoil and a whole lot of fun.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

OP are you against using a wildcat cartridge? If not I really suggest you dig into the 7mm Valkyrie AR or the already mentioned 6.5 Timberwolf.

If you'd like something slightly more mainstream and not in an AR-15 then 7mm08 is my choice followed next by 6.5x55.

And as much as I don't want to admit it, in a bolt action "mini action" or in an AR-15 the 6.5 Grendel makes alot of sense for your purposes.

 

[BigBlue 94]

You can get a howa 1500 barreled action in 6.5 Grendel from brownels for about $450. Slap it in a stock with a scope and you are set to 400 yards.

I like the 7x57 and 257 Bob suggestions as well. Another old classy round with mild recoil is the 300 Savage.

 

[Mycin]

I'm always drawn to unique, lesser known or lesser seen calibers.

How about 260 Remington, then? It has been eclipsed by the 6.5CM, but ballistics suggest they're basically equivalent until you start reaching way out there and need the higher BC bullets that the Creedmore supports.