Target rifle caliber?

[wiscoaster]

I'm starting to toy with the idea of aquiring a bolt-action precision target-shooting rife, maybe a Ruger Precision or something on that order. Any input on what caliber I should look for is appreciated. If the Ruger, I'm thinking .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor. Thoughts on which? I'm swayed to those two calibers because I've been noticing they're likely to be in stock locally. My current rifles are milsurps in various calibers, AR-15's in 5.56 and 300 AAC, AK-47 and SKS, and various rimfires, all of which are used only on the range for target shooting. I'd be shooting maybe a max of 300 yds. So that's where I'd be coming from.

 

[redneck2]

What’s your definition of “precision”?

Asking for precision and being limited to LGS inventory seems counterintuitive to me.

I have multiple factory rifles that shoot sub 1/2” with handloads. One is a target quality AR. None of the others are .308. That would be about 100th on my list of calibers. Not that it’s not capable of accuracy, but why beat yourself up with a .30 caliber when there are other options?

 

[wiscoaster]

What’s your definition of “precision”?

Ahhh ... good question!! Hitting the red part of the target at 300 yds 9 times out of 10, w/ scope ... 10x - 12x, and benchrested.

 

[GooseGestapo]

6mm Creedmoor
Mail order ammo off internet.

 

[redneck2]

Uhhhhh....how big is “the red part”?

 

[Legionnaire]

@GooseGestapo beat me to it. If I were buying/building a dedicated target rifle, it would be a 6mm Creedmoor. No need for the recoil from a .308 or even a 6.5 if all you're doing is punching paper or ringing steel.

Actually, if 300 yards is your limit, there's no reason not to use a .223.

 

[wiscoaster]

Uhhhhh....how big is “the red part”?

Now ... that's what I call PRECISION!!! I suppose my usual target bullseye is 1x2 inches. (I just measured my last Birchwood-Casey Shoot-N-C) But just call it "2x2" to make it symmetrical.

 

[db_tanker]

you can always try to find an old savage rifle someone is wanting to sell...and rebarrel it to whatever your hearts desire is. I've been able to do it with an old Stevens 200 (pre-accutrigger Savage rifle) in 270. New ER Shaw 6.5 Swede Mauser 26" stainless barrel. An old walnut stock from Numrich. A few tools here and there...headspace go/no go gauges...it sounds like a lot for some...but all in all its an awesome experience. Now I just need to clean up the wood. Currently looks like an old mil-surp stock that marched all the way to Germany

 

[wiscoaster]

Hmmm ... pics of mentioned rifle?

Re: .308, so difference in accuracy not a factor? Then cost of ammo would be the main decider?

 

[rayatphonix]

I’ve got rifles in both calibers, plus a 6 CM. Compared to 308 high quality 6.5 CM ammo seems to be less expensive and available from many suppliers. Or it was. These days, there’s no telling. The 6 CM has very little recoil, which is nice, however I think it will be some time before the ammo supply is as widespread as either the 308 or 6.5. Barrel life greatly favors the 308 with the 6.5 in the middle. If you’re planning on shooting a lot, the 6 CM will wear out a barrel much faster. That said, you’ll still get 1000+ shots which is more than most rifles ever see.

Most precision rifles come with a good brake, so recoil on the 308’s is somewhat mitigated, but the same is true of both CMs. My point is I can shoot lots of 308 and not develop a flinch. The advantage of the CMs is my scope stays on target. That means more hunting than at the range, at least to me.

My range goes out to 600 yards with 800 yards in the near future. My 308 gets the most use simply because I’m trying to learn how to read the wind and shoot long distances. The 308 has more drop and is more affected by wind so I figure I’ll learn a little faster. The fact that the barrel will last a long, long time is an added advantage. I reload so ammo cost is similar for all three.

If I had to choose only one, it would be the 6.5 CM. Barrel life favors that over the 6 CM.

 

[browningguy]

For a short range gun (300 yards or less) a 7 or 8 twist .223 running 75-77 gr. bullets or a 6.5 Grendel with 120-129 gr. loads is the way I would go. You can get them in a small action bolt rifle and recoil is very mild.

 

[wiscoaster]

Recoil doesn't bother me. (Try shooting an M95 Steyr-Mannlicher carbine). Flat trajectory would be what I want. 300 yds would be the starting range. If I can master that, I'd want to stretch it out. But not to have to get another rifle or re-barrel the one I have. It sounds like the consensus between the two choices is 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[horsemen61]

I’d go with the 6.5 Creedmoor! It to me is a dang near perfect round!

 

[jmr40]

No brainer, 6.5 CM over 308. At best the 308 MIGHT be equally accurate, but for your intended uses the 6.5 does everything better. I've had 308 for years and like it. But I've also had a chance to either own, or shoot 6 different 6.5 CM rifles made by 3 different manufacturers, Ruger Predator, Tikka and Bergara. Every single one of them was more accurate than any 308 I've ever owned.

Recoil is closer to 243 than 308. While the 308 is normally considered a light recoiling rifle, especially from heavy rifles, the difference does add up if you're going to shoot more than a handful of rounds in a range session.

But at only 300 yards 223 does make more sense. Ammo is even cheaper, even the good stuff. Recoil is 1/2 what you'd get with 6.5 CM and about 1/3 of 308.

 

[horsey300]

Recoil doesn't bother me. (Try shooting an M95 Steyr-Mannlicher carbine). Flat trajectory would be what I want. 300 yds would be the starting range. If I can master that, I'd want to stretch it out. But not to have to get another rifle or re-barrel the one I have. It sounds like the consensus between the two choices is 6.5 Creedmoor.

6.5 grendel, 6 cm, .243, .224 valk, fast twist .22-250, it's not just how much recoil you can TOLERATE but also how much your gun moves when the bangswitch activates. I'd even like a 7 or 8 twist .223 to 600 yds. .22s and 6mms take the top shelf.
Eta in a couple weeks I'll throw up some results of my kid's .22-250 with some slippery bullets.

 

[Legionnaire]

Once my range reopens, I need to get my 22-250 AI tuned.

 

[Pivot Dr]

260 Remington or 7-08 Remington and I also have 22Br, 223, 222, 22-250, 243, 6mm RemAI, 308, and a couple wildcats (among others) that all shoot very well indeed. If I really want to drop them all in there under any conditions, hot, cold, windy, bad mirage, etc. I’ll take the 260 or 7-08 every time. My 260 is an improved chambering and until I built it it was hands down the 7-08.

 

[jleyring]

If youre staying at 300 yds I would say a 223 would be great. Ammo is inexpensive and there is little recoil, so you can shoot all day. You can learn good habits and improve all without breaking the bank. You could get an inexpensive heavy barrel varmint rifle and upgrade stock and trigger. That would be cheaper then buying the Ruger precision.

 

[rayatphonix]

Wisecoaster, I believe that’s a very good choice. Earlier this year I joined a range with the goal of learning to shoot well at longer distances. I began my work at 200 yards and worked up from there. I’ve gained enough confidence that I consider 300 yards simple and practice at 400 & 500 yards now. The Creedmoor can take you however far you want to go. Have fun.

 

[Ks5shooter]

I have a Ruger RPR in .243 and can shoot 300 yards all day with handloaded 103 gr Hornady ELD-X .

 

[wiscoaster]

I already have rifles that shoot .223 / 5.56, and can hit a six-inch gong at 200 yds with a 6x scope, so this would have to be a step up from that to be a challenge. 300 yards would be the next level, but that would be the starting point for the project rifle in the project caliber, moving up to 500 yards, so I'm pretty well convinced by the comments here that 6.5 Creedmoor would be the best choice.

The other day at the 200 yd range I was shooting one of my AR's and my Carcano. I noticed that when hitting the largest gong the 55 grain .223 bullet made a teeny little "plink" I could barely hear, and it didn't even budge the gong. Whereas the 139 grain 6.5 bullet made a satisfyingly loud "GONG!!" and it made the gong swing 60 degrees around its hanger's axis.

So, no, not the .223, for this project anyway, but thanks.

 

[Project355]

Only 300 yards? And at targets... You'd probably be happy with almost any heavy barrel varmint bolt action, and something like 22-250, or even .223.

 

[wiscoaster]

500 yds is the farthest I can shoot without driving some distance, so starting at 300 and working up to 500 yds is the range goal for this project. I have milsurps that have sights ranged out to 1500 meters, and capable of sending a bullet that distance, but obviously ridiculous to think of me actually trying to do that. Same philosophy for a new rifle. Get one whose sweet spot is what it's intended to be used for, not its max, which will never be used.

 

[Legionnaire]

So 6mm Creedmoor gets my nod.

 

[Project355]

In that case you can do a similar heavy varmint bolt, with say... 6.5 Creed or 25-06, and I'd probably opt for the 25-06 m'self

The issue there is wind. The 22-250 can do the job easily with a bit heavier bullet.

I dunno .... be a toss up for me, but this I know - I'd not get something too exotic for a rifle or its chambering. Chances are I'd have it out in the 'cain fields shootin swamp bunnies, so I'd want something a bit more "conservative", more tried and true off the target range.