Gun & Caliber for 1st Bolt Gun?

[jwfuhrman]

I bought my first bolt gun as a 308. Were I to do it all over again I'd get the .260 I rebarreled it to. Love the .260!

[waveslayer]

That seems really impressive. My cousin has another 500-600 acres adjacent to mine, so I'm guessing I'd have plenty of room to shoot? Also, is there any point in shooting 6.5 creedmoor suppressed? I'd love not to bother any farmers/neighbors near by.

Just throw a .308 can on it, like the Thunder Beast Ultra 7! Then you won't bug the neighbors. I use one on my 6.5 Creedmoor and love it. Ammo is easy to find or reload. No need to run subs with the right can

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[wilson1911]

I'm stuck trying to choose between .260, 6.5 Creed and 7mm-08

Still can't decide which one to go with.

The 7mm-08 is a short range cartridge much like a 308 but with reduced recoil.

The 260 box ammo is pricey !! but you can get lapua brass for it, which makes a better performing load due to brass. Same class/performance as a creed.

The 6.5 creed has excellent box ammo with 140's being choice. Easy to reload for and offers the same performance as a 260. Where the 260 beats the creed is lapua brass, due to longevity of brass life. I have loaded hornady brass 12 times before discarding it. You can get 20-30 out of lapua depending on how hot you are running. Norma and Nosler brass are also available now, which is better than hornady brass. You can also convert 308/243 lapua brass over to the creed, which is quite easy to do. Its decision of a turn/no turn neck brass conversion.

If you want to shoot a 1 inch group at 500 or less, go for the creed or 260, if you want to be able to shoot 8" or less go with the 7-08.

I firmly believe the creed is still the best choice. What are your pro's and con's of each ?

[Rated21R]

The 7mm-08 is a short range cartridge much like a 308 but with reduced recoil.

The 260 box ammo is pricey !! but you can get lapua brass for it, which makes a better performing load due to brass. Same class/performance as a creed.

The 6.5 creed has excellent box ammo with 140's being choice. Easy to reload for and offers the same performance as a 260. Where the 260 beats the creed is lapua brass, due to longevity of brass life. I have loaded hornady brass 12 times before discarding it. You can get 20-30 out of lapua depending on how hot you are running. Norma and Nosler brass are also available now, which is better than hornady brass. You can also convert 308/243 lapua brass over to the creed, which is quite easy to do. Its decision of a turn/no turn neck brass conversion.

If you want to shoot a 1 inch group at 500 or less, go for the creed or 260, if you want to be able to shoot 8" or less go with the 7-08.

I firmly believe the creed is still the best choice. What are your pro's and con's of each ?

I was looking for something my whole family could shoot (wife and eventually children) so that's why I looked at the 7mm-08 originally. When I started visiting local custom builders they asked why I wasn't considering .260 or 6.5 Creed? I did more research and realized they both would make great choices too. I visited quite a few shops in the area to check on ammo availability and 7mm-08 was by far the most available. I say I'd like to reach out to 800 or more some day but realize that it probably won't happen anytime soon. They are all very capable flat shooting rounds, and some are available in rifles that I was looking at purchasing (Tikka T3x CTR among others) so I just have to continue to do research and decide what to get.

[markm]

I would go with .308 unless shooting over 500 yards.

I don't understand this. We shoot 175 SMKs in .308 over 1000 yards all the time.

I was looking for something my whole family could shoot (wife and eventually children) so that's why I looked at the 7mm-08 originally

With a can or brake my son and (now ex) wife shot my .308. Kids and wives generally don't stay on any bolt gun long enough to get worn out by recoil.

We had a buddy build a 6.5 variant of some sort. It just never "took". We just target shoot with .308... so everything revolves around the flight of the 175 smk. So throwing in an oddball caliber just makes things confusing for us. With the OP not having any standard bolt gun set... a different (non .308) caliber wouldn't be an issue.

[Springfield]

Maybe I am just weird but I usually think of a hunting rifle and a long range target rifle as two different rifles. Long range rifles sport a heavy barrel/stock, high magnification scope, light trigger, bipod, etc. I like a hunting rifle that is reasonably (1.5 moa) accurate, lightweight, has a moderate magnification scope, and am also partial to a nice wood stock. Sure you can buy a rifle that does both ok but it is very difficult to get one that is great for both.

Perhaps consider buying two rifles, pick which one you want to start with and then add the other one later. I run a modified heavy barrel M700 in .308 for targets and a lightweight Model Seven CDL in .308 for most of my deer hunting. Also consider bullet availability. Purpose made target bullets should be avoided for big game hunting. I have not owned any of the 6 or 6.5mm calibers but own and reload for several 7mm and .308 caliber rifles and am pleased with the large selection of both target and hunting bullets for them.

Good luck in your quest and I'm sure you will find a good one (or two).

[waveslayer]

Maybe I am just weird but I usually think of a hunting rifle and a long range target rifle as two different rifles. Long range rifles sport a heavy barrel/stock, high magnification scope, light trigger, bipod, etc. I like a hunting rifle that is reasonably (1.5 moa) accurate, lightweight, has a moderate magnification scope, and am also partial to a nice wood stock. Sure you can buy a rifle that does both ok but it is very difficult to get one that is great for both.

Perhaps consider buying two rifles, pick which one you want to start with and then add the other one later. I run a modified heavy barrel M700 in .308 for targets and a lightweight Model Seven CDL in .308 for most of my deer hunting. Also consider bullet availability. Purpose made target bullets should be avoided for big game hunting. I have not owned any of the 6 or 6.5mm calibers but own and reload for several 7mm and .308 caliber rifles and am pleased with the large selection of both target and hunting bullets for them.

Good luck in your quest and I'm sure you will find a good one (or two).

If you two for the price of one, buy the GA Precision Extreme Hunter. It uses the 6.5 SAUM which will blow away the .308 and Creedmoor.

That rifle will serve as a hunting rig as well as a long range rifle. If you reload then you will keep your costs down on ammo. Hornady is now making brass for it, I make my own to save $.

The price may seem steep, but you buy once and cry once. It will be the same price as buying a good hunting rifle aND target rifle.

My wife thinks I only have 3 guns

[wilson1911]

Rated21R,

I have tried to convince the op buying a 6.5 would be the best choice. They shoot flat and hold the wind well with mild recoil. I do understand your thoughts on buying in the first time. I had many of these same ones myself. At some point your going to have to take the plunge and buy in. The gun that is right for you may be different than what others shoot, but hey, its your dime bud. I wish you lived closer to me so I could take you to a private range and let you ring steel out to 1251 if you can shoot well enough. Where I live the wind blows every day which makes some shooting days good, and others not so good.

Some of the things I have noticed on shooting with others.

Reading the wind is an art, some guys are very good at it no matter what gun they shoot.
The 308/7-08 (30 cal) guns are completely outclassed by the 6.5's, there are not may 30 cal guns where I live.
Having a gun with mild recoil is a joy to shoot all day at the range.
Being able to tune the rifle and reload well makes a huge difference in accuracy when shooting long.
Shooting box ammo is a plus for someone just getting into long range or as a first rifle.

And last, but not least.....why did I wait so long to hop on the 6.5 wagon ????? I spent 1.5 years trying to decide what I wanted. Soooo many times I was set on getting a 308. As I look back now, it would be my last choice for a long range gun. The exception to this is a gas gun for hogs or something.

If you guys can find someone to let you shoot a caliber you are thinking of buying, it would help your decision process.

[Koshinn]

The 6.5 creed has excellent box ammo with 140's being choice.

I'm actually pretty interested in the 130gr Berger Hybrid.

[wilson1911]

I'm actually pretty interested in the 130gr Berger Hybrid.

Those shoot just as well as the 140's with a small amount of speed increase. I think they give up .2 mils in wind vs the 140. All the bergers are good bullets as well as the 140 eld's.

What gun are you shooting ? Do you have mag length issues ?