Next rifle suggestion

[bwp86]

I am looking to pick up a new bolt action rifle for paper punching and hunting. I currently own a 270. I am without a 223 at the moment but have plans to pick one up soon along with a CZ 457 varmint in 22lr. Aside from those, what caliber would be your next choice? I appreciate any advice!

 

[b6graham]

6.5 creedmoor

solid hunting round. good ballistics. minimal recoil

now for an actual suggestion thats gonna depend a lot. primary hunting or target shooting? big difference between a 7-8 and 17-18 pound rifle

 

[jljr23]

308 win

Kill anything in North America, good ballistics, and can shoot anything from 110 gr to 220gr dependent upon barrel twist. You get a lot of flexibility in that range to meet your needs.

 

[bgavin]

I made the same decision not long ago. I went tikka ctr 6.5 creedmoor with 20 inch barrel.

I hunt from deer blinds or out of a ranger and the 20 suits my needs more.

 

[Huskydriver]

308 win

Kill anything in North America, good ballistics, and can shoot anything from 110 gr to 220gr dependent upon barrel twist. You get a lot of flexibility in that range to meet your needs.

There is nothing a 308 can do a 6.5 cant do better imo. Compare energy at the muzzle for both and see. Buttttt...I will always have a 308 in the safe because of what jljr23 said... Extremely flexible and widespread components readily available all the time

 

[krumfola]

I would probably go with a 20” CTR in 308 for the reasons mentioned above.

Also, great match grade ammo is available at prices that make reloading not even worth the time.

 

[Movistar]

The Fix in 6.5 Creedmoor. Hunting energy plus long range ballistics plus light weight plus awesome = The fix

 

[Loonhunter]

There is nothing a 308 can do a 6.5 cant do better imo. Compare energy at the muzzle for both and see. Buttttt...I will always have a 308 in the safe because of what jljr23 said... Extremely flexible and widespread components readily available all the time

What about elk or moose? Especially at distance.

 

[Dburns]

What about elk or moose? Especially at distance.

6.5 for the win it’s everywhere is proven and definitely a closed book

 

[Huskydriver]

Run the ballistics...a 6.5 creed hits harder at 200 than a 308.

 

[Loonhunter]

Well I did just that. And you sir are correct. I don’t know if I agree with your statement though. The .308 has one definite advantage. History. And sometimes what looks good on paper doesn’t translate into reality. Like communism. It too looks pretty good on paper. Or the .45acp. Bad on paper but effectively killing humans since 1911! Please don’t misunderstand me. I don’t own either and I would choose the 6.5 over the 308 anyway, but for different reasons. And as for ‘dburns’ statement that this is a ‘closed book’? There are a whole lot of old timers, some who wrote the book, who would strongly disagree. Thanks for the discussion!

 

[Dburns]

Well I did just that. And you sir are correct. I don’t know if I agree with your statement though. The .308 has one definite advantage. History. And sometimes what looks good on paper doesn’t translate into reality. Like communism. It too looks pretty good on paper. Or the .45acp. Bad on paper but effectively killing humans since 1911! Please don’t misunderstand me. I don’t own either and I would choose the 6.5 over the 308 anyway, but for different reasons. And as for ‘dburns’ statement that this is a ‘closed book’? There are a whole lot of old timers, some who wrote the book, who would strongly disagree. Thanks for the discussion!

I respect the wise most of them are yes older!!! I grew up listening to the 30-06 and 308 stories just like everyone else did! Time goes on things change 308 will always be there nobody can take away it’s sucess

 

[Movistar]

Just because something is older and proven to work doesn’t mean it’s better.

Dial up got us connected. But fiber optics is where it’s at.

30-06 out of an M1G kicked the Germans asses but give me a SR25 using 308 any day of the week.

Same applies here. 308 was best. Still good. But 6.5 is better. Newer and better.

 

[Loonhunter]

Just for the sake of argument, and again, I don’t own either, which would you rather have if you were hunting grizzly inside 100 yards? Or whatever scenario where it’s short to medium range against large or dangerous game. I’m only asking because I’ve seen several videos of old timer gunsmiths and hunters (white haired old) who still think the 6.5cm was only developed for punching paper and the terminal ballistics aren’t either ethical (elk) , or safe/quick (bear). I’m not arguing against the 6.5cm, it’s probably my next rifle. I imagine it’s quite a bit more pleasant to shoot than my 300wm. But my antennas go up whenever I hear that something new is completely superior to what is proven.

 

[XLR308]

Just for the sake of argument, and again, I don’t own either, which would you rather have if you were hunting grizzly inside 100 yards? Or whatever scenario where it’s short to medium range against large or dangerous game. I’m only asking because I’ve seen several videos of old timer gunsmiths and hunters (white haired old) who still think the 6.5cm was only developed for punching paper and the terminal ballistics aren’t either ethical (elk) , or safe/quick (bear). I’m not arguing against the 6.5cm, it’s probably my next rifle. I imagine it’s quite a bit more pleasant to shoot than my 300wm. But my antennas go up whenever I hear that something new is completely superior to what is proven.

Now we're talking dangerous game ?
Well then get a 65 Creedmoor for the ballistic superiority, get a 308win for the nostalgia and get a 458win mag for all those lions and bears running rampant ??

 

[Bradu]

All these replies on what to get but nobody asked what distance he plans on shooting or what he plans on hunting with it

 

[Loonhunter]

That has become a side point. I’m challenging (not really) the opinion that the 6.5cm is superior to the 308 in every respect.

 

[Bradu]

Jesus christ, not another 308 vs 6.5 debate

 

[Loonhunter]

Sorry. I was bored.

 

[bwp86]

I have a range close by that goes out to 1,000 yards. Most of my shooting will be done within 500 though as that's what I have available on my land. I'm leaning towards picking up the 6.5CM in the near future. I'll probably grab the 223 first though. I sold off my AR and a cheap Savage and have not got around to replacing them. So a 223 varmint barrel will most likely be picked up as soon as I find a decent deal for one.

 

[260284]

Tikka T3x Varmint in .223 with a 1-8 or the 223 CTR that is coming out. My Varmint shoots the 75gr ELDM really well, but I am using AICS mags.

 

[bwp86]

I'll have to keep an eye out for one. My 270 is a tikka and it's a shooter! Might be a good time to pick up a varmint

 

[bwp86]

Tikka T3x Varmint in .223 with a 1-8 or the 223 CTR that is coming out. My Varmint shoots the 75gr ELDM really well, but I am using AICS mags.

Is the varmint worth the extra $250 over the T3x lite?

 

[b6graham]

Is the varmint worth the extra $250 over the T3x lite?

depends. do you want the bigger barrel?

or plan to replace anyways with a prefit in your designated length and twist and chambering?

 

[bwp86]

depends. do you want the bigger barrel?

or plan to replace anyways with a prefit in your designated length and twist and chambering?

I will replace with a prefit eventually. That $250 would go a long ways towards that

 

[BurnOut]

I believe that every shooting enthusiast should have a .308 bolt gun, so there's that. However, don't discount the 30-06, either; however, it covers a lot of the same territory as does your .270. That said, if I were in your shoes, I'd probably go with (as others are saying) either the 6.5 Creedmoor or the 6mm version of the same. The 6mm version isn't as popular (it just recently got SAAMI approval), but has a LOT of options for running long projectiles in a 2.9x" magazine.

Yet another option would be going big: 300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, 300 PRC. You wouldn't be likely to shoot them as much as rifles chambered for smaller cartridges, but when it comes to putting energy on target, there's no replacement for displacement; any slippery projectile used by smaller 30-caliber or 7mm-caliber rounds can also be used by the big 'uns, and will run faster (obviously).

 

[260284]

Is the varmint worth the extra $250 over the T3x lite?

If they both come with the 1-8 barrel, the lite would be easier to carry for hunting. I am getting 3025 fps out of my factory Varmint barrel with H4895 and the 75gr ELDM. My next barrel will be a 1-7 for heavier bullets.

 

[ingraham]

T-Bolt Browning Have several and am impressed with performance for a none custom rifle. I have several Martini Cadets in rimfire calibers that are giving me half minute of angle accuracy. The T-Bolts are accurate and fun to shoot and I've got a big bag full of mags for near continual shooting. Do like my Ruger (77) bolt actions also

 

[Cheyenne Bodie]

270 is a badass cartridge in its own right, I'd use that for paper and be quite happy personally. IIRC it shoots slightly flatter than 6.5CM.

For hunting I'd get the biggest caliber under 338LM that you can afford to shoot. I'd rather leave an entire deer shoulder splattered on the ground in a million pieces and have it flop than have to hike the entire carcass out of a goddamned quagmire thicket because it ran.

 

[ingraham]

Here's my thing, I used to be very concerned about dings and scratches on nice guns. e.g. I have an Anschutz and initially I worried about keeping it like new. Over time, the more it became my favorite .22, it got a couple scratches and dings. I am no longer so diligent about keeping it pristine. It's the best tool for me and if decades of getting to use the rifle I want to use means it showing wear, so be it. It's better than hunting with something less and leaving it home. Several of my guns now have fallen into the same category. Also it occurred to me, who am I saving these for? It's meant to be used. I no longer own any safe queens. They all get used.

IMO that Grande Finale is a lot of money for a CZ. Because many people still want the 452 and can't get one I guess. Real world price may be much lower?