I moved from MN to SD a few years ago and boy am I happy about it! I'm lucky that I've got family connections on my wife's side here so we fell right into life. I've been able to hunt West River a some since we've lived here and that sure is different and fun.
For my entire rifle hunting life I've basically used a single rifle, a Model 70 (South Carolina built) .270 win featherweight with a 3-9 variable Leupold and I've been perfectly happy with it. Since shooting distance can be so much more than I'm accustomed to out here I've put more time in at the range from the bench, prone and seated with sticks. I do OK at 300, which is as far as the range allows. If I do my part, my rifle will shoot 1.5 - 2.0 MOA from the three positions pretty regularly, worse with a whole host of other factory ammunition. It's not great, but it's gotten the job done to 300-ish on whitetail. Most of my shots back in my MN days were much, much shorter than that though. I shoot 130 grain Remington accu-tip which is no longer made but I've got plenty. I shoot a lot better with a little suppressed Ruger Ranch rifle in 5.56 with Barnes TSX ammunition and I've used that for deer up close. Mostly though, that rifle is my farm gun and sighted in with some federal .223VMAX. Works great, does what I need it to do. I don't currently reload.
Anyway, a year ago I had a shoulder injury that required surgery and shooting the .270 isn't much fun anymore. The rifle does have a limbsaver pad and I've been wearing a PAST shoulder pad. don't anticipate the shoulder improving much as I age. After As I type this today, my shoulder is still smarting from less than 20 rounds the day before yesterday. So, I've decided to consider a new hunting rifle for next year. I'm pretty much a one rifle guy, and the 270 worked fine for years. But between the shoulder issues, and hoping to stretch out my shooting abilities a bit I've got the itch.
I'm thinking about a Tikka Roughtec rifle. If they were already chambered in 6mm Creedmoor I'm guessing I wouldn't be torn. But they don't yet, and I am. Right now I'm considering a few options. I know any of these rifles are likely to shoot better than my .270 and certainly better than I can.
1. Just get the darn rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor and get on with life. I haven't shot this cartridge or this rifle and wonder how much less felt recoil to expect compared to my current rifle. A suppressor or brake would probably help.
2. Just get the darn rifle in .243 win and get on with life, find a 90ish grain load it likes and go shoot and hunt.
3. Just get any darn Tikka rifle that tickles my fancy and have a Smith replace the barrel with a pre-fit 6mm Creedmoor.
I don't see myself shooting deer beyond 300 or antelope beyond 400 since I always seem to get closer than that anyway. I'm looking for experienced opinions. I don't think I'll ever hunt Elk again in my life, just deer and antelope.
Kooch
For my entire rifle hunting life I've basically used a single rifle, a Model 70 (South Carolina built) .270 win featherweight with a 3-9 variable Leupold and I've been perfectly happy with it. Since shooting distance can be so much more than I'm accustomed to out here I've put more time in at the range from the bench, prone and seated with sticks. I do OK at 300, which is as far as the range allows. If I do my part, my rifle will shoot 1.5 - 2.0 MOA from the three positions pretty regularly, worse with a whole host of other factory ammunition. It's not great, but it's gotten the job done to 300-ish on whitetail. Most of my shots back in my MN days were much, much shorter than that though. I shoot 130 grain Remington accu-tip which is no longer made but I've got plenty. I shoot a lot better with a little suppressed Ruger Ranch rifle in 5.56 with Barnes TSX ammunition and I've used that for deer up close. Mostly though, that rifle is my farm gun and sighted in with some federal .223VMAX. Works great, does what I need it to do. I don't currently reload.
Anyway, a year ago I had a shoulder injury that required surgery and shooting the .270 isn't much fun anymore. The rifle does have a limbsaver pad and I've been wearing a PAST shoulder pad. don't anticipate the shoulder improving much as I age. After As I type this today, my shoulder is still smarting from less than 20 rounds the day before yesterday. So, I've decided to consider a new hunting rifle for next year. I'm pretty much a one rifle guy, and the 270 worked fine for years. But between the shoulder issues, and hoping to stretch out my shooting abilities a bit I've got the itch.
I'm thinking about a Tikka Roughtec rifle. If they were already chambered in 6mm Creedmoor I'm guessing I wouldn't be torn. But they don't yet, and I am. Right now I'm considering a few options. I know any of these rifles are likely to shoot better than my .270 and certainly better than I can.
1. Just get the darn rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor and get on with life. I haven't shot this cartridge or this rifle and wonder how much less felt recoil to expect compared to my current rifle. A suppressor or brake would probably help.
2. Just get the darn rifle in .243 win and get on with life, find a 90ish grain load it likes and go shoot and hunt.
3. Just get any darn Tikka rifle that tickles my fancy and have a Smith replace the barrel with a pre-fit 6mm Creedmoor.
I don't see myself shooting deer beyond 300 or antelope beyond 400 since I always seem to get closer than that anyway. I'm looking for experienced opinions. I don't think I'll ever hunt Elk again in my life, just deer and antelope.
Kooch
