Best Cartidge for Ultralight Sheep Rifle?

[JD Jones]

Never sheep hunted but when i eventually do get my chance... today's answer is a 6 creed. I'm bought into it fully for hunting really anything I ever would want to hunt

 

[Ludo]

I would have said the same thing about recoil sensitivity until I shot 20 rounds of 300 win mag and 20 rounds of 6.5 creed head to head in basically the same setup. I was so much more accurate with the 6.5 creed.

Recoil is not a sensitivity of manliness issue, but an accuracy issue. And the lighter the rifle the more acute it gets and the more recoil matters.

The reality is that nearly all shooters anticipate recoil enough that it affects accuracy. I think it’s something that can be trained around but 99.9% do not practice enough (or well enough) for that to work.

I would have said the same thing about recoil sensitivity until I shot 20 rounds of 300 win mag and 20 rounds of 6.5 creed head to head in basically the same setup. I was so much more accurate with the 6.5 creed.

Recoil is not a sensitivity of manliness issue, but an accuracy issue. And the lighter the rifle the more acute it gets and the more recoil matters.

The reality is that nearly all shooters anticipate recoil enough that it affects accuracy. I think it’s something that can be trained around but 99.9% do not practice enough (or well enough) for that to work.

Totally a 6 Creed. Maybe a 25 Creed if you’re very worried about wind.

I really like what I’ve seen on the 25 creed. I’m just worried about it’s longevity since I don’t reload

 

[Ludo]

Then why would you even consider anything but your current 22 Creed?

Because I am starting a new gun build

 

[Speaks]

8lbs (with scope) is what I mean when I say ultra light.

Oh thats real easy to get, lots of options.

I vote 6 creed

 

[LightFoot]

6 Creedmoor, 25 Creedmoor when more ammo option are available.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mt100gr.]

Because I am starting a new gun build

What are the specs on the 22CM you already have?

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Because I am starting a new gun build

Building new guns is cool. A new 22 Creed is even cooler. You already have a 700+ yard sheep/goat/deer cartridge in the lightest recoiling cartridge possible for that application in the 22 Creed. Chasing a higher recoiling cartridge is only bringing you further away from your stated goal.

 

[Deere_Man]

If you are truly going to “fill the gap” between a 22 Creedmoor & a 7 PRC, then a 6.5 PRC is the correct choice. It will have a case capacity similar to the .3o/o6 family of cartridges. Recoil is similar to a .270 Winchester.

But for your purpose built 700 yard ultra light setup, I think another 22 Creedmoor or a 6mm Creedmoor is a better choice due to felt recoil.

 

[coyotekilla]

A fast twist 25-06.

 

[grfox92]

Based on the responses you have gotten and the reactions you have given, you want a 25 CM.

 

[tstowater]

I haven't found sheep to be terribly hard to kill with a well placed appropriate bullet. Several good options have been proposed including the 6 Creedmoor, 25 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC. All should have good factory ammo options.

 

[mtnbound]

I currently hunt with a 20” 7PRC, and a 22 Creedmoor. I want something to fill the gap, and settled on building an ultralight (6lb bare) mountain rifle optimized for sheep, mountain goat and deer. I’d like it capable out to 700yds. but I don’t want to overlap the 7PRC too much. Is that over thinking it? Is the 6.5 PRC perfect for this build or do I go with something else? Also need help deciding on barrel length.

A few other data points:
-I’m Considering a suppressor.
-I don’t hand load
-I have a replacement barrel (caliber of my choice) coming from Proof. I just need to pick one.
-This will be a custom build

Any thoughts on the topic would be greatly appreciated.

I would sell the 7PRC and use the money elsewhere.

I didn't see your 22CM specs, but I would throw some money at it to get the weight where you want it. You don't reload, so buy some custom ammo from UM or another vendor and use it in your MTN rifle.

If you just want to build a new rifle, the 6.5 PRC is the best all-around choice for many folks. That being said, I sold mine because what the 6 Creed and 22 Creed do is amazing. With you already having a 22 CM, building a 6 CM doesn't make much sense other than you get more steel target feedback with the heavier 6CM bullets.

For barrel length, I have always preferred shorter barrels for their maneuverability, and using a suppressor adds length. My max barrel length most of the time it's been 16.5".

 

[peaceful_ruler]

The 25 CM seems to be the Goldilocks caliber of the CM’s and that would be my pick in a 7-8# gun.

I can understand the recoil aspect more from a range shooting perspective but in the field hunting where the first shot is likely the only shot it’s hard for me to imagine recoil of any of the CM’s being a serious detriment to accuracy for the average shooter.

 

[glock233]

The 25 CM seems to be the Goldilocks caliber of the CM’s and that would be my pick in a 7-8# gun.

I can understand the recoil aspect more from a range shooting perspective but in the field hunting where the first shot is likely the only shot it’s hard for me to imagine recoil of any of the CM’s being a serious detriment to accuracy for the average shooter.

Every bit of perceived recoil over 10-12 ft lbs comes at a cost in accuracy. With people I’ around I think the first shot is the most affected by recoil. It’s the anticipation of recoil that distracts and reduces performance.

You put 100 people with 25 creed, and 100 people with 22 Creed. All rifles identical. All shooters of equal skill and acclimated to their gun. The people shooting 22Creed will hit more on the first and subsequent shots.

That’s because there is a notable gap between 22 and 25 creed in recoil.

With all that said I agree with you that 25 creed is a Goldilocks and it’s what I am primarily using right now. I just don’t want to deny the practical effects of the added recoil. It’s real.