Filling the gap between 223 and 30-06

[Jim1187]

Do you handload and how large of game are we talking about? I am going to assume you mean deer, antelope and black bear sized critters.
If the .223 is legal for hunting where you want to, you really already have it. If legal there isn't a single shot opportunity I would take with a .243 to 6.5 that I wouldn't take with a similarly constructed bullet from a high velocity .22 centerfire(.222 or faster) if we're talking game under 300lbs or so.
If you're forced by law to go larger and looking to shoot factory with minimum recoil I don't see many negatives other than possibly range with a 6.5 Grendel or 7.62x39.
If you're talking Elk, Moose and brown bear types as well I will change my preference of cartridges.

 

[Kimber7man]

Seems like an easy 6.5 Creedmoor vote to me.

^^^^ This +1

 

[West.mass.hunter]

My wife and kids all shoot my 6.5 CM. Hard to beat imo

 

[pk_]

Sounds like you Better get a 25-06 and a 6.5cm just to be safe.

 

[KineKilla]

Nobody has suggested the tried and true .270WIN yet? Projectile weight ranges from 110gr up to 150gr, ammo is plentiful and available almost anywhere, has reduced recoil loads available as well.

Just a thought.

 

[archp625]

Nobody has suggested the tried and true .270WIN yet? Projectile weight ranges from 110gr up to 150gr, ammo is plentiful and available almost anywhere, has reduced recoil loads available as well.

Just a thought.

Too similar to the 30-06 in my opinion. Hes not wanting overlap.

 

[archp625]

I would go 6.5 Creedmoor. Its such a pussycat to shoot and like others are saying, ammo is everywhere and very accurate for factory rounds.

 

[Anello]

.257 Weatherby Mag.

 

[Mt Al]

I bought my daughter a 6.5 Creedmoor last year, insanely flexible, can't go wrong. I shoot a 7mm-08 for everything in Montana, she shot that for years and doesn't notice a difference, nor do I.

As with all this stuff, you can't go wrong with 243, 25-06, etc.. They all get the job done just fine. Accuracy is almost all that matters, so I go with whatever I'll shoot the most for practice and, for me, that includes recoil (less = I'll shoot more), cost (ease of reloading and variety of bullets), etc.. That's just me

 

[TxxAgg]

Appreciate the comments. Just deer sized game and down.

 

[Vaultman]

Sounds like you Better get a 25-06 and a 6.5cm just to be safe.

Great idea. Even though I am a huge proponent of the 25-06, I do have to admit I have both. Though only the 25-06 is a hunting rifle. The 6.5cm could be it is just lugging around 13.5lbs in rifle (not including ammo) is not my idea of fun. Now if I was a road hunter.... Or maybe it is another excuse to get another hunting rifle, this one in 6.5cm.

 

[Newtosavage]

I bought my daughter a 6.5 Creedmoor last year, insanely flexible, can't go wrong. I shoot a 7mm-08 for everything in Montana, she shot that for years and doesn't notice a difference, nor do I.

As with all this stuff, you can't go wrong with 243, 25-06, etc.. They all get the job done just fine. Accuracy is almost all that matters, so I go with whatever I'll shoot the most for practice and, for me, that includes recoil (less = I'll shoot more), cost (ease of reloading and variety of bullets), etc.. That's just me

I've owned and shot both and honestly I can't tell the difference between a 7mm-08 shooting a 140 grain bullet, and a 6.5 CM shooting a 140 grain bullet. Now when I drop 160's or 162's in my 7mm-08, then it feels like a .308. But the fact that the CM seemed to kick just as hard as my 7mm-08 kinda surprised me.

 

[5MilesBack]

Nobody has suggested the tried and true .270WIN yet? Projectile weight ranges from 110gr up to 150gr

I actually shoot 85gr and 95gr bullets out of my .270Win and I love it. It kicks less with those at high speed than my 6.5CM did with a brake. I was going to recommend the .270 as well. I sold my 6.5.

 

[dreamingWest]

I like high BC bullets flying around 2800 fps.

.223, 6.5 CM, and 30-06 is hard to beat.

I have a .260 rem, but now that 6.5 CM has clearly won, I'd go that route.

 

[mtwarden]

I've owned a Featherweight in .06 for about 40 years; a couple of years ago someone wanted to trade a .257 Featherweight for a shotgun and just happened to have a o/u I wasn't using and we made a trade. The .257 shoots nicely and has almost no perceived recoil. I would definitely consider it an option for something between. .22 and .30

 

[TxxAgg]

Thanks for all the replies. Found a good deal on a stainless T3x 6.5

 

[16Bore]

That’d be the one....

 

[chefcreed]

A Howa Mini Action in 6.5 Grendel is a really fun gun and effective on most anything up to elk. Recoil and muzzle blast is minimal.
Edit: just saw you got a Tikka 6.5 C. Can’t go wrong there!

 

[TxxAgg]

A Howa Mini Action in 6.5 Grendel is a really fun gun and effective on most anything up to elk. Recoil and muzzle blast is minimal.
Edit: just saw you got a Tikka 6.5 C. Can’t go wrong there!

i used to have a CZ 527 in 6.5 Grendel. It was a beautiful little gun!

 

[Jimss]

I grew up with a 270 in my hands and I was 95 lbs soaking wet. Since that time I converted to a 300 WSM that kicks about the same as my old Rem270. It's nice having the flexibility of larger 30 cal bullets with the 300 WSM for larger game that can take a poundling like elk, moose, and mtn goats.