Help me pick a caliber out!

[nubbin]

So I’m kicking the idea around for a new rifle. I’m leaning toward a lightweight easy to carry platform, mainly for fun and i have kids getting close to the hunting age. I already have a .243 and a 30-06 so I’m looking for that medium bore area. 6.5, 270, or 7mm. The purpose of said rifle will be majority whitetail, with the occasional mule deer or pronghorn. Will also be used as a backup rifle to the 30-06 on elk hunts. Yardage 400 yards and in. I want a 7mm-08 but it just seems like the 6.5 creedmoor has better ammo and rifle selection, I’m not opposed to a .270 or 6.5prc but I’m just concerned recoil on a lightweight gun will be too much for kiddos and will take the fun out of light platform.

I know the .243 is a good selection for kids, but the savage model 11 i have is too long and heavy for my oldest (10), and it’s a lights out shooter. It’s what I carry 90% of the time here in Arkansas and I’m very partial to the gun and hesitant to get rid of a rifle that will outshoot my abilities.

 

[WormSportsman]

6.5 creedmoor

 

[Swampcruiser]

6.5 creed in a tikka or cut it down suppressed and go 6.5 prc for the kids. Love my 7 prc but a bit much for the kids probably.

 

[grappling_hook]

Of the ones you're looking at, 6.5 Creedmoor seems the easy choice and fits nicely between the 243 and the 30-06.

That said, why not a .223 Remington? Definitely the best for getting kids started on centerfires after they have the hang of the .22lr, and great as a large game gun to 400 yards with the right bullets.

 

[6mm Remington]

25-06 would be a great round as would the 6.5 PRC. Recoil on the 25-06 in my wife's Remington 700 MTN Rifle was not bad at all. She shot it quite well and it would work fine on elk with a 120 gr. Partition, 110 gr. Accubond, or 100 gr. E-tip.

The 243 Winchester is an excellent deer and antelope cartridge and with good bullets and good shot placement will certainly take elk as well. You would have to find a used rifle for the 6mm Remington, but it's a 243 Winchester with about 150 fps or more. It's an accurate easy to load for cartridge. I would not discount looking for a used rifle chambered in the 6mm.

25-06 and 120 gr. Partition killed this nice mule deer buck.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Remington Model Seven SS in 7-08.

 

[jimh406]

Sig Cross in 6.5 CM. Another option is to restock the .243.

 

[General RE LEE]

6.5 Creedmoor

I like the cartridge enough that I’m going to keep my Tikka as a 6.5 Creedmoor when I drop it off for a new barrel. Well balanced cartridge.

 

[sierracharlie338]

If you reload a fast twist 25 is where it’s at. . . But I’m biased.

A 7-08 can be done with mild loads and I believe there are some factory reduced recoil loads available as well. 7-08 is a great round also.

 

[nubbin]

Of the ones you're looking at, 6.5 Creedmoor seems the easy choice and fits nicely between the 243 and the 30-06.

That said, why not a .223 Remington? Definitely the best for getting kids started on centerfires after they have the hang of the .22lr, and great as a large game gun to 400 yards with the right bullets.

It’s not just for the kids, it’ll be a gun i use also. I already have a .243 so there’s no reason to go smaller. I’m trying to fill that gap between the 56-100gr 6mm and 150-180gr 30 cal. I like the thought of having a lightweight gun that the kids can get behind, and i can carry for hunts. The new x bolt 2 micro has caught my eye with adjustable LOP and comb height.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I am a huge 7-08 fan, but to get the most out of it, you will have to start reloading.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is the easy button. The 6 Creedmoor is another really good choice. I realize that it is very close to the the .243, but it will come correctly twisted for heavy bullets and you can get it in a more lightweight platform than your current .243.

 

[mlevimadden]

If you want a light recoiling fun gun for kids I’d recommend 223 rem or 22 arc for 400 yds max.

If you need it for a state that doesn’t allow 22 cal then the recommendations for a 6.5 creed are spot on. I have a 6.5 PRC and the recoil is very similar to a 270. It’s a noticeable increase from a 243 and not what I’d want for a youth in a light package.

 

[nubbin]

I’m not a reloader, I’m a factory ammo guy. Once again I’m looking for a medium bore caliber, i have a 350 legend, 30-30, and a .243. I’m wanting to fill that 120-140gr range but want flexibility between my use and kids use.

 

[Ryan Avery]

First, no one should own a Savage, let alone abuse their children by making them shoot it. HAHA!

The biggest I would go is a .243 or 6 Creed.

 

[General RE LEE]

I’m not a reloader, I’m a factory ammo guy. Once again I’m looking for a medium bore caliber, i have a 350 legend, 30-30, and a .243. I’m wanting to fill that 120-140gr range but want flexibility between my use and kids use.

If you don’t reload I’d definitely go 6.5 Creedmoor. Hornady ships out pallets of 140 ELD-M match ammo daily. I’ve shot groups as good as my best hand loads with their 140 ELDM ammo.

 

[nubbin]

First, no one should own a Savage, let alone abuse their children by making them shoot it. HAHA!

The biggest I would go is a .243 or 6 Creed.

I have 2 savages, the .243 and 30-06, both will outshoot my ability. Savage has a ton of options but I’m not putting another one in my safe. Lol

 

[hunterjmj]

I'd go tikka 223 for the kids.

 

[Pharmseller]

I am a huge 7-08 fan, but to get the most out of it, you will have to start reloading.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is the easy button. The 6 Creedmoor is another really good choice. I realize that it is very close to the the .243, but it will come correctly twisted for heavy bullets and you can get it in a more lightweight platform than your current .243.

I’m a major -08 homer but this argument is irrefutable.

6.5 Creed.

 

[TaperPin]

Gosh, a 140 gr bullet in any of these three calibers all work great: 7mm-08, 270 win, or 260 Rem/6.5 creed.

For kiddos reduced loads with lighter bullets can help start them out with low recoil and work up as they get more used to recoil.

The 270 will have more recoil than the other two, and be almost identical in recoil and ballistics to 6.5 PRC (out to 500 yards anyway). I wouldn’t want to push it on a kid, but if they aren’t bothered by recoil there’s no reason it’s not a great step up from 243. A million kids have graduated from 243 to 270.

Sounds like fun and there are no bad choices.

 

[KenLee]

I’m a major -08 homer but this argument is irrefutable.

6.5 Creed.

Shiddd...120 gr 7mm-08 NBT for the win.