Lightweight Hunting rifle caliber for shorter barrels

[nm.otter]

T3x is the easy button -- and getting easier every few months as aftermarket support broadens. Two screws and you can swap stocks in under two minutes. Trainer plus hunter plus stocks & chassis to try/swap/resell.

 

[TaperPin]

I agree the 7mm08 or 308 are both great to plink with and could easily take 400 yard elk. I like the comparison of the 7mm08 being just like a 7 mag 200 yards closer in.

I just picked up a 7-08 barrel for a family member for the same uses at the same ranges.

 

[liv3mind]

If you're serious about the 400 yard limitation, especially at western elevations, anything larger than a 6gt is probably just wasted recoil. Even with an 18" barrel you can very easily retain way north of the 1800' most people here suggest for a floor with match bullets. I prefer 2000' and, again, you can very easily retain that out way past 400 yards with a 6gt. Heck, at higher elevations you could even do it with a 6ARC.

Signed, guy who built a .280ai and doesn't use it anymore.

This. Not an elk but I shot a whitetail last week at 316y with a factory 103eldx out of a 16" 6arc. I'm at roughly 450'. I would have no reservations taking it further. Hit Just behind shoulder passthrough with decent blood trail. Very destructive. Just under 80y death trot. I plan to build a 6gt for next year just because.

For elk I would do either 6gt for ease or 6um for cool factor. 6arc will do it fine but we always need more guns just because.

 

[nm.otter]

I like the comparison of the 7mm08 being just like a 7 mag 200 yards closer in.

Just like 6.5 CM being a 6.5 PRC ~200 yards in.

 

[hereinaz]

Thanks guys. My plan is to build/buy something i'm able to practice with regularly and not get beat up. I'm pretty good with the 300WM but I can't spot my impacts so I shoot with a buddy at the range. The 400 yd limitation is based on what I think I can realistically expect with my current skill level and advice from "YT experts" but if i get better I'm not against stretching it out either. 6.5 prc seems like a happy medium and I can have long range fun as well at the range. But I'll look at the &mm-08 too.

You won’t be spotting shots inside 400 yards easily with a magnum.

You can start to spot shots with a 6mm/6.5mm creed.

You will learn to shoot farther, faster, and easier with a 6mm. And, get confident sooner.

Once you shoot a smaller caliber sooner, you will realize just how much the 300 WM is beating you up.

The 7-08 is a good compromise to keep the 7mm and more oomph.

 

[Te Hopo]

I still love using an 18" 308 for a general use rifle that just gets it done, but I find its very addictive shooting a good bolt action .223.
6.5cm & 7/08 are a happy medium that provide a stack of benefits with minimal compromise, especially suppressed.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Which caliber would be best coming out of a shorter barrel but still able to kill elk out to 400 yds?

If this is truly what your actual use case is, 16" 6mm is literally all you need.

Edit to add, my personal use case is twice that effective range and this is caliber and length chosen for such. This includes use on Moose, proved out last year on one at 525 yards.

 

[DFWshooter]

Well I like to think that eventually I will have a chance to shoot something out past 400 yds, but for now-4-500 in good conditions is what I think is my personal limit.

Interestingly, I kinda like shooting the 300wm because I know immediately if my form etc is off. When I’m doing everything right, I can drill it. But if I get lazy or tired, it tells me right away. And my shoulder feels it. I’ve had good days where I’ve put 40+ rounds out and felt fine. But at $2.50-3.00 a round, a day at the range adds up quick. And I’d like to be able to shoot even more on any given day. Maybe reloading is in my future.

 

[TaperPin]

Just like 6.5 CM being a 6.5 PRC ~200 yards in.

Yep.