Need help deciding on a caliber.

[Forestryguy]

.223....Had too.

 

[Elite]

Nice choice, the 280 AI has my interest! Great buck as well OP.

I definitely want a 300 wsm but that 280ai also has my interest


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[Richard]

Great choice on the 280 Ackley, my favorite caliber of all time. I have 2 rifles already and a third on the way. Three more either on the way or being built in calibers based off of the 280 Ackley, 25-280 Ackley and 6.5-280 Ackley.

Enjoy your new rifle and that is a heck of a buck for it's first, going to be tough to top, but it will be a fun ride.

What bullet or load in particular were you using?

Thank you! Not sure on the load but the bullet is a 140 grain Berger VLD.

 

[Richard]

Nice looking buck…Congrats!

What range and which bullet?

Love the 280AI but RS has moved me towards lighter recoil cartridges

Thanks! The deer was only 120 yards from me and I am using a 140 grain Berger VLD.

 

[Richard]

From a recoil perspective, my 280 AI has recoil very similar to my .270 and 7mm08. Definitely less than my 30-06.

I have a 30-06 and I agree with this.

 

[Richard]

Update on the Savage 280 AI. I have only killed 1 deer with it yet and it performed very well. I went on a hunting trip and shot a 2 shot group just to check if the rifle was on and the bullet holes where touching at 100 yards.

 

[Hawk3473]

some more data to consider before making a purchase:

6.5 Creedmoor/260 for Deer, Elk, and whatever else.....

Seeing that the 223 thread is such a success, I thought maybe I would start one for the Creedmoor/260. Seems like people are asking a lot about using them and various bullets, especially for elk. I've used mine for the last few years almost exclusively. I have some pics of bullet damage, albeit...

www.rokslide.com

Also, since it's relevant I owned a savage 116 in 300 wsm, that experience moved me off of savage and the 300 wsm permanently. 8" groups at 100 yards were the norm, tried 2 scopes, made savage rebarrel it, never got it shooting right. I suspect the ~1/2 turn of thread engagement on the front scope base screws was the root cause. Pretty gun, just worthless.

What ammunition were you using. I reload with Nosler accubonds and can get .5 groups. Factory loaded Nosler is almost as good. It’s my favorite hunting rifle only thing I don’t like about it is what it weighs.

 

[Floridave]

From the original list, I’d choose 30/06. Not sure if I’d go that way now if starting from scratch ( but I might) but honestly, there’s not much it can’t do, when looking at real world hunting scenarios.


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[ResearchinStuff]

What ammunition were you using. I reload with Nosler accubonds and can get .5 groups. Factory loaded Nosler is almost as good. It’s my favorite hunting rifle only thing I don’t like about it is what it weighs.

I killed this year with factory 143 eldx. I have a pile of 130 tmk and eldm that I'm loading for next year. I doubt I would like the performance of a bonded or mono bullet at Creedmoor velocities.