Perfect Deer Cartridge?

[z987k]

YMMV, around here the creedmoor is less available than .308 or .223 and at higher cost. .308 168gr GMM or 168gr Hornady is $30 a box at the Cabelas, Creedmoor is $40 and up. people buying Creedmoor rifles also means ammo is gonna squeeze because nobody's gonna replace a .223 or .308 manufacturing line with a Creedmoor line.

When it comes to a question of ammo availability, especially for high precision hunting ammo, the answer is always to either buy in bulk or reload, IMO.

From what I've seen the major hunting ammo manufacturers put out this year, there isn't a 308 line and a 6.5cm line and a 300wm line. It's all the same, they just swap tooling and run it for however long they need to produce what they want to produce. The 308 line is the 6.5cm line. The question is how long it's making 6.5 vs 308, but it's not an equipment limitation to either.

 

[z987k]

Not around my neck of the woods. During the most recent ammo shortage (which is basically still going on but it is getting better) from Nov '20 until Oct '21, you could hardly find household calibers such as .308 win, 270 win, 30-06, 25-06, 243 win, 6.5 creedmoor, 300 win, etc.

What could you find? The more "obscure", less popular cartridges such as 6mm Creedmoor, 300 wsm, 7 wsm, 300 Norma, etc. Kind of ironic...everyone says pick a a mainstream cartridge because then you will always be able to find ammo....I found that completely the opposite recently.

If I had a 6mm Creedmoor or 7 wsm, I could have been shooting all day every day and no care in the world for finding ammo. At least that is how it's been in my area.

Same here. Although I did see the 6.5cm show up before the 223, 30-06 and 308.

Obscure things were easy to find. Same as the last ammo shortage. 30 nosler, 270wsm, 257 roberts, 303 British, probably still the same boxes on the shelf today as 12 months ago.

 

[cuerro viejo]

The question is more what's your range?

If it's under 400 yards, I cant beat the 7-08, 6.5 CM, 257 why, etc in regards to recoil

Above that to 800 it's the 280ai, 6.5 PRC/SAUM/RPM,

Above 800yard 28nos, 300wm/PRC/nos/norma etc

These are my just rough distance thoughts. They aren't set in stone, just more of a personal methodology of if you aren't shooting that far stick to lighter recoil and milder report

 

[carsonkeys]

6.5 CM shooting your choice of ELD-X or -M with an impact velocity of >1800 fps gets my vote. My sample size is relatively small (two WT, two elk, a bobcat, a javelina, and a ~100lb pig), but as of today I’m stupidly impressed with that combo. I know a 13 year old girl who's got countless whitetail, an oryx, and several African plains game species with it too and all have been drama-free, as far as I know.

The recoil is laughably tame, I like being able to spot impacts sub-100 yards, I like that I can get a new shooter/hunter behind the gun and know they can handle it, and I can’t argue with the results I’ve had.

View attachment 351058
Elk shoulder exit - through onside shoulder and this hole was with the offside quarter removed. The hole only extended partially into that shoulder.
View attachment 351059
whitetail exit - crunched onside shoulder, exited behind offside shoulder

Another WT down to the 6.5 CM. My wife guided this hunter who had limited shooting experience and no hunting experience. She handled the 6.5 with absolutely no problem and made a perfect shot.

 

[BjornF16]

Since you already have a .30 caliber magnum, go lighter end of spectrum.

I just completed hunt using new APR Maverick 18” 6CM. Great to shoot and plenty lethal for your selected game.

I shot 108 ELD-M; will probably go to 95 TMK when I get dies for it.

 

[sasquatch308]

if you got a biher Gun I can tell you the 6.5 CM is no joke. I had a dead drop shot ona large white tail at 250 with 129 grain SST factory loads. the Lighter recoil is great and does it as well as the .308 it replaced.

 

[Zappaman]

I've owned most of the above mentioned. I got into Terry Cross and his 260AI stuff a while back. Fast forward to today and for me it's the 260ai for deer at about any distance. The recoil has been the key for me. Was sitting, waiting for a 500-600 yard shot last Wendsday when a buck came in behind my blind (always check my 6 O'clock). So I turned around, set-up, and took a 365 yard (lasered) neck shot. Hit the neck bone *with a 15" drop held-over) and the buck dropped strait down- no twitch. Bullet hit EXACTLY where it was supposed to. I LOVE KNOWING THIS!!!

The 6.5 Creedmore would do exactly the same with a touch less velocity- but BOTH are accurate as hell. Some famouse old WWII dude once said: "Only accurate guns are interesting" and I agree these days

 

[Tboned]

6.5 CM shooting your choice of ELD-X or -M with an impact velocity of >1800 fps gets my vote. My sample size is relatively small (two WT, two elk, a bobcat, a javelina, and a ~100lb pig), but as of today I’m stupidly impressed with that combo. I know a 13 year old girl who's got countless whitetail, an oryx, and several African plains game species with it too and all have been drama-free, as far as I know.

The recoil is laughably tame, I like being able to spot impacts sub-100 yards, I like that I can get a new shooter/hunter behind the gun and know they can handle it, and I can’t argue with the results I’ve had.

View attachment 351058
Elk shoulder exit - through onside shoulder and this hole was with the offside quarter removed. The hole only extended partially into that shoulder.
View attachment 351059
whitetail exit - crunched onside shoulder, exited behind offside shoulder

That looks like a rabbit compared to the deer I shoot

 

[Mike D Texas]

Your 300WSM is perfect.

Load it down with some 150 grain fracturing mono bullets so they don’t make such a mess with lighter game.

Or if you just want a new gun, 308 is as good as it gets for a utility cartridge.

No need to drink the Hornady Kook-Aid.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Lou270]

Perfect deer cartridge is the 270 Win. Need no gimmicky marketing stuff to get stellar performance. Of the ones listed as I would vote for 6.5cm

Lou

 

[eapple24]

.308

 

[JCMCUBIC]

I have a 300WSM that I love and I’m thinking about something smaller for Whitetail, Antelope, pigs and varmints. Trying to decide between a 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC, any suggestions?

The 6.5 CM is just about nirvana for whitetail near or far. It can certainly be done with bigger or smaller, but it's an efficient round regarding case design, powder, recoil, and SD/BC. Lots of available ammo and good bullet choices if you reload.

I'd throw the 6 CM next in line.

 

[49ereric]

That's hunting. The .308 will deflect just as well. The problem with a 6mm in AK is the big toothy critters that are in the same woods as you.

No where near as much deflection with .308 shooting 180’s compared to any .243 bullets in the brushy woods here. Not even close.

 

[Big7]

I have a 300WSM that I love and I’m thinking about something smaller for Whitetail, Antelope, pigs and varmints. Trying to decide between a 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC, any suggestions?

Probably need to know where, terrain, distance, are you a handloader......

A LOT of things go into determining a rifle and caliber combo.

 

[BjornF16]

You fellers realize the OP was nearly 2 years ago?

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Don't follow the crowds... 25 WSM or 257 Roberts.

Or if you actually want to be able to buy ammo lol 25-06 is really the sweet spot I think, though 243 is tried and true and you already have a 30 caliber going smaller makes sense, in which case 6mm CM also makes sense.

 

[Tboned]

You fellers realize the OP was nearly 2 years ago?

that’s cuz I bumped it and brought this one back from the grave!

 

[redneckbmxer24]

that’s cuz I bumped it and brought this one back from the grave!

All to tell some guy his deer is small.

 

[Pdzoller]

I’ve been wanting the Springfield 2020 Redline in 6.5 with the 16” barrel. Looks like a sweet little rifle.

Wish I would have checked the date of OP or read all the comments. Oh well, 1 comment closer to WKR status

 

[coyotecreek]

All to tell some guy his deer is

Anything to get access into the classifieds