Poll - One all around single cartridge under conditions

[USAF Ret]

Not for you to decide.
He can always sell a few and buy new.

Nope. I am not buying any more rifles. It will have to be something from my current inventory. I have some pretty nice rifles.

 

[cal30_sniper]

You have a 6.5 Grendel and a 25-06 per your other comments in the thread. Those cover 100% of possible deer and elk hunting needs, so you could just sell all of the ones you listed.

Of the ones you listed, 6.5CM is as close to an objectively best choice as you can get for your listed restrictions. Factory ammo is relatively cheap, available, and GOOD. 6.5 also has far more selection/availability in lighter weight bullets compared to either 7mm or .308, which is what you need to be looking at given your recoil constraints. Capable .284 or .308 bullets in the 120gr or less range are almost non-existent in those chamberings, while the 6.5CM is loaded with options in that bullet weight class.

You will notice the difference in recoil between a 120gr 6.5CM and a 140gr 7mm-08 or 150gr .308.

 

[z987k]

You have a 6.5 Grendel and a 25-06 per your other comments in the thread. Those cover 100% of possible deer and elk hunting needs, so you could just sell all of the ones you listed.

Of the ones you listed, 6.5CM is as close to an objectively best choice as you can get for your listed restrictions. Factory ammo is relatively cheap, available, and GOOD. 6.5 also has far more selection/availability in lighter weight bullets compared to either 7mm or .308, which is what you need to be looking at given your recoil constraints. Capable .284 or .308 bullets in the 120gr or less range are almost non-existent in those chamberings, while the 6.5CM is loaded with options in that bullet weight class.

You will notice the difference in recoil between a 120gr 6.5CM and a 140gr 7mm-08 or 150gr .308.

But not hardly any between a 143 6.5CM and a 139gr 7-08.
A 150 in a 7-08 and a 150 in a 6.5cm are also so close in recoil I don't think many people could tell the difference. It's like 3gr of powder.

 

[cal30_sniper]

But not hardly any between a 143 6.5CM and a 139gr 7-08.
A 150 in a 7-08 and a 150 in a 6.5cm are also so close in recoil I don't think many people could tell the difference. It's like 3gr of powder.

Right, but someone who's recoil sensitive (particularly due to an injury) wouldn't want to use 140gr options if they can avoid it.

That's the gist of my reply. There's a LOT of options for the 6.5 between 100-120 grs that are perfectly suited to the OP's use case. There's very few options in the 7mm range in this weight. The historical line in bullet options in the 25 years that I've been messing with 6.5s and 7s has always been right about the 140gr line. 6.5 has much better options below that, both have good options around that, 7mm has much better options above that weight.

For 7mm at 120grs, you're pretty much limited to Nosler BTs and Sierra Pro-hunters. I'm not aware of options below that grain weight other than varmint bullets in 7mm. Lots more options in that range for 6.5s, particularly with all the bullets that have come out in recent years for the Grendel.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I’ve shot some great groups with 120-grain spitzers from a 7mm RM. Not trendy today, but back when “moar speed” was everything, they were like laser beams.

I’d still pick the 6.5 CM out of the options you have.

 

[USAF Ret]

So, the one thing for sure and for certain is I will be selling the two 280 AI rifles I own. One is a HOWA custom with a 26" Bartlein barrel and a Stocky's carbon stock. The other is a new, unshot, Weatherby Range XP 2.0. I bought those because I absolutely fell in love with that cartridge and it is tough to get rid of them. But if it hurts to shoot them, they are paper weights.

I am going to restock my 7mm-08 and sell the current stock to see if I can make it as comfortable as my Bergara to shoot to be able to do an apples to apples comparison. Out of sheer curiosity, I am going to shoot the 6.5 PRC and see what the recoil feels like. That is a tough one, because it is new and never been fired. So, I won't be able to say that if/when selling it.

Thanks all.

 

[USAF Ret]

Right, but someone who's recoil sensitive (particularly due to an injury) wouldn't want to use 140gr options if they can avoid it.

That's the gist of my reply. There's a LOT of options for the 6.5 between 100-120 grs that are perfectly suited to the OP's use case. There's very few options in the 7mm range in this weight. The historical line in bullet options in the 25 years that I've been messing with 6.5s and 7s has always been right about the 140gr line. 6.5 has much better options below that, both have good options around that, 7mm has much better options above that weight.

For 7mm at 120grs, you're pretty much limited to Nosler BTs and Sierra Pro-hunters. I'm not aware of options below that grain weight other than varmint bullets in 7mm. Lots more options in that range for 6.5s, particularly with all the bullets that have come out in recent years for the Grendel.

I have some 120 Barnes TTSX in 7mm that could be a good pill for elk. I know they are for deer. I just have not done much testing with them.

 

[cal30_sniper]

I have some 120 Barnes TTSX in 7mm that could be a good pill for elk. I know they are for deer. I just have not done much testing with them.

If you're open to shooting coppers, there's some good 6.5 options in the 100gr range. My Tikka 6.5x55 shoots 100gr HHTs very well (and very fast).

 

[Tx270WT]

I wouldn’t gamble a 1-2x chance at an elk on a 6.5cm, that’s the only regret with it given your requirements. It’s fine for a whitetail cartridge.

 

[cal30_sniper]

I wouldn’t gamble a 1-2x chance at an elk on a 6.5cm, that’s the only regret with it given your requirements. It’s fine for a whitetail cartridge.

Would you also not gamble on a 270 Win for elk?