Poll - One all around single cartridge under conditions

What would be your choice for a single hunting cartridge based on the listed conditions?

  • 6.5 Creedmoor

    Votes: 115 37.6%
  • 6.5 PRC

    Votes: 44 14.4%
  • 7mm-08 Remington

    Votes: 62 20.3%
  • 280 Ackley Improved

    Votes: 27 8.8%
  • 308 Winchester

    Votes: 58 19.0%

  • Total voters
    306
I’d be taking a harder look at that 25-06 you have assuming it’s in a decent rifle platform. A 25-06 with a 110gr Accubond would be a hard recipe to beat given your parameters.
I have heard a few folks talk about the 25-06 as an elk cartridge. I always thought it was not quite enough for an elk. I have a good stash of different bullets, but no Accubonds.

Hornday
110 ELD-X
117 Interlock
90 CX

Sierra
117 Gameking
110 TGK Gamechanger

Speer
120 Grand Slam

Nosler
100 grain Partition
 
I have heard a few folks talk about the 25-06 as an elk cartridge. I always thought it was not quite enough for an elk. I have a good stash of different bullets, but no Accubonds.

Hornday
110 ELD-X
117 Interlock
90 CX

Sierra
117 Gameking
110 TGK Gamechanger

Speer
120 Grand Slam

Nosler
100 grain Partition

I rebuilt my shot-out .25-06 with a 1:8” twist. I would have happily used the old 117 and 120-grain bullets on any North American game, but now that there are excellent 133, 134, and 138-grain bullets available, I think my 1:8” twist .25-06 might make my .270 obsolete (it is already, to be fair, I only keep it as a loaner).
 
I rebuilt my shot-out .25-06 with a 1:8” twist. I would have happily used the old 117 and 120-grain bullets on any North American game, but now that there are excellent 133, 134, and 138-grain bullets available, I think my 1:8” twist .25-06 might make my .270 obsolete (it is already, to be fair, I only keep it as a loaner).
If I had a cheap stock Vanguard, I might get a Criterion barrel in that twist. This is the one with the beautiful wood stock and I really don't want to mess with it. It would be great to shoot those heavier bullets, though. What speed are you getting?
 
Funny, I went to take pictures of the PRC to sell it. Showed my wife and she said, "No, put it back into the safe." I am in physical therapy and she wants me to wait. I am holding on everything to see if they can fix some of my issues, or at least make it more tolerable.

I went hunting this weekend and discovered I can no longer hunt tree stands. I have a nerve in my back that causes me issues and I had to use a cane the next day to get around I hurt so bad. I could not put weight on my right leg.

I feel that. So many seemingly minor activities leave me completely hosed for the next couple days. Hope they can get you some relief.


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I feel that. So many seemingly minor activities leave me completely hosed for the next couple days. Hope they can get you some relief.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I really appreciate it. I have just gotten to where if something does not work, make adjustments. They have 3 box blinds on the farm. I just ordered one to donate. I told them the only catch is they have to name it after my late son, as all of the blinds and stands have a name so you can check them out. This one will be Andrew's stand. It is a Maverick 5 side with a 5' platform. It will be super easy to get into. No contorting.
 
If I had a cheap stock Vanguard, I might get a Criterion barrel in that twist. This is the one with the beautiful wood stock and I really don't want to mess with it. It would be great to shoot those heavier bullets, though. What speed are you getting?

I haven’t reloaded the heavy bullets yet. My reloading equipment is down at my family farm and I haven’t been there since I broke my leg in early August. It’s mostly healed now and I am going upland bird hunting in Montana this weekend, then I should be fully immersed in hunting season. But I have until mid-November for rifle season, so I expect to get some time to develop a load between now and then.
 
I haven’t reloaded the heavy bullets yet. My reloading equipment is down at my family farm and I haven’t been there since I broke my leg in early August. It’s mostly healed now and I am going upland bird hunting in Montana this weekend, then I should be fully immersed in hunting season. But I have until mid-November for rifle season, so I expect to get some time to develop a load between now and then.
Please report back.

The farm I hunt also does quail, chukkar, and pheasant hunts. The place they raise the birds is 30' high and 100 yards long. They are as close to wild birds as I have ever hunted and the guide's dogs are absolutely amazing. Had one last year where the dog was pointing with a pheasant in his mouth. Looking back, I wish I would have put down my shotgun and took pictures or video.
 
Another thought. The nice gentleman who reached out about the ID Veteran elk hunt, said they basically ride you around in a side by side looking for elk and mule deer. I would have to as I cannot walk any distance at all. I could add some weight to my rifle since I don't have to carry it. Maybe get it up around 11-12 pounds and that can tame the recoil on the larger calibers.
 
2
I rebuilt my shot-out .25-06 with a 1:8” twist. I would have happily used the old 117 and 120-grain bullets on any North American game, but now that there are excellent 133, 134, and 138-grain bullets available, I think my 1:8” twist .25-06 might make my .270 obsolete (it is already, to be fair, I only keep it as a loaner).
270 will never be obsolete. It kills better today than 100 years ago.

But I do understand preferring one over another.
 
I have a 6.5 PRC and 280AI. I'm really liking the 6.5 and have been impressed with the results. Performance wise it's on par with a 270 which has been used on just about everything. My 6.5 is shooting the 156 but loaded with a fast 130 load would be better on a bad shoulder and plenty good for whitetail or the occasional elk. Ours is going hunting this weekend for mule deer and will have an elk tag with us just incase.
 
7MM-08 definitely works on deer. 140 TGK.

At the risk of derailing a little - how have those 140 TGK's shot for you? I've tried them in 2 different rifles, and can't get them to shoot under about 1.6 to 1.8 MOA (over a 10 or more shot string - 3 or 5 shots gets me under an inch about 1/3rd of the time). One of the 2 rifles is only about a 1.6-1.8 MOA gun, but the other one will shoot 3/4 MOA with ELD-X's. I've been trying to decide if it's the bullet generally, or just my guns don't like it.
 
Not derailing at all. I have been impressed with the accuracy, but I had to definitely find the right powder and primer combination. I could not get them to group with WLR primers. The Rem 9 1/2 made a world of difference. I am shooting the 130s in my 6.5 and they are very accurate as well. Average about .75 MOA and that is my limitation as a shooter. H-4895 for the 7MM-08 and H-4350 for the 6.5.

Terminal performance, I was very well pleased. 100 yards, maybe a little more. She went 20 yards, doubled back, and then flopped about where I shot her. Destroyed the lungs and got a complete pass through.
At the risk of derailing a little - how have those 140 TGK's shot for you? I've tried them in 2 different rifles, and can't get them to shoot under about 1.6 to 1.8 MOA (over a 10 or more shot string - 3 or 5 shots gets me under an inch about 1/3rd of the time). One of the 2 rifles is only about a 1.6-1.8 MOA gun, but the other one will shoot 3/4 MOA with ELD-X's. I've been trying to decide if it's the bullet generally, or just my guns don't like it.
 
Not derailing at all. I have been impressed with the accuracy, but I had to definitely find the right powder and primer combination. I could not get them to group with WLR primers. The Rem 9 1/2 made a world of difference. I am shooting the 130s in my 6.5 and they are very accurate as well. Average about .75 MOA and that is my limitation as a shooter. H-4895 for the 7MM-08 and H-4350 for the 6.5.

Ohhh, that's interesting! WLR primers and Varget is what I have been trying in my 7mm-08 (and H4350 and N160)... I've got some Federal match and CCI LRs, maybe I should give a go with that before I give up... I also have some H4895 somewhere too, though I have generally found Varget gets me a hair more accuracy in any given gun, but H4895 gets me a lot more velocity.

Thanks for the tip!!
 
Ohhh, that's interesting! WLR primers and Varget is what I have been trying in my 7mm-08 (and H4350 and N160)... I've got some Federal match and CCI LRs, maybe I should give a go with that before I give up... I also have some H4895 somewhere too, though I have generally found Varget gets me a hair more accuracy in any given gun, but H4895 gets me a lot more velocity.

Thanks for the tip!!
You bet. I got good accuracy with Varget, but the speed was not where I wanted it to be. I am running 40 grains of H-4895 and getting 2800 fps. ES of 12 and SD of 4.4.
 
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