So, you went smaller caliber, but not down to .223…

[chindits]

Actually not too bad in the wind once I realized my 7RM scope is mils and my 6.5 scope is moa. Mil to mil isn’t off too bad with my mellow loads in eldm to eldm.

 

[brhillman]

I’ll be trying out a .243 win barrel to replace my .308 this year for mule deer (and hopefully elk). I was working on reviving a .30-06 from a sporterized Springfield project I was gifted many years ago, and realized I didn’t need two rifles of such similar cartridge and started reading up on the smaller stuff, wanting something I could learn to spot my own impacts with and develop better shooting habits. I was swayed by the overwhelming evidence in the .223 thread, but minimum in some of the states I hunt is .243/6mm. Would have liked to have tried maybe some of the faster twist 6mm, but found a cheap take-off unfired .243 barrel for my 700, and realized that as a hunter that *aspires* to be 600 yards capable, the .243 win will do everything I need even with minimum loads (i.e., deliver 95-105gr projectiles over 1800 fps at 600 yards). Also added a little bit of weight and ergonomics to the system by replacing the Tupperware stock with a laminate that I did a significant amount of reshaping on and pillar and glass bedded, and added a sighting system that will hopefully allow me to dial more reliably than I’ve done in the past. Been a fun winter project so far.

 

[Brucebarker024]

I’ve been shooting a 7 SAUM for the last couple years and a 300 win mag before that. I recently picked up a 6.5 creed tikka that I enjoy and may hunt with it but I’m so attached to my SAUM that it’s unlikely. When this barrel is gone in the next year or so it’ll be going to a 6.5 SAUM and the tikka will be a 6 creed.

 

[06 SB]

I used to use 338WM and a 375HH for elk. I now use a 338Fed or a 7mm-08 for both deer and elk. Occasionally, I use a 270 or a 30-06 but the 338Fed gets the most use. I have never had a deer take a step after being hit with a 200 grainer from the Fed. I prefer a bigger bullet but at moderate velocity rather than magnum velocities. Critters still die and my shoulder feels way better.

 

[wyosam]

I used to use 338WM and a 375HH for elk. I now use a 338Fed or a 7mm-08 for both deer and elk. Occasionally, I use a 270 or a 30-06 but the 338Fed gets the most use. I have never had a deer take a step after being hit with a 200 grainer from the Fed. I prefer a bigger bullet but at moderate velocity rather than magnum velocities. Critters still die and my shoulder feels way better.

Very similar to the combo I’ve settled on- 338-284 (just a touch faster than 338 federal, likely meaningless, but I like to be different), and 7-08 improved. Both 20”, in identical rifles. Both very reasonable in terms of recoil. No need for magnums for me.


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[06 SB]

Very similar to the combo I’ve settled on- 338-284 (just a touch faster than 338 federal, likely meaningless, but I like to be different), and 7-08 improved. Both 20”, in identical rifles. Both very reasonable in terms of recoil. No need for magnums for me.


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Great minds think alike. Both my 338Fed and 7mm-08 are built on Remington 600 actions, 21” barrels with McMillan Mountain rifle stocks and Swarovski scopes. The only difference is the barrel contour. I had to go with a Lilja#2 for the 338 vice a #1 for the 7mm-08.

 

[LIWolverine]

Finally settled on 6.5-284 and 6.5prc as my main guns. I love my 257 Wby too. Can take anything in NA and most places of the world. Not too tough to find ammo for the PRC now that it’s more popular. Recoil is mild, shoots flat, high bc, etc. Best all round for me.


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[Hurley88]

Late to the party, but I started at 7WSM then 308, moved up to 30-06, spent a short time with the 270 then 25-06, then settled on the 7-08 for 15yrs as a 300yd Jack O’Connor style hunter.

Two years back learned to long range shoot and read all the stuff on here about how bullets kill, but poring over legal regs made me stop at 6mm. I’ve been using a fast twist 243 the last two seasons, and it has worked wonderfully. Bought a bunch of 6.5 Creeds for long range training and will use one this upcoming season but now I’m doing a 6 ARC build. Seem to be teetering between 6 ARC, 243 (6 Creed), and 6.5 Creed.

The old army study that determined 15 ft-lbs of recoil for sustained shooting has some merit (heard it regurgitated multiple times but never went and read it myself) bc I’ve noticed that at that level I can cheat and do more with undesirable field positions. But get below 10 ft-lbs and you can do even more. There is no perceived difference in recoil between the 6 Creed and 6.5 Creed, but set an 8lb gun on a bag atop a tripod then let it free recoil into you…you’ll see the difference.

Time will tell, but that’s where I am atm. I’m still learning; I’ve shot a few thousand rounds and pay the most attention to my first five of the day, I now know why I would most likely shy away from 6-700yd shots. I’ve seen how low my personal odds are. Unless I practice to proficiency, I won’t be employing that skill on an actual hunt and I’m not there right now. Hence the desire for a 6 ARC; better field shooting ability that matches my personal distances.

This thread has been a good read, very informative what all you guys are doing

 

[WormSportsman]

Started with the classic .30-06 then bought a nice 7rem mag a few years in. Shot quite a few with the 6.5 creedmoors and then last year down to a .25-06. I just enjoy working up different loads and dialing in new rifles and have progressed smaller every few years. That .25-06 shoots damn nice though with very mild recoil and easily watching impacts. .243 is next and I am sure results will be similar and make things just as dead!

 

[douglasfir]

30-06 to 6.5 cm for me. Could've stuck with the 06 and been happy enough, but I do enjoy less recoil. The wife's rifle/my backup rifle is a 18" barreled 243 that is a real pleasure to shoot. I do not feel undergunned with either hunting anything in Colorado.

 

[teamsprock]

Started with smaller calibers and have been going larger as of late. Started with a .270 and killed several elk and deer. Got a .243 for my son and killed several more deer. Then got a .300 win as a gift and enjoyed killing things faster.

Most of my kills have been with nosler partitions. The .243 has been extremely slow at killing deer. A couple of the 75-100 yard broadside shots have ended up in long tracking sessions.

This past year I hunted with several guys. For deer the decision was .243 or .270. For elk it was .270 or .300. In our sample set of 10 kills the larger caliber, killed much faster in every case. I was convinced of larger calibers, doing the job better… now I read all these threads and I am wondering if the nosler partitions are skewing my perspective. Do I need to start researching different bullets?