Suggestions on Caliber in Light Weight Rifle

[bradmacmt]

I love my 6.5 PRC but I think it is marginal for elk and moose.

Based on what?

 

[Jimss]

I would highly recommend a 30 cal over some of the smaller calibers. There seems to be a rave for 6.5 but I really believe it is too small for larger game. I've used a 300 WSM for years and it has been an amazing rifle. Almost every critter I've shot has been a 1 shot kill.

When you see so many posts wondering whether a 6.5 creedmore or prc is large enough for elk and moose, it kindof makes you wonder?

I just bought a 300 win mag and put a Sidewinder muzzy break on it. My guess is that it kicks less than my son's 6.5 PRC. I also like the fact that the 300 win mag can handle heavier bullets for larger game. The cost of shells is a lot less and 300 win mag shells were always available when supplies of other calibers have been tough. It gets super old searching for shells. Also, if you take a look at the drop of similar bullets at longer distance, the 300 win mag is a chunk less than 6.5 prc.

My son just used my 300 win mag on his recent mtn goat hunt and dropped his billy in his tracks. Mtn goats are actually one of the toughest critters in North Amer to put on the ground! I've been on around 6 mtn goat hunts with family and all billies have gone down with 1 shot with a 300 WSM and 300 Win mag. I've accompanied other hunters on numerous other mtn goat hunts that used smaller calibers. They all took 2 to as many as 4 shots to bring down their mtn goats.

I was always was interested in 300 win mag but was always spooked about the stories about how hard it kicks. Take a look at the following youtube video and it may change your mind! Although I bought a different break than those in this video it gives you a visual idea of the comparison with and without a break.

 

[Solm]

Easy answer, anything but a 6.5 creed, 280AI

 

[TaperPin]

I’m one of those that doesn’t see the 7prc as an improvement over the 7 rem mag. From day one the velocity claims seemed suspect, and the recent downgrading of velocity obtainable without the original powder matches that gut feeling. In a light rifle that fits the shooter well I found the 7 mag in a light rifle to be quite shootable.

 

[pacoalcracker]

Swiftshot, I am going to purchase that same Savage rifle. I have handled one and it's a great set-up. I already have a 7prc and a 300wsm in custom rifles so one of them will be my choice in this folding chassis set-up, but its a tough choice. I am leaning towards the 300wsm simply because of the wider range of heavier bullet choices and loaded ammo choices. Also the ease of finding ammo if I lose mine. Both are longer range hammers. From a recoil perspective there really isn't much difference between them and suppressed shouldn't be an issue at all. I love and have multiple 300WM's but not for this application. For my purpose, I want nothing less than a 6.5prc even though it's not one of my choices, however it's enough for elk/moose and I don't care what the RS 223 and 6mm crowd thinks. I don't like "marginal" for the big stuff. If you bump a large bear nothing in your hands is going to feel like it's enough but I sure would rather it not be a 223. Like you, I only want to do this once as it's a 3 grand purchase.

 

[pacoalcracker]

7mm RM isn't a choice chambering in the rifle he is purchasing. 7prc is.

 

[Jimss]

Here is an interesting video by Ron Spomer about 6.5 Creedmore vs 300 Win Mag. It's a lengthy video but listen to the end and it will give you his recommendation. There are several youtube videos that compare the 6.5's to 30 calibers but keep in mind that many of them are comparing a 140ish bullet in the 6.5 to 180 or 200 grain bullets in the 30 cals. To compare apples to apples I would certainly compare the 140's to 150 grain in the 30 cals.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Based on what?

Incompetence…

 

[fuzzymarindave]

I think the 6.8 Western is a great round. I think Winchester has done a terrible job marketing it. They problem I have is the rifle is not in that caliber. That would actually be a logical compromise. Not as snappy as the 7 PRC but not a small as the 6.5 PRC. I dont quite understand my hang up on it for elk. I kill most of my elk with a bow. If a bow can do it a 6.5 can.
I had a bad experience once with a guy that had a 6.5 Creedmoor. It was a Sheep hunt and I was with my buddy and he took a nice ram. This guy had a ewe tag. In hindsight I think it was the bullets but I watched this guy put round after round in a ewe he had anchored with the first shot. He reloaded. I dont know how many actually hit after the first shot. Maybe he was excited and was just missing the rest I do not know. That made me leery of the 6.5 a little. Completely not rational as I have dropped a nice muley at range with my 6.5 PRC. He just dropped. I know the round is basically a 270. I am really torn between the 6.5 and the 7. The 6.5 PRC is a dream to shoot. Maybe I am trying to talk myself out of the 6.5 I do not know.

Ok got it. My choice from the selection would be 300WSM. Wide range of bullet options.

 

[Dave0317]

I will never use a 223 on anything larger than deer. I know there is a massive thread about that. Not for me. The 6mm is not an option in that rifle 6.5 is but which one. The whole 223 thing for large game, sorry I am going back to Alaska and I will not carry a 223.

The value in the .223 thread is not “you should really use .223 for everything”

More the main takeaways of:
1. Match bullets are not significantly different in construction than many of the reliable killing cup and core bullets of the past. If anything they are more reliable across a wider velocity range, and have better BCs.
2. Headstamps don’t matter at all. Caliber matters less than most people think as well. More important factors are heavy for caliber, bullet construction, velocity.
3. Lower recoil general equals higher hit rates
4. Wound channels are more than sufficient in pretty small calibers, when the right bullets are chosen. So no need to agonize over 6.5 vs .30, you likely wouldn’t be able to differentiate the wound channels in real life. Both would be more than sufficient.

Shoot what you want to shoot, but just be informed that choosing a .30 cal magnum with copper bullets is choosing more recoil and no gain in killing performance.

 

[TaperPin]

7mm RM isn't a choice chambering in the rifle he is purchasing. 7prc is.

I did miss that. Nothing wrong with the PRC if someone likes it.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’ll say 308. I don’t think the recoil would be a problem. Should be a good choice of bullets.

My lightest rifle is a 308 and recoil is not a problem. Even Less so with a silencer on it.

 

[Jimss]

Recoil is no problem with any 30 caliber and a state of the art muzzle break! I would just make sure you wear ear protection when shooting.

 

[OXN939]

Looking for a new toy but I only want one toy not 5. I hunt the PNW from Washington to Montana. Mostly I hunt Elk, Black Bear, and Deer. I do every few years do a Pronghorn hunt as well. I will also go up to Alaska for Caribou and looking to add Moose and Sheep to that soon. I have a couple rifles I have used in the past that worked out well.
Those rifles are a 6.5 PRC and a 300 RUM. In the past I have had 300 Win Mag, 7 08 and 25-06. Well about to fully retire and will have a wonderful new toy hauler. I will be doing Summers and Fall in PNW and Alaska. That means border crossing through Canada. I know you can do it alright but it is a hassle at times so trying to make it easier. So that is the thought behind one rifle.
Thought about putting one of my rifles the 300 RUM or the 6.5 PRC in the MDT Hunter 26 stock. That thing is just awesome but runs a little bit of money. I still need to deal with the barrel length as well. So I found the Savage Ultra Lite Elite. Great looking gun and comes in that stock standard. Now the question calibers are 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 308, 7MM PRC, 300 WSM and 300 Win Mag. So the barrels are 20 inches so not too short but you do loose some speed there. The thing will weight if done right complete 7 lbs. with scope. So if I run a can which will complicate the Canada thing. What caliber would you guys pick. The 7 PRC looks promising and I do reload so the price doesn't bother me for ammo. I love my 6.5 PRC but I think it is marginal for elk and moose. I am thinking the 7 PRC, 300 WSM and 300 Win Mag might be a recoil beast in that 7lb rifle. So I am in a weird spot. I don't want to drop 3 grand on a rifle I will not like too shoot. I shoot a lot that is why I reload. I want to be able to stretch out to a reasonable distance and not kill myself with recoil. I like the 7 PRC but have just heard too many stories about it being as bad as the 28 Nosler in a light rifle.
My 300 RUM is in a 8.5 lb. rifle with a Silencer Co 36 M and that doesn't bother me. I know it is a ramble but looking for thoughts on this. Dropping over 3 grand I don't want to really screw this one up. It would be simple if I could go shoot the rifle with most of these calibers but that is not an option. Also 300 PRC is not an option unfortunately.
Thanks in advance.

7mm-08 pushing 120 grain Barnes TTSX or Hammer hunters is what you want.

 

[Jimss]

 

[Ahlongslide]

My go to lightweight rig is a 6.5CM Barrett Fieldcraft. But I love the 300 WSM and would absolutely go that route if I hunted the size animals you hunt.

 

[Kurts86]

If mono’s are the primary bullet then maximum speed with moderate recoil should be your priority. Figure out the fastest way to launch a Barnes LRX in a given platform and roll with it. 6.5 PRC should be getting similar velocity to 7mm prc and 300 WSM with LRX loadings and less recoil.

 

[wweaver]

You said number one thing you hunt is elk. Based on that 7mm prc/300wsm. How is 6.5 creed number one when he said the number one thing he will hunt is elk. I get the success that many have had with it but not my choice for number 1. At least do 6.5 prc if you go 6.5 bore for elk. But what do I know, I just kill them now with a small carbon stick so there is that.