What's the compromise caliber?

[roadrunner]

...what is the optimal middle of the road cartridge for a factory ammo shooter?

.270

 

[BRTreedogs]

Imo 25 CM is limited factory ammo and very limited on factory ammo with long for caliber high bc bullets.
So unless you rifle happens to like Hornady or Hornady you are going to be hand loading or crap out.

If it end up being well supported I’d definitely be interested.

Otherwise 6.5 cm or 6.5 prc

 

[Dennis]

My choice would be a 30-06 and it will do everything within all reasonable ranges.

 

[prm]

I find it funny how the .308 Win is now viewed towards the larger end of the suggested cartridges.

 

[jk_minn]

If you’re limited by factory loads, 6.5 PRC seems like a sweet spot. Because I like to tinker, my current build in the works is a 6.5 WSM.

 

[The Guide]

So much depends upon the game you are hunting and where it lives. There is no 1 magic cartridge in a magic rifle shooting a magic bullet that is perfect for every shooting scenario. The perfect combo for a pronghorn hunt in open terrain might now be the best combination for a person woods hunting in dense locations with lots of undergrowth who needs 2 holes guaranteed for blood trailing since they can't see 5 yard off the trail. The right rifle/scope/cartridge combo might exist but there is no perfect bullet for all situations. Bullets matter more than case heads and launching platforms.

For me, if we are talking all shooting from target, varmints, and big game sub 500 yards I'm going with the 6ARC in a Howa Mini Action. I can go super heavy, mid range, and light varmint bullets to match the animal. If it is big game only, I'm going with one of my 6.5 PRC rifles so I can shoot everything from monolithic bullets to heavy cup and core at velocities that will consistently work.

Jay

 

[Foster_65]

Imo 25 CM is limited factory ammo and very limited on factory ammo with long for caliber high bc bullets.
So unless you rifle happens to like Hornady or Hornady you are going to be hand loading or crap out.

If it end up being well supported I’d definitely be interested.

Otherwise 6.5 cm or 6.5 prc

This is my exact dilemma also. Been so close and convinced the 25 Creedmoor is the best middle of the road but if for whatever reason your barrel doesn’t like Hornady or bergers your kinda sol so I’ve stuck the 6.5.

 

[hereinaz]

I find it funny how the .308 Win is now viewed towards the larger end of the suggested cartridges.

It kind of is, and I think that is a reflection of the long standing trends. And, funny to me is our conversations that get worked out over different cartridges, as if there is a significant difference.

Most of the stuff is just noise, IMO, unless you are talking shooting beyond 500 yards. At that point, you have to look at velocity/BC much closer.

Take Federal ammo specs I just pulled. From 243 to 308, here's a sample of ammo. Between 25-06 and 7-08, the difference of 20 grains is going to be largely inconsequential, using similarly constructed bullets. The difference of 200 fps (excluding the 308) is largely inconsequential too.

.243 with 95 grain at 3000 fps to 1850 fps at 500 yards.
25-06 ammo with 120 grain at 2980 fps to 2050 at 500 yards
6.5 creedmoor with a 130 grain at 2800 fps to 2000 fps at 500 yards
.270 ammo with 136 grain at 3000 fps to 2100 fps at 500 yards
7-08 with 140 grain bullet at 2800 fps to 1850 fps at 500 yards
308 with 175 grain bullet at 2600 fps to 1850 fps at 500 yards.

 

[Skerhunter]

To me they are all the same looking at drop/drift at extended ranges and even more so at standard hunting ranges (inside 400).

25cm is going to be in that 2800fps range for factory ammo - best case. 0.64 ish bc on a 134gr eldm- plug it into your favorite ballistics calculator and see where it ends up!

Based on current factory ammo if I wanted an edge over what a 22cm/6cm/6.5cm - I would step up to 7mm/big 30 cals.

 

[Koda_]

For me, I want to see the 25 cal options increase because you have the newer 133-135 grain high BC bullet. The 6.5 is already there and close with the 140-150 grain bullets.

There is a current trend in quarterbores to make heavier than traditional weights and Ive picked up on something in that trend where making an existing diameter bullet longer also increases its BC and its Sectional Density, the quarterbore diameter is an interesting sweet spot for this, 130gn class weights and up in .257 are going to hit hard and penetrate deep. We do need a fast 7 twist and longer throated rifles but sadly right now this is limited to custom build rifles.
Rather than buy a new rifle I did it to my 25-06 though, 127gn bullet at 3100 fps and is very flat shooting.

 

[hereinaz]

There is a current trend in quarterbores to make heavier than traditional weights and Ive picked up on something in that trend where making an existing diameter bullet longer also increases its BC and its Sectional Density, the quarterbore diameter is an interesting sweet spot for this, 130gn class weights and up in .257 are going to hit hard and penetrate deep. We do need a fast 7 twist and longer throated rifles but sadly right now this is limited to custom build rifles.
Rather than buy a new rifle I did it to my 25-06 though, 127gn bullet at 3100 fps and is very flat shooting.

Exactly!!! That's why I like the 25 creed and am cheering for it. 130 grains is a lot of bullet. When you add weight to a bullet but don't increase the diameter, it has to get longer so it's BC and SD increase. And, they are able to make really pointy bullets with modern design and manufacturing.

As soon as Berger announced the 133s in .257 I ordered several thousand and started building my 25 SST to shoot them at 3150. Ballistics match my 7 SS with 180 grain VLD at 3050 fps out to 1000.

 

[camp_86]

The real question is, why would you not want to shoot a 6 CM? The wound channel on my moose from one at over 500 yards certainly showed that I wasn’t even close to the maximum effective range with that cartridge. Seems like it is as close to a silver bullet as you might find.

What bullet with the 6 cm?

 

[DangerRanger]

It’s 6.5 prc

Yes the recoil is higher than a creed, but almost the same/the same as a 308 with 175s

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I like the 6.5 prc. I cannot feel a difference in recoil between it and my 308. It’s barely noticeable between it and my 6.5 creed when suppressed.

 

[nobody]

For newer cartridges, I see the “sweet spot” as the 6.5 creedmoor. Quality factory ammo, lots of quality factory rifles, low enough recoil that anyone with some solid shooting fundamentals can shoot it well, lots to like.

For a classic cartridge, it’s hard to argue a 270 shooting a 145 ELDX or a 130 SST. Not quite as low of recoil as a creedmoor, but it was the creedmoor before the creedmoor was cool, IMO.

 

[CasNed]

It’s mostly nostalgia with caliber selection. Almost all cartridges have a good proven lethality bullet availability today. It’s fairly rare that an individual is actually completely maximizing the distance potential while hunting. Pick what makes you warm and fuzzy and enjoy it. The 6.5 PRC is probably the easiest choice, usually in stock, fairly cheap and the Hornady match shoots great.

 

[wnelson14]

If you don't want to shoot a 6CM or a 7 PRC where should you look?

I believe you answered your own question here,
6.5prc

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I went with 308...long barrel life and you can find a box ammo anywhere that sells ammo. 18" with a can is the sweet spot.