Suggestions on caliber?

markm_04 · Mar 18, 2015

I am looking for some opinions and suggestions on which caliber to choose.

I plan on buying a Savage rifle. I love the Accutrigger system and have read and heard very good things about Savage rifles.

I plan on using the rifle for White-tail and Coyote hunting, but also want a caliber that will consistently and accurately shoot out to ~700-800 yards. This will not be the only gun I have for hunting by any means and really this gun will be used more for target shooting and coyote hunting than anything else.

I have considered .300 Win Mag or .270 Win. I am not familiar with 6.5 Creedmore but from what I have read, it sounds like it would do what I am looking for, along with other calibers such as .30-06.

Any suggestions or recommendations for a caliber that would suit my needs? Thanks

-Mark

GI_Jared · Mar 18, 2015

For coyote hunting most people would prefer a smaller round that moves quickly, so the only one of those that I have also heard of used for deer would be the .243 winchester round. Which is just a necked down .308.

markm_04 · Mar 18, 2015

I already have a .243 that has previously been a coyote and deer gun but I do not see it reaching out to the ~700-800 yards that I would like to be target shooting at.

ontarget · Mar 18, 2015

May be a little overkill for coyotes but at the ranges you mentioned a 300 mag would be appropriate.

49willys · Mar 18, 2015

Sounds like you need a .260.good for up to elk sized critters and excellent long range paper cutting capabilities.

Agsalaska · Mar 18, 2015

.257 wby

Jackal · Mar 19, 2015

Sounds like you want a 6.5 Swede.

TexasPatriot.308 · Mar 19, 2015

7mm-08 low recoil, flat shooter

captain awesome · Mar 19, 2015

I second the 257 Weatherby idea. if not, 25/06?

markm_04 · Mar 19, 2015

Agsalaska said:
.257 wby

Jackal said:
Sounds like you want a 6.5 Swede.

I have not seen a Savage offered in either of those calibers.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, I had not looked into a .260 but that has got my attention now. What kind of ranges is the .260 capable of?

I know the .300 Win Mag would be a little overkill for coyotes but have read about its long range capabilities. I am wanting a fast, flat shooting caliber to reach out there a ways.

Elvis1 · Mar 19, 2015

I went with a savage pc10 in .308 as my "all around" rifle. I've shot paper out to 600yds with excellent results using 168gr hpbt, and use soft points for hunting white tail in WI and hog in TX. I also wouldn't think twice on getting a 30-06. In my experience I've never seen anyone sold out of it and tons of options for weights and composition of bullets.

49willys · Mar 19, 2015

The .260 shoots high b.c.bullets and is capable of great accuracy at 1000 yrds in a good barrel.Another good option for flat and fast and very accurate is the 6.5-284.If you want blistering,the 6.5 stw is a real barrel burner.

chris in va · Mar 19, 2015

50 BMG. Aim 6" in front of the animal, the shock wave will take it out.

Manny · Mar 19, 2015

I would think the middlebores such as 7mm-08, 260 Rem or 6.5 Creedmore would give you the best results for what you're looking for. Flat shooting, noted accuracy, high retained energy, a wide selection of ballistically efficient bullets, moderate powder capacity for reasonable recoil and relatively long barrel life. The venerable .308 would serve well too, although not quite as flat shooting.

ku4hx · Mar 19, 2015

chris in va said:
50 BMG. Aim 6" in front of the animal, the shock wave will take it out.

This. For 800 yards shots (2,400 feet; .45 mile) you're going to need some serious artillery. I'd think actually hitting a Coyote-size "target" from that distance would be a feat with any shoulder gun.

js8588 · Mar 19, 2015

2nd on the Creedmoor. The 6.5 will do everything you need it to

justin22885 · Mar 19, 2015

whats wrong with the 308? itll do just about everything the 30-06 will do and be much easier to find

Davek1977 · Mar 19, 2015

whats wrong with the 308? itll do just about everything the 30-06 will do and be much easier to find

LOL....Here in SD, finding 30-06 is hardly a challenge, nor do I know anywhere its considered obscure. Both are EXTREMELY common cartridges, and stating one should routinely be easier to find than the other is a rather odd statement, IMO. It seems in this area, every gas station, liquor store, bait shop, etc has a small "ammo dept" usually consisting of 12 gauge, .223, .243, 30-30, .308, and 30-06.....22LR too, when it was commonly available. Whats your basis for stating the .308 is so much more readily available?

jmr40 · Mar 19, 2015

243, 260, 7-08, 308, pick one. They would all do what you want.

CarJunkieLS1 · Mar 19, 2015

If you are a reloader 7mm-08 or .260 Rem if you buy ammo off a shelf .308

justin22885 · Mar 19, 2015

Davek1977 said:
LOL....Here in SD, finding 30-06 is hardly a challenge, nor do I know anywhere its considered obscure. Both are EXTREMELY common cartridges, and stating one should routinely be easier to find than the other is a rather odd statement, IMO. It seems in this area, every gas station, liquor store, bait shop, etc has a small "ammo dept" usually consisting of 12 gauge, .223, .243, 30-30, .308, and 30-06.....22LR too, when it was commonly available. Whats your basis for stating the .308 is so much more readily available?

because i find a lot more of it here than i do 30-06, and in much greater variety, also much easier to find once-fired brass in 308 for very inexpensive hand loads, and a greater selection of rifles chambered in it.. and considering it can do 95% what the 30-06 does, i see no reason to get a 30-06 over 308

markm_04 · Mar 19, 2015

Around here everyone has a .30-06, it is the "all around caliber" and there is no animal in this part of the world that it would not take down. It is a little more popular than .308 in my opinion.

Having said that I was originally leaning toward a .300 Win Mag, but thinking a little more reasonably, a middle bore caliber such as .260 Rem, 7mm-08 or 6.5 Creedmore will be capable of and better suit my needs.

I will be reloading as I do for all my firearms, so shelf bought ammo will not be something I am worried about, other than to reuse the brass.

cottswald · Mar 19, 2015

jmr40 said:
243, 260, 7-08, 308, pick one. They would all do what you want.

Yep

justin22885 · Mar 19, 2015

if its going into a bolt action and you plan on reloading i would take the creedmoor over the 260 remington, you'll get a bit better performance out of it and creedmoor seems to be growing pretty quickly in popularity, between the creedmoor and the 7mm-08 they will both shoot a 140 grain projectile at about 2800fp at the muzzle, so recoil will feel about the same between the two but the 6.5 bullet will have a higher ballistic coefficient and retain more energy downrange, with a flatter trajectory

so if you want something with more downrange energy and a flatter trajectory, go with the creedmoor, to most people, this difference will be negligible and only worthy of consideration if youre picky about things like this, if not the 270 will be much easier to find in stores

TimSr · Mar 19, 2015

7mm Reminton Mag will shoot flatter than any of those mentioned, and at longer distances without the recoil of the 300 Mag.

Suggestions on caliber?

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