“My rifle does the job, too” (My usual response)

[High Plains]

Inspired by a recent thread of why Weatherby cartridges are well liked (or despised), I began thinking about what cartridges and rifle models I use. Examples: I’m often asked why I use a 280 Rem instead of a 270 Win and what a 308 Win can do that a 6.5mm Creedmoor can’t do. The 280 and 270 will both do the intended job with the right bullet in the right place. I load my own ammo and a 280 offers a wider range of heavy for caliber bullets so that is one reason I have one. My 280 gets long-range work and is used as a hunting rifle. It also happens to like virtually everything I load for it from 140 to 168 grain bullets of all manufacturers.
In my opinion, the semi new kid in town 6.5 Creedmoor and iconic 308 Win will do anything you need on plains game at ranges the rifleman is comfortable with. The Creedmoor has better long range ballistics than the 308. Don’t forget the Creedmoor was designed and built to be a target rifle that turned into a superb hunting cartridge. I have a hunting rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor and it excels with deer hunting and long-range plinking.
In the 1980s I was on an Army high power rifle team. We shot converted M-14s and knew the ins and outs of the 168 grain “Mexican Match” ammo. Knowing it very well made a massive difference with elevation settings (clicks up) at known distances of 100-600 yards. The difference in recoil of equal weighted 6.5 Creedmoor vs 308 Win on a hunt is nothing to worry about. Numbers don’t lie and the lesser recoil of a Creedmoor in match shooting will eventually make a difference. By the way, that usually meant a bad cheek to stock setup meant a hard “kiss” on the cheekbone by the M-14s stock.
To wrap it up, when the rifle / cartridge does the work you need and in a way you like it, keep using it. If someone questions your choice, you might confuse them with facts concerning your choice if they aren’t good listeners.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Don’t think too long about how much overlap there is among all the hunting cartridges out there.

 

[Hokkmike]

High Plains - what is your view of the 6.5x55?

 

[buck460XVR]

Don’t think too long about how much overlap there is among all the hunting cartridges out there.

What's that old saying? "Don't sweat the small stuff"?

The majority of medium to large game hunters, would have the same success rate, regardless of what popular hunting cartridge, appropriate for the species they are hunting, they use. Using an appropriate bullet IMHO, is much more important than the caliber. Most of us have a form of emotional attachment or attraction to a specific caliber/platform, mainly because dad used it, our favorite outdoor writer said it was the best or we just like the name. I ofetn wonder how many guns were sold because they were called a .32 Special or a .257 Roberts. How many folks have to have the newest caliber out there, just because no one else has it yet, even tho it's no more lethal than the very old and venerable ought-six? If it works for you, there's no reason to fix it.

 

[High Plains]

High Plains - what is your view of the 6.5x55?

It has to be the most overlooked rifle / chambering by hunters in North America. Part of that is due to it largely being in early model Mauser actions that forced ammo companies to keep the chamber pressures low. There was also a smaller number of bullet weights to choose from than now. (The 264 Win Mag had similar and different issues.) If those old, slow bullets from a 6.5x55 can take elephants, nothing else should be a problem.
In modern rifles, handloads with a 6.5x55 ought to be neck and neck with a 260 Rem or 6.5mm Creedmoor.
I put little faith in the belief that only short action rifles are the most accurate thing I can use on a long distance range or when hunting. If you make the 6.5x55 sing like you want it to, keep shooting.

 

[jmr40]

I absolutely agree. Over the last 40+ years I've owned and used a lot of cartridges. About 10-12 years ago I decided that a 308 would kill anything I was ever going to hunt at ranges farther than I had the skills to shoot. I sold off just about everything else. I kept my 30-06 and a 30-30 since they had had too much sentimental value, but they rarely gets used anymore.

And I don't think there is anything magical about 308, I could have picked from at least a dozen other cartridges and done about the same thing.

I was already established with 308 before the 6.5 CM came onto my radar. I do have one and it lives up to the hype. If I were starting over I'd probably choose it over 308. I think the round does just about everything a little better. But I'm pretty happy with the 308 rifles I have.

At 1st glance 260, 6.5X55 and 6.5CM seem identical. And with carefully chosen handloads they offer identical performance. The difference is that factory rifles and factory loads for each of the 3 are very different. If someone were to build a custom rifle in 260 or 6.5X55 designed to work at 6.5CM performance levels there isn't a dimes worth of difference.

The 6.5X55 was designed to shoot 160 gr FMJ military loads. The 260 was envisioned as a light weight deer rifle and designed around 120 gr deer hunting bullets. The long range shooting gang were experimenting with custom rifles shooting out of spec loads with 140-150 gr target bullets in both 6.5X55 and 260 and getting great results. But you couldn't get those rifles or loads off the shelf.

It was those people who went to Hornady and asked them to develop a new cartridge that would offer that performance in an off the shelf load. Rifle manufacturers started building rifles for them. While envisioned as a target cartridge, hunters soon found that it worked great too.

If you consider yourself a rifle loony and just want to tinker pick one, they all do the same thing if you want to go to the trouble. But if you want to pick up a rifle off the shelf and be able to buy off the shelf ammo it is just a lot easier with the 6.5CM.

 

[Captcurt]

Gotta go with High Pains on the Swede. I have owned 4 CM's, a Swede, and a 260. All three will work for me. The 700 Classic in the 6.5x55 had nearly identical ballistics to the the others when I was loading it to it's potential. I don't believe the short action bs either.

I have 3 different calibers that I hunt whitetails with, 243, 6.5 CM, and a 300 WSM. To be honest, I can't tell that one is better than the other when the proper bullet is put in the proper place.

 

[Skeptic13]

I chose .308 years ago as my primary hunting caliber and I really don't have the money to keep and load ammo for a multiple calibers. I can load and shoot a very wide range of bullet weights in .308. It will take elk, deer and antelope which is what I hunt. If I want to buy ammo it is normally inexpensive and their is a large selection of different loads. It is not the best caliber at any one task but will perform a wide range of tasks very well. I am not really one to chase the next greatest caliber to come along and agree with others that there is not a big advantage moving from one caliber to the next.

 

[jmorris]

To wrap it up, when the rifle / cartridge does the work you need and in a way you like it, keep using it. If someone questions your choice, you might confuse them with facts concerning your choice if they aren’t good listeners.

I don’t even think it has to be the best choice for the job for people to keep using them. There are lots of folks that use things that might not be ideal but despite that fact can still be functional for the task. Whatever floats your boat, if it’s a muzzle stuffing smoke pole you like, I’m fine with that. Do the deer taste any different if shot with something else?

 

[Hookeye]

I think the type/model of rifle just as important as cartridge.
Some stuff is limited in chamberings.

Lots of stuff works. Some of it has a bit more style though

 

[gunlaw]

I deer hunted with a group of guys
with rifles from 243 to 45-70. All the deer came back dead. Use what you like if it is suitable to the game you are seeking.

 

[Hookeye]

I have a .30-06. But being in a Steyr Pro Hunter kinda makes it less boring.
760 Remingtons are yawners, but mines an ADL in .35 rem...........so not too common around here.

Hunted a couple times w a first yr Ruger #1 in .280 (B config). They made about 80 like that.

Different is cool.

 

[.308 Norma]

“My rifle does the job, too”
I don't quite agree with you High Plains. It's YOU that "does the job," not your rifle. Your rifle is just the tool you use, and you were the one that chose that too.
Good choice, by the way!

 

[JTHunter]

About 30 years ago, I bought a second-hand Remington in .243. Trying Remington, Federal, and Winchester factory loads (100 gr.) and shooting off of sandbags (not a "rest"), they were all over the paper at 200 yds. After talking with a coworker who was a benchrest shooter, he gave me a lot of good advice. I worked up various loads (60 gr. HP, 75 gr. HP, & 100 gr. spitzer boattail), it turned out the best accuracy was near a maximum charge for each of these bullet weights using the same Accurate 2230 powder. The 100 grainers shot a 7 shot string that was 1.5 vert. x 2.5 horiz. (6 shots were 1.5 x 1.5") and the 60 & 75 grainers were only about 1" higher with the same point of aim.

 

[BigBore44]

I think people put too much emphasis on rifles and cartridges to kill deer. Probably because that mostly what we hunt. But in truth, they just aren’t hard to kill. They will literally fall to just about every single centerfire cartridge. And most of the rimfires. Step to the bigger animals and cartridge/bullet selection becomes a lot more important.

Having said that, I love that we have the options we have. I can take one of my Zouave muskets that’s 160+ years old. Or I can take a rifle that rolled out of production last week. I can hunt with a 223 or I can take a 700NE (Don’t actually have the 700NE. And anyone who would hunt deer with one needs their head examined).

 

[MacAR]

"My rifle does the job, too"

Yea, it does. My old '06 has been putting meat in my freezer for a long time. According to today's crop of hunters, its an outdated round fit only for "Grandpas and Fudds". So be it. The only difference between my rifle and any of these new models is the man behind the trigger. If a person shoots a rifle/cartridge well, then that rifle/cartridge is what they should use.

Mac

 

[CDW4ME]

Inside 20 yards a .223 Nosler 60 gr. Partition works well on deer, IME (twice); so, based on those two examples, a .223 does the job.
A 155 gr. XTP 10mm handgun bullet also performed satisfactorily on a deer inside 20 yards, but this is a rifle thread, oh well.

 

[Hugger-4641]

For my first two decades of hunting, I killed most of my deer with my model 94. I still take at least one a year with it. When my SIL and wife decided to start hunting, I got on the 6.5 cm wagon and put one in their hands. It was the right decision, my SIL bagged four deer this year, his first ever year to hunt. But I'll have to admit, if I was going to have to quit hunting with all but one, I'd probably use my 300wm. 700 Long Range. It's not my favorite, not my most sentimental, certainly not the easiest to hike around with much. But it is simply just the most versatile. I can load it down for Coyotes or load up for whatever. Fortunately, I don't have to give up the others yet, so I'll keep using my ole 94, 6.5,cm, 30-06, or whatever I think I can do the job at hand with.

 

[Archie]

High Plains; well put. I prefer some other calibers, but those were the ones I 'found' first. They do the job I need done.

 

[GAF]

What gets the job done for me is 308 and 30 06. I chose these because they are common and can be bought most anyplace that sells ammo. (At least it use to be that way)
I have a CZ 527 carbine in 7.62X39. I am sure the cartridge would get the job done too, but no deer have show themselves when I am carrying that gun.

 

[RETG]

Personally, do not see any reason anyone needs to explain about the caliber weapon they have; rifle or handgun.

 

[WisBorn]

I'm with @.308 Norma . The rifle is a tool. If it's an old cartridge or new makes little difference. It's the Rifleman not the Rifle.

 

[hps1]

Personally, do not see any reason anyone needs to explain about the caliber weapon they have; rifle or handgun.

I'm with @.308 Norma . The rifle is a tool. If it's an old cartridge or new makes little difference. It's the Rifleman not the Rifle.

What gets the job done for me is 308 and 30 06.

Can't find anything to disagree with in this entire thread. The last three pretty well sums it up for me. Guess that makes me an old fudd.

Way back when my eyesight began to wane, and I was having to wean myself off the service rifle, I was planning a bolt gun build for cross the course matches.

Having used the Garand for some 10 years, was leaning toward a 30-06. But conventional "wisdom" was screaming 7.62 NATO!! Can't tell you how many times the phrase, 308 is "inherently more accurate, short actions are better than long" came into the discussions.

Then I ran across a beautiful pre-64 Mod. 70 that had been built for a retiring Col. by AMU armorers and it followed me home. Oh, did I mention it had an original Winchester 30-06 carbon steel target barrel? Oh well, at the time, I had plenty of '06 brass, dies and pet loads, so it fit well, and "it did the job"....until it didn't. After some 7000 rounds, the barrel went south and the choice between 30-06 & 308 had to be made.

When asked about the "inherently more accurate" 308, Mark Chanlynn assured me that he "could build me a 30-06 that was just as accurate as any 308 he could build" (and he builds fabulous match rifles).

Well, he did (3 times).........

....and it did!


100 yd practice ^^ 600 Yard Match Spotter vv


No warts on either, the venerable 30-06 or the new kid on the block, 308 either, but sometimes it's best to "dance with the gal what brung ya."

Regards,
hps

 

[gotboostvr]

I recently moved out west and started to fret that my lowly 308 wouldn't get the job done.

I've been set straight and will keep knocking stuff down with that rifle.

In a few years I might pick up a 280AI, but it's not real high on my priority list as much as it was.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Exactly my sentiments HP.
I’ve owned a half dozen .308’s and a dozen .30/06. I can’t say any of the .308’s were any more accurate than the .30/06’s. Most weren’t as accurate as the three bolt action’06’s I’ve got currently.

My 1974 mfg’d Interarms MkX according to all the so-called experts of the era would suggest that it shouldn’t be capable of much better than 3moa. After several dozen deer, and several thousand rounds, I had it rebarreled to .338/06 in 2003.

In 2020, I had the original barrel reinstalled and put it back in original stock. After adjusting scope to Zero, I fired a 5-shot group with old stand by accuracy load. Unprepared RP brass , CCI std LRP, 56.5Gr IMR4350 w/Sierra 165gr @3.325”oal. Shot .725” ctc. Just like it first did in 1977. (5-shots, will do better with just 3).

A recently acquired Rem700 Police Tactical w/20” Bull bbl in glass bedded Hogue stock, trigger adjusted to minimum; load of 43.0gr SW Precision Rifle powder, Fed 210M LRP, 168gr Nosler CC match BTHP in match prepped brass (neck turned, annealed, reamed flash holes, primer pockets, weigh matched from Federal GMM match ammo). Shot a .990” 5-shot group. Same day, position , target and shooter (me). Personal best with that rifle!
BTW, the ‘06 wears a 3-9 Leupold, The .308 wears a Redfield Revolution 6-18x w/adj objective. Target thin reticle.
Hunting rifle vs “target style rifle”...
Proves nothing but, aligns closely with my experience shooting both cartridges over the past 48yrs.
I bought my first .308 in 1973. Bought the ‘06 in 1975. Shot first deer with it in 1976. Used the 165gr GameKing load to shoot my second deer in 1978.
Yeah, it works!