Only 1 Hunting Rifle

[Olympus]

Back in the market for “the one” hunting rifle. Been using a cheap Ruger American 243 and it shot incredibly well but a young family member needed a new deer rifle and I sold it to his parents for him. Now I’m back in the market. I’ll probably buy another Ruger just for a backup, but now I’m thinking maybe I splurge and get a really nice rifle.

I’m still never going to need anything bigger than a 308 and hate recoil. I hunt Missouri hardwoods from blinds and ladder stands. Seems like all the new rifles are being chambered in PRC calibers and fast long actions. I’ve been looking at Christensen rifles, most the Ridgeline series. Hate the 24” barrel options because there just too long to use in a blind or up in a tree. And I’ll never need the added velocity. They have a 20” barrel version that might be better suited for me. But I’m still on the fence.

I’m thinking 7mm08, maybe 308, for a 20” barrel. I’m not going to see any performance difference with a 6.5CM but I’m not opposed to that caliber either.

Love to hear suggestions on rifle choices and caliber. No budget to speak of, just don’t want more recoil than a 308.

 

[12Bravo20]

I would say any of the three calibers you mentioned would be fine for Missouri hunting. The longest shot I have ever taken on a deer was around 250 yards and that ws north of the Missouri River. Long shots south of the river won't be as common. I used an old Lee Enfield No 1 MkIII for years hunting all over the state without any issues.

 

[Seedy Character]

7-08 is an outstanding cartridge.
7x57 is ballistic equivalent
.25-06, .270, .257 Robert's,. 260 Rem, 6.5x55, .280, 6mm Rem, .30-30 or go back to .243.

ANY non-magnum from .243 to .30-06 will fill your needs.

 

[Varminterror]

Those problems would be solved by a 6 Creedmoor for me.

Seekins Havak Element is 21” barrel and ultralight, with the opportunity to swap bolt heads and barrels (drop in headspace control) to change for 6.5 PRC if so desired for even more horsepower if your needs ever changed.

 

[jmr40]

7-08 is a great cartridge and on paper is better than 308. But by the tiniest differences. At 500 yards there is about 1" less drop and about 30-40 fps more energy than 308. With about 1 ft lb less recoil.

In the real world you won't be able to tell any difference in performance or recoil. And 308 ammo is a lot easier to find and is generally cheaper. If you handload and want to squeeze the last bit of performance from a cartridge and to just be different 7-08 is great. But IMO the 308 is more practical.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

As far as finding ammo, 308 is the easiest. 6.5 Creed ain't bad. 7-08 has been impossible for the last few years.

I honestly like Creedmoor, it's what I picked over those mentioned.

But then again, I use a 338 as well

 

[jmr40]

My fat fingers hit reply before I was finished with my earlier post, so part 2.

For what you're going to do 243, 6.5CM, 7-08 and 308 all work. And work well enough from 20" barrels until you start shooting at ranges most hunters have no business shooting at game. If you're recoil intolerant 6.5 CM might be what you want. It's between 243 and 308 as to recoil but is closer to 243. And from a lighter rifle 308 might be more than you want. 7-08 wouldn't recoil enough less to matter.

 

[Turkeytider]

Just ONE rifle to handle everything from paper through varmints, deer etc., etc. ......308 IMHO. Tikka, Savage, CZ, etc., take your pick.

 

[12Bravo20]

For most deer hunting in Missouri, one doesn't need anything for long distance especially if hunting in the Ozark's or in the river hills along the Mississippi or Missouri rivers. Or anywhere that is heavily wooded and hilly, which is how at least half of the state is until you get to northern Missouri. Of the OP is hunting deep hardwood forest then any of the calibers he mentioned will work just fine.

 

[Chuck R.]

I built sort of what you're after last year; Rem M7 in .260 Rem with a Manners stock and fluted 20" 2B profiled barrel.

I really like the combination of 20" barrel with short action for stands and blinds, but still has the trajectory to cover a row crop field (Eastern KS row crop field) if needed. I scoped it with a somewhat compact Leupold 2.5-8X36, for a little over 7lbs "all up".

If you hate recoil the 6.5s are a good option, I get 2930FPs with 120 BTs and 2850 with 130ABs. I started my son out with 100grn BTs at 2850 which worked great at woods distances and felt like a .243 low recoil load. For the distances I'm using the carbines for both loads are adequate. IF I were going for the "all around" and including the possibility of elk, I'd go up to a 7-08.

One thing to consider is that while 20" barrels in the caliber you're looking for might not be that common, having a longer barrel cut down and re-crowned isn't all that expensive. I know Ruger makes some compact guns 20" as do Christianson, and Savage.

 

[LoonWulf]

Ive got a few Christensens, and id consider a Mesa as opposed to the Ridgeline unless you really want the carbon wrapped barrel.
Everything else is the same, well besides the trigger being a TT Field instead of Primary, for about 800-900 less.
That said i absolutely love my Ridgeline, its one of my two forever guns.

I THINK the shortest tube they offer on the mesa is 22" before the brake, so that might be a deal breaker.

Cal.....i don't think it matters. Personally i went with the 7-08, but any of the others would do just as well. The 6.5 is kinda in the sweet spot bullet weight wise for what i consider "deer" rounds, but i tend to run heavier than necessary, i think because of how most of my animals are shot.

 

[d2wing]

I shoot a Tikka T3 in 7-08 and consider it ideal. Yes 7-08 ammo is harder to come by this year but eventually Midway stocked the ammo I wanted. Out to 4-500 yards It beats the 6.5 Creedmoor in velocity and energy and is very close to the .308 with less recoil. .308 is by far the best to find ammo for.
Any high velocity centerfire 125 gr. and up with proper expanding bullets is good for deer out to 3-400 yards in my opinion .243 is accurate but I prefer a little more frontal area. Lots of great choices.

 

[Robert]

Winchester M70 in the chambering of your choice.

 

[e rex]

I'll turn 80 in 10 days and I still shoot my old Remington 760 pump gun in 30-06. Don't know as it is any better than anything else but it works for me.

 

[Olympus]

I shoot a Tikka T3 in 7-08 and consider it ideal. Yes 7-08 ammo is harder to come by this year but eventually Midway stocked the ammo I wanted. Out to 4-500 yards It beats the 6.5 Creedmoor in velocity and energy and is very close to the .308 with less recoil. .308 is by far the best to find ammo for.
Any high velocity centerfire 125 gr. and up with proper expanding bullets is good for deer out to 3-400 yards in my opinion .243 is accurate but I prefer a little more frontal area. Lots of great choices.

Just seems weird to shoot a short action caliber out of a long action rifle.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I just picked up my CZ600 for $600. Haven't shot it yet, but the features per dollar are crazy awesome

 

[horsemen61]

I like the Xbolt myself from browning in 6.5 Creedmoor of course their is a reason it got so popular so fast it’s not just hype

 

[.45Coltguy]

Winchester Mod 70 Featherweight Compact in 7-08. Bliss!

 

[Buzznrose]

If you are keeping it simple and easy, a Tikka, Ruger, Savage, Howa, and a dozen others will all work. Based on ammo availability, hard to go wrong with .308 or 6.5CM, but a dozen other cartridges will all work from your .243 to 7MM-08.

Seems to me you should just see what's out there you like.

 

[Nature Boy]

Winchester M70 in the chambering of your choice.

Ditto

 

[Hokkmike]

Back in the market for “the one” hunting rifle. Been using a cheap Ruger American 243 and it shot incredibly well but a young family member needed a new deer rifle and I sold it to his parents for him. Now I’m back in the market. I’ll probably buy another Ruger just for a backup, but now I’m thinking maybe I splurge and get a really nice rifle.

I’m still never going to need anything bigger than a 308 and hate recoil. I hunt Missouri hardwoods from blinds and ladder stands. Seems like all the new rifles are being chambered in PRC calibers and fast long actions. I’ve been looking at Christensen rifles, most the Ridgeline series. Hate the 24” barrel options because there just too long to use in a blind or up in a tree. And I’ll never need the added velocity. They have a 20” barrel version that might be better suited for me. But I’m still on the fence.

I’m thinking 7mm08, maybe 308, for a 20” barrel. I’m not going to see any performance difference with a 6.5CM but I’m not opposed to that caliber either.

Love to hear suggestions on rifle choices and caliber. No budget to speak of, just don’t want more recoil than a 308.

Love them all. The 7mm 08 ammo is currently hard to come by.

 

[Olympus]

I agree, I haven't seen much 7mm08 ammo in at least a year. But I do reload so that should help things.

 

[d2wing]

Just seems weird to shoot a short action caliber out of a long action rifle.

Not at all to me. I like it very much as do many happy Tikka owners. But you are free to feel however weird you want. I and many others consider Tikka accurate, very good quality and fewest issues out of the box for moderate priced rifles. It's a popular rifle on Snipers Hide. No wobbly stocks, magazine issues etc. But It's a buyers' market as there are many other decent, accurate rifles on the market these days if you want a shorter action.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

A Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel would be pretty nice! If I understand correctly it will mostly be for deer, 6.5 G is plenty for that. Pretty flat shooting out to any distance you'd be likely to take a shot.

 

[FL-NC]

I have the Ruger American predator in 6.5 CM. It is the 1 rifle I would have if I was only going to have 1 rifle. It is more accurate than some of the sniper rifles I was issued in the military. I fired the 20" 308 RAR, it wasn't nearly as accurate as my predator and much less pleasant to shoot.