The next rifle?

[kmw1954]

After all these years I have finally been converted to shooting rifles. First one was a Savage MkII 22LR., then came my first center fire rifle, a Savage Axis 223. So I have been thoroughly impressed with this Savage and enjoying the heck out of this. Now to the point that I have become interested in another rifle. Not a hunter so all will be for paper punching or steel once I can find a place to shoot them.

My thoughts right now are for an upgrade 223 to like a Savage Model12 or something 223 with a heavy barrel. Have also thought about maybe a 22-250 or 243 but am uncertain of what the advantage would be to move to another caliber like the 22-250 or 243.

My better judgement tells me another 223 would be the way to go but the intrigue of bigger is hard to resist.

 

[jmr40]

If you were varmint hunting the 22-250 offers slight advantages on paper, not enough for me to justify one over 223. The 243 is a decent hunting cartridge that bridges the gap between varmints and deer. The next step up in caliber for what you want to do would be 6.5 CM. But for punching paper at 500 yards or less stay with 223.

 

[kmw1954]

Been watching the guys shooting a lot of 6mm bench guns and it just looks like so much fun but at the same time those guys have a bunch more time and money to invest than I do.

 

[Stan Rosen]

You didn't mention them, but if you want to expand your centerfire horizons I would suggest the .308 Winchester. It's not one of my pets, but it is easy to load for if you decide to get into handloading, it can reach out on paper or steel. It is a good cartridge. Some may suggest the wonder boy 6.5 Creedmore which is not a bad option either.

 

[gotboostvr]

I'd maybe look into an aftermarket heavy barrel and a nice laminate stock for your current AXIS.

 

[Obturation]

Not my specialty , but if you want something big & nasty I know where you can get 338 lapua dies, brass, bullets, powder & some primers for a good price... From a guy you know...

Seriously though, i'd like to get a good quality basic bolt action in 308 win. Common enough , plenty accurate and heavier projectiles that won't break the bank. Every rifle maker has one, should be easy to find and cheaper to feed than many others.

My advice isn't very valuable on this topic though , as I've told you in the past- my modern long range rifle is a 30-30 , some would call that downright pitiful but it's always done what I've asked it to do and with style.not a lot of places around here to shoot long distance so I've never had much use for more.

My buddy who had the 338 lapua that I used to load for sold that rifle because there was no place he could use its potential and he was shooting it at the 100 yard range a couple times a year , that was a waste of good ammo. Unpleasant to fire too.

Nothing wrong with sticking with 223 , it's a great cartridge but every time things get screwy it's one of the first things to sell out as well as the components . something to consider.

 

[kmw1954]

You didn't mention them, but if you want to expand your centerfire horizons I would suggest the .308 Winchester. It's not one of my pets, but it is easy to load for if you decide to get into handloading, it can reach out on paper or steel. It is a good cartridge. Some may suggest the wonder boy 6.5 Creedmore which is not a bad option either.

Very familiar with the 308, 7mm08, 6.5CM, 25-06 and I do reload. Just finished sizing a ton of 223 brass and now have about 1300pcs ready to reload with another 2k sitting in buckets.

I have even seen the new 6mm ARC and a number of the shooters were I work are shooting 6 Dasher and 6 BR.

 

[TheBruce]

Right now around here I always see 243, 260 and 6mm Creedmoor on the shelf, when just about everything else is gone. Something to think about regarding availability. The 6mm Creedmoor is supposed to be a great longer range cartridge, taking the best traits of the 243 and 6.5 Creedmoor combined.

 

[jmr40]

If you are interested in 243, then 6mm CM is a better option for what you want to do. The 243 was designed as a combo varmint/deer hunting round with the ability to shoot 75-95 "hunting" bullets. Mostly due to barrel twist, but there are other reasons, most factory 243's don't shoot the longer, heavier 105+ gr target bullets accurately. The target shooting crowd were building custom 243 rifles designed around these bullets with great success. The 6mm CM was designed to offer the same performance in factory rifles and ammo.

You see exactly the same thing with 260 and 6.5CM. The 260 was designed to shoot 120 gr deer hunting bullets, but wouldn't handle the longer 140+ gr target bullets unless the rifles were modified to shoot out of spec ammo. The 6.5 CM is essentially a modified 260 designed around these bullets.

The 308 is also quite capable at least out to 800 ish yards, but with increased recoil. The 6mm and 6.5mm cartridges will still be in the game at a mile or more if the shooter is up to it and with much less recoil. As good as the 308 is, and I have 4 of them, in 2021 I can't think of a single reason to choose one over a 6.5 CM.

But as long as you don't plan to shoot past 500-600 yards a 223 does what you need to do with a lot less recoil and cost. I have rifles in 223, 6.5CM, and 223. I shoot the 223 a lot more at the range due to economic reasons. I have no delusions of being a 1000+ yard target shooter, but I do big game hunt. The 308 and 6.5 CM are quite effective on game at ranges farther than I have the skills to shoot.

 

[horsey300]

After all these years I have finally been converted to shooting rifles. First one was a Savage MkII 22LR., then came my first center fire rifle, a Savage Axis 223. So I have been thoroughly impressed with this Savage and enjoying the heck out of this. Now to the point that I have become interested in another rifle. Not a hunter so all will be for paper punching or steel once I can find a place to shoot them.

My thoughts right now are for an upgrade 223 to like a Savage Model12 or something 223 with a heavy barrel. Have also thought about maybe a 22-250 or 243 but am uncertain of what the advantage would be to move to another caliber like the 22-250 or 243.

My better judgement tells me another 223 would be the way to go but the intrigue of bigger is hard to resist.

How far do you like to push out? Let's start there....

 

[bassjam]

I went through this recently. While I have an .270 Remington 710 I've had for years it doesn't get shot much. At the rifle range I spend most of my time shooting my Savage MKII and wanted to get a centerfire bolt action target rifle last spring. Cabela's put their Savage 12fv in 308 for sale so I ended up buying it. It's a nice shooter, but I quickly realized it's overkill for the distances I shoot punching paper and .308 target ammo isn't cheap. Not being set up the reload .308 yet, I wish I had held out for a heavy barrel .223. In the meantime, I ended up buying a CZ 457 with the Boyd's At-One stock.

 

[kmw1954]

For distances I have a 300yd range readily available and a small few 500yd private clubs. There is 1 1000yd range in the state that I know of that is also private though they do allow the public in for competitions.

All of your responses have been very informative and make a lot of sense. I have nothing but time to research this and decide which way to go.

 

[SharpDog]

I'm gonna go with a lightweight AR-10 in .308 next. I just stocked up on .308 and don't want to go chasing ammo for another caliber at this time. Otherwise I would go chase 6.5 CM.

 

[kmw1954]

I see AR platform guns in many calibers every day at the range and they just don't strike my fancy for some reason. The next one will be another bolt gun.

 

[glockgod]

Dearly love the 22-250. Makes a good shot out of anyone!

 

[Chuck R.]

For distances I have a 300yd range readily available and a small few 500yd private clubs. There is 1 1000yd range in the state that I know of that is also private though they do allow the public in for competitions.

All of your responses have been very informative and make a lot of sense. I have nothing but time to research this and decide which way to go.

For the distances you've got access to I'd look for a .223 in 1:8 barrel. If the majority of your shooting will be out to 500 a 20" will work well, and keep the rifle handy. IF you think you'll get out to the 1000 yd range I'd make it a 24" barrel and get as much MV as I could with 77s-90s

I have zero issues with my 20" 1:9 going out to 550 with 69 OTMs in a 20" barrel at just over 2900 FPS. But if you're going to stretch it, you'll be happier with a 1:8 or 1:7 and the heavier bullets. I also have an 18" 1:8 SPR AR15 build that does very well out to 550 with 77 grain OTMs at 2760 FPS (MK262 clone, furthest I've shot it so far).

I've got a couple other precision built guns; 6mm SLR and a .300WM, but hands down the .223s get the most use. Even with reloading, they're just cheaper to load for than the bigger calibers. Also a .223 in the wind can be challenging out to 500 (= good practice), whereas its a cake walk with the bigger guns.

 

[NorthBorder]

I'm just gonna throw this out there because the rifle really intrigues me. A Henry Long Ranger. It comes in 223 , 243 (or previously did), 6.5CM, and 308. It has a pretty heavy free floated barrel. I'm just waiting for someone to come on here and expound about all its virtues and shortcomings.

 

[kmw1954]

For the distances you've got access to I'd look for a .223 in 1:8 barrel. If the majority of your shooting will be out to 500 a 20" will work well, and keep the rifle handy. IF you think you'll get out to the 1000 yd range I'd make it a 24" barrel and get as much MV as I could with 77s-90s

I've got a couple other precision built guns; 6mm SLR and a .300WM, but hands down the .223s get the most use. Even with reloading, they're just cheaper to load for than the bigger calibers. Also a .223 in the wind can be challenging out to 500 (= good practice), whereas its a cake walk with the bigger guns.

So I have been actively looking for a Savage 12 in 223 and right now there is a Savage 12 22-250 for sale locally as used but it is not really a bargain.

Yes the reason for thinking a larger cal. would be to fight the wind. Then the idea of a Bench type cartridge is the size and keeping powder consumption lower. One of the reasons I chose the 223 in the first place was because of the economy and performance of the round and the ranges I have available.

 

[gotboostvr]

So I have been actively looking for a Savage 12 in 223 and right now there is a Savage 12 22-250 for sale locally as used but it is not really a bargain.

Yes the reason for thinking a larger cal. would be to fight the wind. Then the idea of a Bench type cartridge is the size and keeping powder consumption lower. One of the reasons I chose the 223 in the first place was because of the economy and performance of the round and the ranges I have available.

I recently picked up a 110 Varmint. 26" 1:9 twist 222rem heavy barrel. Has the accufit/accustock with a nice wide forend to ride the bags so I wouldn't likely need to upgrade the stock any time soon. They're current production so they shouldn't be too hard to find.

I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. Be sure a range report will follow.

 

[Hangingrock]

At the mid point of my seventh decade I simply do not see a "Next Rifle" on my to do list. We have rimfire bolt and lever actions along with center fire rifles. My days of acquiring the next greatest thing are over.

 

[kmw1954]

At the mid point of my seventh decade I simply do not see a "Next Rifle" on my to do list. We have rimfire bolt and lever actions along with center fire rifles. My days of acquiring the next greatest thing are over.

Sorry to hear that. I recently acquired my older brothers firearms. He was just placed last Friday into Hospice. That too breaks my heart!

 

[sharps59]

Got a long ranger maybe 6mo. ago in 6.5 cm I love it. Its now my favorite rifle. Well built great fit and finish. And its American made. Henrys customer service is also the best. Any thing I needed for any of my Henrys they got to me.
I've shot factory 120 - 143. They all are tack drivers out of that gun. Took a deer w/ it this past season only 125 or so yrds.. It never new what hit it, Deer went straight down not 1 step. I do need too test hand loads need a varmint load.

 

[Picher]

I see AR platform guns in many calibers every day at the range and they just don't strike my fancy for some reason. The next one will be another bolt gun.[/QUOTE

I haven't felt the desire to buy a semi-auto centerfire rifle for a long time, but my brother had a nice M-1 Carbine that I loved and shot a lot.

Being a reloader, I don't want to load for an auto centerfire.

 

[NorthBorder]

Got a long ranger maybe 6mo. ago in 6.5 cm I love it. Its now my favorite rifle. Well built great fit and finish. And its American made. Henrys customer service is also the best. Any thing I needed for any of my Henrys they got to me.
I've shot factory 120 - 143. They all are tack drivers out of that gun. Took a deer w/ it this past season only 125 or so yrds.. It never new what hit it, Deer went straight down not 1 step. I do need too test hand loads need a varmint load.

That's what I wanted to hear.

 

[Barnfixer]

My next rifle will be a light weight .243 because my current .243 is to heavy. Coyote rig.