What rifle do i need? -- UPDATE, RIFLE CHOSEN!
- Thread starter 32_d3gr33s
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It is if you read the OP's criteria:
Manageable recoil for young kids, hunting not in the future, and he already loads for .223.
Unless a Palma match is in his future, no need for .308
Laphroaig
And a .308 is likely to turn out to be a pretty punishing round for a 13 y.o. girl and an 11 y.o. He could easily drive them away from shooting, instead of drawing them in. .223 is a good choice for the OP's needs, IMO, and simply a sweet round. The 500 yd. is stretching it, but I'm guessing that a vast majority of the shooting will be at less than that extreme distance.
Service rifle highpower is shot at 600 yds., mostly with .223. Skilled shooters (albeit fast twist barrels, heavy bullets) can do amazing things at that range. If you can't read wind, even heavy 30-cal rounds aren't going to "clean" very many targets either.
Agreed, there are other calibers that meet the OP's criteria.
Laphroaig
sixgunner455
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No-brainer: you already load for .223, and you're just target shooting, so you don't need anything more powerful anyway. Get a .223.
jakk280rem
Member
I think any one of the short action 308 class cartridges would be ideal. With 260, 6.5 CM and 7mm08 leading the pack. I think a heavy barrel is a good idea in this case, just as a recoil reducer. Something like a FN PBR or similar pops into mind. The reason i would pick a 308 sized cartridge over 223 is 223 loads for 600yds is specialized. Components and factory ammo is hard to come by whereas just about any 308 class factory load or in stock components can be used to create very accurate 600yd loads. Another reason iis if the purpose is to teach general riflemanship to some youngsters then the larger cartridge and heavier bullet would be a safer bet to reach 5-600 and have an impact when it gets there. I know a 65+ gr 223 load can get there, I just think something larger would be a bit more repeatable and confidence inspiring for a young shooter.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Interesting answers on going with the 223. I have a few 223 AR rifles and if I didn't also have a bolt gun in 223 I would likely look to another cartridge. I wouldn't let the fact that I already load 223 sway me to another 223 rifle. Guess it is just a matter of personal preference.
Ron
Ron
redneck2
Member
My S-I-L has a Savage in 6BR. 30" (IIRC) heavy barrel. Good to 1,000 yards with 105 VLD's and zero recoil. Ultra accurate. We let the neighbor kids shoot it that had never shot anything before. They loved it. Comes with a REALLY nice trigger.
Not a rifle to tote around, at maybe 13# with scope. It's a dream off the bench. I think it top's your price point a hundred or so. Have to check.
As noted, the fast twist .223 would also work well. The .308, particularly in sporter weight is too much for most 11 year old kids from the bench.
Not a rifle to tote around, at maybe 13# with scope. It's a dream off the bench. I think it top's your price point a hundred or so. Have to check.
As noted, the fast twist .223 would also work well. The .308, particularly in sporter weight is too much for most 11 year old kids from the bench.
32_d3gr33s
Member
Looks like I've narrowed it down between 2. Either a 6.5x284 or 6.5 creedmoor. I have no experience with either though so any insight would be great. From what I read it seems the 284 is a much faster round which in turn greatly reduces barrel life. Is this true? How's the recoil on either? My kids handle the .223 just fine so if its in that range or slighly worse it should be no problem. If its too bad for them I suppose we can work around it. Any pros and cons to either cartridge? Still haven't decided in what rifle I want either. I got some time though. I'm hoping to get it early summer. Maybe before if I'm lucky.
32_d3gr33s
Member
Oh really? I may have to look into the ruger.Ruger just came out with an all weather American in .223, comes in both rifle and compact sizes. Just saying.
Oh, and bring those girls to a Appleseed shoot. You'll have a ball shooting together.
Yes a sierra long range 90 grain has higher bc then 75 grain long range bullet in same 223 caliber
32_d3gr33s
Member
Update: Rifle chosen
Just an update to this thread... I ended up picking up a Ruger American in .223. Ended up getting it brand new for 299 and put a decent bushnell scope on it. Managed to put a few rounds through it so far. Shot a couple boxes of factory 55gr pmc rounds at 100 yards. Everything was sub moa. I just started loading some match bullets for it, but haven't dialed it in yet. Got the same style hornady bthp bullets in 52, 68, and 75. 52 didn't do so well, 68-3 of the 5 rounds were in the same hole, and 75 was about 3/4" group. These were just my first go around with it. Have a few loads of the 68 and 75 with different charge weights and oals that I will give a try when the weather gets a little nicer. Thanks for the help
Just an update to this thread... I ended up picking up a Ruger American in .223. Ended up getting it brand new for 299 and put a decent bushnell scope on it. Managed to put a few rounds through it so far. Shot a couple boxes of factory 55gr pmc rounds at 100 yards. Everything was sub moa. I just started loading some match bullets for it, but haven't dialed it in yet. Got the same style hornady bthp bullets in 52, 68, and 75. 52 didn't do so well, 68-3 of the 5 rounds were in the same hole, and 75 was about 3/4" group. These were just my first go around with it. Have a few loads of the 68 and 75 with different charge weights and oals that I will give a try when the weather gets a little nicer. Thanks for the help
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32_d3gr33s
Member
I am not too experienced shooting too many rifles, but this one definitely performs straight off the shelf. Once i get a few hundred rounds through it I'll be able to answer a little better, but so far so good. Only problem i had was the stock magazine sometimes didn't want to feed the last round. Called up ruger and had a new one at my door 3 days later. Modified the follower in the original just a tad, and now both work great. I plan on picking another one in a larger caliber later this year to use if i decide to hunt in the fall...
You know depending on your state laws, you can load that up with some Barnes triple shocks and and have a great deer rifle. I own 7mm rem mag, 45-70, 6.5 swede 300wby. And I honestly prefer to hunt with my 223 and 243. With the tsx I'm dropping everything right where they stand. Bullets have changed so much there isn't a requirement for a huge 30 call rifle anymore. And with those two caliber you getting a nearly 1 inch wound channel at blistering speed. Just a thought
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