Best balance of recoil and terminal performance in a cartridge.

Chago said:
A lot of guys are posting 6.5x55 and 260. What are you guys hunting with this? Deer only? Or do guys take this moose hunting?
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Moose, elk , and deer have all fallen to 6.5X55's that either I was shooting or guns that I built up for guys that shoot them.
Several moose past 200 yards as a matter of fact, lung shots both of them.
Cat
 
For this punter, a heavily loaded 140 gn 6.5x55 from a 8 lb rifle, has just enough recoil to confirm that I'm shooting a real gun here. Very enjoyable.
I guess for some of us, medium levels of recoil push back is something we desire and look forward to. I do know that on up to .375 h&h prone is always good times for me.

6.5x55 (handloaded) does hit harder than the .308's, once out past 400 that is. Under that, can't see a whit of difference 'tween 'em.
 
7x57. A friend of mine was a big believer in magnums. After I dropped a few moose over the years when we were hunting together he asked to try my 7x57. Last year he bought one.
 
roche1982 said:
First off, GORGEOUS ANIMAL you have there..... Very Jealous.

I tend to think the 7mm REM is the way to go. Its not quite the performance of a 300 but its quite a bit more then the 6.5x55 with very little recoil.

Just for comparison

6.55x55 (Range 100-160grain)
140 grain recoil-12.0ft/lbs Velocity/Energy at 100 yards 2400/1795
160 grain recoil 14.2ft/lbs Velocity/Energy at 100 yards 2569/2051

7mm REM (110-175grain)
139 grain recoil-19.3ft/lbs Velocity/Energy at 100 yards 2482/1915
160 grain recoil 20.3ft/lbs Velocity/Energy at 100 yards 2766/2718 Velocity/Energy at 300 yards 2420/2080 (more energy of the same grain bullet at 200 yards further away)

300 WM
150 grain recoil-23.5ft/lbs Velocity/Energy at 100 yards 2951/2900
165 grain recoil-26.2ft/lbs Velocity/Energy at 100 yards 2885/3049 Velocity/Energy at 300 yards 2483/2259(5 grain more then the 6.5 or 7mm, but you get the jif)

I think for the relatively low recoil of the 7mm REM you get a lot more energy and velocity and at much greater ranges. For reference the recoil of a 7mm REM is a tiny bit less then a 30-06. 30-06 are pretty tame recoil wise.
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ok run that same sanario with a amax 140
moving at 3050 out of a 6.5 x55 at 5500 ft
and range at 600 yards
 
Ps rifles in stable

3006 styer
7 mm rem mag tikkam65
6.5 x 55 custom Kreiger / mcmillian
7.62x51 Thompson encore custom barrel
7.62x51 sg 542
223 Thompson encore bull
3006 sako

and I won't count the old stuff floating around

I shoot against a custom 300 win mag tactical rem
and a sako 300 weatherby mag .


My little 6.5 has more downed animals than both guns put together
 
If you are going to throw match bullets out at hotrodded velocity may as well make it apples to apples

140 amax@3050 arrives at 600 going 2230fps, 1555lbs
180 berger@3000 arrives at 600 going 2350fps, 2204lbs
 
"I shoot against a custom 300 win mag tactical rem
and a sako 300 weatherby mag .

My little 6.5 has more downed animals than both guns put together"
----------------------

Assuming you mean that the guys you hunt with use the 300's, this sounds like you're a luckier (better?) hunter than them...I doubt anyone would believe it means your 6.5 is more capable of dropping animals than the 300's you've mentioned.
 
A little more perspective on that one. The seven running a 180 berger doesn't get down to 1500lbs until it gets to 1000. Not that I would choose this or the amax. Like someone on here once said "if your looking for a wound channel a foot wide by an inch deep these are good choices".
 
Tikkam65 said:
My little 6.5 has more downed animals than both guns put together
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I have likely downed more big game, with a bow and arrow, than you will in two lifetimes... how does that support your argument?

Yeah, yeah... you like your gun... we get that... but it doesn't fart thunderbolts... it isn't the "Hammer of Thor," and it sure as heck is not a .300 WM... What it does have is recoil and it does drift in the wind... it is NOT immune to physics...
 
BigUglyMan said:
Yes, but not complaining about the recoil of the mighty 308.
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This and other heavier rounds also. Aside from the real kickers, most common rounds seem pretty manageable in felt recoil for the likely number of rounds in a range day with decent form. I just figured its part of shooting and accept and even enjoy it :evil: Muahaha
 
Very nice bull, Tikkam65. Very impressive!

Having said that, your ballistics are not quite as accurate as you shot placement on that bull surely was.

To be brief, all bullets drift in the wind. The fastest of the fast drift....and remarkably so at long range.

Have you ever tried shooting targets at long range in a 10 mph wind? That's just a gentle breeze on the side of your face. It's enlightening, to say the least.

Again, lovely bull.
Ted
 
hoytcanon said:
I have likely downed more big game, with a bow and arrow, than you will in two lifetimes... how does that support your argument?

Yeah, yeah... you like your gun... we get that... but it doesn't fart thunderbolts... it isn't the "Hammer of Thor," and it sure as heck is not a .300 WM... What it does have is recoil and it does drift in the wind... it is NOT immune to physics...
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I have seen thunderbolts puff out of my 6.55, take that back!
 
The best balance of recoil to performance on a whitetail is going to be somewhat different than a sensible blend for an elephant. Many people can shoot any rifle equally well, right up to the point when too much is too much. Therefore the best combination will depend on who you are, and what exactly you're trying to do.
 
Dogleg said:
The best balance of recoil to performance on a whitetail is going to be somewhat different than a sensible blend for an elephant. Many people can shoot any rifle equally well, right up to the point when too much is too much. Therefore the best combination will depend on who you are, and what exactly you're trying to do.
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Thanks, that saved me lots of typing.
 
Some can say that " my .243 will do this "... or.. " my .500 super duper wiz bang tank smasher can do that ",...but it all boils down to one cartridge and every single one of us, deep down inside knows, that the most versatile, useful, well rounded cartridge is the grand old 30.06 Springfield,...we all know it, but lots will not admit it. From 110gr to 220gr bullets, varmits to moose, it's a real killer, just as accurate as any other hunting round, cheap ammo found anywhere, manufactured in all rifle platforms, by all manufactures, reloading components are cheap and readily available, recoil is no more noticeable than the rest of the standard calibers,..so whats not to like,....30.06 is the answer.
 
Tabacco Brook said:
Some can say that " my .243 will do this "... or.. " my .500 super duper wiz bang tank smasher can do that ",...but it all boils down to one cartridge and every single one of us, deep down inside knows, that the most versatile, useful, well rounded cartridge is the grand old 30.06 Springfield,...we all know it, but lots will not admit it. From 110gr to 220gr bullets, varmits to moose, it's a real killer, just as accurate as any other hunting round, cheap ammo found anywhere, manufactured in all rifle platforms, by all manufactures, reloading components are cheap and readily available, recoil is no more noticeable than the rest of the standard calibers,..so whats not to like,....30.06 is the answer.
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Agreed......although a mundane cartridge, it is most effective on the range for moderate recoil and in the field for all North American big game........that's why I still have one.
 
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