calibre to fill the gap

What will fill the gap best between a 223 and 300 WM?

  • 243

    Votes: 27 12.7%

  • 25-06

    Votes: 36 16.9%

  • 6.5x55/260 rem

    Votes: 79 37.1%

  • 270

    Votes: 71 33.3%
  • Total voters
    213
StevieK

StevieK

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Location
Hamilton, ont
Hey guys,

I am trying to decide on the next gun to buy. I have a 223, heavy barrelled, and I have a model 70 in 300 WM. I am looking for a lightweight hunting gun to fill the gap between the 2.
The gun will mainly be for deer, but may also come tagging along for smaller critters like coyotes when I need to go into the bush after them. I would also like it to be capable of a bit more than deer, but not much more since I have the 300 WM.
Ammo availability is not a factor since I reload. I'm really leaning towards the 6.5x55 or 260 rem, but the lack of rifles that are chambered for these rounds is disappointing. What are your thoughts.
 
Find the rifle that grabs your imagination and simply choose whichever fast mid bore cartridge it is chambered for. It doesn't really matter which cartridge you choose, all are capable with the exception of the .243 which is fine for game up to 100 pounds but I think it is outclassed as a big game cartridge by your other choices. Beware though, an accurate, light weight, light recoiling, flat shooting, hard hitting, mid-caliber rifle is easy to love, and your .300 magnum could become a safe queen.
 
seeing as I consider my .270 to be able to drop pretty much the same animals as my bigger .30-06 and .338 win mags, I voted for the .25-06 . (I find that there is nothing quite like a 100 grain "frickin lazer beam" X bullet from my Ruger.)
Nothing wrong with the 6.5 , nice long bullets, but I like speed more, and I dropped a moose at 260 yards last winter with one of those very same x bullets in my .25-06 (I was actually hunting wolves, but found some fresh tracks, followed them, and saw the moose standing there just waiting). Just seems like one of the best mid sized rounds out there. Drop down to 75 grainers for small stuff, or use a 120 partition for the big stuff. Recoil is meager also. Just my 2 cents worth.
 
As far as rifles go ,check out Savages new line up for 2011. They are offering in the specialty series the Light Weight Hunter , an advertised 5.5lb 20" barrel in 260 Rem it has a wood stock that I would have prefered in synthetic. I think I am going to wait for it in whatever stock configuration it comes out in. To me it seems like a winner for a lightweight mid caliber and a caliber that many will agree is very accurate and deadly.
 
I'm partial to a .243. It is all I have ever used for deer and none of them have ever required a second shot. I have shot 4 deer with it and while I agree that it may be a little bit light, if you do your part it is more than adequate.
 
I got a 25-06 for antelope coyote and deer. As well as varmits. It hits harder then a 243 and the 6.5 has a standing reputation. Shoots flat and far. A 270 is nice but your 300 can take everything you'd ask for from the 270. A side note when out varmit shooting a 25-06 round just looks so mucher better then a 223 or 243 just my thought
 
If you want the best, then get a 6.5-06. It's the same as a .25-06 [only 0.007"] but can get heavier weights, it's the same as a .270 [only 0.013"] will have similar [slightly better] trajectories but better sectional densities. And it goes a bit faster than the .260/6.5x55.

Anyone that likes any one of these cartridges will also like the 6.5-06. It rocks, but only if you reload, and only if you like splitting hairs very, very fine.

But if you want to shoot factory ammo, get a .270.



And Boomer is totally right, really. Find a gun you like... the cartridge won't make a lot of difference.
 
I'm partial to the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .270 Win. It's the Jack O'Connor combination that can't be beat in the mid-range gap you are talking about. I use mine for Deer with 130 XP3 supremes and use it for Coyote in the winter. I don't have my press set up any more but when i did i loaded Hornady 100gr spire points at 3380 , a nice accurate Coyote round for our woods here( I dont have any varmint calibers anymore). Now i just keep it zeroed for the deer bullets in the winter time. I experienced the term "Varmint Grenade" when i shot a rabbit back about 20years ago with one of those little 100grs while coyote hunting in the winter.:)
 
I actually ended up getting a 7mm-08. I was leaning pretty hard towards something in the 6.5mm class, but a good deal popped up on the 7mm-08. I realized that 0.5mm difference doesn't change much. The 7mm-08 is a nice short action, mild recoil round, and even though the caliber is not much smaller than my 300 WM, the case capacity is much smaller. I think that next I will pick up a 243 or 25-06 and then I should be satisfied (Then I'll start working up from the 300 WM :) ). My only problem with getting a 25-06 now was that it fit too well in the middle, I can't fill the gap too well or else I won't have an excuse to buy more guns :D
 
.270 is perfect for deer and can be used for moose or elk also. However, if you did'nt have too much wide open country, then something like a big bore Marlin lever action would be a nice alternative. 444 Marlin or 45-70 Marlin lever action would be a cool gun to carry around, and would take a deer with ease out to 150 yards.
 
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