Do all hunting caliber under .275

SuperCub said:
While I certainly agree that the marketing and timing has had a lot to do with the success of the 6.5CM, the 257Roberts is of an old and antiquated design and would not be released at all these days.

It's too short for a long action and too long for a short action and does not have the bullet selection support that wannabe LR 6.5 shooters "think" they need.

Yes the 6.5 surge will recede somewhat but given it's overall excellent design, I'm thinking you will see it continue to be way more popular in days to come than most all of the marketing blunders of the last 30yrs. Most 6.5 shooters would not even realize why the 6.5 is a great design, they just bought them cuz they thought is was cool.

Saying that, I'm not selling my 257Rob for a 6.5CM any day soon. :)
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if I was going to jump onto the 6.5 bandwagon and thought that I wanted to blaukš critters at extended distance, I'm mystified why I wouldn't do so with the 6.5-284? Then again, I'm a handloader and not handcuffed to the changing tides of popularity.
 
You'd likely end up with something in 6.5mm or 25 Cal.
6.5mm: (.264") Creedmore, .260 Remington, 6.5x55 Swede
25 Cal: .257 Roberts, 25-06, .257 Weatherby

I'm a fan of 6.5x55, 260 Remington, and 25-06, but if you don't reload, include availability and prices on factory ammo as part of the decision making. If you're limited to factory ammo the 6.5CM might make the most sense - seems most Canadian Tire and outdoors store has 6.5CM ammo. Can't say the same for some of the rest.
 
Onagoth said:
Exactly. And I’m not looking to hunt everything. I won’t be hunting grizzlies or polar bears any time soon
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since .270 is out, craig boddington wrote an article and had very good things to say about the 6.5 remington magnum. apparently it's an extremely efficient cartridge. if you found a 673 remington in that caliber you would have a very nice rifle indeed. looking at bullets of similar sectional densities, 120 and 130 respectively between the 6.5 rem and .270 win, the 6.5 rem pushes it's bullets a little faster, effectively splitting the difference between the .270 win and .270 wsm according to nosler load data. i think it would be a great choice if you reload.
 
L42A1 said:
.270 Winchester is the answer. Especially since you don't hand load.
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Since the .270 is .277" bullet diameter, does that disqualify it from contention? If the bullet diameter has to be .275" or smaller. The lands are .269" while the groove is .277". Just asking because I dont know the regs down there. Up here there is pretty much no restrictions other than centerfire .22 or bigger for wolves and Bison need 200gr bullet minimum.
 
Potashminer said:
Another vote for 243 Win - previously I thought of it only as "beginner" level.
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It IS a good cartridge. And you're right that it's no beginner cartridge. Yes, it works well for recoil-averse shooters but it works well for everyone! I just wish they came standard with a faster twist rate :).

I disliked the 243 until I got married and my petite wife insisted on the lightest weight, lightest recoiling deer rifle for use on the prairie. So we got a 243. And it's amazing!

I used a 90gr Accubond on a mule deer and it held together TOO well; small wound channel with little fragmentation. I don't doubt it would drill an elk or moose with a lung shot. About 6 hours ago my wife shot her first ever animal (whitetail buck) with that 243 using a simple 100gr Interlock. Gave it a nice bang-flop with just a lung shot. Bullets that come apart a little bit work well on deer :). Still exited so what else could you ask for?
 
Onagoth said:
What's your vote?

I'd like to have a rifle that can hunt almost anything in Canada, but most likely deer and varmint in the short/medium term with some target shooting <300y. I know 6.5 creedmoor gets a lot of votes but I'm definitely not an expert.

Apologies in advance if this has all been discussed before.
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My 2 cents:

The “one rifle to do it all” in Ontario rarely lasts. It’s the go-to move for many new ontarian hunters, and they’re traditionally councilled to buy a 270 or 270WSM, as they often have hopes of a moose hunt in their future too.

But with factory ammo, (and even reloading) these rifles are expensive to feed - all for the sake of having the option to shoot the odd mangy coyote. By the time the shooter is comfortable at 400 yards for coyote, he’ll have spent more than enough on ammo to have bought 2 guns, each more suited to big game/varmints.

My suggestion (recognizing I’m not answering the question you asked) is to buy two rifles: One in 308, and one in 223. Both can be fed economically, and are well suited to their roles.

If the cost of putting glass on 2 rifles is a concern, go cheaper on the glass for the 308. Not sure where you’ll be deer hunting, but most of Ontario’s rifle deer hunting terrain is thick bush and rolling ridges and hills. Most deer are taken well inside 100 yards, and very rarely out to 200 yards. A cheap used scope off the EE will do just fine.
 
Originally Posted by Power Pill View Post
anything bigger than a 243 will not be very fur friendly on a coyote.
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Actually you are wrong it has been well know for 30 - 40 years that 30 cal magnums are going so fast and coyotes are so small that they just zip thru coyotes kills them almost instantly but unless you hit bone its a tiny hole in and out.

I used my 300RUM loaded with 200gr Accubonds @ 3200fps on the last coyote I shot at appr 50 yards it died instantly with a tiny hole thru it.

Why did I shoot a coyote with the 300RUM because every deer/moose/elk/bear hunt I am on is instantly a coyote hunt if I see one.
 
sgt.rock said:
Since the .270 is .277" bullet diameter, does that disqualify it from contention? If the bullet diameter has to be .275" or smaller. The lands are .269" while the groove is .277". Just asking because I dont know the regs down there. Up here there is pretty much no restrictions other than centerfire .22 or bigger for wolves and Bison need 200gr bullet minimum.
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It is not a bullet diameter restriction I is a caliber restriction which is bore diameter restriction not groove diameter.
 
I really like the 25-06, but ammo availability isn't great. But if a person stocks up on factory ammo and doesn't mind buying a good amount when it is available, then it's not a problem. Better balllistics than the 6.5 CM at hunting ranges.

6.5 Creedmore because it is big enough for moose, and ammo availability and selection is excellent.

6.5x55 SWede because it's well, a 6.5x55 Swede. :) Been killing moose forever, hotter than the CM, as close to one-and-done as anything can ever be. Ammo concerns, or not, same as 25-06.

243 Win because it's capable if not great on heavier game, ammo availability and priceing is good.

Any one of those will do what you need. It's just picking a flavor, like deciding between a ford or a suburu - either one will take you where you need to go.

Everyone tells themselves when they're starting out "one rifle is all I need". Damn right. :)
 
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