Something bigger than .223

KDX

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In Sask we can hunt Deer with any caliber larger than 223. I was considering building a rifle that I could shoot paper/varmints/deer with, but don't know which caliber I should be looking at. Something fairly flat shooting out to 300-400 yards with minimal recoil would be ideal. Wildcats are fine, as long as brass isn't a big issue. Thanks in advance.

Edit to add...I have a 30-06 for larger game.
 
In Sask we can hunt Deer with any caliber larger than 223. I was considering building a rifle that I could shoot paper/varmints/deer with, but don't know which caliber I should be looking at. Something fairly flat shooting out to 300-400 yards with minimal recoil would be ideal. Wildcats are fine, as long as brass isn't a big issue. Thanks in advance.

Actually, its any caliber over .23. .243, 25-06, .257 Weatherby are candidates.The Weatherby can double as a branding iron if you were into long strings.
 
My bad on the caliber definition but I haven't hunted for the last 7 or 8 years and was going by memory. I want something "usable", IE preferably a little more common or easy to make brass for and not expensive to shoot. I guess I should have stated that in my original post.
 
Thanks for the advice. 25-06 looks like a very interesting caliber and would probably fit my needs. I'm partial to Savage rifles though, especially if I'm going to build something.
 
Buy the Marlin 25/06 and shoot it while you're waiting for yours to be built.

They're under $400 new. You'll like it.

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I vote .243 as well due to ammo availability. I had the same criteria that you have and went with this.

I shoot paper, gophers, coyotes and deer with mine. It's usually the first one I grab outta the cabinet.
 
We have a Bingo............ in the .243 Stevens. ;)

You can shoot 55 to 107 grain bullets and reduced loads at approximately 2,000 fps. "AND" you can do case forming using the .308 cases and others in a pinch and heavy duty military 7.62 NATO cases will last for years in your .243.
 
If your looking for a little more thump but minimal recoil the (270 cal) 6.8 SPC maybe the answer especially if you can get a spec 11 chambered 1-11" twist barrel.

This round is fun to punch paper with or loaded with 90gr TNT's @ 2900fps or 95gr TTSX @ 2825fps it would be an awesome coyote combo.

The 95gr TTSX are designed to expand down to 1600fps which also makes this a 450 yard capable deer cartridge myself I will keep that distance down to 300 yards for deer but I would reach out to 450 yards on a coyote without an hesitation.

There are also 100gr & 110gr Accubonds should expand out to 250 yards, 110gr TSX, 110gr Prohunters and several more that would be my choice for 125 yard shots.

My rifle in 6.8 SPC is a Robinson Arms XCR-L I shot my first deer with it loaded with the 95gr TTSX @ 165 yards on Oct 4/10 deer dropped instantly.

I have a Leupold VX111 4.5-14X40 30mm tube side focus Varmint reticle scope mounted the main cross hair is zeroed for 200 yards which puts me just over 1 1/2" high @ 100 yards, the first V reticle down is dead on @ 300 yards and just below the second V reticle down is dead on @ 400 yards.

The new Ruger Compact 16.5" saami chambered 1-10" twist barreled rifle is available in this chambering.

If you want a little more than this round gives I would look at getting a 260 Rem...


:)
 
I have a Stevens 200 and love the thing shoots really well.
I would check out the Savage Edge as well. It looks to me as the same action barrel with a different stock. The biggest advantage to me on the edge is the Detachable Box Mag. The internal mag on the Stevens is the main thing I don't like.
 
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