Non-ML deer rifles?

Never understood the fascination with the 6.5CM. The 260Rem was out 10yr before it and ballistics are virtually identical. Both fit in the same size action. Yet now the 6.5CM ammo is all over the place and even though the parent case for the 260 is ultra common the ammo is not as common as you would imagine.

6.5x55 will out perform both with hand loads in modern bolt actions. BUT it wont fit in a short action.

huff143 said:

You CANNOT go wrong with a Tikka. I have one in .270 WSM and it's a tack driver with 150 grain Berger VLD's and RE 19 powder. It did quite well with factory loads too.

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I use a Tikka Lite in .270 Rem with 130 grain Nosler Partitions over 56 grain of H-4831SC, great gun with a great load.

I shoot my Rem700 chambered for the 280Rem using Hornady 139gr SST Bullets with 57gr of H-4831SC. Great load and most game are bang flop.

This gun sat on consignment for months at a nearby shop. I got tired of knowing about it so I tended an offer. The SN dates to 1970, Ruger Model 77, Douglas barrel, easily adjusted trigger, 284 Win, ‘flat-bolt’.

Now it’s the 2nd 284 I own(A-Bolt). I may move this to the top once I mount a Zeiss scope & see how it shoots. Ammo isn’t an issue, I have lots plus reloading.

All the talk about 6.5 swede, I had to post mine up. Savage 111 LA, 26" threaded shaw barrel, 4-16×44 vortex viper HST, duracoat in forest green, This is my favorite CF rifle I own

It’s interesting how Americans seem to have finally warmed up to the 6.5’s. I’ve had, and been shooting a .256 Newton for a number of years and I’m in the process of having an old rebarrelled Win Model 70 rechambered in 6.5-06.

Just picked up a Ruger 77 hawkeye carbine in 7/08. Lil'thing , 16" barrel, I put a Leopold 1x4 on it. My new tree stand rifle..

Makinsmoke said:

Just picked up a Ruger 77 hawkeye carbine in 7/08. Lil'thing , 16" barrel, I put a Leopold 1x4 on it. My new tree stand rifle..

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That is going to be a sweet woods/stand gun! Perfect choice of scope to pair with it as well.

The 6.5 creedmoore is a great choice for a 6.5 caliber in a short action rifle. It’s better than the 260 with heavier bullets because the case is better designed for them. The 6.5 Swede isn’t really comparable because it’s a long action. Comparing apples to apples the 6.5-06 stomps the 6.5 Swede all day every day.

140gr bullet loads in the Creed and Rem are virtually identical. A swap barrel Savage would be easy for someone with a little skill level and tools. You could swap back and forth through several .473 case head rounds just by swapping the barrel out and using a couple head space gauges. 243, 260, 7-08, 308 ect ect ect all use the same basic brass. The huge con to the 260Rem is ammo cost and availability. For a hand loader its no problem at all, the older Rem becomes a good choice.

My two favorite deer calibers have always been 30/06 and 35 Rem.

270 Win

I'm getting old, and my knees hurt, and I hunt steep country for Barbary Sheep. I used an ultra light TC Contender in 7mm Waters (necked down 30-30) for sheep because it weighed 5-3/4 lb. with scope and sling. Never had issues, but the velocity and accuracy limited me to about 200 meters. I kept looking for a Remington Titanium in a left hand, but it never happened. I bought a right handed Browning Titanium in 7mm WSM (with a tang safety) and never looked back. It is 3/4 of a lb. heavier, but shoots much better. I've been using Berger 168 gr. bullets, but they are so long, it is effectively a single shot. I load the magazine with Barnes 160 gr. for emergencies. I've shot javelina, ibex, deer, bear, and elk out to 340 yards, all with good results. Never have to track. Once you carry a light rifle, you'll wonder why anyone makes heavy rifles. My buddy fondled my rifle once, and ordered one for himself in 270 WSM. I was torn between the 7mm-08 and the 7mm WSM, but chose the WSM because I thought I might want more power. In the end, I load it to 7mm-08 velocity, and my cases last longer, recoil isn't bad, and it does the job. I shot my first deer with a 6.5 Swede, but when I was shopping for an all around caliber, the 7mm had the highest B.C. of any available bullets (light enough to not hurt). Now that the 6.5 CM is here, the bullet selection has gotten better. One reason the 6.5 is so popular, is that the 140 gr. has the right sectional density (.287) to penetrate. To get that out of a 30-06, takes a 180 gr. bullet, which most folks don't like shooting. To get that in my .50 muzzleloader, I'm shooting .451 410 gr. bullets. That sectional density works just as well with big bullets.

Im a .243 Winchester fan for things equal to and smaller than deer. Its a bolt action M-77 Ruger that's been re barreled with a Douglas. Swift 3-9 scope. The rebarrel is from shooting the first one until it was shot out. I shoot groundhogs all summer long with light bullets from 55- 70 grains. For deer I use 100 grain partitions. Must have shot 20-30 deer over the years with it. Never recovered a partition and never lost a deer.

I'm a .270 win for everything up to Moose. I have a Tikka lite that loves 130 grain Nosler Partitions. I use 150 NP for Moose.

I retired my .257 Roberts a few years ago and replaced it with a Steyr Pro Hunter in .260 Remington. Sweet setup. For longer distances I've employed a Rem 7mm SAUM.

I use an old marlin 30TK 30-30.

First CF i ever bought and i still have it, is a 336 Marlin 30-30. I shot it so much i cracked the stock so i replaced both pieces with a composite camo stock. It hasn't been been used in 15 years tho. My other deer gun is a very much modified Mossberg 500 with a Leupold VX Freedom and Blackhawk recoilless pistol grip stock and camo wrap on the 24"rifled and ported cantilever barrel. It shoots nearly as accurate as the 30-30. I have taken more deer with it than all my MLs and Marlin combined. I also have the .50 ML barrel for the 500 but have never shot it.

I used my fathers Springfield 03-A3 30-06 he was issued in the service. Shoots good and treated me well over the years. It now belongs to my son.

I have an old Remington 700 .243 I love this gun. Have it loaded with 70 grain bullet and have used it for ore than 40 years for deer and coyotes. doesnt kick much. Always a good kill on deer and doesn't do all the meat damage that my 30'06 does.