New Deer Rifle Caliber

[Olympus]

So I recently sold my 270 that I have had since high school. I never really liked the gun or the caliber. I'm not a fan of long actions and the recoil was too much for me to enjoy shooting it. I have slowly been replacing all of my deer rifles with ones that I actually enjoy shooting for fun all year long and not just a few shots before each deer season.

That said, I have a gap to fill in my deer rifle collection and I'm trying to decide what to fill it with. Biggest points are that it has to be something low recoil (or able to reload reduced loads), unique or uncommon, and short action preferred. I already have two rifles in 243 (light/handy Model 7 CDL and heavy Ruger No.1) and a 257 Roberts that I haven't started shooting yet. I like calibers that aren't "mainstream", i.e. 308,7-08, 270, 30-30, 30-06, etc.

Right now I'm looking at 7x57 since it's a classic, but still relatively uncommon these days. It can be loaded down with a 120gr bullet and reduced reloads to keep recoil down. But I'm also open to other idea. I only deer hunt, but used to hog hunt a lot so having a caliber that I could hog hunt with again in the future would be good. My deer hunting is all woods with a maximum shot distance of about 150 yards, so fast and flat shooting calibers don't really give me any real world benefit.

[Old Stony]

You might want to check into the 260 Rem. or the 6.5 Creedmore. Both are similar, have good ballistics and are great hunting rounds for hogs or deer. Very light recoil as well....

[Olympus]

Originally Posted by Old Stony

You might want to check into the 260 Rem. or the 6.5 Creedmore. Both are similar, have good ballistics and are great hunting rounds for hogs or deer. Very light recoil as well....

Aren't both of those more of a long range caliber though?

[CarJunkieLS1]

7x57 is a long action which is something you said you didn't want. However based on your criteria I'd look at the .300 Savage or a case based off of it. I'd have suggested .257 Roberts but you said you had one already.

[Olympus]

Originally Posted by CarJunkieLS1

7x57 is a long action which is something you said you didn't want. However based on your criteria I'd look at the .300 Savage or a case based off of it. I'd have suggested .257 Roberts but you said you had one already.

I thought the 7x57 was considered an intermediate length, whatever that means. And the 257 Roberts is based off that 7x57 case. Maybe I am mistaken though. My 257 is a single shot, so I can't tell what size action it would be.

[Don Fischer]

My own preference would be one of three I've never used. 260, 6.5 Creedmore of 7mm-08. I do most my shooting now with a 243 Rem in a Mossberg Partiot w/wood stock and 6.5x55 in Winchester mod 70 featherweight. The 6.5x55 is a long action though. What I wouldn't recommend is buying something like a 308 and loading it down to a 260!

[MrBorland]

Aren't both of those more of a long range caliber though?

The right 6.5mm bullet in an appropriate rifle makes for an excellent whitetail hunting rig, too. I took this nice buck this year with a .260 Remington and a moderate load.

Originally Posted by Olympus

I thought the 7x57 was considered an intermediate length, whatever that means.

I've been lusting for a 7x57, but in modern rifles, you'll typically see it in the same length actions as the .270, .30-06, etc. You won't see it in short actions (e.g. .308-based cartridges).

[fightthenoise01]

6.5 Creedmoor is a stellar short action, low recoil deer cartridge. Lots of great hunting bullets and load data. It's what my wife and father use, neither of which enjoy much recoil.

[Olympus]

Originally Posted by Don Fischer

My own preference would be one of three I've never used. 260, 6.5 Creedmore of 7mm-08. I do most my shooting now with a 243 Rem in a Mossberg Partiot w/wood stock and 6.5x55 in Winchester mod 70 featherweight. The 6.5x55 is a long action though. What I wouldn't recommend is buying something like a 308 and loading it down to a 260!

308 is too common for me. I've already got a common caliber in 243, so I'm looking for something more unique.

[Olympus]

Originally Posted by MrBorland

The right 6.5mm bullet in an appropriate rifle makes for an excellent whitetail hunting rig, too. I took this nice buck this year with a .260 Remington and a moderate load.













I've been lusting for a 7x57, but in modern rifles, you'll typically see it in the same length actions as the .270, .30-06, etc. You won't see it in short actions (e.g. .308-based cartridges).

Good info. Thank you.

[Blindstitch]

If you want something that isn't mainstream I'd suggest 6.5 Jap. You'll never find that on the shelf.

[CarJunkieLS1]

Olympus the 7x57 in modern rifles use the same action length as .270,30-06 etc. I see that has already been mentioned. I still think a .300 Savage will fit the bill nicely. A 150 grain at 2550 or a 125 grain at 2700+ would be all you'd need for 150 yard max shots that you mentioned. And the 300 Savage isn't exactly mainstream but brass can be found easy enough.

[FITASC]

so I'm looking for something more unique.

And good for 150-200 yards? Have you looked at the 7mmBR that Remington used to chamber their XP-100 for?

[Pathfinder45]

I was going to say 250 Savage, but since you don't need a flat shooter, you could go with 38-55 Winchester. If that's too mainstream for you, there are a lot of calibers that have aged into obscurity that can still get the job done, if you can make ammo for them. How about 303 Savage? Maybe 33 WCF? Those are both tricky to supply with ammo, but what's life without a few challenges?

[Olympus]

I'm looking for unique, but not so obscure I have a hard time finding a gun to shoot the round from.

I've been watching 250 Savage guns on GB and bid one all the way up to $850 last night but others kept it going all the way to $870. I do like the 250 Savage though.

[jmr40]

The 6.5 Creedmoor will shoot 140 gr bullets through a short action with much better BC's than your 270. They leave the muzzle at a mild 2700 fps, but after 200 yards out perform your 270 and do it with 2/3 the recoil and far less wind deflection. This is a suitable moose, elk or bear load. Even lower recoiling 95-120 gr bullets are available for deer size game or varmints.

Nothing wrong with 7X57 but it isn't enough different than the 270 you have. The 6.5 Creedmore is a modern slightly improved 6.5X55. If you want unique look at the 6.5X55. It does anything the 6.5 Creedmore will do, but requires a long action.

Just be aware of barrel twist if you're planning on shooting bullets heavier than about 120 gr. The 260 and many 6.5X55's are slow twisted and will limit you to lighter bullets. This is the primary advantage the newer 6.5 Creedmore has, the entire rifle and cartridge was designed with the heavier bullets in mind.

[Old Stony]

I have two rifles in the 6.5 Creedmore and love the way both of them shoot, but I have been concentrating on shooting lighter bullets. I particularly have found good results with the Hornady 123 Gr. SST bullets. I have shot hogs and deer both with them and have no complaints. Both rifles will shoot into the 1/2 inch range from a bench with very mild recoil.
I like the caliber so much, I've ordered parts to put together an AR to put my night vision on for hog hunting.

[GeauxTide]

A 123gr SST in my Alexander Arms AR shoots 1/2" all day. 2450fps from a 20" barrel. Amazing performance from a 1.5" case with 30grs of powder (parent is 22/6mm PPC) and it fits the AR15 action. Shoots through deer and hogs with authority. As far as recoil, you can see your bullets hit the target. Your question on the x57 case - It's 2.235, so it goes in long actions. 308 family is 2.0xx.

[ed308]

Add 6.8 to that list. Excellent hunting caliber with limited recoil. Say you want something not mainstream, look at the 270AR and 7mm Valkyrie. Both are AR wildcats that shine in a lightweight SBR.

[T. O'Heir]

"...the .300 Savage or a case based off of it..." Like the .308 Win? snicker.
"...looking for something more unique..." You reloading? There are lots of cartridges that are reloading only things. Issue with them is the relative lack of available brass. And that you won't find 'em in small places. Blindstitch's 6.5 Jap is like that. So is 7.7 Jap. Mind you, you won't find hunting rifles in 'em either.

[FITASC]

and a 257 Roberts that I haven't started shooting yet

Of course, there is just using your yet to be fired 257 Bob - it will have mild recoil, and will easily take out deer and hogs.

[RC20]

7.5 x 55 Swiss (granted the guns are no cheap, reload your own and ammo is not an issue). You can build one out of a 308 tube.


The following are mainstream and so ho hum (grin)

You might want to check into the 260 Rem. or the 6.5 Creedmore. Both are similar, have good ballistics and are great hunting rounds for hogs or deer. Very light recoil as well

[Olympus]

Originally Posted by FITASC

Of course, there is just using your yet to be fired 257 Bob - it will have mild recoil, and will easily take out deer and hogs.

My 257 is a NIB Ruger #1 RSI and I'm not sure I want to take it out in the woods since Ruger is phasing out the #1. They won't be around very much longer and will probably see a high value in about 15 years or so.

[ThomasT]

I've been lusting for a 7x57, but in modern rifles, you'll typically see it in the same length actions as the .270, .30-06, etc. You won't see it in short actions (e.g. .308-based cartridges).

Thats because it too long to fit in a short action.

[Gunplummer]

7x57 up to 175 grain bullets. 6.5x55 up to 160 grain bullets. Both are medium length cartridges that can be loaded with lighter bullets. 6MM REM another medium length cartridge, but like your .257 Roberts, limited in bullet weight.