Cartridge suggestions

What would you choose. I'm looking for suggestions on a low recoil 600 yard whitetail/1000 yard steel cartridge. I'll be using a short action REM 700 with 308 bolt face. I'm thinking .243/6mm, .257 or .264. Looking for an easy cartridge as far as case availability, load data and availability of powder and primers.

Creedmoor family hard to beat. 6.5 Creedmoor is the easy button followed by 6mm Creedmoor. If you want to try something else, 25 Creedmoor is reload only right now but with the 133/134/135 projectiles would be interesting. Plenty of brass available - large or small primer.

243 and 260 still available too.

gpo1956 said:

What would you choose. I'm looking for suggestions on a low recoil 600 yard whitetail/1000 yard steel cartridge. I'll be using a short action REM 700 with 308 bolt face. I'm thinking .243/6mm, .257 or .264. Looking for an easy cartridge as far as case availability, load data and availability of powder and primers.

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6 Creed gets my vote. Great selection of factory ammo available (for a reasonable price too) and little recoil allowing you to spot your own shots. If you prefer to handload, then plenty of excellent brass available (alpha, lapua, peterson, etc). You can go small rifle primer or large too, which may help spread the wealth among your other cartridges.

Factory 108 ELDM ammo wrecks deer and antelope.

6 Creed is the easy button.

6.5 Creed with 140g-147g ELD's for killing deer at 600, gives you a little edge on quartering shots. In a year or so, the 25 Creed would be a great option, maybe a little early yet. Hedge your bets with Lapua brass.

Thanks guys. I've had several 6.5 Creedmoors so I'm not going that way. If 6.5 I'd probably go 6.5x47. The 6mms and 257s do intrigue me. I hand load just about all my ammo so I'm wide open.

25CM will definitely up your game in bullet weight. It will also make that 600yard able to stretch a bit further if needed. I have two 25CM. 133-135s around 2950-3000 is doable in a 26" barrel.

Alpha has SRP 25CM brass. It is tough as cut nails. Peterson makes 25CM brass too. If you don't need properly headstamped brass, necking up Lapua SRP 6CM brass is easy.

6CM is easy. Great brass available from both Lapya and Alpha. Peterson has brass too. A 105-115 is a great range for deer, but they start to peter out much past that 500-700 yard mark depending on hunting conditions. My 24" 6CM pushes a 105 Hyb @ 3188. My shooting buddy named it "Mr. Confidence" for a reason.

I've been wanting a 7 saw, don't know if you'd consider it too high of recoil though. There's a shorter freebore option that would work great in a 700 sa. Pretty much like a 7-08 Ai.

gpo1956 said:

Thanks guys. I've had several 6.5 Creedmoors so I'm not going that way. If 6.5 I'd probably go 6.5x47. The 6mms and 257s do intrigue me. I hand load just about all my ammo so I'm wide open.

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If you reload, the 6.5X47 is awesome.

For low recoil steel since you reload why not a 6BRA, 6 Dasher, or 6x47. However, I like something heavier for field matches or for hunting. The 6.5x47 is nice. I've had one or more in the safe for about 15 years. However, it is a compromise caliber, I'd much rather have a 6mm for steel/PRS and something in a bigger 6.5 or 7 for hunting/field use. I use a 6.5 Addiction (6.5x55 AI), which if you are using a Rem 700 308 bolt it would be better to go with a 260AI same performance, but I have been looking at trying a 7SAW.

If you like 65x47 - I am running a 25x47 for PRS and would certainly hunt with 25x47 (but not my PRS rifle!). Easy. Lapua 65x47 run though a 65x47 sizing die with .281 bushing. Using 65x47 seater with 25x47. 134ELDMs. H4350. CCI450s.

Since you've ruled out 6.5 CM and are a hand loader, I'd go down to a 6 mm CM or up to a 7 SAUM. Come to think of it, a 7 SAUM is a magnum bolt face so never mind. 6 CM would be my choice

7/08