General Purpose Cartridge for Coyotes up to Elk

@Rotten is right about being limited to factory ammo. .308 Win, 6.5 PRC, even the 6.5 Creedmoor are pretty good options if you don't handload. Creedmoor is also great if you're recoil averse. Creedmoor; you might shorten your range for elk vs some of the other cartridges though. I have a relative who shoots tiny little groups at 300 yds with his suppressed Creedmoor. He is a big ol' boy who hates recoil. Funny thing is his little wife shoots .308 Win. 🤣

Not that the .264 WM is "obscure". Its not. It's a classic high velocity 6.5! I'd take a custom to my specs 264 WM every day over most 6.5's except maybe the Nosler, if brass availability wasn't such a headache.

In short action, I'd go 6.5-300 WSM. But I ain't shootin' no stinkin' inconsistent factory ammo!
Fair assessment. I'm not recoil averse by any means. My old rifle was a 300 WM. I wish I could reload, but I literally have no room right now. 4 kids and a house that is just big enough. It has taken me a while just to find room for more rifles lol.
 
I got the custom part; in your post #1, you said,

but in your post #23, you said,
And while I did not originally say what action I was going with, if you really want to nitpick I also stated this:

"building a new custom hunting rifle and know every component I am going to be going with except for the cartridge"

The thread has already been rolling. I greatly appreciate the welcomes, insight and banter. Thank you all.

Should I go back and change up my #1 post? Don't want any more confusion or to cause any trouble.
 
And while I did not originally say what action I was going with, if you really want to nitpick I also stated this:

"building a new custom hunting rifle and know every component I am going to be going with except for the cartridge"

The thread has already been rolling. I greatly appreciate the welcomes, insight and banter. Thank you all.

Should I go back and change up my #1 post? Don't want any more confusion or to cause any trouble.
No, you do not have to go back. Regardless of what cartridge you end up with, your limitation is your ammo since you do not reload.
 
And while I did not originally say what action I was going with, if you really want to nitpick I also stated this:

"building a new custom hunting rifle and know every component I am going to be going with except for the cartridge"

The thread has already been rolling. I greatly appreciate the welcomes, insight and banter. Thank you all.

Should I go back and change up my #1 post? Don't want any more confusion or to cause any trouble.

Completely forgiven and forgotten! 😁 With this newly released information….. I suppose that you won't be considering my favorite cartridge! 😂 memtb
 
I've seen a pile of coyotes, many deer and antelope, and several elk killed with a 20" barreled .260. Many of the coyotes a few deer/antelope, and two of the elk were killed between 500 & 600 yards. Primary bullets were 123 Amax at 2900(ish) on coyotes (and a couple deer/antelope) and either 127 Barnes LRX or 139 Lapua Scenar at 2750 (with a couple 143 ELDX thrown in) on the rest of the stuff.

I'll be taking it up bear/deer hunting in a couple weeks loaded with 130 Bergers.

Your thought of 6.5 PRC would be excellent for a 20" all-around critter getter.
 
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I've seen a pile of coyotes, many deer and antelope, and several elk killed with a 20" barreled .260. Many of the coyotes a few deer/antelope, and two of the elk were killed between 500 & 600 yards. Primary bullets were 123 Amax at 2900(ish) on coyotes (and a couple deer/antelope) and either 127 Barnes LRX or 139 Lapua Scenar at 2750 (with a couple 143 ELDX thrown in) on the rest of the stuff.

I'll be taking up bear/deer hunting in a couple weeks loaded with 130 Bergers.

Your thought of 6.5 PRC would be excellent for a 20" all-around critter getter.
I assume you mean the .260 Rem? Great cartridge.
 
Yes,

Aware the 6.5 PRC is the only short action out of the bunch. Was only stating I understood the bolt face differences. If I was reloading I would definitely consider the 7 SAUM. 6.8 Western is another one I have looked into, but it seems Hornady has cornered it into not having a whole lot of good variety when it comes to factory ammo.
There's other options than normal factory ammo if you don't reload. It's expensive at first but it would get you better accuracy and more bullet choices than normal factory ammo. Here's a couple to look into. I think some will even reload the brass from your original purchase to save money.


 

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