Caliber advice

[mohsey]

In my opinion, a 6.5x284 would be ideal for what you're describing.

Super easy and forgiving to load and great ballistics.

 

[djm670]

Can you do a .338 comparison...please.

.338 Federal (200 at 2600)--- 7.0 22.2 14.3
.338 Federal (200 at 2660)- --8.5 19.3 12.1
.338 Federal (210 at 2630) ---8.0 21.9 13.3

.338 Win. Mag. (200 at 2950) 8.5 32.8 15.8
.338 Win. Mag. (225 at 2780) 8.5 35.2 16.3
.338 Win. Mag. (250 at 2700) 9.0 33.1 15.4

.338 Ultra Mag (250 at 2860)-- 8.5 43.1 n/a

.340 Wby. Mag. (200 at 3100) 10.0 29.6 13.8
.340 Wby. Mag. (250 at 2941)- 9.0 43.4 17.6

.338 Lapua Mag. (225 at 3000) 9.5 37.2 15.9

.338-378 Wby. Mag. (250 at 3040) 11.75 41.1 15.0

This data is coming from Chuck Hawks Recoil table
https://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

 

[5.56×250]

338 fed looks like a nice bigger bore, if your not into getting punched . Looks like it falls behind on velocity too. Cant get away from that, all other things being equal . The good ol " equal and opposite reaction " physics thing .

 

[djm670]

In my opinion, a 6.5x284 would be ideal for what you're describing.

Super easy and forgiving to load and great ballistics.

That is the way I would go. a 6.5x284 or a 6.5 PRC Minimize recoil but
still have enough muscle for Elk at 600 yards. Can shoot more frequently due to economics and also you don't beat your shoulder up. But I am a minimalist...

And the largest bolt gun I have is a .30-06 and most of the elk I have shot have been done in with a .25-06. But I am thinking I should have a 6.5 PRC. Do have a .45-70 1886 winchester but with open sights, not something I would use for longer range Elk. Of course I probably wouldn't use my .25-06 on one much farther than 400 yards either. Growing up with Elk in the hay meadow across from the house probaby gives one a different perspective on what caliber/cartridge works. A 6.5 PRC would let one shoot a little farther witrh the necessary engergy.

 

[5.56×250]

After staying with this thread from the beginning, I'm still solidly stuck on the 300WSM. More compact than the full length magnums , does well at 24" barrel length , and loaded with the right bullet for the job, should kill with authority at the OPs 600yd max. 7mm wsm would get consideration too, but the 30 cals bigger bore slap keeps me on the 300 for larger game.

 

[Lee Goodwin]

Thanks for that.!
That is why H4895 and 2500 fps is my friend.

 

[5.56×250]

I'm a 6.5 fan. My deer rifles are an AR15 in 6.5 grendel for the woods and a remage build in 6.5 creedmoor for hunting the open fields in my area. I dont think there is any need for more FOR WHITETAIL DEER. That's the extent of my big game prey. Even though the 264 cal bullets do well at long range ballisticly , I wouldn't want to use a projectile that small for large game.

 

[Calvin45]

Sometimes the slow burn powders are fun to shoot at dusk and it looks like a fire breathing dragon.

True, the assumption is that a big fireball is undesirable, but the adolescent in me takes no small delight in a big ka-boom with a light show.

 

[Peddler 76]

I'm just a Whitetali hunter and depending on the day it's a .257 Roberts or a 6.5 Creedmoor depending on where I sit.

Did I say I'm old and hunt in way upstate NY and I rarely even bring out the very old model 600 CZ BRNO .270 anymore?

Patiently waiting for another Fall, it will be my 62'nd year chasing Whitetails.

 

[yorke-1]

Sometimes the slow burn powders are fun to shoot at dusk and it looks like a fire breathing dragon.

True, the assumption is that a big fireball is undesirable, but the adolescent in me takes no small delight in a big ka-boom with a light show.

It's all about the specific powders used. There aren't many powders out there slower than H50bmg and there aren't a whole lot of chamberings (other than the BMG and Barrett) burning significantly more than the 140gr loads in this video. Compare this to any video of a 44 mag shooting 20.0gr of H110 at dusk and the much faster pistol powder produces a significantly greater flash. I have more videos using less extreme examples, but this one is one of the best representations.

 

[Overkill338]

I shoot a Browning ABoltIII in 300 Win Mag. Using Barnes LRX-BT 175 gr bullet's loaded to a Muzzle Velocity of 3100 fps, you get over 1500 fp Muzzle Energy at 600 yards. 3.5" high at 100 yards is on at 300, 10" low at 400, 24" at 500 and 48" low at 600 yards. I'm a disabled Vietnam Veteran and an Amuptee so I need a good resonablely accurate rifle. It has a 26" barrel and is easy for me to handle. I'm over 6'2".

Thank you for your service sir!

 

[Overkill338]

I guess that if you compared , say, a 215gn in a 300WM against the 235gn in the 375H&H, the recoil could be close enough to the same if you took in to account the differences in rifle design and weight.

If you have to drop to a 235 in a .375 to get recoil down, then it's a moot point. A 235 grain .375 bullet has the BC of a Jeep Wrangler lol

 

[Overkill338]

Thanks for that.!
That is why H4895 and 2500 fps is my friend.

If you have a PC, download a program called "Point Blank". It's free and can calculate your ballistics, and also has a Free Recoil calculator in it.

Android phones, there are TONS of apps to calculate this stuff. If you have an iPhone, well, I just feel sorry for you, and you should be rethinking your life choices rather than worry about guns.

 

[5.56×250]

If you have to drop to a 235 in a .375 to get recoil down, then it's a moot point. A 235 grain .375 bullet has the BC of a Jeep Wrangler lol

I recon that's the price you pay for using Africa's favorite buff gun and comparing it to a 300wm on recoil. According to the chart the other bullets in the 375 ramp the recoil up to a point they dont really compare. Please dont take this as a vote for the H&H on anything short of big browns or polar bear from me. I'm sure it will work with the right bullet on mid side game, but it's not my idea of a all around gun on this continent . If it's your idea of the perfect American rifle, more power to ya. That's a choice we all get to make.