One option would be a TC Compass (which are down right accurate ) in the 6.5 Creedmoor shooting 123 grain eldx bullets with a full charge of Varget powder. The 7mm-08 is another good one.
Caliber and best factory rifle for Whitetail deer - NC
- Thread starter NCgagehunt
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The guy is interested in a $2k rifle and you suggest he looks at a sub-$400 rifle? I'm not saying the compass is a bad rifle at its price point but it's not even close to what he said he's interested in.
Sako 85 full stock Carbine. Beautiful, short, light.
johnnyk
Well-Known Member
Hello fellow Tar Heel and welcome to LRH. Lot's of good advice on this forum. I haven't read all the post in this thread but I have caused a few whitetails to become table fare.
This nice buck stepped out at 5 minutes past sundown at 400yds and was thunderstruck. He paused just long enough to look my way, with the safety off, 2MOA vertical line high on his shoulder, I tightened up on the Shilen trigger. When the 700P rocked, instantly the 162gn ELD-M spun him around 180* in the opposite direction, and there he lay. I watched him a few minutes through the Vortex Strike Eagle, took this pic and then gathered my stuff.
This is the first year I've used the 7Mag in a long while (they don't seem to be immune to it either
). Last season I started out using my .300WinMag, took a couple and then went to the .270Win. None required a follow up shot. I really can't tell a difference in speed and effectiveness of killing between these three. The .300 "pushes" more but all wear muzzle brakes. I know you said you don't like 'em but the way I figured it, I'm setting in a elevated box blind just looking for deer to step out. I don't need to hear 'em, so I wear earplugs all the time. Just me. (after owning a .500S&W, I don't mind ear protection at all)
If I could pick your rifle/caliber for whitetails it would be a Christensen Arms Ridgeline in 6.5-285Norma, .270Win, 280Ackley, 7Mag or .300WinMag, or Mesa LR in 6.5PRC, 7Mag or .300WinMag., or a Browning X-bolt Western Hunter LR in 6.5PRC, .270Win, 6.8Western, 280Ackley 7Mag or .300WinMag.
This nice buck stepped out at 5 minutes past sundown at 400yds and was thunderstruck. He paused just long enough to look my way, with the safety off, 2MOA vertical line high on his shoulder, I tightened up on the Shilen trigger. When the 700P rocked, instantly the 162gn ELD-M spun him around 180* in the opposite direction, and there he lay. I watched him a few minutes through the Vortex Strike Eagle, took this pic and then gathered my stuff.
This is the first year I've used the 7Mag in a long while (they don't seem to be immune to it either
). Last season I started out using my .300WinMag, took a couple and then went to the .270Win. None required a follow up shot. I really can't tell a difference in speed and effectiveness of killing between these three. The .300 "pushes" more but all wear muzzle brakes. I know you said you don't like 'em but the way I figured it, I'm setting in a elevated box blind just looking for deer to step out. I don't need to hear 'em, so I wear earplugs all the time. Just me. (after owning a .500S&W, I don't mind ear protection at all)If I could pick your rifle/caliber for whitetails it would be a Christensen Arms Ridgeline in 6.5-285Norma, .270Win, 280Ackley, 7Mag or .300WinMag, or Mesa LR in 6.5PRC, 7Mag or .300WinMag., or a Browning X-bolt Western Hunter LR in 6.5PRC, .270Win, 6.8Western, 280Ackley 7Mag or .300WinMag.
Todd Carpenter
Active Member
if u wanna keep it cheap under$400 look up mossberg predator patriot in 6.5 prc lots on gun broker, composite stock adjustable trigger 24 inch fluted cerote barrel and threaded and still rifle is around 7# the reason i like its because i had three 7mm mags and had opportunity to buy 264 mag which is basically 7mm necked down can use same brass when reloading and use 300 win mag brass also, just really like the 6.5 bullet but I bought this mossberg rifle and like it , Just now bought 8# of reloader 26 powder which I been waiting to get for 2 years and I will be shooting 136gr lapua match bullet with this rifle same as 264mag and Im sure I can get prc to shoot within 60 or 75fps of the 264 and I love the 264 which is heavier so I know I will like the 6.5prc too
This is why "I" never ask what rifle to build or buy.
There are a lot of good suggestions here. Right now I am working with the Fierce Fury in 6.5PRC and a Weatherby Mark V Carbonmark in 6.5 Creed. They are both turning out to be incredible guns. The BSF carbon barrel on my Wby. has been a huge surprise to the positive. Both rifles come with the Trigger Tech which I really like as a hunting trigger. Both have rigid stocks, well put together, and both have less than 90 degree bolt throw (harder to lift, much easier to run past low scope mounts). Neither rifle is very light or heavy, but are very comfortable to shoot with or without the included brake. Both have been very easy to load for, and with no alterations they will shoot 1/2 minute to 400 yards (hopefully getting to the 600 yard range this week) with relative ease and the Wby is well under. Just a couple more options.
Buckys
Well-Known Member
My advice would be to shop for ammunition before you make a final decision. A 6.5CM, 270WIN or 7MM-08 are all very good deer cartridges that might be easier than most to find factory ammo for.
But I'd also start considering assembling some components for reloading, at least as a backup in case you have trouble finding more factory ammo in the future.
NCgagehunt
Active Member
Great thanks, is the 6.5 PRC worth the risk of being able to find ammo compared to the 6.5 CM? Again, I will be shooting out to maybe 400 yards, most likely 250-300 yards typically, again, on whitetail deer. Just trying to not over do something, the idea of the lighter recoil and easier to find factory ammo is really starting to appeal to me. Originally, I really thought I wanted the 6.5 PRC, but that may not be wise since I already have a 7mm Magnum to use on larger game if I ever decided to do that.
Have you seen any 6.5 PRC ammo available? I know I was considering getting one, but I've hardly even been able to find brass or dies for it. Not that that's ever stopped me from buying a rifle, since things seem to eventually pop up. The 6.5 Creedmoor could possibly be the most popular cartridge there is right now and that fact has ammo showing up on shelves more than most other calibers, it also has it disappearing from the same shelves faster than anything else. It'd almost be wise to go look at what you can get your hands on, maybe it's more of an oddball, but if you can shoot it, it's better than a rifle that you can't shoot. I've personally been lucky enough to find brass, bullets, and powders for the guns I have. It might be a good idea to get on waitlists for websites that sell the ammo, see what comes in and what doesn't that might make your mind up for you.
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