which caliber ?

[woodnut]

Catbrain, I agree with your last post and what 445 said about the 6MM. I shoot 970 yds, and out shoot all the other rifles with my 6 Creed. They shoot a 308, and 6.5 Creed. The Armagetten(sp) Gear shoots, all four years, have been won with a 6MM. Latest the 6 Dasher; but I don't know if there's factory ammo yet. I have three bolt rifles and an AR10 in 6 Creedmoor and they all love, love , love my hand loads and factory loads. Easiest reload I have ever reloaded, and I have done this for over 50 years of my 80 years. I still shoot and reload and drive out to S.D. to whack P.D.s! You won't be disappointed with the 6 creedmoor.

 

[Lee7588]

my 308's will go to 600. Even my 223 will probably get there in some fashon.
Like to be supersonic to past 1000 ----i think 6.5 creed is super to 1200 - give or take--- if I remember right.
So far 6.5 creed is the frontrunner. (not doing moose )
Probably gongs, coyotes and maybe a deer.
im not especially recoil sensitive- but less is better in general I suppose ! 300 winmag would be my limit for "fun" purposes. Hunting only could be more where you dont shoot too many shots. I remember 243 being VERY loud-
but easy recoil. (seemed to me at the time way louder than 223- but I was only 14 then- what did I know-)

While the 6.5 cm may be supersonic just past 1100 yds it drops below a 1000 ft pounds of energy just past 600 yds. So if shooting gongs you are ok but when looking at shooting animals you may want to think about something that carries more energy.

 

[buzby]

While the 6.5 cm may be supersonic just past 1100 yds it drops below a 1000 ft pounds of energy just past 600 yds. So if shooting gongs you are ok but when looking at shooting animals you may want to think about something that carries more energy.

As long as it's carrying enough velocity for reliable expansion for your bullet of choice, send it. A properly performing bullet is more important than an arbitrary energy number.

 

[buzby]

I am just starting to consider building a longer range gun---may 600
to 1000 for plinking and maybe coyote. Thinking of a Precision aero
receiver (bolt action) as I like its features and its reasonably priced.
Thinking of a long but fat fluted barrel (all steel) maybe 26-28 with
maybe a sound mitigation device (they work well)

I shoot 308 and 223 mostly. I think I need a higher BC than 308 will give me. I am tinkering with 60 gr V-max in 223 but I know that will be weak past 600. I am leaning towards something in 6mm or 6.5 or 7mm. I think I like 6.6 PRC but I dont like the brass prices. Like a little umph that 6.5 creed. there is 243Win, 7mm-08, 260rem and 280 rem, there is 270 win. Like to have something I can get inexpensive new brass for --- and something that will take the long, high BC bullets. Like to keep the reciol down to 308 win levels or less. Dont want a barrel burner either.

and considering the "Old" calibers--- can I just have my barrel
cut with a longer leade to accommodate the newer High BC bullets ? or it there more to it than that. ( I'd like it to be box magazine fed too- BTW) Would that mean going to a medium action and mag so my longer OAL will fit into a magazine ?

Im sure many of you have asked these same questions----
Thanks ahead of time for your thoughts.....
Tim

Have you tried heavies (75-77gr) in your .223? For "plinking and maybe a coyote" .223 is a lot of fun. Super low recoil, super cheap to shoot. You'd be stretching it at 1000yds, but are you honestly going to be shooting that far very often?

Otherwise 6.5cm is the easy button. And for good reason.

 

[Lapuatom]

Simple- 6.5/284 .

Thank you!

 

[Moondoggie]

I agree with some of the other posters on the 6.5 whatever. The lowly old 243 and Winchester brass is gonna be a dang cheap combo.

The 243 with the new 1-7.5 twist barrels with the long, sleek, heavies ain't so lowly anymore. I've been salivating over one of these!

 

[Lee7588]

As long as it's carrying enough velocity for reliable expansion for your bullet of choice, send it. A properly performing bullet is more important than an arbitrary energy number.

Speed doesn't kill, and if the bullet doesn't have enough energy it doesn't perform correctly. It takes a combination of speed and energy for bullets to perform correctly. IMO the 6.5 cm isn't a 1000 yd hunting gun it is fine for 600 yds. I had a 6.5 cm and sold it, I bought into the hype and was disappointed. I still shoot a 6.5 but went to a PRC instead for something with more power and speed.

 

[buzby]

Speed doesn't kill, and if the bullet doesn't have enough energy it doesn't perform correctly. It takes a combination of speed and energy for bullets to perform correctly. IMO the 6.5 cm isn't a 1000 yd hunting gun it is fine for 600 yds. I had a 6.5 cm and sold it, I bought into the hype and was disappointed. I still shoot a 6.5 but went to a PRC instead for something with more power and speed.

Except velocity is how most manufactures rate how their bullets will perform.

6.5cm is definitely not a 1000yd big game cartridge. I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone claim it was. Coyotes (OP's quarry)? I wouldn't expect many to walk one off.

 

[Lee7588]

The comment I responded to (#26) was where the OP added in deer. Again speed and energy as a combo is what makes them work. If something moved with speed only and no energy when it hit its target it would just stop

 

[LRNut]

You think a 6mm won't? Here is a range card for the little 95VLD hunting Right from Berger's calculator....

Input Parameters
Bullet Diameter	0.243 inches	Zero Range	200 yards
Bullet Weight	95 grains	Sight Height	1.65 in
Ballistic Coefficient	0.239	Muzzle Velocity	3100 fps
Temperature	59 F	Wind Speed	5.00 mph
Altitude	500 feet	Wind Direction	9 o'clock
Inclination	0 degrees	Berger Bullets	Copyright 2013

Range Card
Range (y)	Velocity (fps)	Energy (ft-lbs)	Elevation (moa)	Windage (moa)	TOF (s)
0​	3100​	2028​	0.00​	0.00​	0.00​
100​	2901​	1775​	1.19​	0.30​	0.10​
200​	2707​	1546​	-0.00​	0.60​	0.21​
300​	2521​	1341​	-1.91​	0.91​	0.32​
400​	2342​	1157​	-4.18​	1.25​	0.44​
500​	2171​	994​	-6.75​	1.62​	0.58​
600​	2007​	849​	-9.64​	2.01​	0.72​
700​	1849​	721​	-12.89​	2.44​	0.88​
800​	1698​	608​	-16.54​	2.90​	1.05​
900​	1552​	508​	-20.66​	3.40​	1.23​
1000​	1413​	421​	-25.35​	3.96​	1.43​
1100​	1280​	346​	-30.69​	4.57​	1.65​
1200​	1155​	282​	-36.85​	5.24​	1.90​
1300​	1063​	238​	-43.96​	5.98​	2.17​
1400​	1015​	217​	-52.15​	6.71​	2.46​

...and it just gets better with the 105's....

Input Parameters
Bullet Diameter	0.243 inches	Zero Range	200 yards
Bullet Weight	105 grains	Sight Height	1.65 in
Ballistic Coefficient	0.278	Muzzle Velocity	3000 fps
Temperature	59 F	Wind Speed	5.00 mph
Altitude	500 feet	Wind Direction	9 o'clock
Inclination	0 degrees	Berger Bullets	Copyright 2013

Range Card
Range (y)	Velocity (fps)	Energy (ft-lbs)	Elevation (moa)	Windage (moa)	TOF (s)
0​	3000​	2099​	0.00​	0.00​	0.00​
100​	2831​	1869​	1.28​	0.27​	0.10​
200​	2666​	1658​	-0.00​	0.54​	0.21​
300​	2507​	1466​	-1.99​	0.81​	0.33​
400​	2353​	1292​	-4.30​	1.11​	0.45​
500​	2205​	1134​	-6.89​	1.43​	0.58​
600​	2063​	992​	-9.76​	1.76​	0.72​
700​	1925​	864​	-12.92​	2.12​	0.87​
800​	1792​	749​	-16.41​	2.51​	1.03​
900​	1664​	646​	-20.28​	2.92​	1.21​
1000​	1540​	553​	-24.58​	3.37​	1.39​
1100​	1420​	470​	-29.37​	3.85​	1.60​
1200​	1305​	397​	-34.73​	4.38​	1.82​
1300​	1196​	333​	-40.78​	4.95​	2.06​
1400​	1098​	281​	-47.62​	5.57​	2.32​

But don't take my word for it.....do some research. Look at some 1000 yard benchrest match scores and groups where they shoot a little itzy bitzy teeny weenie 6mm BR's.

Sunday GunDay: The Rifle that Shot Smallest 1K Group in History « Daily Bulletin

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

I know the OP said he is just starting, but that is a lot of wind deflection at longer ranges when compared high BC bullets from 28 to 33 caliber.

 

[436]

I think I'd go 6mm as well, I have a hunting version of the 6XC in a 26" barrel Weatherby MkV Varmintmaster, I love it for Deer, Yotes, and Cats. I think most good 6mm's today have the juice to reach 1k with a splash left over. Looking back at a few like... 6mm International, .240 Wby Mag, 6mm Rem, .243 Win, and 6mm PPC heck even the old 6mm Wildcat based on the .224 Wby mag, I believe it was called the "6mm Tom Cat".. they worked great and we have even better bullets and powder for the 6mm today. That might be why Creed decided to throw a 6mm in their lineup. Just my 0.2 Cheers

 

[Rflshootr]

There are 3 other things that are worth consideration IMO.....
The amount of powder burned for each shot (cost)
Heavier bullets cost more than lighter bullets (more cost)
Barrel life (the most cost)
It all adds up in the end.
You don't need a big caliber to plink, shoot 'yotes and get out to 1000 or beyond. Just my opinion.

 

[Culpeper]

I like the 6mm Remington (.244 Rem) and 6.5x284 for reloading.

 

[Rflshootr]

I know the OP said he is just starting, but that is a lot of wind deflection at longer ranges when compared high BC bullets from 28 to 33 caliber.

No matter what caliber you choose, part of the process is learning to read wind and knowing your rifle and its ballistics. If you can't judge wind and don't know the ballistics of your weapon, it doesn't matter what caliber you're shooting. You won't be successful, especially at 1000 yards or more. Why burn up a ton of powder, very expensive bullets and expensive custom barrel learning? It's the same reason as why most of us started shooting .22 rimfire as kids. Well, unless you're retired with a ton of free time and are independently wealthy...then go for it.