Poll - One all around single cartridge under conditions

What caliber would you choose based on the conditions?

  • 308 Winchester

    Votes: 62 26.5%

  • 6.5 Creedmoor

    Votes: 29 12.4%

  • 6.5 PRC

    Votes: 43 18.4%

  • 7mm-08 Remington

    Votes: 65 27.8%

  • 280 Ackley Improved

    Votes: 35 15.0%
  • Total voters
    234
Jbotto said:
You had me going with the .280AI until you mentioned the neck and shoulder issues. Any cartridge can be loaded down a bit but I think recoil reduction shines more in the short action cartridges. I went with the 7mm-08.
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Thank you sir. This is getting to look more and more like a shoot off between my two favorite rifles (and they are my favorites).
 
USAF Ret said:
Thank you sir. This is getting to look more and more like a shoot off between my two favorite rifles (and they are my favorites).
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Chamberings are more alike than different, and I'd do everything you mentioned with every chambering you mentioned without second thought.

Given that you already have the rifles, I'd let how you like shooting the rifle decide.
 
I use a 6.5 CM now. Really like it for hunting everything. But prefer a .243 for deer. I have a muzzle brake on the 6.5. With a total reversed replaced shoulder can't shoot anything bigger without a possible dislocation. Doctors orders.
 
IDFireLass said:
I use a 6.5 CM now. Really like it for hunting everything. But prefer a .243 for deer. I have a muzzle brake on the 6.5. With a total reversed replaced shoulder can't shoot anything bigger without a possible dislocation. Doctors orders.
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Similar boat except the recoil from the larger rifles leaves me in a lot of pain vs. possibly dislocating a shoulder. It just hurts my neck and I deal with chronic headaches and it ramps those up as well. After shooting any amount with higher recoil, I have trouble turning my neck to check traffic while I am driving.
 
El Jason said:
How so?
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It would be a slight edge, with the slightly bigger diameter and heavier bullets if a blood trail required.. My 6.5cm has more kills than my 7-08 even though I'm more of a 7mm guy. All that said, I started using a .223 last year with no complaints. The wife is going from a 280ai to a 6arc this year.... yes, I'd use them both on elk with the proper bullet and placement. The only time I'd have second thoughts is if I was hunting the honeysuckle thickets back east.
 
brymoore said:
About any round that will kill a whitetail will kill an elk. Pick your favorite whitetail cartridge and use it too out west.
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Hard part is, I think I edge on the side of the 7mm-08, but I like my 6.5 CM rifle better. Probably going to keep those two until after deer season and then play around with stock configurations on the 7-08. Thanks.
 
So, the one thing for sure and for certain is I will be selling the two 280 AI rifles I own. One is a HOWA custom with a 26" Bartlein barrel and a Stocky's carbon stock. The other is a new, unshot, Weatherby Range XP 2.0. I bought those because I absolutely fell in love with that cartridge and it is tough to get rid of them. But if it hurts to shoot them, they are paper weights.

I am going to restock my 7mm-08 and sell the current stock to see if I can make it as comfortable as my Bergara to shoot to be able to do an apples to apples comparison. Out of sheer curiosity, I am going to shoot the 6.5 PRC and see what the recoil feels like. That is a tough one, because it is new and never been fired. So, I won't be able to say that if/when selling it.

Thanks all.
 
I've hunted with three of the five calibers listed (6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC (current), and 7mm-08), all three are a joy to shoot and will do everything a person could ask it to. A .243, which is an absolute joy to shoot, would work for what your looking for.
 
I’m curious where people’s lines are? How light and narrow? How does it affect shot decisions? I’m going to hunt cow elk with my 6.5 cm and limit my range and shot position decisions. It shoots clovers with Hammers. I’ve shot so much stuff with it that it feels natural. I’m thinking under 300 and clean relaxed broadside. I have a 300 wm, but have been too busy to develop a load.

I was on the 7 prc train, but maybe I sell my 300 and rebarrel to a 6.5 prc? I don’t like messing with a rifle that works. Just a thought.
 
Hammsolo said:
I’m curious where people’s lines are? How light and narrow? How does it affect shot decisions? I’m going to hunt cow elk with my 6.5 cm and limit my range and shot position decisions. It shoots clovers with Hammers. I’ve shot so much stuff with it that it feels natural. I’m thinking under 300 and clean relaxed broadside. I have a 300 wm, but have been too busy to develop a load.

I was on the 7 prc train, but maybe I sell my 300 and rebarrel to a 6.5 prc? I don’t like messing with a rifle that works. Just a thought.
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Ballistic speaking that creedmore will probably shoot farther than you ever want to. My 6.5 I looked at how much energy it needed for the bullet to fully function and that was around 950 yards. I’ll never shoot that far but the bullet will preform that far
 
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