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
Based on your list of cartridges I voted 7mm-08. It’s light on recoil, light to carry, and a very accurate cartridge at least for me.

Load it with 120 gr. Nosler Ballistic tips for deer and 140 gr. Accubonds for elk and you’re set.

As mentioned tho, your .308, 6.5 CM, and 6.5 PRC will all do everything you want. I leave the 280 AI out cause it’s a long action. A fine cartridge tho!

I would personally pick the rifle I cherish the most and give the others to my Son.
 
Silentstalker said:
Based on your list of cartridges I voted 7mm-08. It’s light on recoil, light to carry, and a very accurate cartridge at least for me.

Load it with 120 gr. Nosler Ballistic tips for deer and 140 gr. Accubonds for elk and you’re set.

As mentioned tho, your .308, 6.5 CM, and 6.5 PRC will all do everything you want. I leave the 280 AI out cause it’s a long action. A fine cartridge tho!

I would personally pick the rifle I cherish the most and give the others to my Son.
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My son passed away 4 years ago, but thank you.

A good idea on the 120 for deer hunting and the 140 for elk. I do have some .284 120 Barnes I have yet to test. I may sell all the others, keep the 6.5 and 7-08 and play around after deer season. Both are super accurate and very nice rifles. Also, both fit me well.
 
Another note, I will be keeping a few smaller calibers I have that have low recoil. My Rossi 30-30 as well as my little 6.5 Grendel. Those are great for deer, but I would not take them elk hunting. Well, maybe the 30-30 within 100 yards, but whatever elk hunt I go on it will be a disabled veteran hunt and I doubt I will have the ability to do any significant stalking. I also have a 25-06 with super low recoil I will be keeping. Just getting rid of the larger calibers.

If anyone is interested...I have a Weatherby 307 Range 2.0 in 280 Ackley that has never been shot along with a Tikka Ace Game in 6.5 PRC that is new as well. I also have a 308 HOWA in a chassis that I ordered a Criterion barrel for that I will probably be selling. I also have a new AR-10 upper in 338 Federal I had a buddy build before I got so bad off. If I don't sell that, I may send it back to him to rebarrel in a 22 or 25 Creedmoor.
 
USAF Ret said:
My son passed away 4 years ago, but thank you.

A good idea on the 120 for deer hunting and the 140 for elk. I do have some .284 120 Barnes I have yet to test. I may sell all the others, keep the 6.5 and 7-08 and play around after deer season. Both are super accurate and very nice rifles. Also, both fit me well.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear about your son.
 
brockel said:
That .02” is a game changer. Doesn’t even matter what bullet you use.
Click to expand...

2 hundredths of an inch makes that much difference? My beard hair is over double that, not kidding. Please elaborate, is this anecdotal evidence? I trust your expertise buddy.
 
USAF Ret said:
Another note, I will be keeping a few smaller calibers I have that have low recoil. My Rossi 30-30 as well as my little 6.5 Grendel. Those are great for deer, but I would not take them elk hunting. Well, maybe the 30-30 within 100 yards, but whatever elk hunt I go on it will be a disabled veteran hunt and I doubt I will have the ability to do any significant stalking. I also have a 25-06 with super low recoil I will be keeping. Just getting rid of the larger calibers.

If anyone is interested...I have a Weatherby 307 Range 2.0 in 280 Ackley that has never been shot along with a Tikka Ace Game in 6.5 PRC that is new as well. I also have a 308 HOWA in a chassis that I ordered a Criterion barrel for that I will probably be selling. I also have a new AR-10 upper in 338 Federal I had a buddy build before I got so bad off. If I don't sell that, I may send it back to him to rebarrel in a 22 or 25 Creedmoor.
Click to expand...

The only cartridge I can fairly vouch for is the 6.5 cm. I’ve shot a pile of mulies, whities, and yotes with it. Use Hammer bullets and you’re set. I watched my deer tumble yesterday.

My brother shoots a 6.5 prc and it’s never failed him. I think your Tikka Ace would sell in seconds on here.

The only cartridge on your list, based on your parameters, that is an easy out is the AI. Since you already have the rifles, which do you truly LOVE the most?

Get that AR in 22 cm!!! It would be magical for coyotes.
 
I would say .308 also because you can basically do multiple different things with regards to powder weight, bullet selection and other things you might not be able to as much with the other calibers. It's a proven round also for use for multiple things like deer/elk, etc. I would still like to have a 6.5 prc if I got a good deal for one but not making it a point to get one either. Also sorry to hear about your son, I would be devastated.
 
Hammsolo said:
2 hundredths of an inch makes that much difference? My beard hair is over double that, not kidding. Please elaborate, is this anecdotal evidence? I trust your expertise buddy.
Click to expand...
We really do need a sarcasm button….

It was sarcasm, the .02” doesn’t make a difference. Except the 6.5CM is for guys with a man-bun (yes you @El Jason ) and the 7HT is for those with a more refined sense of style.
 
Potsie said:
We really do need a sarcasm button….

It was sarcasm, the .02” doesn’t make a difference. Except the 6.5CM is for guys with a man-bun (yes you @El Jason ) and the 7HT is for those with a more refined sense of style.
Click to expand...

I figured, and I figured it needed a smart azz response. The love for 7HT is cultish. I love my creedmoor because of my rifle’s effectiveness over the last decade or so. It could be another caliber and I would feel the same. Oh, and this… I was wrong, but did only collect one piece of data. I wonder if people could tell the difference in two bullets of nearly the same make, model, and mass? Someone should make a poll for that! I don’t own a 7 or I would.

image.jpg
 
A little more information. Seems like the voting results have things on the fence with the 6.5 Creedmoor, 308, and 7mm-08. I can say with certainty, the 308 is going.

Between the 6.5 and 7-08, I will say the Bergara 6.5 CM is much more comfortable to shoot. I have a Grayboe Eagle 2 stock on the 7mm-08, and for some reason I really do not like the angled grip. I may, when I sell my other rifles, get a vertical grip stock similar to my Bergara and see if that makes a difference.

So much good information. Thank you everyone.

Side note, I also felt a push from the Holy Spirit to focus more on Him and less on the rifles. Having the big herd, I always think about what I am doing next. Even now, I was thinking of rebarreling a few rifles in smaller calibers. It is a constant battle with the world. It is just the right time to simplify and downsize for various reasons.

Thanks to all who read, answered, and voted. The hunting and rifle community is a good bunch of folks.
 
Hammsolo said:
The only cartridge I can fairly vouch for is the 6.5 cm. I’ve shot a pile of mulies, whities, and yotes with it. Use Hammer bullets and you’re set. I watched my deer tumble yesterday.

My brother shoots a 6.5 prc and it’s never failed him. I think your Tikka Ace would sell in seconds on here.

The only cartridge on your list, based on your parameters, that is an easy out is the AI. Since you already have the rifles, which do you truly LOVE the most?

Get that AR in 22 cm!!! It would be magical for coyotes.
Click to expand...
I have to say, from a pure shooting standpoint, the Bergara in 6.5 is the cat's meow. I just keep thinking in the back of my head, if I had the 7-08 set up with a different stock, I might like it as much or more. I do like the versatility of the 7-08 more.

"Get that AR in 22 cm!!! It would be magical for coyotes." Thoughts like that is what got me in this mess. Haha. I can really do that with my 223.
 
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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