Preditor/varment rifles
 

I'm looking into long range critter rifles and just looking for some input. In the past I've used 22LR, 22 Hornet, .223 Rem, and a 300 Win Mag with a 150gr hollow point. I was thinking something in the range of .223/5.6 to .264/6.5. I've red a few articles, but they where all old so I'm not considering their information up to date. The 6.5 Creedmoor has my curiosity, an oddball that seem to be effective out to 1,000 yards. Then the more traditional's like 22-250, .243, 25-06, .260.

17-223 and .20-250 are supposed to be fast flat wildcat round. Not much there tho.

i would go more traditionl like .308 or .30-06 myself in a solid bench gun for that range.

My caliber of choice for varmint and predator hunting is 22-250.

I also use a 22-250 though I do like the 25.06 as well.

My .308 Heavy Barrel FNAR with hand loaded 175gr boat tails are really hard to guard at long range as well. I find you are pretty well limited by optics at that range. A good scope makes all the difference.

I hunt ground hogs with a .300 Weatherby Mag as well but overkill unless you are shooting long range.

good optics and finding the right hand load does wonders in the .308. I really like the round. the .30-06 is a close second, but I feel it burns too much powder and kicks a bit too much for for what you get compared to the .308.

I haven't shot a lot of .25-06.

Could go to a Barrett .416?

The .308 and 30.06 are incredibly similar in ballistics and both are great rounds to load for accuracy. When you get to the heavier bullets, that is where the 30.06 takes the lead and out distances the .308.

The options of bullets and powders for these two calibers makes them perfect for fine tuning a load for just about any specific need. If I had to choose only one weapon out of my safes it would be those calibers for all around shooting.

Sure there are calibers better suited for longer range but I can get the job done on anything in North America with confidence and deadly accuracy with either one.

Already have the 280/7mm up cals covered, looking for something in the range I listed in the original post. 22-250 is on my list of possibles, but leaning more toward the larger end of my range. Something I can also use on Antelope and white tail if they get in the way of my varmint/predictor popping like a 25-06, 260 Rem, or 6.5 Creedmoor. I wouldn't rule out a 243 either.

Ever try a Remington Accellerator 30.06? 55 grain 22 sabot. 4080 fps MV.

how is the stability? I would think with that much velocity, the rotation speed would be high exaggerating any mis-balance in the bullet.

I have 150gr loads for my 300 Win Mag that are way up there, but expensive overkill on a ground squirrel.

Cougar, my man....... 6.5 MM is the route forward.

6.5 Creedmore or virtually the same, .260 Remington if you want to play in the long action stuff, also consider 6.5X55 Swede, man I LOVE that caliber, and it has been around since Jesus was a baby.

Now, that being said, consider for a change the diminutive 6.5 Grendel. Originally an AR based choice ( and a darned GREAT one at that ), it has come to the bolt world as well. Unless otherwise constrained, I would highly suggest you look at building a AR15 in the little Grendel. Up to 130 grain, you won't find a more efficient, accurate cartridge to play with.

There are enough Mfgs. out there now that you can put the rifle together WAY cheaper than you can buy the glass to support it for.

Most loads out of a 16" or longer bbl are still supersonic at 1200 yards, and past about 600 it actually outruns the .308.

If you wish to investigate this choice further, check out 6.5Grendel.com.

And yea, I will put my 6.5G AR against any sub 5,000 dollar bolt gun, group for group. [coffee]

I have 116 yr old Swedish M96 6.5x55 with custom loads that I would be willing to take that challenge.....what is the bet? [coffee]

I will even shoot it using the stock open sights providing we don't shoot farther than my old eyes can see [laugh]

thats not fair. I dont think your old eye can see the end of the barrel...[nonono]

No experience with the 6.5 stuff but my first center fire rifle was a cheap made little 6mm Remington bolt action... tach driver out to 300yds ... she'd shoot better than I could hold her.

Hey! that's not nice! [nonono]........even though it is close to accurate without my spectacles on [laugh].....

Geesh hard to argue with a guy that uses actual facts [laugh]