Fill in the Blank... (cartridge suggestion)

[LouD]

I am wrestling with adding a new rifle to my arsenal to fit between my .243 Win and 300WSM.  I consider both of these long range guns, and am thinking of something for more moderate range to use on pigs & deer.  I've 2 friends who's opinions I respect who favor either a .270 win or a 30-06.  I've been thinking of maybe a 7-08 or 6.5x55 if I can find one.  The gun will be a M70 featherweight regardless of caliber, and the local shop has a 30-06 in stock.  One thought I have is that the '06 is too close to the 300WSM I already have, but one of the aforementioned friends feels "everyone needs an '06.  At this point I'm leaning towards the 6.5x55, but it may be a challenge to find.  What do you think?

[7magWoodsman]

7mm/08 or .270 will "fill" the gap between your other two rifles the best, I would go with the 7-08 and use it in the place of the other two rifles, but that is coming from a true fan of the .284 cal....

30-06 is a great caliber but If you have another .30 cal. you are comfortable with I would stick with it...


Maybe consider  the .260 or .280 also...

[Dave in WV]

Lou, since you're looking at a M70 Featherweight, the M70 Compact is a small version of the Featherweight and can be had in 7-08. Nice and compact witha 20" barrel.

[longwinters]

I would say since you are talking light-weight the 7m-08 is the ticket.  It is one of the best up and coming calibers.  Easier to find ammo for than any 6.5, unless you reload.  And it has relatively light recoil.


Long

[TNrifleman]

I really like the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight. I have one in 6.5X55 and think the combination is just about perfect for hunting whitetail deer at any sane range. Get the 6.5X55, you will not be disappointed.

[MGMorden]

Well I'm a huge fan of 6.5x55 myself (.260 Remington is nearly identical so that's also an option).  7mm-08 isn't bad either.  Both of them would fill the gap quite nicely.  Though youv'e got 2 rifles that will take deer just fine, you're getting out of the "sweet spot".  The .243 is a little on the light side (capable, but just barely).  The .300WSM on the other hand is getting a little heavy (not too much so, but still).  IMHO the 6.5 to 7mm non-magnum rounds are optimal deer hunting implements.  Of course around here most shots are within 100 yards in which case it's hard to beat the good 'ol .30-30 WCF.  That's not interesting these days, but it's got mild recoil and is pretty much what I'd want if all shots were less than 150 yards (my hunt club does have some large fields with possible long shots which is why I don't personally use one)

[LouD]

Thanks to all for their input.  I consider my 243 primarily an antelope gun, while the 300 WSM is for Elk, both in open country (as in Nevada open country).  The gap to fill is for the Sierra Nevada and costal areas, mainly pigs, Blacktails, and some Mule Deer in the trees.  It looks like a toss up, probably depending on what I can find.  Has anyone loaded or shot the heavier (150 gr. +) bullets from either cartridge?  I'm wondering what the practical max for the  7mm/08 is for a reloader... will it perform with the heavier (150 - 175 gr.) and round nose bullets?  From what I've read the 6.5x55 will work well up to about 160 gr. (and down to about 120?), anyone have any 1st hand experience?  Lastly, I'm also presuming the the recoil and muzzle blast are similar....  Thanks again !!!

[longwinters]

Sorry I can not offer suggestions there.  With my 7m-08's I have only loaded for 120 - 140 gn bullets.  If I go higher than that I have always switched to my 308.

Long

[vernonp]

I think the 308 is the best intermediate round you can get with 150 gr. bullets it is even with the 30-06, a little better than the 7mm08 and a lot better than the 6.5x55. To me the 6.5x55 would only make sense unless you just want one for some reason other than performance. The 308 does more with less powder than any round. I do agree, you need something to fill the space between the 243 and 300 magnum. A little short action 22 inch barrell in 308 or 7mm08 will do the job.---------    vernonp

[gunnut69]

I would go with the Swede..  I've one in the Featherweight rifle and love it..  I've loaded the 6.5x55 for years for use in the M96-38's and have found it to be a versatile and easy to load round that kills quite well.  Mostly we used 120 and 140 grain bullets and were amazed.  The 125 grain Nosler is aa spectacular killer on whiteatails and recoil is very low..  Accuracy is great (in the swedes) and ammo can even be found at WalMart..  The last influx of Swedish military rifles prompted our ammo makers to tool up for the 6.5x55 and it's now made by them all...  In a modern rifle loaded to similar pressures it'll produce more velocity than the 260 and is truly an accurate round(if that can be said of any).

[Buffalogun]

LouD,

I'll echo what others here have posted about the 6.5X55. I think it is about the perfect deer round. My rifle is the M70 Win. Featherweight and is long throated for use with the 156-160g bullets. However, my rifle likes the Hornady 129g and 140g bullets and shoots tiny groups with both of them.
I took a 145# 8-pt last year with the 6.5X55 using the Hornady 129g Sp. The buck was standing about 120 yds away and I gave him a shot through the vitals. Needless to say, penetration was complete and the buck ran apprx. 20 yds and fell. A good trait of 6.5 bullets is they are long. This aids in penetration. You probably won't need premium bullets.

Buffalogun

[Catfish]

Lou,
   I know your problem. I have 3 - .17 cal. centerfire rounds that I shoot and 3 - .22 cal. rounds, but nothing inbetween. I had just about setteled on the .20 BR round when they came out with the .204 Ruger. Now I think I`ll pick-up a .204 and if I think it`s worth it build a .20BR later. What I`m trying to say to you is that you reall have everything pretty well covered now and are really just looking for an excuse to buy another gun. SOOOOO get what ever you want. The answer to your question as possed though is the .308 for several logical reasons. BUT, since you really are covered now logic really plays no practical purpous here.  :lol:  Ever think of playing with wildcats?

[LouD]

Buffalogun,  when you talk about your featherweight being long throated, is that something you customized ?   Ideally I'd like the gun to be able to handle 120 throu 160 gr. bullets, but who knows..

Catfish,
Regarding playing with wildcats, out west that is considered way too dangerous,  I mean we got some really big ones out here, y'know.   But if I did I'd probably need another gun, but that's another topic....

Thanks again for your thoughts !!!

[Mac11700]

You didn't say if you reloaded or not...if you do...go with the 308...you'll be using the same bullets for it...if you don't...go with the 270 or the 270 WSM....you'll have the best of both worlds then in a bolt gun.....you could always try something a little different if you haven't settled on the Winchester...that would be a nice lever gun for your woods hunting...my personal favorite...the Marlin 1895GS 45-70...it's a wonderfull gun to shoot and does a bang-up job on anything you would care to ...you can load it up or down to your fancy and can get mild factory loadings...all the way up to Rino stoppers if you have a hankering to...


Mac

[THE#1hunter]

I have a Win m70 featherweight in .270, and man...it can shoot, i'd go with the .270, its a dream to carry around in the woods, and its not a bad bench shooter, but this paticular gun is not meant for shooting ALOT at one time...the barrel heats up super fast, but then again....it depends on the loads you plan to use in it...good luck with what ever decision you make