Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .243 ~ 25-06 ~ 6.5 CM ~ 6.5 x 55 ~ 7mm08

I’d want a mid weight rifle with a medium weight/length barrel. Best of both worlds I suppose, in theory.

.266 is smack dab in the middle of .224 and .308, so there you have it. Creed, x55, or 6.5-06. Find a rifle you like in any of those and go forth and have your gap filled.

I seriously want nothing to do with a 243 or 25-06. My 22-250 will do anything a 243 will do, and for some reason I have no desire for 25 anything.

My gap between a 22-250 and 300 H&H is filled with a 6.5 Creed, a pile of 270's and a few 7-08's.

Blasphemy! 3 rifles? Wants and needs? That’s crazy talk !

No doubt, .2506!!!!

In the bunch you listed, I’d definitely go 6.5 CM. Good factory ammo is available and you have a huge selection of high BC bullets available if you want to start playing at long range. Works well in a short action even with high BC bullets. If the 25/06 is a consideration, then consider the 6.5/06 too. There is NOTHING a 25/06 will do that a 6.5/06 won’t do better. Same with the 6.5x55.

I would rule out a 7mm/08 because reaching the lands is problematic with high BC bullets in a short action magazine. Would substitute 6mm Creedmoor for .243. Same ballistics but CM works better in a short action.

John

I think I'll just stick with my 25s and their "terrible" BCs. For the way I (and I suspect most others) hunt, a super BC doesn't matter. Yeah, I'm a dinosaur.

Lots of good logic in your response. Thanks!

7-08 gets my vote. Readily available weights from 100-175 grains.

There's really not a bit of difference between them for hunting most NA game. I'd avoid the Creedmoor unless you want to be like every other skinny jean wearing, Bin Laden bearded millennial.

We all gots to have our identity !

Jerry

That is kind of how I feel about 270's.

All around = 243

“There is NOTHING a 25/06 will do that a 6.5/06 won’t do better“

When I read statements like this, i wonder what “better” means.

Could mean available at Walmart, but I think it boils down to least amount of drift. And if you don't shoot that far anyway, none of it matters.


But I like buying anmo at Walmart.

For a tote around short action hunting rifle with big punch the 7-08 is hard to beat. 7mm bullets abound for all kinds of interesting field work. 243 Win needs no defending, but the 7-08 offers more versatility in the field and gives you a nice fit between the other two cartridges you mentioned.

I'm a big fan of the .25-06 but if you want to shoot a lot and punch paper as well as hunt then the 6.5 Creedmoor becomes almost a no-brainer. There really isn't anything not to like about it, other than just being resistant to it for the sake of being resistant. :-)

It'll handle 100-147 grain bullets with aplomb and those 140+ have some seriously good BCs for saying hello in the next zip code. Unlike the 25 cal, there are tons of great target and hunting bullets in 6.5 and there is so much variety of factory ammo for the Creedmoor that I am almost certain you could find a few factory loads that will do everything you need on the bench or in the field and that will be super-accurate in whatever rifle you end up with.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is also available in many factory rifles from the most inexpensive to the most iconic. Heck, with Winchester alone you can get one in the inexpensive (but accurate!) XPR, the durable Extreme Weather, the hybrid Coyote Light, the super-classy and hunter-friendly Featherweight (blued or stainless) and the iconic Super Grade. There's gotta be something you like in that group, right?

something all purpose and enjoyable to shoot.....and i have had them all
25-06 or the 6.5

easily obtained ammunition for around 20.00 dollars per box if you dont handload
if you handload the creed will take less powder if not that is ok.....both will shoot bullets in the 100-120 grain weight so not much recoil
both will handle most north american game well and you have your 30-06 to fall back on
a lot of people talk about bullet drop but if your into that game its just a matter of turning a dial so i dont really see the big issue there
both can be had in rifles from $300.00 up to your hearts content....
my 2 cents worth....opinions will differ

Where are you seeing the stainless featherweight?

I may have misunderstood this video: https://youtu.be/YqpegeCnzYU

I hope not, because the SS Featherweight in 6.5 Creedmoor will be my next rifle.

RAR 6.5 CM & SWFA, shoot the snot out of it. Save the brass and sell it to fund the replacement.