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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,717 Likes: 14
Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,717 Likes: 14 |
I have a 7mm-08 too. It a joy to shoot.
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,114
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,114 |
Look at the Blaser R8. Barrels and calibers can be interchanged without any gunsmithing which gives huge versatility for the basic platform. Start with a .30/06 barrel and go from there.
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 3,445
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 3,445 |
Ruger American Predator 6.5 Creedmoor.
Don't ask me about my military service or heroic acts...most of it is untrue.
Pronoun: Yes, SIR !
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,283
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 30,283 |
Get yourself a Rem 700 in 6.5 Creedmoor. In the future, as funds permit, drop it in a McMillan (or whatever) stock. Mount a Leupold 3-9x40 with the LR Duplex, or a 3.5-10x40 with the B&C reticle, in x-low Talley Lightweights. Put a Butler Creek Mountain Sling on it. Go forth and shoot... thank me later 😉
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,211
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,211 |
The OP stated that he would want such a rifle to kill coyotes, and if the need arose, he'd shoot deer for the meat. That pretty much narrows it down.
Since this is a thread about bolt action rifles, my choice would be a Remington 700 or 7 in 243. The 243 might be the best coyote cartridge out there, and it will kill any deer that ever walked. You could go to a bigger caliber, but why.......you don't need it for coyotes, and you don't need it for deer. If you like short, lightweight rifles, you can get a 243 in one of those. If you want a heavy barrel rifle, same thing.
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,684
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,684 |
I've not owned a Kimber, and likely will not due to all the issues folks have. I certainly would not recommend one as a first rifle, as was suggested in an earlier post. Too much of a chance for issues for a new shooter.
"The whole problem with the world is that fools & fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubt" Bertrand Russell
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,242 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,242 Likes: 3 |
The OP stated that he would want such a rifle to kill coyotes, and if the need arose, he'd shoot deer for the meat. That pretty much narrows it down.
Since this is a thread about bolt action rifles, my choice would be a Remington 700 or 7 in 243. The 243 might be the best coyote cartridge out there, and it will kill any deer that ever walked. You could go to a bigger caliber, but why.......you don't need it for coyotes, and you don't need it for deer. If you like short, lightweight rifles, you can get a 243 in one of those. If you want a heavy barrel rifle, same thing. Lots cheaper to practice with a .223 and barrel life will be 4 x longer than a .243. A .223 will kill any deer or coyote that ever walked if you put a good bullet where it belongs.
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 17,911 Likes: 7
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 17,911 Likes: 7 |
IF op can legally use a .223 for deer... still hasn’t said what state.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,242 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,242 Likes: 3 |
True enough, but it is legal in most states.
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 741
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 741 |
For me, if I could only have one bolt action, it would be my Tikka T3x stainless in .300 Win. I think I’d have pretty much everything covered from North America to African plains game.
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 369
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 369 |
For coyotes and deer the 243 would be about perfect, but you could look into the 6mm Remington, 25-06 or 257 Roberts as well. If you plan to be a fair weather hunter/ shooter I’d recommend a nice wooden stocked Remington 700 BDL or CDL, a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight or Ruger 77. If you want something a little more durable to the conditions you may encounter outside, stick with the same models but look for ones with a synthetic stock and stainless barrel.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,211
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,211 |
. A .223 will kill any deer or coyote that ever walked if you put a GOOD BULLET where it belongs.
And therein lies the rub. I have killed deer and coyotes both with a 223, as well as a 243. Yes, the 223 will easily kill both, and yes, the 223 is much cheaper to shoot. But, any way you cut it, the 243 is a better choice for either, and I say that even though I use a 223 for coyotes far more than I do the 243. You can walk into just about any place that sells ammo and buy 243 ammo loaded with good deer bullets, bit it's not always the case trying to find 223 ammo loaded with good bullets for deer. Now, if I could have only one centerfire cartridge, and I didn't have to be concerned about shooting dangerous animals, it would be a 223. I am confident enough in my shooting abilities to kill whatever I would need to with it. I reload, and know which bullets are the best choice for a certain scenario, and I know what factory ammo is as well. Not everyone does though, and if you shoot enough deer with a FMJ 223, or a 50 grain VMax, failures will occur. I love the 223, but there are better choices for deer sized game, and if there is a chance that a shooter will use his rifle for that, then I'd advise them to use something else.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,242 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 19,242 Likes: 3 |
I have both, like both and have killed a pile of deer and varmints with both over the past 35 years. That said, if I were only going to have one it would undoubtedly be a fast twist .223. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,851
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 24,851 |
IF op can legally use a .223 for deer... still hasn’t said what state. Going off the .243 legality issues in some states just simply do a 6x45 It kills deer too and is easy on the wallet and shoulder.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,376
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,376 |
Ruger stainless synthetic Hawkeye or MKII in 243, 270, 308 or 30-06. Top it with a set and forget Redfield or Leupold 3-9. Sight for 2" high at 100 yds with cheap Federal blue box ammo from Walmart and put it in the closet. It will still be right on 10 years from now if you decide to hunt with it.
Always remember that you are unique, just like everyone else.
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 131
Campfire Member
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OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 131 |
IF op can legally use a .223 for deer... still hasn’t said what state. My current state only allow hunting deer with a shotgun.
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 746
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 746 |
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,809 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,809 Likes: 3 |
IF op can legally use a .223 for deer... still hasn’t said what state. My current state only allow hunting deer with a shotgun. In that case, and since deer hunting was only a possibility, not a requirement, I'd recommend a fast-twist .223 all day. Love 6mms, but barrel life is a fraction of the .223s (factory 6s, anyway), and ammo and components pricier. Oodles of rifles to choose from too, including some that are scaled nicely to fit the little cartridge. FWIW, if I were limited to one rifle, it would be an FN Mauser of some sort, probably a .270, no doubt about it. That's for me, not anyone else.
What fresh Hell is this?
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,961
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,961 |
Fieldcraft in 6 Creedmoor.....
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 13,164 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 13,164 Likes: 1 |
I’m firmly in the Tikka camp. I currently load for 4 Tikkas in .223, one 1-10” (bought used from shortactionsmoker, thanks again) T3 stainless, 2 1-8” T3 Superlites, and 1 1-8” T3 Varmint stainless. All four shoot 50 gr Ballistic Tip Varmint circa 3400 FPS at sub-.5” accuracy.
If I could find another T3 1-8” or 10” at a decent price I’d buy it. My brother, his boy, and I were shooting marmots a couple of weeks ago out to 500 yards. Humbling accuracy.
P
Obey lawful commands. Video interactions. Hold bad cops accountable. Problem solved.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
Member #547 Join date 3/09/2001
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