A friend called today

KnotRight

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I got a phone call from a friend today asking about a couple rifles for hunting (deer hunting). His old gun is 30 years old and it is a 7MM. He wanted a different caliber and I suggested the 6.5 CM which is the same caliber the guy at the gun store told him. Most shots in GA will be with in 150 yards.
They showed him a Christensen Arms with a carbon barrel and a Bergara. He asked which one was better and what other would I suggest.

My reply (not a hunter) was that what you are wanting to do with the rifle either would work well as would a Tikka. I really do not see the advantage for the price of a carbon barrel on the CA rifle. If he was carring the gun for miles maybe. Also I said was the difference in the CA and the others put in a better scope and mount.

Is there any others (I know about the Savage that I like) that you would suggest for DEER hunting?

Also, for the crazy question is what scope you a DEER hunter like on the rifle. I also told him the saving between the CA and the others he could buy a can for the gun.
 
I love a 3×9 Leopold with duplex reticle for my hunting scope. Gathers light well is clear and I can still see the heavy cross hairs in the lower light situations. I also like the variable for longer shots. Just my .02c.
 
Quite honestly if your shots are under 200 yds the .270, 308 and 30-06 have slayed more deer than any designer round.

No need to reinvent the wheel.
I 100% agree. Except 30/30 has killed more big game then any other caliber in North America.
 
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I'm not on the 6.5 bandwagon, it's just the latest "it" cartridge. The 6.5 is nothing magical and will do nothing the old 270, 308, 30/06, 7mm, etc can't do. Unless he's into that and high priced guns like you listed there are tons options. That said, if that's his caliber of choice about every major manufacturer makes one so I suggest shop around. Me personally I like different and proven which why I shoot a 25/06. As to scopes, with near 40 years hunting experience is buy the best scope he can afford. The $50-$100 scopes work but $200 and up are much better. I've weeded out all my cheap scopes and use Leupold and Nikon now. I hear Vortex is a good up and comer.
 
Quite honestly if your shots are under 200 yds the .270, 308 and 30-06 have slayed more deer than any designer round.

No need to reinvent the wheel.

Chad the question that I have to your reply is, if you do not have any of those calibers which one would you buy? I like the 308 but think the 6.5 CM would be the caliber just in case if he decides to streach out his shots and maybe use the gun on a long range shoot with less recoil.
 
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I'm not on the 6.5 bandwagon, it's just the latest "it" cartridge. The 6.5 is nothing magical and will do nothing the old 270, 308, 30/06, 7mm, etc can't do. Unless he's into that and high priced guns like you listed there are tons options. That said, if that's his caliber of choice about every major manufacturer makes one so I suggest shop around. Me personally I like different and proven which why I shoot a 25/06. As to scopes, with near 40 years hunting experience is buy the best scope he can afford. The $50-$100 scopes work but $200 and up are much better. I've weeded out all my cheap scopes and use Leupold and Nikon now. I hear Vortex is a good up and comer.

I like the 25-06 as well. Never owned one but been hunting with enough people that have them to be impressed. Much lighter recoil than other options.

IMO 30-06 and 7mm are overkill for white tail although I grew up using a 30-06 whenever I wasn’t shooting a 30-30.

Anymore I hunt subsonic 300 BO suppressed. But where I hunt a long shot is 75 yds.
 
Chad the question that I have to your reply is, if you do not have any of those calibers which one would you buy? I like the 308 but think the 6.5 CM would be the caliber just in case if he decides to streach out his shots and maybe use the gun on a long range shoot with less recoil.

If he has the money and likes the unusual then 6.5 is a great round.

But there are off the shelf tack drivers in 270 and 308. The 270 is a lighter recoil flatter round than the 308. I’ve taken deer as far out as 300 yds with a 308 and I know people who have take them with a 270 at that range.
 
Chad the question that I have to your reply is, if you do not have any of those calibers which one would you buy? I like the 308 but think the 6.5 CM would be the caliber just in case if he decides to streach out his shots and maybe use the gun on a long range shoot with less recoil.
Every thing is a trade off. It depends on what you want to do. .30-06 will take a heavier bullet and you can push it a little harder than a .308. .30-06 will let you hunt anything in North America and to go bigger means magnum territory. .308 is just a little smaller, lets you use a short action, and it still plenty big for most North American game. White tails and mule deer won’t know the difference. I think I would prefer the.30-06 on a moose hunt (not that I have been on one).

When I was buying my last hunting rifle, the Winchester short magnums were the new hotness. There were lots of different ones. I think the only one that survived is .300wsm and it is still a more rare caliber. 6.5 is cool and it may last, but it may not.
 
I'm a fan of the 6.5CM and 7-08. I can cycle the bolt and keep looking at the target. I have to lift my head to clear the 30-06/270 bolt lengths . The medium action also helps with balance, it brings the barrel back about an inch. There's also a lot of bullets available in 6.5 & 7mm for handloading.
 
Pink_Vapor I am with you on the 6.5. Before I got the 6.5 I was looking at the 7-08. Never shot one but heard alot of good stuff about that round.
 
Ima 30-06 fan... and 270. The parent case for 270 is the 06, and either will drop a deer in its tracks.

308 is a good round. The 308 has lent its case to 243 and 7-08.

As for a rifle to hunt, cant go wrong with one of the following... remmy 700, ruger m77, winchester 70 or savage 110. All bolt guns. A remmy 7400 or its predecessor the 742 in 06 or 270 are fine hunters in semi-auto. Also a winchester 100 in 308 or 243. Browning BAR is a fine semi, but it weighs a ton.
 
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My BIL uses a .308 chamber bolt action (not sure what kind) for hunting. He took a big moose with one shot, right after the guide told him they never go down with one shot and to keep shooting. The bull dropped where it was hit. The same trip he scored a nice black bear. Has the rug in his den. That makes sure any guy that pick up his daughter at the house gets here home on time.
 
Well @KnotRight you know how I'll steer you. :D

But first, for full disclosure, I have never hunted or shot a deer. But I have stayed at a Holiday Inn so I got this.

Tell him to go buy a nice CZ in 6.5 Swede. Cool enough to be a little different and will take any game he'll shoot in GA. Price won't be crazy, and he can grab a nice scope as well. 3-9's are usually priced right. Leupold will work and so will most major brands. If he wants to spend more money spend it on the scope. He can grab something cool and German if his wallet is fat. A nice Swarovski, Kahles or Zeiss would be sweet. A CZ barrel and trigger will shoot better than he will.

If that idea is crazy then tell him to go buy a cheap 308 from anyone and a cheap Vortex scope and beat the crap out of it. It will kill deer. Or buy a 30-30 Marlin with a fixed 4x scope. That will kill deer too. Hard to screw this one up.
 
I'm not on the 6.5 bandwagon, it's just the latest "it" cartridge. The 6.5 is nothing magical and will do nothing the old 270, 308, 30/06, 7mm, etc can't do. Unless he's into that and high priced guns like you listed there are tons options. That said, if that's his caliber of choice about every major manufacturer makes one so I suggest shop around. Me personally I like different and proven which why I shoot a 25/06. As to scopes, with near 40 years hunting experience is buy the best scope he can afford. The $50-$100 scopes work but $200 and up are much better. I've weeded out all my cheap scopes and use Leupold and Nikon now. I hear Vortex is a good up and comer.
30/30 marlin and open sights or a ar10 with a 4 power hog hunter leupold out to 500yards. Good to go
 
Tell him to handle a bunch of rifles from the usual names and whatever feels best to him is what he should get. Pick a common caliber, like the ones described here. 6.5CM will work (it’s just a 21st century version of the 6.5 Swede that’s been killing moose in Europe for 100yrs now) but he may have better ammo availability locally with the .270/.308/.30-06/etc group.

And he needs to buy the best glass he can afford to put on his rifle. Leupold, Vortex, and Burris all make good scopes at reasonable prices. If he can reach up to the upper level Leupolds, or a Zeiss, Meopta, Khales, Swarovski, etc then he should.

Then again, there’s lots of deer killed every year with the cheapest budget rifle/scope combo that’s available at Walmart. It’s really the Indian and not the arrow.
 
If it's going to be a hunting rifle then I would purchase a 30-06 with some decent walnut and a nice scope. Walnut ages well and builds "character" in a rifle over time. I have a 7mm-08 M70 Featherweight and a standard M70 in '06. Both have killed truckloads of whitetail over the past 30 years. The '06 has gone out west and killed bigger animals. So far this year it has killed three deer and most likely will kill three more. A good used Mark V in a standard caliber would be awesome too. Every nick in the stock has a story to tell and brings back fond memories. I have dozens of rifles (including several 6.5 Creedmoors) but the few with wood I cherish. The others with their fiberglass and plastic stocks shoot better and farther but they remind me of old ugly shovels and I think of them as such. I sell and trade them all the time because they have no sentimental value or worth to me. Even though they are more expensive they all look the same...cheap.
 
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I would reccomend a .308 Bergara B-14 Hunter with a Meopta Meopr0 3.5-10 duplex and 1 pc DNZ mounts. The rifle shoots better than me and is not picky about ammo.
 
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He's already got a rifle that has nearly impossible to find ammo, why suggest another one? I mean if he's a reloader and wants a 6.5mm then get a .260 :D
 
The Sauer 100 is another fine option right now. Pricing is very affordable and comes in a variety of calibers. Sauer guarantees sub-MOA accuracy.

That'll be my next purchase.
 
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