Thread: Cartridge suggestions

Greetings,
I've got a few requirements for a rifle and I'm feeling a bit lost in the rabbit hole of cartridge selection and was hoping for some guidance.
The rifle is primarily for hunting, at a guess 200 rounds to acclimatize to it and then 25 rounds a year so barrel life isn't super important. Target species is Sambar deer in Victoria Australia, which legally means .270/6.8mm or greater with a 130+ gr bullet. I'm not the greatest shot or experienced shooter so I prefer things with higher BC and velocity, just so I have to compensate less. For reasons I don't particularly want to get into I will be using monolithic copper rounds, which means I really want velocities above 2000 fps / 610m/s at 400m for reliable expansion (I know some bullet makers claim lower expansion velocities, but I like to keep it conservative). I'm not confident in my shooting at living things past 400m, and I prefer 200m but like having some potential to stretch it out if I ever get better . I'd prefer less recoil, ideally sub 4.5 m/s in a 6 kg rifle. I will probably be using factory ammunition.

Calibers I'd considered were the .308, 7mm-08, 7mm Rem Mag and the 300 WSM and the 300 PRC, but frankly the last two seem a bit more than I really need and with more recoil than I'd like. I have a reasonable 6.5mm Creedmoor setup that I would be using if it was allowed legally, so I'd like the new gun to cover some different space/capability which is why I am less keen on the .308, not commenting on better/worse, just feel that it sits in a very similar space to the Creedmoor (likewise the 7mm-08). I know I should consider the .270....but there is just something...not sexy about it in my head. I completely expect many of you to tell me to get past that and get a .270

Thanks for reading and I appreciate any thoughts you might have.