Thread: New to hunting, advice required :)

Originally Posted by Tussock

You were on the right track with the 6.5x55 for an all rounder. Both 6.5x55 and 6.5x284 will require reloading. Good factory ammo available for the 6.5x284, I still have a box from when I had one. Never fired any. Too expensive. Cost me $90 for a box of hunting ammo.

If you were going to compete, you probably want to reload. Then 6.5x284 is a good option. I really liked it, I had the Savage F-Class. Amazing rifle, I couldnt justify it with two other rifle ballistically the same, but man it could shoot. Crzyman did a load for it you could knock blow flies off the paper with at 100m

The Savage would be a good option. I would start worrying about scopes.

Hi Vanpire,
Welcome- you'll get lots of good advice on here.

The rifle Tussock mentions above, he sold to me several years ago. It's a Savage in 6.5-284, and it still shoots really well. Great accuracy for the price. Actually, great accuracy for ANY price.

Savage's often shoot really well (especially for the cost). Some people give them a hard time- historically they weren't that flash, but the modern ones I've shot (only 5) have all been quite accurate. Try the "accutrigger" in the shop and see if you like it, it's pretty good for a factory trigger on a relatively cheap rifle.

6.5mm Calibres are pretty good in my opinion: Quite a decent sweet spot in terms of ballistic performance vs. recoil. And the high SD (sectional density) of the projectiles seems to perform well on game.

Have a look here:
6.5-284 Cartridge Guide
(and check out the other calibres while you're there).

As for 6.5-284. It's a nice calibre. Seems to be one of those calibres that is touted as "inherently accurate". Compared to 6.5x55 it pushes the pills slightly faster, but there's not a whole lot in it.
For longer-range the 140 grain Berger VLDs and Hornady A-Max are both good performers with high BCs.
The recoil is quite manageable. Not what would generally be called "stiff". Certainly doesn't hurt the shoulder.
Reduced barrel life is often stated as a downside to the hotter 6.5mm chamberings (6.5-284, and the even hotter 6.5mm Magnums). But realistically you will most likely get a good 1000 rounds out of them before accuracy starts to deteriorate. -That's actually quite a lot of shooting. I suspect you will want something new/different long before you get to 1000 rounds if the bug bites you

There are others on here who have used the 6.5-284 a lot, so hopefully they'll help you with their thoughts.

As Gimp said:
6.5x55, 7mm-08, .243 and .260 will all do what you need them to, and with less recoil than the 6.5-284.

As Tussock Said:
The Savage would be a good option. Now start looking at Scopes!

Unfortunately, as 199p said:
(Assuming you are new to this): Don't even worry about 1000m just yet. You will get there, but there's a bit of ground to cover first 1000 really is a hell of a long way. The variables and physics involved are massive. You'll do it if you want to- but you'll have a whole lot of fun at 100yds, 200yds and 400yds on the way there (and that's a good thing).

Hope that helps