Thread: New to hunting, advice required :)

Hi all, really nice to be in a great forum of like minded people.

I am currently looking at obtaining an "all round rifle" (yes I know no such beast exists) I initially focused on a 6.5x55 swede, however I would love to enter some comps that shoot out to 1km and short of building a custom rig, I was eyeing up the savage arms model 111 long range hunter chambered in 6.5x284. granted the factory ammo for this is not only expensive but probably pretty rubbish. Have any of you had any experience with this calibre? I'm not too keen on something that's going to dislocate my shoulder every time I fire it.

Thoughts and suggestions would be welcomed.

Cheers,

Chris.

I've played with a 6mm-284. It's a headshot only beast.

If you are after a good all rounder something like a 7mm08 can be loaded down to 100 grain varmint rounds and I know it'll still stabilize big 160s (haven't tried heavier). It's pretty versatile. It'll drop big game, small game, anything in nz.

I would think the 6.5-284 has a bit more of a specific Purpose, would be harder to find rifles for and would cost a lot in ammo. You'd probably want to reload if you are thinking about competing.

That's just what I'm thinking. Like i said I've only used the 6mm one

yeap 6.5x55 or 6.5/06 has my vote yes reloading needed but that just adds to the fun. the 6.5/06 i think ballisticly is pretty close to the 6.5/284. i am building .264 Win mag that may be bit more to your liking. about $3.50 a round

My main hope is that I can get a load that will be able to go to 1000 yards while being versatile, I know that loading my own is a give in, that's half the fun

What is the recoil like on the 284 norma? I've got a Millet 6-25x56 scope that should be the business.

In a factory rifle there's a 6.5x55 howa, tikka, sako, CZ. The howa would require restocking.

Look at .243 or 7mm08 as well, in the correct twist rates they're equally capable and commonly chambered. Also .260.

You think the 6.5x55 would get decent penetration at 1000m? A 22"-24" barrel is a give in but with such a light bullet Ive read of very mixed results. Thanks for all the really interesting comments thus far.

What does the community think a viable 1000 yard rifle might be? calibre, barrel length, etc?

Originally Posted by Vanpire

You think the 6.5x55 would get decent penetration at 1000m? A 22"-24" barrel is a give in but with such a light bullet Ive read of very mixed results. Thanks for all the really interesting comments thus far.

What does the community think a viable 1000 yard rifle might be? calibre, barrel length, etc?

i wouldnt try to kill deer beyond 600 meters with a 6.5x55 even with carefully selected bullets and custom loads, the energy available to enable the bullet to do its job would most likely not be there to ensure consistant effective kills. you are talking about how much recoil will be there, most rifles able to kill at 1000 meters will boot. 1000 meter rifle .338 lapua mag or the .338 edge should see you right

I think that's a good call:
600 is a sensible limit for 6.5mm on game. Competitions/Targets it's a different story.

-Hunting, the higher the BC/heavier the projectile the better.

As he said: .338's are the business for this. Although, many people have good success with the heavier 7mm projectiles (162-180 grain).

Originally Posted by Vanpire

You think the 6.5x55 would get decent penetration at 1000m? A 22"-24" barrel is a give in but with such a light bullet Ive read of very mixed results. Thanks for all the really interesting comments thus far.

What does the community think a viable 1000 yard rifle might be? calibre, barrel length, etc?

If its only paper your wanting to penetrate at 1000m the 6.5x55 will have plenty of penetration
Depending on your load etc almost any of the calibres you mentioned will drop a deer to 600m.
I have 223, 7mm08 and 7mm rem mag. The 223 I have used on steel to 800 (ran out of elevation) 7mm08 I have only fired on steel to 800 but will go further and will drop a deer at 600 (has taken a few at over 450 now but yet to require a longer shot - compare the ballistics of the 6.5 and 7mm08, not too different) and 7mm mag I have shot steel with over 1000, have only shot animals to 450 with it so far though

The .264 looks like a nice round, I'd be very interested in your results Mucko

Thanks 199p, I'm new to hunting deer etc in NZ, I'm not new to shooting in the likes of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Your new to hunting mate. Dont even dream of shooting out to 1000mtrs just yet, Start small and grow. Rembering half the fun is buying and building different guns.

And the slower your bullet gets the more it will penetrate,not necessarily do any damage at all but penetrate yes.

What sort of competitions are you shooting where you want penetration at 914 metres?


For target shooting to that range a 6.5mm is perfectly adequate. I would not use one for hunting that far. If you wanted to a 7mm Rem Mag or similar would probably be a rough minimum.

Thanks Gimp, good advice, I hope to be punching paper at 1000, not taking down deer etc beyond 600 (such a long way to walk). Do you think a decent 6.5x55 could send this far?