I need some help on picking what caliber to get on the upcoming APR build. I am thinking a short action of some type. It will primarily be a rifle for deer and antelope but possibly used for elk. I do not currently reload, but have been debating starting, so factory ammo is a big plus. I really like what I am reading on the 6.5 prc (but it would be on a long action) but there is currently only the Hornady ammo available for it, which is making me lean towards the Creedmoor instead. I would like to keep recoil as low as possible, so that my soon to be 8 year old daughter could shoot it also. Any suggestions are appreciated.
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For factory ammo, really hard to beat 6.5 creedmoor. Recoil is very mild on them, .243 range. Going up to 7mm class, 7mm-08 is a great round. Slightly more recoil but you there are factory options to mitigate that. Hornady Custom Lite has some nice offerings for the young shooters. 120 grain managed recoil loads should be very mild. -
My son killed his first deer at 8yo using a Browning X-bolt Micro Midas in 7mm08 with Hornady CustomLite 120gr SST's. He's killed several more since then, along with several pigs. The recoil in those Lite loads was/is very manageable - and would be even more so with a muzzle break. He is 12 now - will be 13 in Feb. I will be letting him build himself another 7mm08 for this APR build. The 7mm08 has proven to be more than sufficient for everything we need (deer/pigs) but allows for some pretty heavy bullet weights if he decides to shoot elk or something larger later on in life.Comment
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6.5cm or 7-08
6.5 is like a dollar and 7-08 is like 4 quartersComment
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I have a GAP in a 6.5 PRC and obviously I’m sold on it as I chose to build a rifle in it. Low recoil, and crazy accurate. I have 80 rounds down it and it and have aired to 1200 thus far. Crazy accurate! I have the exact same build being built in a 300 PRC. I’m a big fan of the PRC concepts.Comment
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Factory ammo choice was my concern also with the 6.5 prc. Never tried them, but Dallas reloads provides hand loads at a fairly reasonable price. That may be an option if the factory ammo doesn't shoot well.Comment
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I had APR build a 7mm-08 in the last build. It is everything I could want for a do it all Texas rifle.Comment
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Either the 65 creed or 7mm-08 will do all you need to do.
If you ever plan to hunt gophers and elephants in the same day then the creed is the obvious choice.
Seriously, I have one and love it. Was a hater a couple of years ago but Robert sold me on it as it just plain works. It's very easy on barrel life, easy to load for and is is stupid accurate with an factory ammo. It's also very light in the recoil, possible easier than the 243 for young shooters.
Out to reasonable ranges, the critters won't know the difference.
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If I’m lucky enough to get in on this build, a 7mm-08 was gonna be my choice.
Simple fact being factory ammo, and it’s a light weight build, so short action made most sense to me.Comment
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Hornady makes it in a couple of and I’ve been shooting the 143 eldx. They shoot as well as anything I’ve hand loaded.Originally posted by Raypo View PostComment
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Thanks everyone, for the suggestions. I will do some more reading in the 7-08. The availability of ammo is definitely making me shy away from the PRC, but it seems pretty interesting. I wonder what the odds of more ammo selection becoming available are?Comment
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if more ammo becomes available later on, just have another madeOriginally posted by Txsurveyor2014 View Post
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Why not just a plain Jane 308?
1. Ammo selection is huge and available most anywhere.
2. Lite offerings are available.
3. Sub-sonic loads are also available.
308 is a jack of all trades kind of round. I would suggest a 10 twist.Comment
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These are my two choices also. Heck, I may do one of each!Originally posted by TxAg View PostComment
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