Help me complete my 3 gun collection

[Namibia Hunter]

Like most of you fine folks on this forum I've found myself not needing another rifle yet definitely needing another rifle. I've currently got a Mauser 7x57 and a Krico 8x68S which can shoot anything and everything in Namibia without issues. So that's why I need another rifle, I'm sure you all understand my predicament.
I'm in desperate need of a flat shooting cartridge, capable of shooting springbok at up to 400m. Have considered 22-250, 223, 243, 257 wby, 25-06 and even (briefly) 6.5 CM. Would be really cool to have a 6xsomething to complete my 6, 7 and 8 series but can't say I know of anything suitable. I'm also a bit of a classic caliber nut and don't want to shoot the latest craze thing so a 6PRC or 6XC or similar doesn't really excite me. Anyone have any thoughts on how to solve this conundrum?

 

[Aaron N]

6.5x68s to pair with your 8?

 

[Bullthrower338]

257 Roberts
6mm Rem
6.5x55
6.5 PRC
280 REM 280 AI or 7x64 Brenneke

 

[Hunter-Habib]

6.5x54mm Mannlicher Schoenauer

 

[D.M.V]

+1 on the 6.5 swedish it's a excellent round

 

[cmk]

6.5-300 Weatherby?
264 WinMag?
26 Nosler?

Of these, I guess that only the WinMag could be called 'classic' (1950's). The others are only approx 10 years old.

The 6.5x55 is a great cartridge. But it is for all intents and purposes very similar to the 7x57. The same goes for the 6.5x54MS.

 

[crossone]

6mm Remington. Developed in 1955. Is a necked down 7x57Mauser case. Should be effective out to 400m on smaller animals.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I did not set out to do such but somehow my last three purchases have been 6s: a 6.5 CM for the wife, a .264 WM for me, and last week a 6.5 Grendel (handgun).

I'm with a few others - I think the 6.5 Swede makes sense, with the history behind it.

 

[AimSmall]

6, 7, 8, and 9!

 

[Red Leg]

257 WBY is an extraordinarily useful chambering for deer and medium to small antelope-sized game (excluding the tiny ten). And a .257 is essentially a 6.5.

 

[375er]

25-06!

 

[Safari Dave]

.257 Weatherby Magnum is a suburb chambering.

A 6.5x55 is great also, if you like a "classic".



Although 76 years for the .257 Weatherby might qualify it as "classic".

 

[Velo Dog]

Hello Namibia Hunter,

Your 8x68 rifle seems like it’d be a good long shooter, if not a bit over-powered for springbokie.

That said, my #1 favorite long shooter is the .300 H&H - 180 gr spitzer.
It too is over powered for springbok.
However, that particular load is a real peach for shooting through a crosswind.
Plus, it is not especially destructive on meat.

My very close 2nd favorite long shooter is the 7MM Remington Magnum - 160 gr spitzer.
Again, it’s a bit much for springbok but, holds it’s course well through somewhat windy conditions.

Having said all that, if I lived in Africa and could wait until a fairly calm day, the 6.5x55 Mauser - 140 gr spitzer seems like it’d be a very good one.
I have a CZ 550 in that caliber and with 160 gr RNSP, it drops deer critters quickly, without much meat damage.
And, out to about 300 paces,
It shoots plenty flat enough for my purposes.
Yet for shots out beyond that distance, the 140 gr spitzer is a very good one.

Recoil isn’t much more than the little .243 but again, much easier on the edible meat.
Sadly, due to the puzzling popularity of the Johnny-Come-Lately, 6.5 Creedmoor, the formerly well established 6.5x55 ammunition has become difficult to find now.
(Puzzling because they are ballistic twins).

Another one that seems like it’d be a real fine springbok getter is the .270 Winchester - 130 gr spitzer.
Although, it has been in my experiences, a bit too destructive on meat for my liking.

Last but far from least, you already have a 7x57.
Seems like that one, when loaded with 140 hr spitzer would make a fine springbok rifle.

Anyway, blah blah blah - whatever.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[wvfred]

As stated earlier the 6.5x300 weatherby is a hard cartridge to beat for what you are wanting.

 

[PCC600]

6.5x54mm Mannlicher Schoenauer

As classic as it gets . A wonderful combination of rifle and cartridge .

 

[Hunter-Habib]

As classic as it gets . A wonderful combination of rifle and cartridge .

PCC600, you're a gent of refined tastes. John Dickson & Co. (under their Daniel Fraser line) has recently started building Mannlicher Schoenauer action deer stalking rifles (called the "Velox") in 7x57mm Mauser, .308 Winchester & .30-06 Springfield. You should definitely consider getting one of those.

Last year, I enquired about having one made in .30-06 Springfield with a 1:10 twist for stabilizing the 220Gr Remington Core Lokt soft points which I prefer. Unfortunately, they only build them with barrel twists that are optimized for the lighter bullet weights (140Gr for the 7x57mm Mauser and 180Gr for the .308 Winchester & .30-06 Springfield).

 

[PCC600]

PCC600, you're a gent of refined tastes. John Dickson & Co. (under their Daniel Fraser line) has recently started building Mannlicher Schoenauer action deer stalking rifles (called the "Velox") in 7x57mm Mauser, .308 Winchester & .30-06 Springfield. You should definitely consider getting one of those.

Last year, I enquired about having one made in .30-06 Springfield with a 1:10 twist for stabilizing the 220Gr Remington Core Lokt soft points which I prefer. Unfortunately, they only build them with barrel twists that are optimized for the lighter bullet weights (140Gr for the 7x57mm Mauser and 180Gr for the .308 Winchester & .30-06 Springfield).

HH - thank you for your compliments . I have seen the Fraser’s built on the MS action . They are beautiful . I have a MS stutzen 1952 model in 30-06 with the original Kahles scope fitted at the factory . Have used it for red deer but only shooting the 180grain pills . A very nice light stalking rifle . I love Fraser rifles . A mate recently sold a beautiful 303 Fraser double and a superb 303 Fraser side lever single shot.
I’d just bought his 303 Purdey double so had to exercise some fiscal restraint . Suffice to say they both sold to another guy in about 5 seconds flat . My objective is a Fraser 303 using the Mauser slant box action . Fingers crossed .

 

[PCC600]

HH - I neglected to say I recently used a borrowed MS 6.5x54 rifle for pig shooting . A really short barrel only 16 inches ( from memory ) with a peep sight . Loved it .

 

[Tra3]

6.5x55. Works great on the smaller ones.
.270win, easy to find ammo.
6.5 CM. Because it is so popular now that it will be really easy to find ammo. But it isn’t any different than a 6.5x55.

You will know the answer to this question when you find the right rifle.

 

[PCC600]

I always thought the 6.5 Creedmore was the answer to a problem solved long ago . The 6.5x55 Swede is terrific .