Opinion on mid- long range hunting cartridge

[Kurt505]

I'm sure it's been asked a thousand times on here but there's always a fresh opinion out there.

It's that time once again, the lull between seasons and the need for a new rifle is upon me. I have my rifle picked out, now I'm just pondering which cartridge to get. I'd like an all round cartridger, mostly for Deer but will have to be able to take down an Elk or Moose at 350-400yds. I have a 300wsm if I go out specifically for Elk or Moose, so I'd like something a bit smaller.

Here's what I was thinking, 7mm mag, 270wsm, maybe a 25-06 or even a something as small as a 7mm-08. I don't have any hunting experience with any of these cartridges so I am hoping for some input as to which one would be best. I'm a fan of flat shooters and .284 cals. I've never owned a 270 before but I'm open to trying one out.

What's your opinion on a great all round cartridge?

[Cowtown guy]

The &mm Rem and the 270 WSM both fit the bill nicely for what you are asking. I give the edge to the 7 for the range of bullets and the BC of those bullets.
Thought of a 260AI?

[KevGuy]

7mm rem mag would be fine.

[Mateo]

All great choices. I would vote 7rm then the 270wsm respectively. That 7rm is a fantastic long range cartridge.

[baptiste_moose]

Good choices. Do a little bit of reading on a 6.5x284 Norma. I still push 140 gr bullet, I have lotsa reach and the 6.5 bullet selection is huge. Not to mention low recoil and a very accurate round. I shot a full size elk this year with a 140 gr accubond. It trotted the usuall 20-30 yds and went down

[32-40win]

Trouble is, most any of the -06 or 308 based cartridges are adequate for that purpose, and they will do most anything your 300wsm will do, inside of 300, the 308 based stuff will kill to 500. You want it strictly for hunting or year round use and some versatility? Without the recoil, so it is nice to shoot off the bench? I had that issue in the mid 80's. Wanted a boomer that could reach out a bit, good in bigger bear country, and a deer gun that could do double duty in a pinch, other than the bigger bears. Ended up with a 7-08 and a 338WM, and it worked out well. Depended on where I was going as to which one I took. 7-08 is the year round gun, and it's killed moose and elk.
The rest are special application, such as light carry, heavy for sitting, or guns I really wanted to own, regardless of the cartridge, as long as it was a decent one.

[Kurt505]

The rifle I'm looking at is a sako finnlight, but it doesn't come in any wildcat calibers. It comes in a 260 Rem, 6.5 x 55, 270, 270 WSM,7mm-08, 7mm rem mag and a 25-06 though. These are the calibers I'm considering, I'm leaning more towards the 7mm mag or the 270wsm right now though, unless I hear a better option.

[north american hunter]

I think 7mm remington mag would be great for long range, 25-06 would be good for midrange, I wouldnt shot a elk at 400 with a 25-06.

[BackPackHunter]

280ai
Or
7mm - 300wsm, for easier to find brass
Or
270wsm

[elkhunter11]

My all time favorite, is the 7mmstw. Elk or moose at 500 yards is not an issue, if you can place the bullet in the vitals.

[silver]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

The rifle I'm looking at is a sako finnlight, but it doesn't come in any wildcat calibers. It comes in a 260 Rem, 6.5 x 55, 270, 270 WSM,7mm-08, 7mm rem mag and a 25-06 though. These are the calibers I'm considering, I'm leaning more towards the 7mm mag or the 270wsm right now though, unless I hear a better option.

The ballistic coefficient of the 6.5s are tough to beat.

What barrel twist are you looking at?

[nekred]

7mm wsm

[Cowtown guy]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

The rifle I'm looking at is a sako finnlight, but it doesn't come in any wildcat calibers. It comes in a 260 Rem, 6.5 x 55, 270, 270 WSM,7mm-08, 7mm rem mag and a 25-06 though. These are the calibers I'm considering, I'm leaning more towards the 7mm mag or the 270wsm right now though, unless I hear a better option.

Personally out of those I'd go with one of the 6.5's. That 7 will do fine but these other 2 will do a lot with less recoil. And they're 6.5's .

[north american hunter]

Ever thought of getting the .260 and then improving it? That would be a good choice.

[elkdump]

Originally Posted by north american hunter

Ever thought of getting the .260 and then improving it? That would be a good choice.

there IS an improved version of the .260 Remington !,,,,,,,,

it has been called the 6.5x55 Swede for about the last 115 years !

lmao

[catnthehat]

Just my oipinion , but any cartridge runjning a 140 to 160 grain bullet in the vacinity of plus or minus 3,000FPS will frop an animal fine out to 400 yards.
The rifle type and the shooter's abaility matter far more than the cartridge selection.
Cat

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by silver

The ballistic coefficient of the 6.5s are tough to beat.

What barrel twist are you looking at?

This is what Sako has on their web site.

[Whitetail77]

Just picked up the finlight in 270 WSM. Love the rifle and shot a whitetail with it this year. 140 gr. accubonds. The gun is very light in comparison to my 300 win mag, and 30-06. The felt recoil at the range is very manageable, but a bit more than I expected when comparing to the other two heavier rifles. But like anything .......i didn't even notice the recoil when I shot my deer.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

The rifle I'm looking at is a sako finnlight... I'm leaning more towards the 7mm mag or the 270wsm right now .

Ouch. Get yourself a new recoil pad then.

[north american hunter]

I have a finnlight in 308 and it kicks more than my 7mms and even my 338 win mag.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by north american hunter

I have a finnlight in 308 and it kicks more than my 7mms and even my 338 win mag.

My .30-06 Finnlight was bouncing me pretty hard until I put a limbsaver on it. Seemed way more recoil than my Browning A-bolt .270, another light rifle.

[adaras]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Just my oipinion , but any cartridge runjning a 140 to 160 grain bullet in the vacinity of plus or minus 3,000FPS will frop an animal fine out to 400 yards.
The rifle type and the shooter's abaility matter far more than the cartridge selection.
Cat

Can't agree more, as crazy as it sounds a good shooter with a 308 is unlimited

[skidderman]

The problem as I see it is that I usually have rifles that are not that much different. Once you go to a 3006 there is not a huge difference between it or the 7mm or the 300 mag. I currently have a 7mm & a 300 wsm. Not really a huge difference except that my 7mm is heavier & more fun to shoot. Also have a 308 but find I have no desire to shoot it. Have been thinking of replacing my 300wsm with a 325 wsm but again, just splitting hairs more because I can than any good reason. You really can't beat any of them but for some reason I've always liked the 7mag. Reasonable kick, accurate & can reach out pretty good. As good as I can shoot at least.

[silver]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

This is what Sako has on their web site.

I have a 6mm br in 8" twist and it shoots 108 grains fairly well. But that's as heavy as I can go, there are 115 grain and 125 grain I would like to try but I don't think I have fast enough twist. I think to take advantage of the 140s and 150s with their fantastic ballistic coefficient in one of the 6.5 rounds, you would want to go with a fairly fast twist.

I am thinking of my next rifle, something in a 6.5/06 or 6.5/284 with a fast twist barrel for the long bullets, maybe a 7" twist.

Good luck with your rifle.

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

Ouch. Get yourself a new recoil pad then.

I have a Finnlight in 300wsm, I bought a Limbsaver at the same time as the rifle, I also have an A7 in 7mm-08 I did the same thing with. I'm not sure what they felt like before the Limbsaver, but I can go thru 20-30 rounds out of both rifles one day, then do it all over the next day without a second thought, I don't find the recoil to be anything to worry about. If I was shooting a 30-378 in a 7lb rifle I'd probably be singing a different tune. 7mm mag won't be bad at all.

[tchardy1972]

Only the 6.5's listed have a fast enough twist for the heavy weight bullets. You might make a 168 work in the 7 but a 9 twist would be better.

[Mateo]

If you have t already, check gunwerks and see what they have been able to do with the 7mm rm.

[skidderman]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

I have a Finnlight in 300wsm, I bought a Limbsaver at the same time as the rifle, I also have an A7 in 7mm-08 I did the same thing with. I'm not sure what they felt like before the Limbsaver, but I can go thru 20-30 rounds out of both rifles one day, then do it all over the next day without a second thought, I don't find the recoil to be anything to worry about. If I was shooting a 30-378 in a 7lb rifle I'd probably be singing a different tune. 7mm mag won't be bad at all.

Once had a rem 3006 mtn rifle. With the factory pad it was intense. Put on a limbsaver & noticed a very big difference. I can't understand why manufacturers continue to put on hard rubber pads. Charge a little more & put a decent one on.

[stob]

all said... if a 300wsm/win is good to 600-700 yds then a 308 will work to 500yds & be more accurate and easier to shoot

ballistic sweet spots are better with the 6.5 & 7mm ... this is where i would go

agreed the 260 ai is really already there as a 6.5 x 55 (140 / 156/ 160)

7 x 57 / 7mm mauser / .275 Rigby is all you really need and this is from a 6.5x55 fan...and you can shoot them all day long

[1899b]

Your Finnlight in .300 WSM with a 168 grain bullet is pretty much a mid range to long range all around set up already me thinks. But i do know the urge to add something else to the stable this time of year as well. Once that lull hits after hunting season the ol wheels start turning again.......