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help me pick my next rifle

raisins said:
he tests that too...a lot of the high dollar scopes also don't track or return to zero worth dog poop

i don't shoot over 300 yards, so i'm a set it and forget it guy....so adjustable turrets don't matter to me
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Turret style doesn't matter, but if I dial 7 clicks at 100 yds. to move my reticle an inch, that 8th click better not jump it by a half inch! It's more about consistency/repeatability without having to bang on your scope to settle the tube lol.
 
270 > 6.5cm

I like my Lupo and I believe cabelas might still have them on sale. But I also like things that are different.
 
This thread is now making me think about getting a 308 lol. Though my brother/other circles are a 30-06 crowd, that's why my mind went there
 
Alright my 2 cents:
270 is hard to beat for a deer rifle, ammo isn’t hard to find and it’s shootable for an every day rifle. 6.5 is fun and definitely will get the job done but I’d almost say it’s more of a boutique round(fanboys triggered). 308 grows in trees and is like the small block Chevy of the sporting round, found everywhere and a flavor for everyone.
As a 308 and 6.5 guy ima say if you’re just looking for a deer rifle to take to the woods get the 270. Cheaper ammo and shooting it to stay proficient your shoulder will thank you.
If’n you’re wanting a deer rifle AND something to tinker with I’d say go with the 308 or 6.5 but I’m partial to 308. The options are nearly endless, it practically grows on trees. Everyone and their uncle makes a rifle in either bolt gun or slap slap configuration and there’s tons of furniture options depending on what direction you go such as the Remy 700 - then you throw a magpul stock on it and really get silly (remy 700 also comes in 270) and you get something like this which is what mine looks like minus can:
IMG_1406.png
And if you’re planning for the “future” 308 will prolly be easier to find. If you find yourself leaning towards the 308 just target shoot with a lighter load like the Hornsby custom lite. At 100 yards you shouldn’t see a difference in flight characteristics between that and a hunting load. Then you can start hand loading! The possibilities are endless!
 
raisins said:
this area

Rifle Scope Field Evaluations

rokslide.com rokslide.com

is very enlightening

the evaluator does a test where he drops scoped rifles first 18 inches onto a foam pad and then checks zero, he moves on to 3 foot drops onto the foam pad

the 3 foot drops might be a bit much, but 1.5 feet onto a foam pad should be nothing

spoiler alert: almost all scopes, even high dollar ones, easily lose zero

it's so bad it is almost depressing....scope makers (like phone and computer and software makers) seem to be focusing on looks and features and not functionality and dependability

the leupold i bought did horrible on this test....i'm going to bumped it around this spring and see if it holds zero....if not i'll be getting 1 of the 2 brands that held zero in those tests (night force or trijicon)

EDIT: just gently hunting with my rifle and driving with it in a padded case and laying it down in the field....it has moved point of impact about 1.5 inches to the right at 100 yards....in a few weeks time
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Zero One Actual said:


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Is that an SWFA scope?

They are also one of the few that holds zero according to the tests at the link I shared.

Night Force, SWFA, and Trijicon.

Swarovski and Zeiss did not hold. Neither did Leupold, although people say the really expensive Leupolds are a lot better.
 
raisins said:
I got mine for like $919.

I got an alternative price from a well known around here, local shop that has good prices. The cheapest they'd go on the stainless t3x lite (regular barrel, so heavier) was like $800. So, I figured $100 or so more for a fluted barrel was worth it (I wasn't getting hosed).

I like the sportsmans black stock better than the camo one at cabelas because that film dip isn't going to hold up long term.

The 6.5 CM with that fluted barrel was 5.9 lbs bare WITH a 24.3" barrel (and the barrel is skinny but not pencil skinny). That longer barrel is almost as handy in the woods (a 20" barrel in a woods gun is overrated I think...how often do people get the last inches of barrel hung up in a pine tree?) but also gives more velocity and lower decibels. I'm glad I didn't get a heavier caliber in such a light rifle. The fluting and adding a scope puts the balance point right between your hands. Everyone that handles it comments on how well it moves and balances, especially for a longer barrel.
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There really isn’t much difference at all in ballistic performance between a 20” barrel and 24” barrel at these short distances. I’m not sure what the measured difference in dBs would be, but doubt in 6.5 it’s anything but the very most sensitive shooters would notice.

I think the 20” barrel has it’s advantages too.

Doesn’t carry in your face if using a gun bearer.

Comparatively lighter weight

Comparatively stiffer

I generally prefer the swing of a shorter rifle, and typically the balance is better. There is less to hang up in brush when it’s very thick.

It probably comes down to personal preference and hunting style more than anything.
 
raisins said:
EDIT: just gently hunting with my rifle and driving with it in a padded case and laying it down in the field....it has moved point of impact about 1.5 inches to the right at 100 yards....in a few weeks time
Click to expand...

I don’t know what you’re procedure is to check zero so just throwing this out there as food for thought. For most of my life I’ve sighted in hunting rifles with 3 shot groups. After some stuff that’s been put out recently by Hornady, Bryan Litz, etc and then trying it myself, I’m checking zero with at min a 10 shot group. I shot 15 shot groups for the rifle and pistol I’m hunting with this year. With 3 shot groups my zero appeared to be wandering around more because it didn’t represent the true center of dispersion.
 
I've killed deer with all three but at this moment only currently own the 6.5. I don't use it as my "Buck" rifle but It is adequate by all means but if I was buying a deer gun I wouldn't choose it. It doesn't get the job done as handily as the 270 due to lack of velocity I assume. Nor as handily as the 308 due to diameter and overall mass of projectile. I wouldn't hesitate to use it but I only kept the gun due gentle nature of recoil while being a step above a 243.
 
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Doesn’t take a lot to get it done on whitetail but I like my 308. Availability, variety of ammo, flat flying/low wind drift, short action, big enough hole and enough velocity. To me it’s the perfect all rounder if whitetail is your main purpose.
If longer ranges/bigger animals, 270 or 7mm-08, can fill out that side of the arsenal.
If you’re looking for something with light recoil for longer range I really like the Grendel. Flat shooting, high velocity, Plenty of power for whitetail at all reasonable ranges. Personally I’d probably not shoot any deer over 250 yards regardless of cartridge and it still has plenty of energy to get it done at that range, and hits where you tell it to. Hole size matters, but accuracy and energy on target matters more.
But for deer hunting I just prefer my Model 70 in 308, and reloading them before rifle opener is a ritual.
 
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