Going deer hunting this year on a friend's land for the first time in ages. All I have are Ar's these days, so I want to set up a budget bolt, and the creedmore looks like the round of choice due to actual ammo availability and desired characteristics. I've been wanting to add a bolt gun to the safe for a while now. Looking at the Ruger American Predator and the Savage Axis. Anything I should shy away from? The axis is dirt cheap, but may be too cheap. Just want to get out hunting something other than pigs and things that fly again. Will probably top it with some glass that doesn't break the bank, but isn't too shabby. I'm open to options. All I have now is an AR with a red dot and an AR with a 2-8 M223 scope. Creedmore tops my list, followed by 7mm-08 and .243
Recommend me a 6.5 creedmore budget bolt gun
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aron82
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If you can swing a Bergara or Tikka, I would definitely go with either one.
If budget won't allow for that, I would go with a Rugger American.
Not much love for savage from me, but they are fine rifles.
You could buy a budget scope to get started and upgrade to better glass later. It doesn't take that much to knock down a deer at 400 yards or less.
If budget won't allow for that, I would go with a Rugger American.
Not much love for savage from me, but they are fine rifles.
You could buy a budget scope to get started and upgrade to better glass later. It doesn't take that much to knock down a deer at 400 yards or less.
665.0coupe
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Whats the budget for the budget bolt gun?
I had a Ruger precision rifle and I liked it. As I understand it, the American Predator is the same action. I don't have any experience with the Axis, but I know guys who are very happy with the Stealth's. I also know guys who have had trouble with the triggers in the Stealth.
I had a Ruger precision rifle and I liked it. As I understand it, the American Predator is the same action. I don't have any experience with the Axis, but I know guys who are very happy with the Stealth's. I also know guys who have had trouble with the triggers in the Stealth.
Lee
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You can get into a Savage 110 for just under $600. I know that blows your budget for glass, but that's where I'd be shopping. I'm a Savage fan and like their AccuTrigger.
Otherwise, I've seen some Ruger American, Vortex Crossfire combo deals for around $600, either Bud's or Impact maybe.
Otherwise, I've seen some Ruger American, Vortex Crossfire combo deals for around $600, either Bud's or Impact maybe.
Gatorgrizz27
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I’m a big fan of the Weatherby Vanguards, IMO they are better built than any of the other sub $1,000 rifles (arguable tie with Tikka if you want lighter weight). Actual recoil lug instead of a stamped washer, true bottom metal and trigger guard instead of it being moulded into the plastic stock, dedicated short and long actions, fluted smooth bolt, and a decent trigger.
The “spend as much on the scope as you do on the rifle” advice isn’t really valid here. You’re better off with a quality gun that you can end up passing down in the future. A budget scope for shooting deer from a tree stand by the house will last for a couple years until you find a deal on something better. You aren’t going on a sheep hunt at this point.
I have a 6.5 Creed, it’s good for what it is, basically a mild recoiling round that bucks the wind well at 400-500 yards. Closer than that, it has little advantage over other rounds, further than that it’s good on paper but running out of energy for hunting. People make it out to be some sort of magic laser beam killing machine, which it’s not. IMO, the 7mm-08 is a slightly better round for most people, especially if you’re going to just have one bolt gun.
Around here, the 6.5 ammo is largely gone from the shelves, due to its popularity with newbies and Covid. Same for military calibers. Plenty of .22-250, .243, .300 WSM, etc. Obviously that will change in time, but it would suck to buy a rifle you’re afraid to shoot much because of ammo availability.
The .243 is plenty suitable for deer, black bears, hogs, etc. It wouldn’t be my choice for elk but a lot of people use it. Beyond that, you’re into high $ hunting territory in most cases. Guys argue about wanting a gun that will take a brown bear, but will never go on a $40k hunt. Exception if you deer hunt in Montana or somewhere your likely to bump into them in a defensive situation.
Here’s one Vanguard on gunbroker at $400 with a Redfield scope, which is better than any of the blister package Tasco/Bushnell type stuff. You can upgrade to a wood or fiberglass stock down the line if you want to also.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/880569048
The “spend as much on the scope as you do on the rifle” advice isn’t really valid here. You’re better off with a quality gun that you can end up passing down in the future. A budget scope for shooting deer from a tree stand by the house will last for a couple years until you find a deal on something better. You aren’t going on a sheep hunt at this point.
I have a 6.5 Creed, it’s good for what it is, basically a mild recoiling round that bucks the wind well at 400-500 yards. Closer than that, it has little advantage over other rounds, further than that it’s good on paper but running out of energy for hunting. People make it out to be some sort of magic laser beam killing machine, which it’s not. IMO, the 7mm-08 is a slightly better round for most people, especially if you’re going to just have one bolt gun.
Around here, the 6.5 ammo is largely gone from the shelves, due to its popularity with newbies and Covid. Same for military calibers. Plenty of .22-250, .243, .300 WSM, etc. Obviously that will change in time, but it would suck to buy a rifle you’re afraid to shoot much because of ammo availability.
The .243 is plenty suitable for deer, black bears, hogs, etc. It wouldn’t be my choice for elk but a lot of people use it. Beyond that, you’re into high $ hunting territory in most cases. Guys argue about wanting a gun that will take a brown bear, but will never go on a $40k hunt. Exception if you deer hunt in Montana or somewhere your likely to bump into them in a defensive situation.
Here’s one Vanguard on gunbroker at $400 with a Redfield scope, which is better than any of the blister package Tasco/Bushnell type stuff. You can upgrade to a wood or fiberglass stock down the line if you want to also.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/880569048
aron82
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600 is a pretty tight budget, I would see what you can find used at local shops. Not sure how the avalibility of hunting rifles has faired in Tx. There are plenty on the shelves up here, but your results may vary.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product...ger+american+predator+65creedmoor+green/blued
Don't lock yourself in to 6.5 creedmoor, it's a fine round, but as has been said, it's not magic. There are tons of great deer rifle chamberings:
243
30-06
270
30-30
257
308
25-06
They and many others are all plenty capable of taking a deer, especially a Tx sized deer.
https://www.budsgunshop.com/product...ger+american+predator+65creedmoor+green/blued
Don't lock yourself in to 6.5 creedmoor, it's a fine round, but as has been said, it's not magic. There are tons of great deer rifle chamberings:
243
30-06
270
30-30
257
308
25-06
They and many others are all plenty capable of taking a deer, especially a Tx sized deer.
TRINDU
PBB Orphan
Based on this:
6.5 creedmoor is fanboy shit and will fly off the shelves like 556 and 9mm. Every tacticool 'tard thinks they need one.
Buy a 6.5 Swede, its obscure enough that you can find ammo. Doesnt sound like you'll be putting 1000s of round through it, so price be damned. Otherwise .270 and 30-06 are still available.
TheFlyingDildocupine
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270 is capable of about everything in North America and isn't sexy enough to fly off of the shelves any time a politician farts. You can also find lots of nice lightly used rifles for cheap in that chambering.
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I'm pretty new to the bolt guns, but dad has a .270 that I absolutely hate shooting. Kicks like a mule and my anticipation of that kick draws my shot off. It may be the gun and not the round, I'm not sure. That 308 Mohawk never bothered me like that. So I was looking for something with a softer recoil. Ammo availability is huge though, I do want something that's still on the shelf when everything tacticool is sold out. That weatherby that was posted looks like a good deal. I think I'm going to swing by the LGS at lunch and see what they have.
The real answer is the .260 Remington. Popular enough that factory chamberings are made by several companies, but it takes a backseat on the marketing to the 6.5 creed because hornady did a bang up job of pushing that round.
a few weeks ago i found 260 rem ammo to be plentiful and its high BC bullets will let me get out further than my 308 will.
so, in a panic, people are buying 9mm, 308, 556, x39, 45, and 6.5 creedmoor. I have found they are NOT buying 260 remington and 300 win mag. Both of those are relatively easy to get ahold of.
TheFlyingDildocupine
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If it's an older Ruger it might be the gun. I tried a MK77 with that not quite skeletonized synthetic stock and it made that .308 kick like a belted magnum. Absolutely bizarre. A .270 is pretty lively but it shouldn't be painful.
.260 is a neato round but a bit on the obscure-ish side. 7-08 is another option to look at. (but it's probably a bit more obscure than .260) Neither of them beat you up too badly in the recoil department.
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Just went to the LGS, and there was zero .260 remington on the shelves. There wasn't even a spot for it. There was lots of options in both 7mm-08 and 6.5 creedmore, as well as some other calibers that I wasn't interested in. They have a savage axis with a cheap 3x9 weaver on top in 7m-08 for $375. Action felt smooth and the trigger, while stiff as hell, had no grit in it. Saw a youtube on buffing the trigger and modifying the spring. I may go that route for now. Just not in the budget range for high dollar guns, and that combo should be enough to get out to 200 yards or so, correct? I'll be hunting this year just north of Houston, so no long distance shots required.
TheFlyingDildocupine
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Unless you get some sort of QC goof it should be more than good enough for 200 yards. An easy axis trigger fix is something like this: https://www.mcarbo.com/savage-axis-trigger-spring-kit.aspx
Fullsize80cherokee
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What is the consensus on it dropping say or a moose or an elk at 300+ yards?
TheFlyingDildocupine
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I'd suggest learning to stalk better if you can't get inside of 300 yards. I'm sure people have done it but it's not a gamble I'm willing to take.
Gatorgrizz27
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I’d prefer something .30 caliber for either of those animals (and not a .30-30), but most people would agree it’s suitable at that distance if you do your part. Would not be my choice for a dedicated big game rifle, but would do the job if it’s what you had.
Gatorgrizz27
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There are a lot of situations out west where shooting 300 yards is necessary. Not everything is in a grassy field, you might not even be able to see the elk if it’s in a draw and you manage to get closer to it. It might be moving continually, or about to drop over the other side of the ridge, come into your wind, you might get cliffed out trying to get there quickly, you’re not going to “stalk” up a 45 degree mountain side covered in deadfall, etc.
I was watching some elk feeding in a small clearing at 1,600 yards last month, they were in it a total of 10 minutes. I had my bow so I just sat there and watched, if I’d had a rifle I would have been hauling ass down the mountain hoping to make it to within 300 or so.
Yes, you could argue that there’s no limit to shooting from a distance being helpful, but 300 yards is within the realm of ethical for somebody who is a competent shot and doesn’t require a scope with turrets, reading wind accurately, taking environmental factors into account, etc.
Gatorgrizz27
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.260 is dead, there is zero ammo on the shelves around here, and most factory rifles have too slow of twists to handle the high BC bullets. That’s the reason the 6.5 CM was able to get a foothold in the first place. None of that matters if you hand load obviously, but you’ve got the same issues of finding powder and primers if you’re starting from scratch right now.
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Initially sure ... I've got an RPR and that I load Berger bullets for deer season. Call it fanboy but gawd damn can it destroy a shoulder at 500yds. Bought it off a buddy thats a competitive long range shooter. I can easily hit the 1400yd target, but unless I'm on a paid hunt out west or something I would never try that shot.
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270 is more than capable of dropping a moose at 300+ yds as long you can hold roughly a six inch group at that distance. So is just about any other medium or long action cartridge .243 or similar might be pushing it but in the right hands absolutely. Again the bigger question is are YOU capable of dropping a moose sized animal at 300+ yards? Can you put a round within say an inch of where you want it to hit at 400yds?
Fullsize80cherokee
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I definitely cannot, especially out in the woods free standing shooting a moving target.
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260 is definitely not "dead". MOST factory rifles being produced today have 1:8 twist barrels, the same as the 6.5 creed that shoots the exact same .264 bullets. That barrel twist will stabilize the heavy/long high BC bullets.
its no secret, that in the late 90s when the 260 was introduced by remington, they messed up AGAIN, and built their rifles with the wrong twist rate for the cartridge (1:10 and 1:9), just like they did for the .244/6mm rem decades ago. (People want to scream about cerberus investment killing Remington. Remington has been completely stupid and screwed themselves long before that. this is another data point in the long line). The barrel twist issue in factory rifles was remedied many years ago.
If 260 was dead it wouldnt be offered as factory chamberings currently and within the last 5 years by Remington, Salvage, Tikka, Sako, Kimber, Barrett, AI, Armalite (AR10), and DPMS (AR10).
The local ammo availability may be that 8 months into the ammo run, its finally run out at stocking dealers.
TheFlyingDildocupine
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.257 Roberts is still offered in a few rifles, but I'd say it's about dead.
But on that note, does anyone know how many rifles were offered in .260 5 years ago versus this year? I bet that number has dropped a lot with the creedmoor taking off.
But on that note, does anyone know how many rifles were offered in .260 5 years ago versus this year? I bet that number has dropped a lot with the creedmoor taking off.
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This. I know lots of precision shooters that still swear by the .260 Rem. Im one of them. I also shoot 6.5cm. The 6.5 most definately has many more options for both precision target and hunting and for general hunting rounds but the .260 is far from dead.
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The .260 was never an overly popular round with the hunting or everyday shooting crowd like the .308 or .243. It was and still is a favorite of long range shooters. The 6.5cm is a very very similar round. The biggest difference is the marketing. The 6.5 was picked up and pushed by all the gun mags as the new miracle round. It was also pushed by Hornady to all the major gun manufacturers who picked up on the buzz and ran with it. The 6.5 isnt any better than the .260 in fact it gave the .260 crowd a lot more choices for handloading with all the new .264 bullets that became available.
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I know you asked about the .270 but Ill offer the 6.5x55 swede as an example. It is one of if not the most popular big game round in scandinavia. Which moose and reindeer are the big game animals hunted. If a 6.5swede can do it a .270 which is a bit heavier and carries more energy will do just fine.
TheFlyingDildocupine
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My first impression with the creed was "huh, .260 with better availability?" I always wanted a .260, but I have a creedmoor now so I guess I'm just part of the problem. Shoots nice though.