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Old 09-17-2012, 07:08 PM
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Question Which Caliber?

I'm hoping to get a Savage 11 this week, but have not decided on which caliber. It's going to be in .223/22-250 or a bit bigger .260/.243/.25-06. Would be mainly for coyote's with the possibility of wolves. I'm leaning toward the bigger calibers, due to the windy and open country I usually hunt, but is it overkill? Fur is not a concern, hence the 25-06 option, but is 22" barrel long enough to make it worth it over the other choices? I don't handload yet, otherwise I would seriously consider the 6.5 Creedmore. Any other calibers I should look at, other than the ones listed?
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Old 09-17-2012, 07:13 PM
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Open country, non pelt friendly, easy ammo access, and wolves! My vote is .243
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Old 09-17-2012, 07:19 PM
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Open country, non pelt friendly, easy ammo access, and wolves! My vote is .243
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Old 09-17-2012, 07:20 PM
krthegunslinger krthegunslinger is offline
 
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Default Calibre

.243 all the way. You can load 55gr for yotes at 3900FPS. OR 80 or 100,s for wolf and deer and you won't go wrong. I have 3 .243's and you just can't go wrong with one. In my opinion it's a great all round rifle. I've even knocked moose on their butt with the tight bullet.
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Old 09-17-2012, 07:20 PM
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Savage 11 .243 is a sweet rifle! Gives you more options than the smaller calibers and ammo is pretty easy to acquire if you don't reload. Probably be my next new rifle purchase.
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Old 09-17-2012, 07:27 PM
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Looks like lots of .243 shooters out there! Keep them coming!

I should mention the gun is the new Model 11 International Trophy Hunter, basically the same as the other 11 package guns, but with the Accutrigger and a decent Weaver 3-9x40 instead of the bottom line Bushnell and crappy trigger. Maybe not everybody likes the Accutrigger, but I'm used to it and it works.

Edit- Probably replace the scope sooner or later anyway, but I was very impressed with the overall feel of the package, including the scope.
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Old 09-17-2012, 08:03 PM
elkhunter11 elkhunter11 is online now
 
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I use a 260rem for coyote and wolf hunting. The high B.C. .264 bullets are great for shooting longer distances in the wind.
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Old 09-17-2012, 08:03 PM
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.243, I don't think the .22 are big enough fro a 150 lb wolf. Buy shells anywhere.
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Old 09-17-2012, 09:54 PM
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shot placement.
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Old 09-17-2012, 10:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elkhunter11 View Post
I use a 260rem for coyote and wolf hunting. The high B.C. .264 bullets are great for shooting longer distances in the wind.
How far can the 260 hammer coyotes? I have crossed off the 223/22-250 off the list, so its down to 243/260/25-06. A quick flip through the WSS catalog reveals a smaller selection of ammo for the 260 compared to the others.....
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Old 09-17-2012, 10:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wolf308 View Post
shot placement.
Shot placement is important, but doesn't help if the bullet lacks the steam to get out there in the first place!
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Old 09-17-2012, 10:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by YoteStopper View Post
I'm hoping to get a Savage 11 this week, but have not decided on which caliber. It's going to be in .223/22-250 or a bit bigger .260/.243/.25-06. Would be mainly for coyote's with the possibility of wolves. I'm leaning toward the bigger calibers, due to the windy and open country I usually hunt, but is it overkill? Fur is not a concern, hence the 25-06 option, but is 22" barrel long enough to make it worth it over the other choices? I don't handload yet, otherwise I would seriously consider the 6.5 Creedmore. Any other calibers I should look at, other than the ones listed?
The 6.5 Creedmore is very interesting indeed. Would be a good excuse to begin reloading. Starting off with the basic gear for a single caliber shouldn't be too costly. I have an article in a recent mag. which features the Creedmore. Interestingly enough, it's on par with one of my favourites, the mightly little 7-08.
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Old 09-18-2012, 07:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by YoteStopper View Post
How far can the 260 hammer coyotes? I have crossed off the 223/22-250 off the list, so its down to 243/260/25-06. A quick flip through the WSS catalog reveals a smaller selection of ammo for the 260 compared to the others.....
i hammered one at 500-520 yards with my 22-250,a year ago.pretty far,could barely see it with my 9x scope. luckily it was very obliging,further than that you need lots of time to dope in .doubt ill find another one that stays still for so long

but a 260,or 7-08 or 308 you would be good to a thousand yards plus.

243 , 800 yards- just guessing,243 is a good calibre,wth the right twist and a heavy bullet again 1000 yards plus ,anything from a 308 like above list is a good cartridge.

personally out of three you picked i d go 260 rem

Last edited by wolf308; 09-18-2012 at 07:29 AM.
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Old 09-18-2012, 07:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pikergolf View Post
.243, I don't think the .22 are big enough fro a 150 lb wolf. Buy shells anywhere.
.223 is more than big enough for wolves, I've seen more than a few go down with one shot.
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Old 09-18-2012, 07:32 AM
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Originally Posted by pikergolf View Post
.243, I don't think the .22 are big enough fro a 150 lb wolf. Buy shells anywhere.
You are dead wrong. The .22's are more than sufficient for a wolf, in one of the Eastern European countries (Sweden, Norway, etc) they actually only allow .22-250 for deer hunting.
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Old 09-18-2012, 07:53 AM
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I like the .243 and it is also good for deer. It shoots flat, and there is plenty of selection of ammo for it, and at nearly every store that sells ammo will sell .243.
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Old 09-18-2012, 08:14 AM
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243 but the 22-250 or 223 will be more than adequate for wolves.
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  #18  
Old 09-18-2012, 08:15 AM
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Smile I've got both

They are both fine choices for sure, but I shoot the 223 better. I find that my limit to shoot anything is what I can see, and that is 200 to 300M tops, any farther away and with the high power scope I can't pick up even a slow moving target. I need a good rest to shoot at 200 M.

The saw off I have found is that with a better scope I got more weight and off hand shooting was just a memory.

Cat and Shawn are right 223 is lots of gun for dogs. Reloading is cheap too.

I like Nosler BT pushed by Varget or IMR 4320 27 gr. for both.

The 223 is cheaper to reload, and there are lots of factory ammo around, some of it is not very good, IMO.
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Old 09-18-2012, 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by densa44 View Post
They are both fine choices for sure, but I shoot the 223 better. I find that my limit to shoot anything is what I can see, and that is 200 to 300M tops, any farther away and with the high power scope I can't pick up even a slow moving target. I need a good rest to shoot at 200 M.

The saw off I have found is that with a better scope I got more weight and off hand shooting was just a memory.

Cat and Shawn are right 223 is lots of gun for dogs. Reloading is cheap too.

I like Nosler BT pushed by Varget or IMR 4320 27 gr. for both.

The 223 is cheaper to reload, and there are lots of factory ammo around, some of it is not very good, IMO.
Personally I'd go for a .22-250. Oh wait, I did

I love the .223 and you're right there's a lot of crappy factory ammo out there. Some of it's not any better than the cheapo SKS ammo people buy.

I like the .22-250 because it's got better reach, more energy, flatter shooting etc. Plus it makes a boom like the big boys but has no recoil similar to a .223 so it's great for practicing because you get accustomed to the sound of a big game rifle. (Less flinching)

But both the .223 and .22-250 will be very well suited to yotes/wolves/badgers/gophers/etc. A .243 is a little much I think.
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Old 09-18-2012, 10:14 AM
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Quote:
in one of the Eastern European countries (Sweden, Norway, etc) they actually only allow .22-250 for deer hunting.
It certainly isn't Sweden.

http://www.jagareforbundet.se/en/Hun...an-go-hunting/

Or Norway.

http://www.kristiansand-norway.com/a...ndhunting.html
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Old 09-18-2012, 10:42 AM
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Originally Posted by elkhunter11 View Post
Yeah, I don't recall which country it is. Check out Hornady's reloading manual in the .22-250 section. I think that's where I read it.
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  #22  
Old 09-18-2012, 01:05 PM
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What's the general consensus on the .260, is it going to get more attention, or become a handloader specialty in a couple years? I would like the 260 but since I'm not handloading yet the .243 may be a better option. Have not heard any votes for the 25-06 yet, not as popular as the .308 family? Not totally sold on the long action, but ammo is more available than .260, at least from what I see.

Thanks for the comments so far!
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Old 09-18-2012, 01:08 PM
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.204 Ruger
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Old 09-18-2012, 02:59 PM
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Tikka T3 in 6.5x55mm....










I have a Savage Axis in .223 that is getting a custom made wood stock for it... I wanted a Model 11/111 in .223, but they didn't have it chambered in that calibre when I wanted it... (I like the Axis, despite the *ahem* budget magazine, but the stock is.. well... kinda crappy)

But since I feel like jumping on the bandwagon as well... Savage 11 in .243

Double Duty Deer and Varmint rifle!
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Old 09-18-2012, 03:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Desert_Faux View Post
But since I feel like jumping on the bandwagon as well... Savage 11 in .243

Double Duty Deer and Varmint rifle!
Yeah having a dual purpose rifle is a good idea if you don't/can't dedicate a rifle to predators and varmints. The .243 would give you more coverage in that sense. And the ammo is crazy easy to find.

However! It's still not a .22-250
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Old 09-18-2012, 03:33 PM
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Go with the .243. The international trophy hunter is awesome. I have the .300wsm and the .300 win mag. The weaver scope they put on them has stood up to the magnum recoil so far and held zero as well.
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Old 09-18-2012, 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Slash8 View Post
.204 Ruger
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Old 09-18-2012, 05:27 PM
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Dual purpose gun I would go with the .260 or the 6.5X55 If you don't reload ammo may be a bit of an issue but 95 gr. or 140gr.bullets on yotes are deadly!

Single purpose gun yotes and gophers I would give a great big nod to the .204 as well. MIGHT?? be a bit small for a wolf but if you place your shot well I would take a wolf out to 300 plus yards with my .204 shooting 40gr bullets.
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Old 09-18-2012, 07:03 PM
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Default how about the 7-08?

How about the 7-08? Where does it place in the charts and in real life compared to the other three choices? Have not looked it up much in my book as I would prefer the 6/6.5mm's.....have two milsurps in 6.5x55 and its a sweet round. Leaning toward the .243 right now for bullet selection.
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Old 09-18-2012, 08:06 PM
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Well, just 'cause i'm gonna say my 257bee w/110 accubonds @3420fps.
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