Ideal Do-It-All NYS Gun

[FLWaterfowler]

Hi all, 

I just joined the forum, but I've been a lurker for about a year now. I've hunted quail, ducks, and pigs in south Florida for most of my life. Moved to NY about 2 years ago for work and still hunt waterfowl, but really want to start shifting to big game. Shot my first deer last year during PA rifle, an 8pt 152lbs 5yr old. I shot my deer with a friend's 6.5 CM and really liked being able to see the hit through the scope because of lack of recoil. The deer didn't go 20 yards - Nosler Trophy Grades put the lungs through a blender and left a nice exit.

I'm about to purchase my first rifle, but I'm really hung up on what caliber to settle on. I want something that can effectively take deer and bear in NY, but also has the ability to shoot out to 500 yards as I've been applying to Antelope hunts out west for a few years now and have some points built up. Would appreciate your opinions/experience on the following calibers

• 6.5 CM
• 6.5 PRC
• .308
• .30-06
• .270
• .280
• 7mm

[mowin]

All great calibers.  500 yrds is a loooong poke.  

I also moved this to Guns and Ammo. 

Edited February 25 by mowin

[ATbuckhunter]

Are you actually capable of taking accurate shots out to 500? I ask because most people are not even close to accurate enough past 300 yards on a deer size target, let alone 500. I find people overestimate what they'll be doing as well as their accuracy. a gun that's good from 0-500 is kind of a big ask. Typically they'll be good in one aspect of that range and kind of stink in the other. Unfortunately you'll also have to deal with a fair bit of recoil with a lot of those rounds (muzzle break may help with recoil though). 

That being said, if you keep your shots with in 3-400 anything above 6.5cm on your list will work. Take a hard look at the .280 AI as well. I've never shot one, but the numbers are highly impressive. 

[Splitear]

I shot the new Federal 7mm Backcountry at the SHOT Show this year, and it was very impressive. Being a new offering you're not going to find many guns chambered in it right now, but I'm sure it will be showing up soon. 

https://www.northamericanwhitetail.com/editorial/federal-new-7mm-backcountry-cartridge/514379

[mowin]

@FLWaterfowler, are you planning on hand loading?  Would come into play on what caliber works best for you. 

[hvny]

Fortunately it depends on where you hunt in NY.  I’m in the Adirondacks and when hunting up there I use either my 35 marlin or 300 savage(2 seasons so far and no deer)

That being said if you’re in a more open area with longer shots I’d recommend the 6.5 PRC.  I have a Christensen Arms Ridgeline with a 3-15 Leupold scope.  I was able to hit steel targets at 900 yards. 
So far I’ve taken 2 whitetails and a Sitka blacktail.  All with one shot each and none of them went more than 20 yards.  Ranges from 40 to 185 yards. 
Some guys even talk about taking elk with the round.  With the muzzle brake there is very little felt recoil even at the range and ammo is readily available.  

[G-man]

Personally the variety of bullet and bullet weights of the 308 plus availability of ammo  would let you take any game in north America. With less recoil than a 30-06.   

[FLWaterfowler]

3 hours ago, ATbuckhunter said:

Are you actually capable of taking accurate shots out to 500? I ask because most people are not even close to accurate enough past 300 yards on a deer size target, let alone 500. I find people overestimate what they'll be doing as well as their accuracy. a gun that's good from 0-500 is kind of a big ask. Typically they'll be good in one aspect of that range and kind of stink in the other. Unfortunately you'll also have to deal with a fair bit of recoil with a lot of those rounds (muzzle break may help with recoil though). 

That being said, if you keep your shots with in 3-400 anything above 6.5cm on your list will work. Take a hard look at the .280 AI as well. I've never shot one, but the numbers are highly impressive. 

I can hit steel at 500 pretty consistently with my friend's 6.5 CM on a no-wind day. Never a live target though. I do have a place I can practice that distance, which is helpful. I'd imagine 90% of my shots will be under 300yds, but on the off chance I need to poke out to 400-500 I'd like to not pass up any opportunities. I've heard a lot about the .280 AI, but never spoke to someone who shot it

[FLWaterfowler]

3 hours ago, mowin said:

@FLWaterfowler, are you planning on hand loading?  Would come into play on what caliber works best for you. 

No handloading 

[FLWaterfowler]

55 minutes ago, hvny said:

Fortunately it depends on where you hunt in NY.  I’m in the Adirondacks and when hunting up there I use either my 35 marlin or 300 savage(2 seasons so far and no deer)

That being said if you’re in a more open area with longer shots I’d recommend the 6.5 PRC.  I have a Christensen Arms Ridgeline with a 3-15 Leupold scope.  I was able to hit steel targets at 900 yards. 
So far I’ve taken 2 whitetails and a Sitka blacktail.  All with one shot each and none of them went more than 20 yards.  Ranges from 40 to 185 yards. 
Some guys even talk about taking elk with the round.  With the muzzle brake there is very little felt recoil even at the range and ammo is readily available.  

I'll mainly be in the southern tier and Catskills, occasionally south Florida. The more I've looked into 6.5s the more I've liked them, and from what I understand, the 6.5 PRC performs better than the CM with minimal increase in recoil. My concern would be a bullet zipping through an animal too fast inside of 100yds, but if you're killing at 40yds with no problem then seems like that's not an issue.  

[FLWaterfowler]

23 minutes ago, G-man said:

Personally the variety of bullet and bullet weights of the 308 plus availability of ammo  would let you take any game in north America. With less recoil than a 30-06.   

Would you say an average .308 recoil is more or less than shooting a 12ga with 3" duck loads? Only rifles I've shot are 22s, 6.5 Cm and 30-30

[mowin]

1 minute ago, FLWaterfowler said:

Would you say an average .308 recoil is more or less than shooting a 12ga with 3" duck loads? Only rifles I've shot are 22s, 6.5 Cm and 30-30

I'd say a 3" mag and 308 are similar. 

[cervidchasers]

12 minutes ago, mowin said:

I'd say a 3" mag and 308 are similar. 

But when the cross hairs are on the deer, dont even feel it.

[hvny]

https://www.sportsmans.com/6-5-prc-vs-308-win

Thjs provide a chart for comparison of 308 to 6.5 prc

[hvny]

20 minutes ago, FLWaterfowler said:

I'll mainly be in the southern tier and Catskills, occasionally south Florida. The more I've looked into 6.5s the more I've liked them, and from what I understand, the 6.5 PRC performs better than the CM with minimal increase in recoil. My concern would be a bullet zipping through an animal too fast inside of 100yds, but if you're killing at 40yds with no problem then seems like that's not an issue.  

Bullet selection is more important than cartridge as far as zipping through game.  I use Hornady Precision Hunter 143 gr.  Did a lot of damage to the chest cavity of all 3 deer.