Hello all,
Been lurking and reading tons of info, and messing with ballistic calculators.
First some back story.
I've been hunting like a bow hunter for so long I've neglected my abilities to shoot over 200 yards. Last 2 white tail were
35 yards with a 1873 in .357 magnum.
65 yards with .223 in an AR
Both only made it a couple steps.
Takes me to a recent axis hunt. Last year I saw none so I didn't know what to expect. This year I saw a bunch, they all hung out in the 350-500 yard range. Buck fever and poor judgement got the best of me and I let one fly thinking he was about 250 out with my .223. Saw the dirt splash at his feet. Went back and ranged the shot at 368! I've got a year to prep and I've decided I need a proper deer cartridge, as I don't want to miss another opportunity on a paid, once a year hunt.
I'm at 12 months on the wait for a dead air nomad LTI, this is a 8.5" inch or so suppressor. While I want to choose a flat shooting cartridge, I also don't want a 26" barrel with 8" of can on it.
So my question is, what cartridge will net me a sweet spot of a good MPBR and make sense in an 18-22 inch rifle? I want short but am willing to sacrifice my desire for short in order to get the performance I want.
I've been considering…
257 Robert's
25-06
6.5-284 norma
6.5 prc
257 weatherby
I'm assuming 257 wby would be a waste in anything shorter than 24"
Am I being silly for wanting something other than 308 or 7mm 08 in a shorter barrel?
Been lurking and reading tons of info, and messing with ballistic calculators.
First some back story.
I've been hunting like a bow hunter for so long I've neglected my abilities to shoot over 200 yards. Last 2 white tail were
35 yards with a 1873 in .357 magnum.
65 yards with .223 in an AR
Both only made it a couple steps.
Takes me to a recent axis hunt. Last year I saw none so I didn't know what to expect. This year I saw a bunch, they all hung out in the 350-500 yard range. Buck fever and poor judgement got the best of me and I let one fly thinking he was about 250 out with my .223. Saw the dirt splash at his feet. Went back and ranged the shot at 368! I've got a year to prep and I've decided I need a proper deer cartridge, as I don't want to miss another opportunity on a paid, once a year hunt.
I'm at 12 months on the wait for a dead air nomad LTI, this is a 8.5" inch or so suppressor. While I want to choose a flat shooting cartridge, I also don't want a 26" barrel with 8" of can on it.
So my question is, what cartridge will net me a sweet spot of a good MPBR and make sense in an 18-22 inch rifle? I want short but am willing to sacrifice my desire for short in order to get the performance I want.
I've been considering…
257 Robert's
25-06
6.5-284 norma
6.5 prc
257 weatherby
I'm assuming 257 wby would be a waste in anything shorter than 24"
Am I being silly for wanting something other than 308 or 7mm 08 in a shorter barrel?