Best $1500 Hunting Rifle

[aebhunter]

I have a Ruger american pred 6.5 cm and was wanting to try the 135 classic hunters in it. If you dont mind me asking what is your pet load for it?

Nosler brass
CCI large rifle primer
44.5 grains reloder 16
2.800 coal
2809 fps 20" bbl

Crunchy powder for sure, but I have experienced zero pressure signs. Start low, work up and all the usual precautions. Not my most accurate load, but still half MOA .
Will note the classic hunters really seemed to like a fair amount of jump.

 

[roninflag]

I can't figure out why Remington doesn't put out anything in the 6.5 Creedmoor. I think they'd make a killing as popular as their rifles are.

I've been wondering if we might see one from them at the shot show.
I sure wish they offered a 6.5-06 or 6.5-284 in the sender0. I had a 25-06 re-barreled. it is awesome.

 

[FEENIX]

Yes they did...Remington royally screwed the pooch by giving up on the .260 Rem back in the day. It was also about 15 years ahead of it's time, and the timing was very bad, since it was during the "magnum craze" where everyone was trying to push out the biggest, baddest, fastest largest magnum they could.

However, it seems to be making a comeback lately with the 6.5mm crazy going on the last few years.

Meanwhile, the 6.5x55 Swede (1894) remain strong in EU and constant here in the US, it's been around longer than our venerable .30-06 (1906).

 

[Xtremetj]

Sako A7 Long Range w/Roughtech Stock 7mm Rem Mag 26"bbl 9.5" twist JRMLR70F for sale! - EuroOptic.com

Sauer 101 Classic XT 7mm Remington Magnum Rifle for sale! - EuroOptic.com

Appreciate that but I already have a 7mag in the safe that shoots great. All three holes touching at 100 yards.

I just don't need a magnum anymore for deer down here in Texas and antelope in Wyoming. I'm not recoil sensitive, been shooting the 7mag since I was 14 years old but after hunting with my son's 257 WBY mag, I have to admit... the softer recoil was nice!

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

I know you said savages weren't your thing, but you can build on a Savage action for easily under 1500. I built mine in 6.5 cm for around 1300 with all my tools to put it together. Shoots very well. Launching the 143 eld-x at 2875 and the 140 eld-m I figure around or over 2900 fps with rl-17.

 

[STEEL SLINGER]

Now that is good news! My Tikka 7mag shoots very well. I'd pick one of those up in a heartbeat.

Meanwhile, the 6.5x55 Swede (1894) remain strong in EU and constant here in the US, it's been around longer than our venerable .30-06 (1906).

Been a Remington and Ruger lover for most of my years. . .BUT!!!

I have recently purchased 2 Tikka T3X rifles in the last 8 months. . ..308 Win and 6.5x55 Swede. Both rifles are the stainless fluted models, I've put B&C Medalist stocks and replaced the plastic trigger guard/mag well with a aluminum one. Both rifles when said and done were in the $1000.00 range (each!) and with a little load work are pure tack drivers. . .1/2 MOA all day!!! The 6.5 Swede cartridge has a special spot in my heart and I own several rifle in this round. This Tikka 6.5x55 is a modern action and you can put the juice to it. . .49.5 gr. RL26 and 140gr. A-Max Lapua brass and WLRP @ 2820FPS from this 22.5" tube is nothing to shy from!!! And there is still room for about another 2 - 3 grains!

What I'm getting at, is the 6.5X55 Swede rules the heap over the 260 Rem or the 6.5 CM in a modern action, it comes in a quality accurate rifle -Tikka T3X- and can be had for the $1000 price range with goodies. Just my $.02.

 

[StrutNut]

After my experience with my Savage Bear Hunter I will without hesitation buy another Savage.

 

[WildRose]

I might also look at the Winchester M70 Extreme Weather Stainless. I don't have one, but it looks like a fairly good package for a factory rifle.

Or maybe the Rem 700 Sendero SF II.

don't think they come in the 6.5 creedmoor though

I have one and I was really disappointed in the pencil thin barrel. For a very light carry rifle which is what it's designed for it's not bad but at most even with work it's about a 400yd gun and the groups go wide open after 3 shots. To me it was an overpriced disappointment and I'm a complete Model 70 addict.

In this price range the two I'd pick would be the 5R Gen2 Remington and the Ruger Hawkeye FTW. I have one each in .260 Rem and they were both well worth the money. MR posted the link to the Gen 2 so here's the link to the Ruger.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/19721

Hard to beat Bud's for either prices or service. I've purchased 3 Rifles and one shotgun through them and all have been smooth as silk transactions.

 

[WildRose]

I can't figure out why Remington doesn't put out anything in the 6.5 Creedmoor. I think they'd make a killing as popular as their rifles are.

I've been wondering if we might see one from them at the shot show.

Jealousy over the .260Rem which is coming back in spite of Remington HA!

 

[WildRose]

That remmy you posted looks really sexy. I'll bet they make other calibers too right? Very nice, they even put a different bolt handle on it. Cool

It's even sexier up close.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/for...-lost-my-mind-175519/index13.html#post1244969

Take a look at the bottom right picture and it'll give you some scale so you can wrap your head around the 3 super deep, wide groove fluting.

It's almost like the barrel is triangular with well rounded corners.

 

[WildRose]

... and they screwed up royally for not supporting it. A win for Hornady and kudos for their support and for raking in the royal benefit$$$$$ as shown by its new following.

One of Remington's dumber decisions. They supported it very well for a long time which is why I initially got my .260AR then just as it was really taking off they dropped nearly all support except for 2 different factory loads and brass and then one after another each of those dried up.

Great decision on the part of Lapua, Federal, Prime and a few others to breathe life back into a great caliber.

I think fad buyers played a big part, when the 6.5CM became all the rage with a handful of gun writers and bulletin boards a lot of the market went over to them and the 6.5L already had a big toehold with the AR15 crowd.

Remington is second only to Winchester in monumental screwups trying to save a buck here and there while ******* away tens of millions in profits just waiting to come their way.

 

[Greyfox]

One of Remington's dumber decisions. They supported it very well for a long time which is why I initially got my .260AR then just as it was really taking off they dropped nearly all support except for 2 different factory loads and brass and then one after another each of those dried up.

Great decision on the part of Lapua, Federal, Prime and a few others to breathe life back into a great caliber.

I think fad buyers played a big part, when the 6.5CM became all the rage with a handful of gun writers and bulletin boards a lot of the market went over to them and the 6.5L already had a big toehold with the AR15 crowd.

Remington is second only to Winchester in monumental screwups trying to save a buck here and there while ******* away tens of millions in profits just waiting to come their way.

I'm a big fan of the Milspecs owning 308's and a 300WM. I just built a Rem 700 LA with a Bartlien R5 barrel with the same Varmint contour in 6.5x284. It has proven to be a remarkable shooter. I agree that Remington could walk away with the LR market if they applied some energy.

 

[WildRose]

I'm a big fan of the Milspecs owning 308's and a 300WM. I just built a Rem 700 LA with a Bartlien R5 barrel with the same Varmint contour in 6.5x284. It has proven to be a remarkable shooter. I agree that Remington could walk away with the LR market if they applied some energy.

They don't shoot that well without the right guy/gal behind the trigger. Nice shooting and obviously good loading. What do the Mil Spec's weigh around 12-14lbs?

 

[Litehiker]

I have a Browning Stainless Stalker A-Bolt in .300 Win mag. It is a great rifle.
The X-Bolt is similar with a less expensive stock.