To choose a new caliber.

You list of choices seems lacking in my opinion....800 yard shooting to harvest animals should not be taken lightly !! The recoil difference between the .308/300 mag or any 6.5/7mm mag is not that much BUT those 300-400 fps add up to be a considerable amount of energy on target... After all when shooting t game you won't even notice the recoil.....for steel ringing, jug smashing..doesn't matter, pick anything you like..it's only more or less clicks BUT not in a hunting rifle ..

and to add to franks post, the added BC and heavier projectiles option.

vmf,

I'm curious how large is an "angry hog" where you hunt?

Looks like the OP does NOT reload. IMO...there's not much in the form of factory ammo to make any of your choices viable at LR. The bigger 7's and 30's may be expensive...and they may kick more......BUT in the LR game you GOTTA PAY TO PLAY!!! ESPECIALLY if you plan on HUNTING LR!!!

Non LR bullets pushed at slower speeds bleed speed and energy like crazy and get pushed around in the wind.

My .02....If you are going to LR hunt, put you big boy pants on and break open the wallet....the game animals deserve to be killed by the best!!

Just my .02,
Tod

Well, between 150-200 pounds the biggest.

Almost everybody agree in upgrade to magnum calibers. So, for you which is the max deer range for the cartridges I said.

800 yards is a long way. 6.5 CM will kill an animal at 800 for sure and will stop a hog at 200 (btw, at 200 the hog is not angry yet). But for fast killing you need more speed: go magnum like most agree on. At 800 the bullet is moving SLOW and wind and stability will begin to affect it more and more making it much riskier than i would like.

500 maybe 600 is your max in my opinion.

For paper any of the ones you list will do just fine.
SnT

vmf said:

Well, between 150-200 pounds the biggest.

Almost everybody agree in upgrade to magnum calibers. So, for you which is the max deer range for the cartridges I said.

Click to expand...

Recently I shot two pigs. One weighed 212 pounds the other weighed 236 pounds. Both were about 100 yards away. Both were broadside shots killed with a .270 Win firing Barnes TTSX 110 about 3,500 feet per second. Both exited.

Of the ones you mentioned I would go with the 6.5 CM to take advantage of the higher ballistic coefficient bullets available.

For those who have a free recoil slide they will definitely disagree a 7 Mag kicks similar to a .300 Mag. When you factor in high B.C. bullets into the shooting there is no contest. The big 7 is way better down range for the amount of recoil.

I agree with the magnum for killing game at 800 yds but if you're not already shooting targets at 800yds get a cartridge suitable for lots of practice and when your consistently banging steel at 800 then upgrade to a magnum of your choice. Bullet placement is everything. My 2 cents

The pig requirement is incompatible with the best choices for the first and second requirement, If heavy enough for the pig requirement, you would not want to do much long range target shooting and would suck if you did.....A Bridge too Far?

vmf said:

Well, between 150-200 pounds the biggest.

Almost everybody agree in upgrade to magnum calibers. So, for you which is the max deer range for the cartridges I said.

Click to expand...

Pigs that size are no challenge at all, many even larger are killed regularly with head/neck shots from .204, .223, and .220 swift.

Your issue is 800yds + on deer sized game. You're really stretching the effective boundaries of the non magnum 6.5, 7mm, and even .30 cal rounds due to a lack of energy.

When energy is low pinpoint accuracy and proper shot placement are essential to getting a clean, quick, one shot kill.

Step up to the .264 wm, 7mm RM, 7mm STW, or .300wm or their Nosler counterparts and your back in the game with a greater margin of error.

If you're not going to reload, the 7mm RM and .300wm are probably your best options due to the availability of factory ammo.

RandyinVa said:

The pig requirement is incompatible with the best choices for the first and second requirement, If heavy enough for the pig requirement, you would not want to do much long range target shooting and would suck if you did.....A Bridge too Far?

Click to expand...

Not really, pigs that size especially at that range don't pose much of a challenge.

Canhunter35 said:

I agree with the magnum for killing game at 800 yds but if you're not already shooting targets at 800yds get a cartridge suitable for lots of practice and when your consistently banging steel at 800 then upgrade to a magnum of your choice. Bullet placement is everything. My 2 cents

Click to expand...

The .260Rem and 6.5cm fit that bill very well.

WildRose said:

Not really, pigs that size especially at that range don't pose much of a challenge.

Click to expand...

Well 200 yards is the max, the average is 100 or so. But the hog is angry, because is running away from the hunting dogs.

vmf said:

Well 200 yards is the max, the average is 100 or so. But the hog is angry, because is running away from the hunting dogs.

Click to expand...

Not much of a challenge really. I like the .260 Rem for that application just fine, I've taken big hogs with it in excess of 400lbs on several occasions from 30yds to well beyond 400 yds.

If you want an extra measure of comfort on hogs look at an AR or Mini 14 in 6.8spc, 6.5 grendel, 6.5cm, or 260 Rem.

In a bolt gun .260 Rem, 6.5cm, if you want to go light, or step up to the 7mm RM, 7mm STW, or 300wm.

With the 800yds on deer and larger, the STW or 300wm or Nosler Equivalents gives you lots of room and energy for comfort. If sticking to factory ammo then the RM or 300wm really can't be beat for price, availability, bullet selection or energy.