target rifles for me and wife ?

[Gamesniper19]

They are all good choices. For hunting, the 6XC can be effective as a hunting rifle however it was made as a target rifle and as such will have limitations on animals at longer ranges (ethics). In this case if you plan on never shooting anything larger than a 200 lb deer any one of the choices will work. I recently completed a custom 6mm Creedmoor running the 115 bergers at 3002 FPS. Plenty for speed goats and most deer sized animals (why i recommend it) but not so much for western Mulies or larger animals at over 500 yards. Will it sure, but I won't. I run a few 6.5's including a 6.5 GAP 4S and Creedmoor for hunting and when recommending hunting calibers I consider 3 things;

• Is it going to ethically kill with 1 bullet at normal hunting distances (if the shot isn't perfect does it have enough to kill)
• How easy is it for me to get components - can I find local ammo if my hand loads get lost in travel
• Barrel life matters if I plan to shoot comps and hunt with it but for strictly a hunting gun, barrel life is not really a consideration. 1500+ round barrel life = 10+ years of shooting with my hunting rifles

So since you asked, I recommend 6CM first and 6.5 PRC for a combo hunting/target rifle. Former for both target and hunting and the latter for hunting first and some practice too. No one has said PRC so far I think but it is worth thinking about especially for reason #2 above. I would recommend 6.5 GAP but it is higher in the recoil range running about 60 grains of H1000. The PRC can run 54 grains powder with heavy high BC bullets and kill even elk at normal hunting distances.

 

[Ernie]

just when I thought I had it figured out on what cartridge to use

My Other 6XC...Yes, I do have a few rifles

 

[Ernie]

My 6.5x47 Lapua Kauger Arms Black Widow (Dan shooting it).

 

[lancetkenyon]

25 Creedmoor
25x47L
6CM
6x47L
6 Dasher
Etc.

Don't get me wrong. 6.5CM are great for shooting LR. But the 25 with the 131 Blackjack is magic. The 133 Elite or 135 LR Hyb would be great too.

I just finished unpacking the truck from a LR steel session. Shooting from 860 to 1387. Let's take the 1387 steel for reference w. 5mph 90° wind (today's wind). (The 6CM and 6.5SLR are my personal rifles. The 25CM is a future build, but the speed should be attainable.):
24" 6CM w. 105 Hyb @ 3107fps=12.3MIL (609") w. 93" drift
22" 6.5SLR w. 140 VLD @ 2800fps=14.3MIL (711") w. 93" drift
22" 6.5SLR w. 130 OTM @ 2925fps=13.5MIL (670") w. 98" drift
22" 25CM w. 131BJ @ 2900fps=12.2MIL (607") w. 79" drift

Look at the wind drift. 14-19" less.

The 6mm 109 LR Hyb or 110 SMK would be excellent choices as well.

But throw deer in the equation, and the 131 makes even more sense with the retained energy.