Yep, with a scope, loaded 20rd mag, and a can mounted on the end of the barrel you might be lucky to keep it under 13lbs (30rd mag even more) a nice load to hump around in the woods with all day.
If you want a good 6mm you could go with a .243 Winchester. It's highly accurate and has a lot less recoil than a and 06;
I'm waiting to see how the battle works out in your state. Until then if I ever feel desperate enough for one, I'll fabricate one. There's nothing terribly complicated about them. I just have no intention of EVER paying a tax to some jackasses in DC for something that should be as ubiquitous as a recoil pad.
The 6.5 CM shoots flatter than the .308 (it's in a necked down .308 case) at about 400 to 500 yards and beyond, but if you're hunting the .308 is superior in the energy department with heavier bullets. Not saying anything against the 6.5 just saying I wouldn't go out and buy one to replace my Remington 700 in .308 for hunting deer since I'd never take a shot at a deer with it at those ranges anyway. But hey, new toys are new toys.
That is the question, isn't it?
I can identify with you on the recoil of a 30.06. I had a bolt action with a 3x9 variable redfield I used to hunt in Maine with. I loved that rifle it just didn’t love me lol. I couldn’t handle the recoil in my older age so I gave it to my son in law.
Been looking at pistols but haven't bought a new one as yet. Sadly, I did acquire a shotgun through the death of a close friend who died young. He inherited it from his dad who inherited it from his father. It's a Belgium-made Browning A5 shotgun. According to its serial number was made in 1935. it's in pristine condition with little signs of use. The bore is a flawless mirror finish. The only thing I see is the foam-lined case it was packed in for decades has left a minor imprint in the finish on one side of the buttstock, with no dents or damage to the wood. I thought about refinishing it but so far can't bring myself to do so. I have yet to fire a round through it but I have disassembled it and inspected its parts and all looks like new.
That is the question, isn't it?
Are you primarily a target shooter or a hunting enthusiast?
So basically we're talking target shooting and maybe varmints in the front end with the possibility of hunting.
Wats contribution aside.
The 25-06 is enjoying a resurgence out West, mainly due to the availability of bullets that will allow the cartridge to reach it's full potential. But these new bullets well also allow some of the other 25's to achieve higher potential as well. There is NO lack of bullet selection in the 25's.
Wats contribution aside.
I'm going to assume that you aren't reloading so unless you are wealthy cost comes into play here as well.
All of that being said virtually all of the 6.5's, 25's, and 6's are suitable for all but the largest N. American game and all can be quite accurate. I would hesitate to go after Black Bear or Elk with the 6's, but that's just me. When you get into the newer high faluttin cartridges expect to pay..........a lot. The precision loads for the 6.5's and 6's (soon to be followed by the 25's) are going to run you anywhere from $3 to $5/rnd. Regular hunting rounds will be in the $2 to $2.50 range for those same cal. but the hunting loads will NOT achieve the same performance as the high faluttin. In that they're selling the 6.5 CM and the 6 PRC on their peak performance specs for the hunting load the performance is essentially the same as other more economical cartridges.
Long action vs. short action. Damn but that debate has been going on for years. The short action guys brag about faster reload times, which is actually in the milli-seconds. What they don't talk about is recoil recovery and target re-aquisition, which is about the same and far longer regardless of the action. I don't know why that debate is still going on?
Some perfectly suitable cartridges that have not been mentioned here are the 6.5x57 Mauser, terrific round. The 250 Savage or the 257 Roberts, also quite effective cartridges. The 243 has already been discussed.
For all of those cartridges the most important decision is barrel twist. Those high faluttin cartridges get their performance by being able to launch, and stabilize, the heavier, longer, high ballistic coefficient bullets. And in this it's the high BC that counts. Longer bullets require a faster twist rate than the run of the mill hunting bullets. So regardless of which cal. you go with you are going to want a 1:7 to 1:8 twist. I'd stick with either the 1:7 or 1:7.5. There is a trade off here though, very light thin skinned bullets may fly apart and/or become unstable with such a fast twist rate.
To get the very best out of any rifle you are either going to have to start reloading or make acquaintance with someone who does. A good rifles appetite can be very finicky.
The 6.5x57 is essentially a 7x57 necked down, very popular in Europe.
