Help me decide on Bear/Deer rifle please?

[mrdeadheadr]

Hey everyone, Looking to purchase my first rifle mostly for black bear/deer. I'm looking at 6.5 creed or 6.5 PRC most likely... Which would be better to go with?

Also, what specific rifle would you recommend I'm debating on these:


Tikka T3x Ace Game rifle (New for tikka)

Sig Cross OR Bergara Mg micro lite (Love how both fold up compact and light for backpacking)

 

[wind gypsy]

Where/how are you hunting?

9# tikka ACE for a backpacking rifle? Easy Pass.
A pistol/SBR chassis on a full length rifle? (on the Mg Micro lite). I'm still baffled by people buying that thing when the full length chassis is like 2 ounces heavier.
Dont know enough about sig cross to comment. The trigger recall issue doesnt help.

 

[mrdeadheadr]

Where/how are you hunting?

9# tikka ACE for a backpacking rifle? Easy Pass.
A pistol/SBR chassis on a full length rifle? (on the Mg Micro lite). I'm still baffled by people buying that thing when the full length chassis is like 2 ounces heavier.
Dont know enough about sig cross to comment. The trigger recall issue doesnt help.

So might as well just get the Mg lite rather then the Mg micro lite because chassis difference is miniscule? ha..

 

[wind gypsy]

So might as well just get the Mg lite rather then the Mg micro lite because chassis difference is miniscule? ha..

There might be other weight savings like shorter barrels with the micro but to give up a more useable fore end for 2 ounces is a bad tradeoff IMO. Definitely the lite over the micro for me.

 

[TylerTN]

6.5 Creed Cross will do what you need. Tikka are great but the Tikka Ace Game is still heavy. Hope to see the Seekins Hunter stock be made for the Tikkas. If you got extra money look at the Seekins Element Hunter.

 

[mrdeadheadr]

6.5 Creed Cross will do what you need. Tikka are great but the Tikka Ace Game is still heavy. Hope to see the Seekins Hunter stock be made for the Tikkas. If you got extra money look at the Seekins Element Hunter.

Thanks, wow that seekins hunter looks pretty sweet, wonder what the difference between that and the bergara/sig cross really is.. hmm

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Tikka T3X in 6.5 CM will handle all your needs.

Then again, so will almost any cartridge…

The first consideration is where you plan to hunt. If your state allows .223 for deer and black bear, there is the easy answer. Get a Tikka and call it a day. Spend extra money on ammo for practice.

If not, look at a .243 bore. A good old .243 Winchester or 6mm CM is more than enough for even the largest and most ferocious whitetail deer or black bear in the country.

I’ve used a huge number of deer rifles in my life. I am planning to clear out my gun safe to make room in the budget for more shooting practice. When I am done, I should be left with a .243 (killed a deer with it last year), 6.5 Grendel (killed a deer with it last year), .25-06 (killed more deer than I can count with it), 6.5 CM (haven’t used it on deer yet), and .270 Winchester (killed a pile of game with it, not worth selling, so it will be my loaner).


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[mrdeadheadr]

Tikka T3X in 6.5 CM will handle all your needs.

Then again, so will almost any cartridge…

The first consideration is where you plan to hunt. If your state allows .223 for deer and black bear, there is the easy answer. Get a Tikka and call it a day. Spend extra money on ammo for practice.

If not, look at a .243 bore. A good old .243 Winchester or 6mm CM is more than enough for even the largest and most ferocious whitetail deer or black bear in the country.

I’ve used a huge number of deer rifles in my life. I am planning to clear out my gun safe to make room in the budget for more shooting practice. When I am done, I should be left with a .243 (killed a deer with it last year), 6.5 Grendel (killed a deer with it last year), .25-06 (killed more deer than I can count with it), 6.5 CM (haven’t used it on deer yet), and .270 Winchester (killed a pile of game with it, not worth selling, so it will be my loaner).


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

thanks! leaning towards a folding rifle to be able to backpack with easiest.. what do you recommend in that case? thats why im thinking the bergara mg lite or sig cross

 

[Q_Sertorius]

thanks! leaning towards a folding rifle to be able to backpack with easiest.. what do you recommend in that case? thats why im thinking the bergara mg lite or sig cross

I have zero experience with a folding rifle.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[hereinaz]

How much are you spending?

How far do you plan to choot? That’s the only difference between their ballistics. Don’t get more recoil if you don’t need the distance.

I had a Sig Cross for a few months and really liked it. It is a bit heavier than I would like.

Look at a .243 or 6 creed… they are easier to shoot and still kill fine.

 

[mrdeadheadr]

How much are you spending?

How far do you plan to choot? That’s the only difference between their ballistics. Don’t get more recoil if you don’t need the distance.

I had a Sig Cross for a few months and really liked it. It is a bit heavier than I would like.

Look at a .243 or 6 creed… they are easier to shoot and still kill fine.

not sure, maybe shoot out to 6-700?

 

[hereinaz]

not sure, maybe shoot out to 6-700?

At that range, the 6.5 PRC may be necessary for velocity depending on barrel length, assuming that is for hunting.

Me, I would use an 18-20” 6 creed over both.

 

[mrdeadheadr]

why would you stick with a creed? just curious

 

[satchamo]

At that range, the 6.5 PRC may be necessary for velocity depending on barrel length, assuming that is for hunting.

Me, I would use an 18-20” 6 creed over both.

Yeah also with factory loads the PRC is a safer bet on a short barreled rifle. If OP is reloading tho - 243 1:8 tikka all day.

 

[MuleyFever]

why would you stick with a creed? just curious

Because the balistics are good and recoil is light.

 

[hereinaz]

Because the balistics are good and recoil is light.

This^^^^

But, if you want more bullet weight, then stick with a 6.5 cm or PRC. Both are solid choices.

Just know there is a very large group of hunters who are also serious shooters, and have higher confidence shooting a 6 or 22 creed for accuracy with no lack of terminal effectiveness on game. For closer range the humble .223 gets the nod.

There is plenty of evidence of the effectiveness of a 6 creed. Check out the cool EXO videos in AK last season. Many kills with a 6 creed on caribou, moose, and goats. Out to 600 with a 16” barrel. Which is truthfully a difficult task at that distance, e.g. cold bore challenge.

 

[OverInfinite]

Pick a bullet/ weight range you like, pick a max distance at the typical elevation/temp you will be at. set yourself a minimum velocity at that distance and then play with the muzzle velocity until you get your barrel.
For instance:
4500ft at 60deg, 140 VLD at 1800fps for 600 yards, I get roughly 2500fps muzzle velocity to hit the threshold. EASILY done with a 18" 6.5CM

 

[G-RAT]

The sig cross is hard to beat for the price. Check out Seekins precision also they just redid all their rifles.

 

[NorthernZ]

out of those two options I like the PRC

 

[Hnthrdr]

6-700 is a poke, I would go with something that you can spend a LOT of time practicing in hunting type situations