So, you went smaller caliber, but not down to .223…

Sled

WKR
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Jun 11, 2018
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Utah
I shot a 300wby, 270win and 270wsm. The 300 was first to go about a decade back. I went to 6.5cm and did not notice any negative loss in killing ability for the elk I hunt. I'm not ready to jump down to a 223 because I like the ability to shoot long distance. I'm currently consolidating my centerfire calibers down to 6.5 and 22. I'll have my 6.5cm, 6.5prc and 223 for primary use. The rest of my safe will go into gun socks.
 

NRA4LIFE

WKR
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Nov 20, 2016
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washington
I wouldn't go to the .223 simply because it's not legal to use for big game in many states, including mine (WA). Do I own a .223? Of course, several in fact.
 

Sadler

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Dec 17, 2016
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Washington
Went from a 30-06 to a 6.5 PRC and then this past season tested out the 223 with TMKs. Don’t think I’ll use anything else in Idaho and Montana from here on out. Building a 6 creed now for NM, CO, AZ and WY
 

Ripnbst

FNG
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May 17, 2020
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HOUSTON, TX
My caliber by time continuum goes something like this:

.223REM/.260REM/.308WIN/.270WIN/7RM/300PRC

I would seem to be the counter cultural one on here I guess. I find the heavier high BC bullets buck the wind better in West Texas and cross canyon shots out west. My 260REM is a heavy target build so that rifle has never been shot at anything with a heart beat but it would do well too I am sure. Building a 260REM in a lighter weight hunter build is not something I would be against.
 

Hnthrdr

WKR
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Jan 29, 2022
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Co
Own a RSS in .223, I can only shoot varmits with it in Co where I live and hunt 98% of the time, so I went from 7mm rem mag & .300 win mag to a 6.5 cm shooting 143 eld-X now looking at converting a different 6.5cm to a 6mm for an even sweeter little package, still have a few .308’s in the stable though went from muzzy brakes to suppressors and no looking back!
 

thinhorn_AK

"DADDY"
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Jul 2, 2016
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Alaska
I decided very recently to get completely out of the 300 win mag game. I’m going to unload my brass and ammo by the end of the weekend. 30-06 is no going to be my “big” 30 caliber rifle but it’s suppressed so pretty easy to shoot.

I’m going all in with the 6.5 creedmoor and 223 since I have both and lots of components/ammo for them. The 6.5 creed will be my main rifle now with the 223 getting a lot of use.

I’m going to hold on to my 375HH just because I like it and have a lot of good memories with it as well as enough ammo and supplies that I’ll never need to spend another dime using it.

I’ll probably rebarrel my 308 into something else.
 
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hereinaz

hereinaz

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I went from a 28” 300 Win Mag running 215’s at 3k to a suppressed 22” 6.5 SAUM running 156’s at 3k many years ago and haven’t looked back. About 8.5 lb loaded and suppressed and it just makes spotting impacts so easy in the field. I’ve gone through a few barrels but won’t change the cartridge anytime soon!


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Love short action magnums
25 creedmoor and 22 creedmoor. I want/need margin for error with wind at distance. Jury is still out on the 22 creedmoor for my but loving 25 creedmoor over the past 3 years close to 20 animals with it from point blank to 670 yards.
25 is my new fav for wind and recoil tradeoff

300 WSM 180 grain to a .270 Win 130 grain.
Looking at building a .243, but maybe I'll end up at a .223?
I would use a .223 if I were back east, but I can’t seem to go below 6mm cause of wind

I came from 30-06 shooting 150g and above.

I switched to a suppressed 6creed shooting 108g due to this website. I wanted something legal in more states than the .223.

But I also own a .223 because of this website. So I do use it if I’m in a legal state.
6 creed is my fav factory 6/243, it has very tolerable recoil for spotting shots.
 
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hereinaz

hereinaz

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Own a RSS in .223, I can only shoot varmits with it in Co where I live and hunt 98% of the time, so I went from 7mm rem mag & .300 win mag to a 6.5 cm shooting 143 eld-X now looking at converting a different 6.5cm to a 6mm for an even sweeter little package, still have a few .308’s in the stable though went from muzzy brakes to suppressors and no looking back!
Suppressors and 6 or 6.5 is money. I like the 6 creed for “magnum” speeds with the heavies.

I decided very recently to get completely out of the 300 win mag game. I’m going to unload my brass and ammo by the end of the weekend. 30-06 is no going to be my “big” 30 caliber rifle but it’s suppressed so pretty easy to shoot.

I’m going all in with the 6.5 creedmoor and 223 since I have both and lots of components/ammo for them. The 6.5 creed will be my main rifle now with the 223 getting a lot of use.

I’m going to hold on to my 375HH just because I like it and have a lot of good memories with it as well as enough ammo and supplies that I’ll never need to spend another dime using it.

I’ll probably rebarrel my 308 into something else.
I won’t get rid of my 7, love it. Suppressed it is not hard to shoot, but it is a little heavy and long.
 
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hereinaz

hereinaz

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270 to 300wm when I was 17. Shot that 300wm for years until I developed a horrible flinch that I couldn’t get over and started the down hill roll in calibers.

300wm to 300h&h (actually LOVE my 300h&h)

300h&h to 308/270

308/270 to 6.5 creed

6.5 creed to 257 Weatherby (love this gun too)

257wby to 6.5 PRC

6.5-PRC to 6.5-284 Norma

Only reason I went from 6.5 prc to Norma was I was gifted a custom in the Norma and found the prc redundant. I would have stuck with the prc otherwise.

Went until I found the one I shoot the best (no flinch, spot hits, puts animals down quickly).

6.5-284 Norma matches PRC in ballistics. I’ve sourced some pretty cheap ammo that is 100% on dead animals within 60 yards. 140 Nosler Match BTHP

Wounds are absolutely devastating on whitetails, coyote and black bear without much meat loss unless I hit directly on the shoulder. Even then rounds make it past the blade before major expansion (explosion).

cd96a2f2c945df298f018a29175a7ed7.jpg


66a734563f7ab3054f5fa1b37f2dd368.jpg

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Sweet! Love the pics.

.257 Weatherby is probably the best old cartridge for long Range hunting IMO. The 115 bergers are nasty. I love the 257 cal now with my 25 SST shooting the 133.
 

FairWeatherFisher

Lil-Rokslider
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Apr 1, 2023
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Eugene, OR
I haven’t gone smaller diameter wise. I used my 308 this year, but after seeing the amount of meat loss from the damage I went out and picked up a 30-30 that I plan to use next deer season. Same caliber, just less umph.
 
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Jul 3, 2021
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Hunted VA most of my life with a 12 gauge shotgun (hunting whitetails w/ dogs), moved to AK using a 300 wm (still use for the larger big game). But my go to is 6.5 grendel now. the .223 thread shows .223 will get it done, but I don't like the lack of pass through that seems like the norm with .223.
 
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hereinaz

hereinaz

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My caliber by time continuum goes something like this:

.223REM/.260REM/.308WIN/.270WIN/7RM/300PRC

I would seem to be the counter cultural one on here I guess. I find the heavier high BC bullets buck the wind better in West Texas and cross canyon shots out west. My 260REM is a heavy target build so that rifle has never been shot at anything with a heart beat but it would do well too I am sure. Building a 260REM in a lighter weight hunter build is not something I would be against.
I bet you learned to shoot first with the .223…

I won’t argue with the bigger caliber for cross canyon bucking wind. I can’t give up my 7mm cause I know what that wind does to little bullets. That is my only gripe with the .223 cause a 400-600 yard shot is common
.

My 7 will always be a long barrel and 11-12 pound gun, suppressed. And. Will always be in the truck as a backup.
 
Joined
Oct 6, 2014
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Wasilla, Alaska
300 WSM to 6.5 CM here in AK.

The 6.5 has been my mainstay hunting caliber for the last 8 years and has been very effective on Sheep and Caribou. Moose & Goats I hunt with a bow.

Late 2023 6.5CM to 6 CM

The external ballistics give me a 150 yard advantage over the 6.5CM and the terminal ballistics of the 108 ELD-M are undeniable.

Being more cost effective, less recoil and larger danger space are added benefits.
 
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hereinaz

hereinaz

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300 WSM to 6.5 CM here in AK.

The 6.5 has been my mainstay hunting caliber for the last 8 years and has been very effective on Sheep and Caribou. Moose & Goats I hunt with a bow.

Late 2023 6.5CM to 6 CM

The external ballistics give me a 150 yard advantage over the 6.5CM and the terminal ballistics of the 108 ELD-M are undeniable.

Being more cost effective, less recoil and larger danger space are added benefits.
I think maybe the danger space advantage is under appreciated when getting the 6 mm over the 6.5.

Has there been any difference on killing factor once you switched?
 
Joined
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I think maybe the danger space advantage is under appreciated when getting the 6 mm over the 6.5.

Has there been any difference on killing factor once you switched?
I haven’t hunted with the 6 CM yet. The last kill with the 6.5 CM, a Bighorn sheep last month, was extremely effective with the G9 Defense 113’s, a mono brass projectile that shears off petals. They are great, but the 108’s give me 150 yards over them with their greater B.C.
 

Elite

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Sep 4, 2018
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Went from a 30-06 to a 6.5 PRC and then this past season tested out the 223 with TMKs. Don’t think I’ll use anything else in Idaho and Montana from here on out. Building a 6 creed now for NM, CO, AZ and WY

How did you find the recoil on the 6.5prc vs 30-06


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Sadler

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Dec 17, 2016
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Washington
How did you find the recoil on the 6.5prc vs 30-06


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Can’t give you a fair comparison. I didn’t have a break or suppressor on my ‘06 and I haven’t shot my 6.5 PRC without either of those.
 
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