New red deer and target rifle

[jmcgiff01]

Been shooting the last few years with my sako 85 .243 mainly on roe, and now looking for a larger calibre rifle for red deer and also some target shooting pushing the distances, I have used my friends sako S20 6.5 creed and really liked it, I have also looked at the 6.5 PRC, does anyone have any suggestions for a new calibre, many thanks in advance.

Jack

 

[Heym SR20]

You really need to decide on what the rifle is really used for. Is it a red deer stalking rifle which you will use for occasional targets.

Or are you wanting a dedicated target rifle that you will occasionally use for stalking.

A stalking rifle should be reasonably light and able to fire at most a few shots in quick succession.

Most target rifles are carried a few yards from car to firing point. They maintain accuracy over a 10 to 20 shot firing string. They will have heavy barrels, heavy stocks and powerful scopes with large target turrets. They are not the sort of thing to carry up a Scottish mountain.

 

[angusb1]

Been shooting the last few years with my sako 85 .243 mainly on roe, and now looking for a larger calibre rifle for red deer and also some target shooting pushing the distances, I have used my friends sako S20 6.5 creed and really liked it, I have also looked at the 6.5 PRC, does anyone have any suggestions for a new calibre, many thanks in advance.

Jack

Use your 243 on the reds and buy a target rifle for shooting targets. You want something with a heavy barrel for targets and you don't want to be carrying that about on the hill. You'll want a FFP scope with a ballistic reticle, dialable turrets, and high magnification for targets and a 3-12x50 with SFP and 4A reticle or similar for stalking.

Rather than try and do two very different things with one scope and rifle, just buy a dedicated target rifle and use your stalking rig for stalking reds.

Just my 2p.

 

[Jagged77]

You can cross over a stalking rifle and target pretty easily, my approach is to go tactical / precision rifle route i.e. varmint / heavy barrel, chassis system / Manners / side carry (push button with biathlon) Arca. Weighty but easy enough to carry and will shoot well.

 

[webley701]

Been shooting the last few years with my sako 85 .243 mainly on roe, and now looking for a larger calibre rifle for red deer and also some target shooting pushing the distances, I have used my friends sako S20 6.5 creed and really liked it, I have also looked at the 6.5 PRC, does anyone have any suggestions for a new calibre, many thanks in advance.

Jack

Jack,
‘Target shooting’ is a very broad term - what do you have in mind?

 

[Ronin]

Choose an action you can put in a lighter weight but stiff stock

Such as Pse elite etac or evolution

So that’s T3 or Remongton clone

Use a barrel profile that stiff yet light enough for portability and allows shot strings

So that’s proof carbon wrapped

Or

Med or light weight Palma profile

Choose a cartridge that kills well at distance and is target orientated

Pretty much any will do

Swede , 260 rem ,6.6/284, PRC, man bun flavour if you must in 6.5

7mm08, 284 win, 7PRC

308, 30-06 or the magnums ,,,

Good to go, buikt many on that formula and they work extremely well

 

[shezza87]

Like others say,whats it going to be mainly used for?
I don’t have a dedicated target rifle but i managed to shoot out to 1000m with my ‘big’ deer rifle. Sako 75 6.5x55 using lapua scenars.
Did change to an ffp scope and used strelock but it can be done with a stalking rifle…Was a fun day that!

 

[jmcgiff01]

Jack,
‘Target shooting’ is a very broad term - what do you have in mind?

would more be stalking based and the odd time to shoot at targets, can see from the replies what i need to look into cheers

 

[jmcgiff01]

Like others say,whats it going to be mainly used for?
I don’t have a dedicated target rifle but i managed to shoot out to 1000m with my ‘big’ deer rifle. Sako 75 6.5x55 using lapua scenars.
Did change to an ffp scope and used strelock but it can be done with a stalking rifle…Was a fun day that!

it will be very similar to that, new rifle for big deer and have a shot at some distances, thanks for the reply

 

[ejg]

Recon it depends on where you ask the question, in Germany one would advise at least 8x68S or bigger..... we over here often read 6.5x55. I think the 7PRC / 284 seems ideal but 6.5 PRC could be very good as well. The build I would concentrate on the hunting side, any of these rifles in 6.5/7mm will easily shoot 1000m. Our customers have used lightweight carbon barrelled rifles at F Class comps and did quite well.
I am planning on building for similar needs. A rifle that weighs bare 3kg or very close to it, in 6.5PRC. If I can find a magnum T3 action I would choose 6.5PRC and use the 3.3" MDT XM bottom metal that fits into the CTR stocks which is ideal for anything a bit longer than 308 but has a similar double stack mag to aics in 5 or ten shot. I would choose the Evo stock and a 22-24" proof carbon barrel. It would look similar to our 6.5CM.

edi

 

[Ronin]

Recon it depends on where you ask the question, in Germany one would advise at least 8x68S or bigger..... we over here often read 6.5x55. I think the 7PRC / 284 seems ideal but 6.5 PRC could be very good as well. The build I would concentrate on the hunting side, any of these rifles in 6.5/7mm will easily shoot 1000m. Our customers have used lightweight carbon barrelled rifles at F Class comps and did quite well.
I am planning on building for similar needs. A rifle that weighs bare 3kg or very close to it, in 6.5PRC. If I can find a magnum T3 action I would choose 6.5PRC and use the 3.3" MDT XM bottom metal that fits into the CTR stocks which is ideal for anything a bit longer than 308 but has a similar double stack mag to aics in 5 or ten shot. I would choose the Evo stock and a 22-24" proof carbon barrel. It would look similar to our 6.5CM.

edi

Just have your rifle smith open a standard .473 action to .535”

Only other work would be replace the bolt stop to long action (if it was short to begin with) and swap mags to magnum length

Easy solution

 

[HonestJohn]

Just have your rifle smith open a standard .473 action to .535”

Only other work would be replace the bolt stop to long action (if it was short to begin with) and swap mags to magnum length

Easy solution

+1

David Lloyd converted many a Mauser to magnum by just opening the bolt face

 

[Selous]

Basically I have done exactly what @Ronin has suggested:
Remington action, match grade medium palma barrel, CG 2 stage trigger, PSE ETac stock in 7mm Mag. It keeps doing the job on large and small deer at good ranges and is great fun on the gongs at Eskdalemuir out to 1000m and beyond

 

[Tom8]

Get a steyr ssg69 .308 do for everything.

 

[rem284]

Choose an action you can put in a lighter weight but stiff stock

Such as Pse elite etac or evolution

So that’s T3 or Remongton clone

Use a barrel profile that stiff yet light enough for portability and allows shot strings

So that’s proof carbon wrapped

Or

Med or light weight Palma profile

Choose a cartridge that kills well at distance and is target orientated

Pretty much any will do

Swede , 260 rem ,6.6/284, PRC, man bun flavour if you must in 6.5

7mm08, 284 win, 7PRC

308, 30-06 or the magnums ,,,

Good to go, buikt many on that formula and they work extremely well

This. I've got a 6.5-284. Remington 700, light enough to comfortably with. Accurate to be pleasing on targets, although I don't compete in competitions but that's because I just don't have that inclination

 

[BE Precision]

Anything with a varmint barrel, carbon or steel, in a decent lightweight stock. I actually prefer the feel of a steel barrel than a carbon one, in terms of the way the recoil feels. Built mine in 6.5cm but wishing i had gone 6mm

 

[Ronin]

This. I've got a 6.5-284. Remington 700, light enough to comfortably with. Accurate to be pleasing on targets, although I don't compete in competitions but that's because I just don't have that inclination

Mag fed or BDL

 

[rem284]

Floor plate

 

[Tom8]

Get a steyr ssg69 .308 do for everything.

 

[25 Sharps]

Like others say,whats it going to be mainly used for?
I don’t have a dedicated target rifle but i managed to shoot out to 1000m with my ‘big’ deer rifle. Sako 75 6.5x55 using lapua scenars.
Did change to an ffp scope and used strelock but it can be done with a stalking rifle…Was a fun day that!

Skinny barrels, long shot strings and hot days don’t mix.

If the intention is to use the rifle for target as much as stalking I’d personally go for a heavy barrel over a light barrel. Which is exactly what’s in my cabinet!