Best caliber for texas?

Rudy tindal

Rudy tindal

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Booking a hunt to Sonora,Texas for the 2023 calendar year. Debating on a rifle caliber for the trip.m, of course the ever so faithful 7mag was first thing that came to my mind for making a lethal longer distance shot. But I see these new calibers such as the 6.8 Western which is a little flatter shooting then the 7mag and they say not as much recoil. So I guess my question is if you all where buying a new rifle would stick to a old school round or try a new caliber. Just don’t want to buy a rifle and not be able to get ammo for it in a few years. Any feedback is appreciated!
 
Personally, I’d go with something little more common. Not an animal in TX that can’t be dropped with a .308 or 6.5 creedmore


Edited to add: not a native animal in the TX that can’t be killed with this calibers….
 
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Derek8404 said:
Personally, I’d go with something little more common. Not an animal in TX that can’t be dropped with a .308 or 6.5 creedmore


Edited to add: not a native animal in the TX that can’t be killed with this calibers….
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I have a 308. Just wanted something little flatter shooting. Heard to many horror stories on the 6.5 lol
 
Derek8404 said:
What are these horror stories?
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I’ve personally never owned one or shot anything with 6.5 but had few buddies that own one and had terrible blood trails. Found one with dog he had a great shot but no blood. If google 6.5 creedmor that’s first thing that pops up, bad blood trails.
 
Derek8404 said:
What are these horror stories?
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I bet it’s more to do with poor shot placement than caliber. My 260 Remington has yet to fail me on deer sized and smaller…. But I put the bullet where it does the most damage. Now a 300 win mag will do more damage and if poorly hit will do more damage than a smaller caliber with the same shot placement……
 
THE PUNISHER said:
I bet it’s more to do with poor shot placement than caliber. My 260 Remington has yet to fail me on deer sized and smaller…. But I put the bullet where it does the most damage. Now a 300 win mag will do more damage and if poorly hit will do more damage than a smaller caliber with the same shot placement……
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Bad shot placement coupled with poor bullet choices have created an issue where there should be no issue. The 6.5 Creedmoor has a lot of great paper and steel punching bullets, but they suck at hunting. With the right bullet the 6.5 is a good hunting round.
 
What's your .308 in? The reason I ask, is that you maybe better off putting money towards a scope that either has a bullet drop compensator, or MOA hash marks.
 
Justin Case said:
What's your .308 in? The reason I ask, is that you maybe better off putting money towards a scope that either has a bullet drop compensator, or MOA hash marks.
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Bergara b14 wilderness ridge with hd-5 leupold 3-15x56. But it’s only a 18” barrel
 
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I also have a 308 Winchester. So I decided to go with the 300 PRC. Close to the same recoil and similar bullet drop out to 200 yards I am able to use the same 308 bullets and the same primers if needed.
 
Better start another thread also to find out which gun is best to carry for humane dispatching of downed animals
 
As someone that used to live on an exotic game ranch at the border of central/west Texas. I can attest to the popularity of the .270 winchester round in that state.

Compared to a 30-06, the .270 has less felt recoil and is a flatter shooting round.

For a lower recoil, consider a 25-06 or 7mm.

For more power and an even flatter trajectory than the .270 Winchester, jump up to a .270 Weatherby magnum.

The .223 and .243 are ok for shorter shots (100 yards ) with good shot placement, but the .270 is really a great all-around Texas hunting round.

Nothing against the 30-06; there are plenty of good options there. It's just that the .270 shines more in the longer ranges that you encounter in Texas.
 
I was more curious is anyone was shooting any of new cartridges like the 6.8 Western with is a necked down 270 short mag. Say more accurate at long distance and has more energy. I guess I should started thread off as a 270WSM vs 6.8western vs 7mag cause those are the 3 rounds I’m stuck on
 
Rudy tindal said:
I was more curious is anyone was shooting any of new cartridges like the 6.8 Western with is a necked down 270 short mag. Say more accurate at long distance and has more energy. I guess I should started thread off as a 270WSM vs 6.8western vs 7mag cause those are the 3 rounds I’m stuck on
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At what distance are you comfortably accurate?

I venture to say the 7 mag is all you’ll ever need.
 
Tailhunter said:
At what distance are you comfortably accurate?

I venture to say the 7 mag is all you’ll ever need.
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Well I’ve never shot more then 200-250yds. Guess why I’m trying pick rifle a year early so I can start shooting at longer distances I’d like be accurate 300-400yds
 
Tailhunter said:
At what distance are you comfortably accurate?

I venture to say the 7 mag is all you’ll ever need.
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This, don't buy more rifle than you are able to shoot at distance.
Almost anything listed above the limiting factor is behind the trigger.
You might be better off shooting the 308 at long range. A 270 if you just want a new rifle, proven caliber with good ammo available.
 
Derek8404 said:
Personally, I’d go with something little more common. Not an animal in TX that can’t be dropped with a .308 or 6.5 creedmore


Edited to add: not a native animal in the TX that can’t be killed with this calibers….
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I was going to say either 308 or 300.

If he goes 6.5 he has to start dating dudes.
 
45/70fan said:
The WSM calibers are dead. The 6.8 is too new for readily available ammo. The 7mm Rem Mag will do all you need and more. It's no harder on the shoulder than a 30/06.
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I cannot believe you didn’t recommend the 45/70
 
Sonora is not flat open country … it is in the hill country. It has some nice ridge topogaphy and decent plant and tree cover. With the ridge I’d see longer range shots very possible but with tree and plant cover I’d be thinking a heavier projectile. For the combo I’d be looking for a higher BC with a decent weight projectile and watch the 300 yard performance for average stuff BUT look at the 500 yard reach for scrappy shots at stuff like big hogs. To that … a 7mm Mag with 160 or so grain projectile will handle the job.


ETA … whatever you decide, especially if it’s not a real common round, make sure to take an extra box of ammo to sight for the elevation change along with temperature & humidity at the time of your hunt … it WILL be different from the coastal Carolinas.
 
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NCFubar said:
Sonora is not flat open country … it is in the hill country. It has some nice ridge topogaphy and decent plant and tree cover. With the ridge I’d see longer range shots very possible but with tree and plant cover I’d be thinking a heavier projectile. For the combo I’d be looking for a higher BC with a decent weight projectile and watch the 300 yard performance for average stuff BUT look at the 500 yard reach for scrappy shots at stuff like big hogs. To that … a 7mm Mag with 160 or so grain projectile will handle the job.


ETA … whatever you decide, especially if it’s not a real common round, make sure to take an extra box of ammo to sight for the elevation change along with temperature & humidity at the time of your hunt … it WILL be different from the coastal Carolinas.
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Thank you sir
 
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