Compact rifle caliber

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IrvJr

Single-Sixer
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Aug 29, 2002
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NH, USA
Hi All,

I'm thinking about picking up a short barrel (16" or 18") bolt action rifle that I could use for deer hunting, varmint (coyote) hunting, and for plinking/target shooting at the range.

I already have a full sized 308 (M77 Hawkeye) and a 16" Winchester Carbine (44 Mag). I would like to get something lightweight that would be somewhere between my m77 and win 94.

I was thinking about a Ruger Compact Hawkeye in an intermediate caliber. I'd most likely only shoot this gun at 200 yards or less. However, I do have access to a 600 yard range and might occasionally try and shoot it at > 200 yards (unless I get one in 7.62x39).

At first I thought about getting a Compact in 7.62x39mm, but I wasn't sure about how accurate this cartridge was, particulary at 200 yards.

Currently I'm leaning towards the 6.8SPC cartridge. It looks like it would be a good, lightweight cartridge with enough power for deer within 100/125 yards, plus it's supposedly pretty flat shooting/accurate.

The only drawback of the 6.8SPC is that it's not a commonly available caliber, but I would be handloading, so that is not a deal breaker.

I also considered .243 win but wasn't really sure what advantages one cartridge mighrt have over the other. I guess the .243 win is fairly popular, but I've read that the ballistic performance with the smaller sized 6.8SPC cartridge is a little bit better than the performance from a typical .243 win load.

What caliber would you recommend for a lightweight, bolt-action carbine and why?

Thanks in advance
 
260 Rem.

Light recoil, great ballistics, proven performance.

.....same could be said about the 7mm-08.

Both available in the Ruger Compact, or at least were as of last year and you can still find them around for sale. Can't go wrong with either one.

You can load either one down to varmint setups, or upwards for big game. For me, I think the 243 is a bit light for deer- but that is an endless debate that rages on. And with today's better performing bullets, I think it is less of a debate.

Since the Ruger compact will be the same 'package' regardless of caliber, why limit your shooting range by selecting a 6.8 or 7.62?

Now, that being said, I did buy a Compact in 6.8 for the purpose of having a very light recoil small rifle for girlfriend or youth that may want to go hunting with me.
But I do already own the Compact in 260 as well.... :wink:
 
I got a Compact in 7mm-08. I was debating on getting the 6.8 SPC but it is not available in the stainless, laminate version and If I decide I want to hunt mule deer with it, I think the 7'08 will give me more confidence. I also considered the 260 but I have and handload for a No.1 in 6.5x55 Swede and the 6.5 bullets are so long that I would be limited to the Compacts magazine length, causing the bullet to take up powder space in the cartridge in a barrel that will already have reduced velocity because of it's short length. Of course in the No.1, this is not a problem, since there is no magazine and in the Swede chambering you have a longer throat. I chose the 7mm-08 for it's accuracy and game killing reputation, large bullet sellection and the fact that with the short 16.5" barrel, you will not lose quite as much velocity as with the smaller calibers using the same case size. I have yet to shoot my Compact, due to work commitments and other gun projects, but I am anxious to do so. I will be mounting a light weight (8.5 ounce) Leupold 4X scope on it and don't plan to be shooting at over 200 yds. It should be a nice light weight set-up.
 
The .260 would probably top my list (LOVE anything that shoots a 6.5 mm bullet!); but I sure wouldn't turn down a 7-08, either...

A 130-140 gr. bullet going around 2400-2500 fps is a wonderful thing in a small, handy rifle, and will handle 200 yard work with efficiency and authority without bruising the shooter.
 
260 Rem or 7mm-08. Can't go wrong either. Like the idea of the 6.8 but Ruger has decided to stick with the older chamber and barrel twist specs. I don't like the idea of having specs that do not favor the better ammo choices.
 
Unfortunately, Ruger no longer is making the 260 in the walnut/matte blue Compact. Still a few floating around out there though... They only are offering it the laminated stainless Compact version now.

But they still make the 7mm-08 in both walnut/matte and laminated/stainless.
 
This appears to be a good price for a new rifle in 260. And as was mentioned earlier they are discontinued.
http://www.gunsamerica.com/980097040/Guns/Rifles/Ruger-Rifles/Model-77/RUGER_M77_HAWKEYE_260_CAL_COMPACT.htm
 
I like the 6.8 and I'd buy one over the .260 or 7/08 since I have a 6.5 Swede and .280 already. I'm building an AR in 6.8SPC now, and ammo is readily available from SSA, Midway, and many retailers.
 
I've had no trouble getting quality 6.8 spc ammo from SSA and IIRC they sell brass too.
 
The 6.8 SPC Hawkeye compact was my choice and I'm more than happy with it.

It is designed for a short barreled rifle so there is no wasted energy/powder. Ammo and brass are always avaliable on the inet and there are lots of new commercial rounds with quality bullets --TSX etc -- now on the market. No recoil to speak of, no excessive noise and blast from a cartridge designed for a longer barrel, and an impresive kill record already on deer and massive hogs... (Check the 68 Forum site for details.)

The only issue I see is that 99 % of the 6.8s out there are black guns and we bolt gunners can meet in a phone booth. I have gone a step beyond and am having a custom Ruger #1 built.

I would draw the line on it as an elk gun though.

wunbe
 
thanks all for the replies. I think I might go with the 6.8 SPC since as wunbe pointed out, it was designed for short/medium lengthed barrels. I figure that any cartridge built on a 308 case would probably be better suited to a full length barrel (at least muzzle blast and noise-wise).

If I am ever lucky enough to win a Moose tag here in the granite state, I would use my .308 with the full length barrel, so I think the SPC might be the way to go.
 
>I figure that any cartridge built on a 308 case would probably be better suited to a full length barrel (at least muzzle blast and noise-wise).

Interestingly, one of the design concepts of the .308 was efficiency in shorter barrels. One goal was 150 gr. velocity equal to .30-06 velocity, but out of a 20-inch barrel as opposed to a 24-inch.
 
QB

I have a Remington 660 in .308 and have thought about a rebarrel job, but no flies on that .308 either. Short and handy the 600/660 was the father of the 7 I guess. I have two, the other is .222. Great guns, you'll love the 7

My M-77 .257 fits nicely between them

Piper
 
Another vote for the .260 -

ruger1.jpg
 
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