i would like to buy a new rifle for small game for the pot, shooting ranges will be maximum 165yds.

my experience is that on the biggest variants of small game, the .22-.243 cartridges with FMJ's doesn't always kill satisfactory, while the SP destroy to much meat.

so i think a "large" caliber FMJ at lower velocity's(2450fs for the 7.62, and 2600-2800fs for the 6.8) would kill them much quicker, and preserve the meat.

and intermediate rounds will probably be better suited to short barrels.
i was thinking of a light, handy rifle with a 20" barrel.

my to options are 6.8 Rem SPC, and 7.62x39
pros and cons?

if anybody has hunting experience with these two, or other intermediate rounds, i would like to hear of it.

Have you tried something like a 222 w/cast bullets?

one of my 6.5 Caracanos has cleanly killed mule deer with little meat damage with velocities around 2000 fps with 160gr. bullets or 2300 fps with 140 gr. bullets. The 6.8 should do just fine for medium game as also will the 7.62 X 39.It's a coin flip but distance really should be considered with both. roger

If you reload and I assume you do a 3006 or a 3030 would br ideal with either cast bullets or small 110 fmj bullets I shoot both of these calibers with good results on small game. I cast 130 grain Lyman bullet sized to 309 without a gas check and it shoots great out to 120 yds but fmj 110s would go good to 160 yds. If anyone wants the exact loads just say so.

What you want to do calls for a flat meplat or a bullet that will just rivet on impact. Even FMJ spitzers can be destructive at the velocities that you are suggesting. I'd go with a hard cast flat nose bullet from a 7.62x39 at about 2000 fps muzzle velocity.

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i would like to buy a new rifle for small game for the pot, shooting ranges will be maximum 165yds.

Shooting at 165 yards requires some velocity and that is counterproductive to small game meat.

If you can limit yourself to 100 yards than the .22 WMR in a good rifle will do this job well.

To stretch the next 65 yards one can try the .22 Hornet, .218 Bee or even the 6 X 45 or .25/.222 and use 60 grain bullets at about 2000/sec.

If you really want a small game gun for meat you must keep the velocity down or find one so accurate that you take only head shots.....easier said than done.

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Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

i would like to buy a new rifle for small game for the pot, shooting ranges will be maximum 165yds.

If you really want a small game gun for meat you must keep the velocity down or find one so accurate that you take only head shots.....easier said than done.

it's a good point you've got there.

i could just follow my heart and buy a .240 or .257 Wby Mag, and aim for the head/neck.
(this would be a real killer for roe).
and use my .22LR for the short ranges, or exchange it in an .22WMR

the first animal i ever killed with a rifle was actually a head shot.
i took a aim at the crow's chest, pulled the trigger and when i was to get the bird, it had a perfect round .22 Calibre hole just behind the eyes.

What guns do you already have? If you have a 308 or a 30-06 they can be loaded as Philbilly said above to small game bullet/velocity. They work great in my '06 using 110 gr bullets. They are very accurate and I have found a load that shoots to the exact poi as my deer loads. Nice to have a few of these in your pocket for camp meat while hunting larger game.

Now if this discussion is justification for buying a new rifle please disregard all above info and get a 22 of warmer or cooler persuasion. Good hunting, "D"

I would maintain that if you choose the right bullet and place it well, just about any cartridge from the 222 Remington on up will kill deer sized game well with little meat damage.

My choice would be a 22-250 shooting Speer 70 grain Semi-Spitzers. The Speer bullets have killed everything I've hit with them with one shot and little meat damage including a couple of deer.

I've not shot a 6.8 SPC but suspect there may be more bullet choices than in a 7.62 X 39 unless the latter has the .308 caliber barrel rather than the larger .312 diameter barrel the cartridge was originally made for. The 7.62 X 39, in my experience, is capable of excellent accuracy with mild recoil but would not be my choice because of limited bullet choices.

.308 30 CAL 100 GR Short Jacket