Kimber Hunter or Savage 116 Lightweight Hunter? .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor?

[Buckhunter28]

Thanks again for all the replies, definitely is helping me reach a decision on what to do here! @CAMPMEAT , good to know about the ELD-X bullets to buy as much as I can, thats what I've been currently doing for my 7mmRemMag, that ammo sells fast so it's good to know it is true for the 6.5 as well, and also glad to hear 500 yards would be no problem for deer. I've been doing as much research in my ballistics manuel as I can, and the 6.5 for sure looks like a sharp shooter that can get the job done, and alos thank you for sharing the load you're using! Also, the overheating of the barrel, is that just for the long action 116, or the model 16's as well? And how much weight do you compromise with a bull barrel? Thanks again for answering, and sorry if these are common knowledge questions, the whole light weight and long range aspect of hunting is new to me, and also thanks for the heads up about David's gallery of guns, they do have outstanding prices!! All your info is much appreciated, and the 6.5 sure looks like a mighty fine round

@headshot5, I'll definitely check out the 7mm-08 and see what it's all about, I love my 7mmRM, so I'll give it a look, thanks for the headsup!

@Bob33 , that was a great read and was full of useful info that is proving very valuable to me in my decision process, thank you for the link to that!

If anyone has any experience with the Kimber Hunter in general I'd love to hear, but as of now I think I'm leaning towards the savage, but any info or personal experience is very valuable to me, thanks again! 

[CAMPMEAT]

You are entirely welcome. Now, I'm going through a wrench in everything, everybody has told you. I'd also look at the Howa 1500 in 6.5 Grendel......

This is my custom AR 15 Grendel. $3000 as is and it's yours.

[Southpole]

I just bought a Kimber Hunter in .243. I love how it feels in my hands, nicely balanced, light as heck and very good quality for the price. I haven't got a chance to shoot it yet 

[Bluemoon]

I bought the Savage 11/111 Trophy Hunter in the 6.5 Creedmore this past September.  I put a Vortex Diamondback HP on and absolutely love it :.  I went from a 270 Weatherby Mag.  Going from $4.00 dollars a shot to $1.00.  I sighted it in with the ELD 140's before I found out they were not suitable for shooting game more for punching paper.  I contacted Hornady they recommended going to the ELD-X.  The people at Hornady were wonderful to talk with.  I highly recommend the 6.5...There is one trophy Antelope and about 7 Coyotes from this past season that disagree with me however.       

[CAMPMEAT]

I just bought a Kimber Hunter in .243. I love how it feels in my hands, nicely balanced, light as heck and very good quality for the price. I haven't got a chance to shoot it yet 

243's are smokin' good rounds too... I have a friend who shot a competition in a shoot and held his own.
 I've never owned a 243, but have thought about one seriously a while ago.

[Southpole]

I just bought a Kimber Hunter in .243. I love how it feels in my hands, nicely balanced, light as heck and very good quality for the price. I haven't got a chance to shoot it yet 

243's are smokin' good rounds too... I have a friend who shot a competition in a shoot and held his own.
 I've never owned a 243, but have thought about one seriously a while ago.

Been wanting one for awhile now. I wanted something for deer and predators. I'm old school/stick with standard rounds kinda girl, so I thought a .243 would be perfect for me.

[baker5150]

Thanks again for all the replies, definitely is helping me reach a decision on what to do here! @CAMPMEAT , good to know about the ELD-X bullets to buy as much as I can, thats what I've been currently doing for my 7mmRemMag, that ammo sells fast so it's good to know it is true for the 6.5 as well, and also glad to hear 500 yards would be no problem for deer. I've been doing as much research in my ballistics manuel as I can, and the 6.5 for sure looks like a sharp shooter that can get the job done, and alos thank you for sharing the load you're using! Also, the overheating of the barrel, is that just for the long action 116, or the model 16's as well? And how much weight do you compromise with a bull barrel? Thanks again for answering, and sorry if these are common knowledge questions, the whole light weight and long range aspect of hunting is new to me, and also thanks for the heads up about David's gallery of guns, they do have outstanding prices!! All your info is much appreciated, and the 6.5 sure looks like a mighty fine round

@headshot5, I'll definitely check out the 7mm-08 and see what it's all about, I love my 7mmRM, so I'll give it a look, thanks for the headsup!

@Bob33 , that was a great read and was full of useful info that is proving very valuable to me in my decision process, thank you for the link to that!

If anyone has any experience with the Kimber Hunter in general I'd love to hear, but as of now I think I'm leaning towards the savage, but any info or personal experience is very valuable to me, thanks again!

I have a Kimber Montana in 300 wsm.  I love it.  Light and easy to carry.  It has a muzzle break so the recoil is minimal for such a light gun.
I was going to pull the trigger on a Savage Bear Hunter, but didn't like the stock as much as the Kimber.  I couldn't tell you why, just didn't feel right.

Anyway, hope this helps.

[CAMPMEAT]

I just bought a Kimber Hunter in .243. I love how it feels in my hands, nicely balanced, light as heck and very good quality for the price. I haven't got a chance to shoot it yet 

243's are smokin' good rounds too... I have a friend who shot a competition in a shoot and held his own.
 I've never owned a 243, but have thought about one seriously a while ago.

Been wanting one for awhile now. I wanted something for deer and predators. I'm old school/stick with standard rounds kinda girl, so I thought a .243 would be perfect for me.

243 is perfect for alot of hunting animals. I've kinda got into the oddball calibers for some crazy reason.

[crabcreekhunter]

If you are lookig at the kimber hunter, might roll the .280 AI chambering around a bit.  I have a .280ai built on a remington action and love the caliber.  Ballistically it is quite well suited for what your needs are. 

[Buckhunter28]

Again, thanks to all for the input you've provided! @CAMPMEAT , haha that may throw a minor wrench into things, but that is an absolutely beautiful rifle that I would love to buy, but its just out of my price range though, thank you though, as well as for all the info you have given to me, I think I've reached my decision to go with 6.5 

@crabcreekhunter , thanks for the response, and I most certainly have given thought to the .280AI , it appears to be an outstanding caliber, and I plan on owning one at some point

@baker5150 , thanks that is very nice to hear, I'm planning to get to Cabelas this weekend and get a feel for both rifles and see how I like em, but thats very good to hear thank you!

As to everyone else, thanks a ton for giving input, and I'm definitely still open to having more input, the more the better! Thanks everyone 

[Buzz2401]

I'm partial to Kimbers and already have 308 dies so it would be a easy pick for me but seems like Savage is making some fine rifles these days.  But last thing I need is another caliber.

[CaNINE]

There is a lot of good advise here. I'll throw in a twist for you to ponder. I see the savage lightweight hunter is also chambered in 260 REM. Yes, yes, I know it's not the sexy 6.5 creedmore. When you look at who's winning benchrest competitions there is about equal representation from the 260 REM, 6.5x47 lapua and 6.5 creedmore. The 260 has a slight ballistic edge but not important for our purposes per say. The big edge is that Lapua makes brass for the 260. If you ever decide to reload that's a big deal.

[CAMPMEAT]

There is a lot of good advise here. I'll throw in a twist for you to ponder. I see the savage lightweight hunter is also chambered in 260 REM. Yes, yes, I know it's not the sexy 6.5 creedmore. When you look at who's winning benchrest competitions there is about equal representation from the 260 REM, 6.5x47 lapua and 6.5 creedmore. The 260 has a slight ballistic edge but not important for our purposes per say. The big edge is that Lapua makes brass for the 260. If you ever decide to reload that's a big deal.

The under edge is Lapua brass is really expensive. I just bought 100 rounds of Nosler brass blems and it was $113 to my door.

[BULLBLASTER]

There is a lot of good advise here. I'll throw in a twist for you to ponder. I see the savage lightweight hunter is also chambered in 260 REM. Yes, yes, I know it's not the sexy 6.5 creedmore. When you look at who's winning benchrest competitions there is about equal representation from the 260 REM, 6.5x47 lapua and 6.5 creedmore. The 260 has a slight ballistic edge but not important for our purposes per say. The big edge is that Lapua makes brass for the 260. If you ever decide to reload that's a big deal.

The under edge is Lapua brass is really expensive. I just bought 100 rounds of Nosler brass blems and it was $113 to my door.

I'd take Lapua brass over nosler blem for the added 20-30$ any day of the week.  I recently bought some blem nosler brass and on sps it is shown to be weight sorted like the regular nosler brass. Wasn't the case I had a 6 grain spread over one bag of 50 brass. That'll be the last time I buy blem nosler brass.

I thought I saw where Lapua was going to start making some creedmore brass soon but maybe not.

[jay.sharkbait]

.308 is a compromise and is a great for teaching the importance off good wind calls.

.260 is better than Creedmoor in bolt guns and I think most people like to say "Creedmoor". 6.5 Creedmoor is better in gas guns and has a place there.

I'd go .260 or .243