[Hi Ball]

Evans-03.......Actually I was wanting a for long range shooting rifle for hunting. My 300 Ultra mag was causing me a neck problem shooting it from the bench (even with sandbags and recoil pad) when my itch started up again for something that wouldn't be a bore around the campfire, let me cut that recoil in half and still have lots of sip to penetrate big game animals like elk or mule deer at 400 yards.

I had read years ago of how the Swedes used the 6.5 x 55 for their harvesting of moose and deer. I just upped the anti with a little help from a case that holds a lot more powder. My accuracy at 800 yards with this rifle, shooting 140 grain Sierra bullets has been very good, considering I was shooting with an arm that had been just operated on for nerve damage. I can keep 5 shots within a 11 inch area at 800 yards!

I might could shrink that to 9 ir naybe 8 with more practice I suppose. I won't be shooting passed that 400 yard marker these days anyway most likely. If the gun were heavier (heaven forbid) It would do much better I am positive. If my eyes and are were perfect, I am sure the results would be trim a little more. However, so much is life during it's span understand. I also did not want a 12 pound bench gun for hunting. I have one of those in a 6mm Remington and it is no fun to carry all day. Both those wildcats have custom stainless fluted barrels. The 1/4 bore is 25 inches and the 6.5 is 26 inches in length. They both have custom made stocks as well, with Leupold 4 x 12 on the 1/4 bore and a Leupold 3 x 9 on the 6.5/270WSM.

I went on a somewhat quick elk hunt last year and took my 25-06 along for the ride. I did managed to kill a bull elk with the rifle, a model 70 pre-64. However, I long for something better suited as a big game hunting caliber in my hands next time out. My brother in law used to tell me years ago, you just don't need all that "smackin power" to kill elk and mule deer. He used a .243 Winchester in his day by the way!

I was actually after a 270WSM but never could get my hands on the rifle (model 70 of course) so I took the 300WSM instead that was on hand at the gun store. Now with this new acquisition, I proceeded to build a wildcat in short, the 25-06. I thought this would work out as my rifle, using 120 grain bullets. However, it just doesn't do what the other wildcat (6.5/270WSM) will as far as penetration goes into 50lb clay blocks. Nor does it have it's long range ballistic abilities and energy down range on big game animals like elk or moose.

The 6.5/270WSM is much better suited for big critters, using the 140 grain bullet with a SD or .287 and especially with a 160 grain bullet with it's SD of .328 (great for moose or elk in the dark timber) that is available today from Hornady. Shooting long range is also going to put it at the top of the list between the 2 wildcats.

I myself would never hunt elk again with the 25-06........It is just NOT big enough in my humble opinion and hunters must give up those shots passed 200 yards for sure. Now even though the wildcat 25/300WSM has more sip, I would also have to say, it is NO elk cartridge simple put. One should also use a premium bullet as well, so as to stay together after contact of animal tissue.

I reckon shooting those Barnes copper bullets in the 100 grain (if your barrel likes em) would be the ticket to all your antelope and mule deer needs out west. I myself still favor a bullet like the Nosler Partition in the 120 grain for penetration sake. It does the best of both worlds. SD at .260

However if you really want a wildcat to shoot long range and hunt big game, look no further than a 6.5/270WSM or use the 300WSM case as well, to get the job done in spades!