Choosing a Sheep Rifle

littlebighorn · Jun 13, 2021

This weekend my son and I went to the range with my three best shooting rifles (all put together by Zeke) to decide which one he takes on his Wyoming Rocky hunt. They include a 28 Nosler, a 6.5x284, and a 6.5 Creedmoor.
Since I have become so fond of Hammer bullets, all are loaded with Hammer Hunters. (28 with 177g HH, and the two 6.5s with 124g HH projectiles)
We thought maybe we would see which one he shoots the best and which one feels right to him.
He shot each from a bench at 100 yds and Surprise, Surprise... his first 3 shot groups from each rifle measured .39", .41", and .40" respectively.
The 28 weighs total about 8.5 lbs, the 6.5x284 is about 8lbs and the Creedmoor is about 6.5 so none are heavy and the barrels range from 26 to 22 respectively.
His hunt will include horses to get him to sheep country, but considerable hiking could be involved.
Since shooting them didn't seem to help with the decision, I'd like to hear some of your thoughts.

yotebuster17 · Jun 13, 2021

The .28 for sure. The weight diff between it and the 6.5x284 are so close and the long range performance will be so much better with those 177’s. The creedmoor is a good 300 yard deer gun.

SS! · Jun 13, 2021

Whichever has more sentimental value. Sheep die easy as you know. You’ve shot a few!

beech18 · Jun 13, 2021

Fun topic here. I’ll agree with ss on this topic. The sheep hunt in my eyes is much more than just the kill. Tell your boy to take the one that has the most meaning to you guys.

nfh · Jun 14, 2021

beech18 said:
Fun topic here. I’ll agree with ss on this topic. The sheep hunt in my eyes is much more than just the kill. Tell your boy to take the one that has the most meaning to you guys.

Beech18 i am disappointed in your response. You're suppose to sell them a gun and ammo. ???????. Hey appreciated the call a couple weeks ago about that rock island that came in. I passed the info on to my mother in law that you guys had one

marley · Jun 14, 2021

I agree with the sentimental rifle. I'm trying to muster up the guts to use my grandpa's old .243 that he gave to me just before he passed away for my sheep hunt.

30Hart · Jun 14, 2021

It would depend on the area being hunted. If long range shooting is in the plans take the 28...better in those strong Wyoming winds.

Zeke · Jun 14, 2021

LBH,
That’s a good problem to have!!!
I think of the 28 as more like your elk rifle and the added weight on the shoulder and length on a horse isn’t always a good thing. While it’s not heavy, it’s the heaviest rifle of the three.

I like the Creedmoor for the light weight and handy characteristics but it’ll somewhat lag behind the 6.5 x 284 if you need to stretch the barrel a bit.

The boy is young, hard and a good sheep hunter so I’d opt for the 6.5 x 284.
It seems to be the length, weight and the right amount of poop for a trophy ram.

There’s just one opinion but y’all need to do whatever feels right.

It’s going to be awesome!
Zeke

SS! · Jun 14, 2021

marley said:
I agree with the sentimental rifle. I'm trying to muster up the guts to use my grandpa's old .243 that he gave to me just before he passed away for my sheep hunt.

Do it. I think a .243 would be just fine. Bighorns are not terribly spooky either, that would be sweet to get a ram with Grandpa's gun. Thats way cool. Was he lucky enough to hunt sheep when he was alive?

marley · Jun 14, 2021

Slightlysober said:
Do it. I think a .243 would be just fine. Bighorns are not terribly spooky either, that would be sweet to get a ram with Grandpa's gun. Thats way cool. Was he lucky enough to hunt sheep when he was alive?

No he never hunted sheep in his lifetime. but many deer hit the ground with that old .243.

PLK · Jun 14, 2021

My choice would depend on what scope is on each rifle. Perhaps each rifle has the same scope? The 28 Nosler seems like overkill to me and I’d most likely opt for the 6.5x284; mainly because I don’t like recoil and am attracted to short efficient cartridges. And I don’t have any flat brimmed caps so therefore I can’t choose the Creedemore.

elkantlers · Jun 14, 2021

To me, the 6.5x284 just seems like the best option of the 3.

elkantlers · Jun 14, 2021

marley said:
I agree with the sentimental rifle. I'm trying to muster up the guts to use my grandpa's old .243 that he gave to me just before he passed away for my sheep hunt.

Do it! You will never regret taking your Gramps rifle but will always regret not taking it.

beech18 · Jun 14, 2021

I know? I know. You are correct. Little bighorn and I are good. He’s bought stuff from me before I have a different approach. I’m not a high pressure salesmen behind the gun counter. Seems to work out and get a lot of sales because of it.

nfh said:
Beech18 i am disappointed in your response. You're suppose to sell them a gun and ammo. ???????. Hey appreciated the call a couple weeks ago about that rock island that came in. I passed the info on to my mother in law that you guys had one

BradA · Jun 14, 2021

I say 28 nosler, since that’s what I’m going to use on my sheep hunt and hopefully one day every ram to get my grand slam

littlebighorn · Jun 14, 2021

nfh said:
Beech18 i am disappointed in your response. You're suppose to sell them a gun and ammo. ???????. Hey appreciated the call a couple weeks ago about that rock island that came in. I passed the info on to my mother in law that you guys had one

Beech actually sold me the RL-26 I'm using in the 6.5x284. No hard sell there. All he had to do was let me know he had some and BAM! I sent him a check. ?

littlebighorn · Jun 14, 2021

Zeke said:
LBH,
That’s a good problem to have!!!
I think of the 28 as more like your elk rifle and the added weight on the shoulder and length on a horse isn’t always a good thing. While it’s not heavy, it’s the heaviest rifle of the three.

I like the Creedmoor for the light weight and handy characteristics but it’ll somewhat lag behind the 6.5 x 284 if you need to stretch the barrel a bit.

The boy is young, hard and a good sheep hunter so I’d opt for the 6.5 x 284.
It seems to be the length, weight and the right amount of poop for a trophy ram.

There’s just one opinion but y’all need to do whatever feels right.

It’s going to be awesome!
Zeke

Well Zeke, it's your fault we are having such a tough time deciding since you put all three of those sweet rigs together for me...and I do appreciate it my friend.

littlebighorn · Jun 14, 2021

Thanks all for the responses so far.
I don't think there is much sentimental value in any of them, although the 28 is built on the action (former 7RM) of the gun my son shot his Dall sheep with.
But I do worry about the length of that gun in a rifle scabbard. It has a brake on it so it's pretty long.
Also, same VX-5 scope on all of them.
We will keep pondering. I don't think we will be shooting super long distances but in a low density sheep unit, one must be prepared.

nfh · Jun 14, 2021

littlebighorn said:
Thanks all for the responses so far.
I don't think there is much sentimental value in any of them, although the 28 is built on the action (former 7RM) of the gun my son shot his Dall sheep with.
But I do worry about the length of that gun in a rifle scabbard. It has a brake on it so it's pretty long.
We will keep pondering. I don't think we will be shooting super long distances but in a low density sheep unit, one must be prepared.

Better get a guardian trail max scabbord. If you're interested use their website to check measurements. My burris elimantor barely fit

littlebighorn · Jun 14, 2021

nfh said:
Better get a guardian trail max scabbord. If you're interested use their website to check measurements. My burris elimantor barely fit

If we choose the 28 we may have to do that. I just looked them up and that may be a reasonable option.
Thanks

beech18 · Jun 15, 2021

Here’s my rig I used on my WY ram acouple years ago, atleast what you can see of it. Savage kills like the rest of them.

littlebighorn · Jun 15, 2021

Hey Beech,
I'd bet you can pack a pretty solid rifle rest with all that snow. But you gotta get the gun horizontal first.
A snow Rocky and an epic adventure!