Best 20" barrel calibers

I'm a sick person, so I'm looking at 20" barreled rifles . The Sako Bavarian Carbine has me giggly. Which calibers would be best in the 20" barrel:

.260
.7X57
6.5X55
.257 Roberts

Any of these better than the other out to 300yrds?

I'd go with 7x57 out of that group - but that's just me.

Most will say 6.5 - but I'd go with that silly .5mm extra.

Probably only a minor difference between them all to 300 yards. Plug the numbers inti jbm and see what you see.

The 260 Rem should push a 130 gr 2870 fps and a 140 gr 2720 fps.

I can't speak on the other cartridges.

It's true, all of those cartridges would be great for deer or pigs out to 300 yards.

It all comes down to personal preference.

308

I think each one you mentioned will work fine. My 20 inch barreled rifle is in 260, and rather than the 130 and 140 grain bullets the long distance guys are all abuzz about, I shoot the 100 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip at between 3000 and 3100 fps. Works great on deer, pigs, and coyotes and has very little recoil. It's short enough to be maneuverable in the blind. And since it's a Tikka T3 Lite, it's no work to carry around. I couldn't be happier with the rifle and caliber.

Note that I suggest that if you are gonna shoot something as big as an elk or moose, you might want to load up some 130 or 140 grainers.

I didn't think that the Sako Bavarian, was available in 7x57, Sako lists the 7-08 and the 7x64. The 7x57 may very well be available in Europe but not imported here.

Since most of ya'll have never thought about the way Euro hunters use a carbine length caliber on driven hunts...or have much experience with metric calibers...the 9.3x62 looses only about 15-20fps per inch from the ususal 23.6/24" barrel down to a 20 5/8ths barrel in the CZ standard rifle x carbine.

Now the 24" barrel shooting the normal 286gr'ers is not a speed demon to start with at abour 2400+/- MV's the carbine length only costs you about 60fps in the short gun...and is a great WTail shooter from personal experience in Speer 270gr'ers at 2450+fps. I'm told the Nozzler/Barnes 250's can get up to pushing 2650-2700 in the rifle length by a very prominent gun writer from Bozeman that uses his CZ on everything from Bear to Moose to get full penetration on the bigger body weights...or about like a 338WMg in 250's ...and more than capable on Elk sized stuff out to 400 yards with a decent scope...and might do longer than that with a mil/mil setup since the 250's will carry around 3500/4k ft lbs at 100 yards and will have plenty of juice on thin skinned critters at distance.

Sold my CZ 9.3 last spring to a neighbor, that promptly popped a 300lb+ hog on the jaw hinge while spring cleaning his feeder from last season at just under 200 yards, where the piggie went armadillo splat DRT with all 4 feet splayed out like he'd been squished by a 18 wheeler.

338 Fed carbine would be another good candidate too.
Ron

If you're willing to live with the 300 yards maximum range, I'd say the best choice, if you reload, is the .358 Winchester. Of the calibers that you listed, the 7x57 seems most versatile; the .257 Roberts will probably have the best resale value.

Out of that group I like the 6.5x55 and 7x57...if I was out side that...358win, 6.5 grendel...

I do shoot a 7x57 with a 20" barrel, it's a pleasant gun to shoot, even at 7lbs with scope. It works just fine as you can see.
The sellers picture is included for a better look at the rifle. I did change the scope.

Pretty!

I have owned three of those four, and in a 20" barrel I would pick the 7x57 hands down. I have a 7x57 with a 21" and a second with a 22" currently. You can shoot a 120 NBT (thicker jacket than the 140) pretty fast and flat, or all the way up to a 175 RN to dig hard and deep. Loaded to modern levels it is a very versatile cartridge.

I love those too. If I was going to get a Bavarian it would be in a Euro caliber. Only seems right for traditional styled European rifle.

I love both Euro calibers on your list. I have a Mannlicher-Schoenauer 1903 in 6.5x54 with an 18" barrel and another MS 1952 in 7x57 with a 22" barrel. They are among the finest handling and finest built guns I have ever had the pleasure of shooting.

Thanks everyone for the replies. Next week I'll head over to The Beretta Gallery and see what they have in stock. If I'm going to spend $2,000 I want a really nice piece of wood. I've seen some on Gunbroker and the others but most do not show the actual rifle or they say the boxes are sealed, yada, yada, yada..

The guys at Europtic (Keefer)are the only ones who actually took the time to take pictures of two Model 85 stainless Hunters they had in 7mm-08 and I bought the prettiest one.

If you gonna go wood, it's gotta be purtty

+1.

I love those Bavarians. Last time I was at the BG they had a 6.5x55 with real pretty wood. About a month ago.

They make them with regular and Mannlicher stocks. The one I saw had the Mannlicher style.

NP you have a couple great guns IMO. Love the 1903 MS, not sure there has ever been a turnbolt with a smoother action.

Thanks Kmon I really love that little rifle. It has it all and just says quality as soon as you hold it and work the action. Mine also has the original Lyman peep sight custom built to float with the action. This setup is amazingly accurate. One can certainly see why the little 03 was such a hunting game changer from Europe to Africa.

The Sako Bavarian carbine is the modern homage to that little rifle.

It Is a good tribute to the little carbine. Had a Sako Forrester Handi Bunter carbine for several years in 22-250 good shooting little rifle and handy.

Out to 300 yards any of those cartridges are fine. The 257R is one of my favorites but it would limit you to 120 grain bullets max. The others would let you go heavier. May or may not matter depending on what you are hunting. Those Bavarian carbines are beautiful.

I wish Cooper would make their Mannlicher carbine available with the classic finish grade and pricing. At approx $4400 the custom level of pricing is a bit much the classic level at $2300 would be much more doable.

I have a 20 inch 6.5 creedmoor and I love it.

You are correct, I have it narrowed down to the 6.5X55, .260 or 7mm-08.

For God's sake, please don't let the Ruger 77 Stainless/Compact 16" 308 know about these parameters, it might laugh itself to death.

If you're narrowed down to that, all are great cartridges. Look at availability of brass, and 6.5 mm versus 7mm bullets. Maybe that will help decide which one to run with.

I really like my 20" 308. I know 308 is not one of your choices but it works for me.

Border sporting goods here in Laredo has a Winchester m70 Featherweight in 7x57 for sale. Less than 400 were made and they're a really nice rifle although the barrel is a 22".

I think they want around $1000-1100 but it's worth it IMO. I own one myself that the owner had originally bought which led him to source another one after I talked it up.

I'd give them a call if you're looking for a new rifle in that caliber. Don't think anyone else makes them here in the US aside from the ruger #1 and these are hard to find.

I'm going to start with I'm a big fan of 6.5s. In one safe I have 6, my 6.5 swede was my ONLY hunting rifle for 3-4 years. I like the 260, of the others my 6.5 Grendel is the one I grab if I go on a state or invite hunt.I also have 2 6.5x284s. (longer barrels) My swede has a 20" barrel and the Grendel is 16.25"

I bought the Sako M85 Bavarian Carbine from Europtic with a Nightforce 3-10X HVR, REALLY nice scope and I REALLY lucked out on the wood, its freeking beautiful.

I'll get pic's up soon. Packing for opening day now

6.6X55 ^^^^^

6.5X55 ^^^^

unless I missed it, you didn't specify primary use

7x57

7x57 if you load, 6.5 Swede if you don't.


Edited to add: I guess I should qualify that statement. I have both that I mentioned. The 7x57 stuff off the shelf is un-impressive, but I can load it to be a very substantial round, while the off-the-shelf 140gn 6.5 Swede ammo, I can improve on it with reloading, but not to the extent of the 7x57. Basically, I'd be OK with off the shelf 6.5x55, but not with off the shelf 7x57.

The hornady 7x57 stuff isn't bad, but yeah it's a caliber that shines brightest when hotrodded.