Considering a T/C Icon Precision in 6.5 Credmoor or .243

BelgianBeagler

BelgianBeagler

New member
I'm just getting into coyote calling.

I'm looking for a bolt gun with out of box accuracy, limited kick (realizing it will vary with my choice of load), and versatility to use long-range with both 'yotes and deer (maybe muley/elk on rare occasion - though less likely).

I've seen other posts about Icon Precision as being well built & very accurate even if a bit $$.

I'm worried .243 might be a bit light and 6.5 Creed might be a bit "new" (i.e - how long will it be around in production ammo as I don't reload currently).

I also thought about the 25-06 but it does't come in the Icon Precision.

Any thoughts on best caliber for my application or if there's possibly a better platform value over the T/C Precision I should look into?

Any input is greatly appreciated!
 
Why stuck on the Icon? I'm just curious... There really isn't any discernable accuracy difference between a Savage Edge with 10 minutes of love to the trigger vs. any other production bolt rifle these days. For a cool grand and a little bit of time you could piece together a Savage 10/110 in any caliber you want with a barrel far superior to anything TC makes, a S S S trigger, and whatever stock grabs you from any of the stock people (Boyds to Wenig and everyone in between).

Then again if you just grab the .308 you have a proven performer on everything up to and including elk, in the platform you originally asked about. Even 6.5 Creedmore seems a tad light to me, although the crazy Swedes have been using the 6.5x55 over a century and harvested everything with it.

As for new, screw new. I bought a SRH in 480 AFTER Ruger DCed it. You get your brass in bulk, besides that the performance has been proven.
 
I'm not really married to the Icon. Icon & Ruger were the only two selling production guns in the 6.5 Credmore caliber. I just read about questionable Savage triggers even with the accu-trigger, so leaned toward the Icon Precision as it sounded solid out of the box.

I've not done any gun work beyond cleaning a barrel. Is replacing a trigger a DIY project or something a gunsmith should do?

Also, pardon my lack of experience but the part about: "...you could piece together a Savage 10/110 in any caliber you want with a barrel far superior to anything TC makes, a S S S trigger, and whatever stock grabs you from any of the stock people (Boyds to Wenig and everyone in between)." Where can I look to learn how to piece a gun together like I think you suggesting? Will this be cheaper and still give good results?

The 6.5 Creed was touted for the high BC bullets for longer range without requiring really heavy bullets and associated recoil. I thought the 6.5x06 would give the most versatility, but that's not a production round either, and like I said, I don't reload my own. Maybe that's something I can get back into, but I'd rather buy what I need than spend hours making my own.

I'm basically just a rabbit hunter looking to help control the predator population.
 
6.5 caliber bullets do something magical when it comes to ballistic coefficients, and that goes for any 6.5 caliber cartridge.

A barrel change on a Savage is about as difficult as replacing your sink trap. Unscrew nut, unscrew barrel, insert empty brass into bolt, screw on barrel, tighten nut. As to a new trigger, most are pretty straight forward affairs involving popping a couple pins or screws out, replacing the trigger, then replacing the pins or screws.

I've had four Savages, and every one has been a superior product to any other mid-cost ($1000 or less) rifle I've played with, functionally. The action isn't very attractive on either the Edge or the 10/110, and their plastic non accu-stocks are both ugly and very hollow. Their laminate offerings are as good as anyone else's.

If the goal is a predator rifle, get a predator cartridge like .223, or at max .243. If this is going to shoot Elk as well, go with something utterly versatile, .308 or 30-06. I'd get a good handle on what a bread-and-butter centerfire rifle can do before leaning towards something for long range. A 243 in capable hands is very capable of fatal shots beyond 500 yards on coyote sized targets.
 
Tyler,

Thanks for your post. Sink trap hey...I've done that.
You've given me more to think about an look into.

I found a forum on SavageShooter.com about [beeep] triggers. Maybe I'll try it myself as you suggest and look here or there to bail me out if I get it messed up!

Thanks again.
 
You could look at a 7mm-08? I like Remington, if your looking for a cheap solution why go with the edge and not just straight to the Stevens 200? Folks around say they are as good a shooter as any low priced Savage.

I personally like the ability to expect anywhere that sells ammo to know what my caliber is and to stock it regularly. And, I will till I start reloading.

.243win is my go to cartridge for deer or yotes. There are calibers with better Ballistics Coefficient, but most yotes and deer are shoot in 100yrds or less. And, a .308win, 7mm-08, or .243win will shoot deer to 400-500 yards, though few people need to. Despite being a .30 caliber the .308 isn't really a kicker much. Also, a good recoil pad made shooting my '06 feel softer than my .243win.

Just things to think about.
 
S S S stands for sharpshootersupply.com by the way, didn't know if you had read that far. The Savage platform is the hands down easiest platform to work with, and are inherently quite accurate and are much less susceptible to the "tolerance stack-up" that most rifles can fall victim to due to their barrel nut arrangement.

On Savage's front page there is a link to Team Savage taking the national F/TR title and breaking the F/TR record with box-stock rifles...
 
To your original question. If you don't want to hassle with building your own you had it right the first time. The Precision Icon is a fantastic rifle out of the box no hassle. The 6.5 is backed by people that have proven success bringing a caliber to market. My guess is it will be around a long time. This is a fantastic caliber with match ammo and a fantastic rifle that in my opinion meets your objectives almost perfectly. I don't think that you should have to hassle with building your own rifle when in the end you are not going to have anyting any better and no matter what you will have some time and effort into putting one together. So if you want to have a gun and ammo that is ready to roll get the TC. One note; I talked to TC a week or so ago and the 6.5 is currently in production with no difinate delivery date. So if you need something right now you might not get it.
 
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Thanks. While learning to put one together sounds interesting, I thought Tyler was saying I'd save quite a bit of $. Re-reading his original message, I think I missed his point.

I'm not in a big rush, so I'll keep following T/C's status of 6.5 while looking into the process and cost of the Savage build, but I'm leery of my ability to make it sub MOA without considerable effort/re-work cost.

Thanks for your thoughts on the merits of the Icon & 6.5 MM fitting what I'm looking for in a weapon.
 
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