If someone gave you a Remington 700 long action standard face. What would you build ? Hunting rifle first, target rifle second. Barrel has to be able to be threaded for 5/8x24 for can. Weight does not matter. Budget $800 for Barrel and stock with bottom metal . What caliber? Thanks
Long Action
- Thread starter Mullhead
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Build a long throated .284 Winchester, it will kill anything in the US worth eating and can be a very accurate round, Charles Ballard has won a few awards with his.
6.5-284 for me was a serious barrel scorcher, 1200 rounds with a set back at 900, so I'm guessing 6.5-06 would be the same. Of course you can load them down but that kind of defeats the purpose with peak performers like these. My solution was going with 6.5 Saum which with a light load using H1000 or Retumbo still surpasses them in ballistics and reports say the cartridge gets twice the barrel life???
Comparatively 7mm's get better barrel life usually, like 7-08 you mentioned. 284 Win has won Fclass and 1000Y benchrest so it's what I'd go with. I want one because of the energy and less wind drift with heavy high BC newer 7mm bullet offerings!!!
Comparatively 7mm's get better barrel life usually, like 7-08 you mentioned. 284 Win has won Fclass and 1000Y benchrest so it's what I'd go with. I want one because of the energy and less wind drift with heavy high BC newer 7mm bullet offerings!!!
I would have the bolt face opened up and make a 30 Nosler, just because I am tired of sizing right above the belt on my 300WM.
That's a pretty tough question. I know I'd be flip-flopping all over the issue. For me, 6.5-06AI first 280AI second.
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if im hunting coyotes, im not taking a .375HH.......and if im hunting cap buffalo, im not taking anything in a 6.5xxxx
I recently went through this (though with a different action, so the details may be a bit different), and essentially came away deciding the the Nosler case is just too long to really work in a standard long action if projectile seating depth is to be optimized.
In my situation, I was looking at the 33 Nosler, and found that in order to hit SAAMI OAL (3.34"), the base of the bullet (I was looking at 225 and 250 gr projectiles) would have to hang well below the neck/shoulder junction and intrude on powder capacity (this is where my application may be a bit different; I have a T/C Icon action, and the internal box mag measures only 3.500"). Getting rid of the belt was HIGH on my list of wanting to go with the Nosler case over the Win Mag case, but even using Nosler's own load data the 338 WM matches the velocity offered by the 33 Nosler (for 250 gr projectiles) using the powder that they recommend for each cartridge (though the WM has a slightly compressed load).
All of that being said, I have decided on 338 WM for that gun... but YMMV.
A 375H&H will coyotes. If you are hunting cape buffalo you aren't looking for a standard face remington action.
I went through this exact scenario almost 2 years ago now. I had a long action with standard bolt face that needed re-barreled. After a lot of research I narrowed my choices to 6.5-284 or 280AI. In the end I chose the ackley over the 6.5-284. I love my 280AI....7mm is often overlooked for some reason, but he performance is damn impressive. If I were to do it over I would get a different barrel profile. I went with a heavy palma contour and as the name implies it's heavy. However, it does make for very mild shooting. I shoot the berger 180 vld hunting bullets. I saw a little over 2900fps when load developing, but the most accurate load produced speeds in the mid 2,800 range. Shoots great.
I would much rather have my bullet seated below the junction of the neck than deal with belts. The difference in performance between running 3.5 and 3.34 is not that much. Less capacity equals less potential however you slice it.
The OAL I am running out of my 700 with the 300wm is 3.551 with the 200ELD load I am using right now. My mags have room for 3.65. So its not a real concern in the 700 long action.
I'd look at the 6.5 Swede. No needed to mod the feed lips, brass is "inexpensive " as far as Lapua goes. excellent energy on target at reasonable distances and a wonderful match round. Light recoil as well.
.284 Winchester or 6.5x55 Swedish.
.284 Winchester will be better at longer ranges and have more energy.
6.5x55 Swedish will be easier to shoot and good brass and dies are pretty reasonable.
.284 Winchester will be better at longer ranges and have more energy.
6.5x55 Swedish will be easier to shoot and good brass and dies are pretty reasonable.
Mostly whitetail with mule deer and antelope ever other year or so. Thanks for the replies keep them coming. Been reading on the .284 win and can a 6.5 x55 push a bullet faster than a 260. I remember reading the modern 6.5x55 thread on scout but it is now lost.
The 6.5x55 and the .260 are going to be pretty much the same.... I went through this same dilemma a few years back and ended up building a 6.5x55AI. You can still shoot standard ammo through it if you would like and when it comes time to go hunting, you can push a 140gr bullet about 3000 fps which kills critters like a bolt of lightning. My forming loads shoot around 3/4".... I couldn't be happier. RL26 is awesome in the Ackley version
As others have said 284 win is a good choice. The other 7mm options like 280/AI version would be good options too. Building a 284 custom (with changeable bolt heads for other options later) and purchased another (hunting and backup/loaner for brother) that I am about to develop loadings for.
