short action caliber input

Sprayed99

WJK 4-9-18
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  • Jan 9, 2012
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    DFW TX
    I'm looking at building a short action savage to use as a 1000yd. and under paper puncher. I will also be doing some hunting with this gun. Mainly Mule deer when I get drawn and some long range yote hunting when I don't feel like shooting my 22-250. I will not be doing any whitetail hunting with it as I have a Sako that is just for texas whitetail.

    I have looked at 7mm-08 and 308 so far. I really don't want another 308 as I currently have a AR-10 and want something a little different. Also looking at 7mm WSM and 300 WSM. I do my own reloading, but would prefer to stay away from any non production brass calibers.

    Let me know your thoughts.

    Thanks in advance

    Dan
     
    Re: short action caliber input

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sako.308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.243, 22-250(ify for deer imo), .280 those would be my first choices that might fit the roles, but i am sure someone will chime in with more experaince than me </div></div>

    Thanks for the response.
     
    Re: short action caliber input

    as you know I am sure...the 7WSM and 300WSM are both easily suited to kill a mule deer.I favor the 7mms over the 30 cals because 7mms are flatter, have better bullet BCs, and less recoil.

    But if all you are doing is looking to shoot mule deer and want a short action...I personally would look really close at the 260.
     
    Re: short action caliber input

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 25MAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">as you know I am sure...the 7WSM and 300WSM are both easily suited to kill a mule deer.I favor the 7mms over the 30 cals because 7mms are flatter, have better bullet BCs, and less recoil.

    But if all you are doing is looking to shoot mule deer and want a short action...I personally would look really close at the 260. </div></div>

    it will be used more of a steel shooter out to 1000yd. secondary would be the once in a blue moon mule deer/elk hunt.
     
    Re: short action caliber input

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sprayed99</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 25MAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">as you know I am sure...the 7WSM and 300WSM are both easily suited to kill a mule deer.I favor the 7mms over the 30 cals because 7mms are flatter, have better bullet BCs, and less recoil.

    But if all you are doing is looking to shoot mule deer and want a short action...I personally would look really close at the 260. </div></div>

    it will be used more of a steel shooter out to 1000yd. secondary would be the once in a blue moon mule deer/elk hunt. </div></div>

    gotcha. I would still consider the 260 since it is a great 1K target gun, but either way if the choice is between the 30cal and 7 short mag...I'll take the 7 everytime, but both are great rounds.
     
    Re: short action caliber input

    Savage 12 LRP in 6.5 Creedmoor, you can load the higher BC bullets long and still be under 2.8" (magazine length), verrrry light recoil, fantastic factory loads from Hornady and lastly in the configuration it comes from Savage the only thing I would change is a McM stock but the HS is no slouch. Someone will come along and say they don't want to shoot an elk with a 6.5, the 6.5 Swede has been killing elk and moose for a long time.

    My .02
     
    Re: short action caliber input

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 25MAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sprayed99</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 25MAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">as you know I am sure...the 7WSM and 300WSM are both easily suited to kill a mule deer.I favor the 7mms over the 30 cals because 7mms are flatter, have better bullet BCs, and less recoil.

    But if all you are doing is looking to shoot mule deer and want a short action...I personally would look really close at the 260. </div></div>

    it will be used more of a steel shooter out to 1000yd. secondary would be the once in a blue moon mule deer/elk hunt. </div></div>

    gotcha. I would still consider the 260 since it is a great 1K target gun, but either way if the choice is between the 30cal and 7 short mag...I'll take the 7 everytime, but both are great rounds. </div></div>

    Okay thank you. I will start doing a bit more research on the 260.
     
    Re: short action caliber input

    I'd select from .243, .260, and 7mm-08 since all are common calibers ammo. and brass are easily bought and all have ballistics superior to the .308. The .243 and 7-08 probably have more bullets to choose from for hand loading purposes but all are excellent cartridges. I'm facing this same decision at this time for the rebarrel of a Rem. 700 VS, and still don't know what I'm going to choose.
     
    Re: short action caliber input

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blackblue</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Im going 7-08 on my build. </div></div>

    +1
    cool.gif
     
    Re: short action caliber input

    Good choice!

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blackblue</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Im going 7-08 on my build. </div></div>
     
    Re: short action caliber input

    .260 is probably the best compromise. .243 would be my choice if you weren't talking about using it to hunt bigger animals. if you can use the .308 to hunt, I'd say go .243. 6mm has awesome bullets, low recoil, and excellent ballistics.

    Any of the three mentioned: .243, .260, and 7-08 have .308 as their parent cartridges, and any of the three have higher BC bullets for the powder capacity of the cartridge. You'd need a longer case with more powder capacity to shoot the really heavy .30 cal bullets to get the performance out of that diameter, and then you'd have to deal with the increased recoil.