Which caliber for new rifle build!!!

[Bigeclipse]

Hey all. I am looking to start another rifle build off either a savage 110/10 action and I am undecided on which caliber. The only goal I have set is the ability to take a deer to 400 yards (no further and 99% of the shots will be under 200 yards). I currently own a 7mm rem mag for all my extreme ranges (>400 yards). I have a 3006 shooting 180s packing a whallop on the shoulder (my reloads are running HOT!!!) and my wife has a 243 that I shoot occasionally. Yes the 3006 and 243 are both capable of taking deer at 400...I just want another project for the winter :) I do reload so factory ammo is not really an issue BUT finding reloading components is a plus so I would like to avoid calibers where you MUST neck size or "fireform" brass because no one sells that brass or any wild cat extreme calibers. what do you all suggest?

[stomp442]

Get a 260 or 6.5 creedmoor and you can get rid of the 243 and 06 and be more than lethal out to 800 on deer.

[Bigeclipse]

Get a 260 or 6.5 creedmoor and you can get rid of the 243 and 06 and be more than lethal out to 800 on deer.

haha...I was considering the 260. Not so much the creedmoor though. I will have to check that out. I will probably keep both the 3006 and 243. Everyone should own a 3006 lol and I really like mine! The 243 I will hang on for my child. it was passed from my father-in-law to my wife and will likely be passed from her to our child (we do not have one yet but will eventually)

[maxl]

If its a long action go with a 6.5x55 swede, short action i vote 260. Both are great calibers though. I have both but if forced to pick one over the other it would be the swede

[snowgetter1]

300 wsm

[keeki]

25-06rem

[yobuck]

Youve got an excellant lineup of guns right now. There is no way any 6.5 will show improvement in any way over your 7 r m for what your intended use is.
And for that matter even at double the distance of your intended use. As for the 30/06 if you were to own 1 gun for hunting all creatures roaming this country
in all 50 states, excluding none, it would be a good choice. Call some outfitter in Alaska and tell him you want to book a grizzley hunt with either your 6.5 whatever
or your 06 and see what he tells you. And in a pinch, it will serve you well on a prairie dog hunt.

[jerry shaw]

If you're looking for a project, think hard about the .260 Rem. I did much the same thing last year.
It will do what you want it to do, and won't beat you up. The same thing applies to 6.5 CM.
I selected the .260 Rem due to a broader selection of brass, but my priorities aren't necessarily the same as yours.
If you don't want to build your own ammo, the 6.5 CM might be a better choice. There is VERY good factory ammo available.
Selecting between those calibers is tough, but it's hard to make a bad choice since they are so similar and are both good.

Good luck.

JS

[sixonetonoffun]

Your 7rm will rarely get out of the cabinet if you go with any of the above. The velocities and bc of the mag with much less recoil and powder.

[jerry shaw]

"Your 7rm will rarely get out of the cabinet if you go with any of the above. The velocities and bc of the mag with much less recoil and powder. "


Agree strongly. Unless you're looking for punishment. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

[YDKDY]

Ditto what maxl said about the 6.5 Swede. I'm in the middle of my Swede build but have found no problem getting components for the rifle and reloading - except stock choices are a bit more limited for a LA. Got 100rds of Lapua brass for $63, dies are available from most manufacturers at normal prices, all of those high bc 6.5 bullets for targets and hunting, and even found several brands of factory ammo at Cabelas and other stores. My close second choice for calibers would have been the .260.

[YDKDY]

Oh yeah, forgot to add, I also have a .30-06 and a .243, and the Swede fits nicely in between.

[scope eye]

6.5-06 I am sure you have plenty of brass.

Dean

[yobuck]

Note that nobody has stated their suggestion is better, just that it dosent kick as much and uses less powder.
And also note no one has suggested a muzzel brake either.
Buy one like ive got you'll love it seems to be the logic here.

[Robinhood]

If you reload make it a 280 or 6.5-06. the 280 will use the same bullets as the rem mag. Less inventory to worry about.

[yobuck]

If you reload make it a 280 or 6.5-06. the 280 will use the same bullets as the rem mag. Less inventory to worry about.

If the guy didnt already own the 7 mag and was asking about a good 7mm cartridge the 280ai would be what id suggest.
Id also suggest forgetting about any larger 7mm cartridges even though i own a couple.
Of the 6.5s mentioned id also go along with the 6.5x06 especially in the ai version as the best choice.
But lets face it none of those are pleasant to shoot either without a brake.
But above all of that the guy does in fact own the 7 mag, and would be spending his money for the sake of changing, but not actually (gaining) anything.

[GaCop]

Get a 260 or 6.5 creedmoor and you can get rid of the 243 and 06 and be more than lethal out to 800 on deer. +1!

[noisewaterphd]

6.5x284 Norma. Or even a .284 Winchester on a long action.