What caliber ?

[stomp442]

Not sure I follow what you are trying to accomplish with this statement. But why don't you try providing something useful to the conversation.

[Hotolds442]

I think he was referring to yobuck's style of hunting.

[yobuck]

Guess i never realized a 300 win mag was a super magnum. And i also didnt know walking around with one of them would be
harder to do than walking around with 6.5X06. But thanks for clearing all that up. lol

[Luke45]

Not sure I follow what you are trying to accomplish with this statement. But why don't you try providing something useful to the conversation.

what hotolds said!!! i was backing you up

[stomp442]

All I am saying is a large magnum is not needed for what the OP is wanting to do. The 6.5-06 when shooting a 140gr bullet at 2950fps provides over 1300 ft lbs of energy at 600 yards provides 5" less drop and wind drift is essentially identical to that of a 300 win mag shooting 210s at 2850fps. Yes the 300 carries more energy but at the cost of almost twice as much powder, much more recoil and the added cost of a brake to shoot comfortably. I guess I just think differently.

[Londerko]

Are you using the berger 140 VLD? Just curious

[stomp442]

Yes sir.

[Londerko]

I assume for the 260AI as well?
Because again........ I want one ;)

[stomp442]

Yep. That's the best bullet going for the 6.5s as far as I am concerned.

[LoneWolf]

I ran the 140VLD in my 6.5-06 before I broke it apart to sell for my primary shooting desires. At 600 yards and around 3000FPS with good glass and known dope it was laughable how easy it was to stay on a 6-8" plate. On a 24" plate at 890yds shooting up a 9-10 degree slope I was able to shoot a nice 6-8" group. I would be very comfortable with a rig chambered in 6.5-06 for hunting as long as I had proven my confidence in it and the glass that sits on it. It actually matched the ballistic card of the 243 pushing 115DTACS at 3100-3150 until you pass 1100 or 1200yds.

[yobuck]

I think he was referring to yobuck's style of hunting.

Actualy i take no credit for much of anything if you notice, including how i hunt long range.
BUT, if you were ever so inclined to come east to hunt long range, you would find that virtually all of it
is done in a manner Shawn Corlock would refer to as (ambush style).
That would be picking a location you can cover lots of area then wait for an animal to show up.
Reason it is done that way in the east is because the terrain would dictate its the only way it can be done.
As for shooting from a bench, thats also the chosen method because the terrain as a rule is very steep and also completly tree covered.
So small portable benches are made which can be carried up to a mile or so, or a bench is stashed and left from year to year.
Sometimes flat rocks are used at some locations for building one. Most guys can (shoot better) from a bench, but i guess there are exceptions.
Also notice how the worlds best/acuracy oriented shooters shoot. Ive never seen one prefer laying on the ground next to a bench at a 1000 yd match.
Western hunters have the luxery of hunting in this manner, or by moving about and stopping to glass as they go. (another topic)
Eastern hunters who travel west and there are many, as a rule use the tactics they use back east. Especially if a 4 wheeler is permitted to help carry gear.
The choice of cartridges used would depend largly upon the distance involved. Yes you can use smaller lighter bullets to shoot long distances and if you hit an animal
properly it will kill it. But if youve ever (watched) a small bullet vs a heavy bullet at equal M V travel across a wide valley you wont need me or anyone to sell you on whats best.
One more thing thats never discussed. I would love to be 30 and be able to wander around as i chose to hunt. but im not and at some point neither will you.
Think about that and also how your life could change as a result of even your drive to work today. Or be ordered to slow down because that ticker you were issued isnt doing so good.
Would you prefer being a couch potato or eat crow? lol

[D.ID]

The only trend i see is shots other than maybe the 916 one that i would even consider long range and hardly require a 338 edge to make a kill. .

That was my point. most listed fall in that 600ish or less range and are good clean kills with a WSM, 7mm and even 270......but the the 338 still has some desirable effects.
I only shoot to 1400 even with my edge and have not needed that for elk yet.

[wyo85]

Went to a gun show this weekend , no good buys at all. So I came home and ordered a Axis heavy barrel (308) with plans on ordering a 260 Ackley barrel when Apache Gun Works opens up orders on barrels. Now what twist and length of barrel should I order, I plan on shooting 140's and 142's mostly, I'm thinking of ordering the x-caliber barrel and should I have it treaded for a muzzle break ?

[foxx]

You won't need a brake. 260 or 260AI is plenty mild. My Apache 260AI is an 8 twist. love it. easily a 1/3 MOA or better.

[stomp442]

8 twist all the way.

[JASmith]

600 yd Elk? Might lose a few wounded at that range due wind shifts and gusts even with the most capable cartridges.

Consider a 260 Remington or 6.5 Creedmoor and shoot a lot at unknown distances in a variety of wind conditions. That experience with formal and informal targets will help you better decide when NOT to shoot.

[D.ID]

8 twist for sure.
I do not anticipate a need for a brake but if you think there is the slightest possibility you may someday want a brake or suppressor: get it threaded, find a thread protector and your options are open.
It's pretty easy to do while it's in the lathe and being machined on anyway. I order all mine threaded at the muzzle just in case, even the low recoil calibers just because I hate tearing one back down once there dialed in and locked down.

[wyo85]

well ,wanted a 600 yard Elk caliber and didn't want to fire form my cases I just can't figure out where my thinking started to go hey wire. Well I guess I can look at it this way my next build will have these goals. Lol

[stomp442]

The way I look at it is like this. You have to break the barrel in and load develop anyway so fire forming gets done while you do that. Its really no different of process than any other caliber and accuracy while forming is generally really good as well.

[LoneWolf]

6.5-06 will do everything a 260AI will do and a little more. Uses slightly more powder, but my reloads were plenty accurate on the first firing after necking up the 25-06 brass. Things just get a little consistent after that first time through the chamber.