Printable View
I am having a tough time deciding what caliber I should do for my next hunting rifle build. The 35 Whelen is at the top of my list, but whatever it is I don't want to get beat up at the bench.
I have the following calibers in bolt action centerfire rifles.
223
243
6.5 Creedmoor
270
308
30-06
300 WSM
8mm Mauser
I see a 7mm and 25 cal voids in your arsenal, those are viable options.
Dean
I've got an itch for a 260 Remington or 6.5-08. (Since I reload, I might go for the Ackleyized version with the steeper shoulder.)
You get the benefits of the high-BC bullets in 6.5, the rigidity of a short action, and the cheap/common availability of 308 cases that you can neck down, or 243s that you can neck up.
how 'bout 25-06 AI?
I agree that a 25 cal is needed. The 250 savage is one of my favorites and the 250 improved is a bad mother chicken. 25-06 performance in a small short action package.
1.618
I all ready have 2 - 6.5 Creedmoor
what would you be hunting with this rifle?
There is no one specific animal I am going to use this rifle for, I like to have a choice of firearms when I hunt. Most of my rifle hunting besides varmints is in Pa., but lets say anything on North America.
That narrows it down to a 257 Weatherby.
Dean
I say one of the 338, either the 338/06 or the 338 federal
Ed
Here we go again. ;)
I think you need either a .280 AI or a 257 Weatherby in your stable
I'd go with your first instinct: 35 Whelen. You can always load it down.
If not that, a 458 Winchester Magnum is certainly never inappropriate.:rolleyes:
Those would have been my choices, Finally a forum member with as good as taste as me.Quote:
Originally Posted by mossback91
Dean
I too would agree with something in a 7mm. I am currently building my first 7mm in the form of a 284 Winchester on an Axis action. Got the barrel on order, action headed to SSS next week, and Boyd's stock on order as well. No real reason I chose a 7mm other than I don't have one, and I didn't go for a magnum round as I didn't want the punishment. However I did want it to be good enough to shoot deer out to 1000 yds, and the 284 fit those requirements. I plan on running 150gr long range Accubonds at around 2950 to 3000, should be pretty nasty round for culling deer at long distances.
I don't think the 257 Wby is what I'm looking for, but the 280 AI has me thinking.
I like the 280 AI and probably would have gone that route, as it has a little more case capacity, except I am building on an Axis this time and it has a short magazine. I think you could maybe squeeze in a 3.46 COL in an Axis mag which is a little short for seating the 175's and 180's way out there.
Definitely 25-06 AI or 7mag!!!
.223 is as low as you go?
How 'bout .204?
For some reason the 204 never caught my eye. I like to shoot on a regular basis and the 223 lets me do it as cheap as you can in a centerfire, especially when you have 3 AR's in 223.
My next hunting gun will be a 280 AI most likely. Should make the perfect semi lightweight canyon shootin mule deer gun.
Kinda surprised more haven't mentioned the 35 Whelen.
338 Lap http://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/DramaLlama.gifQuote:
Originally Posted by Ed Carey
Looks like the obvious gap is the quarterbore to me....
I recommend either a 257 Roberts 257 weatherby or a 6.5-06 ackley. Unless you wanted a 7stw my favorite caliber. You need a quarter bore and a. 7mm lol.
I thought there would be some love for the 7mm RM.
That's always a good choice alsoQuote:
Originally Posted by David_4
280 or 280 AI
Build the Whelen. Otherwise, you'll be back here in a couple of weeks looking to build a Whelen again. Midway has the Shaw kit in 358 Winchester http://www.midwayusa.com/product/343...ProductFinding for $200, a gunsmith can punch that out with a Whelen reamer in a short amount of time for very little money, and you're golden.
Thanks for all the input.
I liked the 7mm suggestions but I think my 300 WSM will cover anything the 7mm will. I just kept feeling that the true void was a medium bore caliber and since the action I have is a 30-06, the 35 Whelen was a perfect choice for my needs. I don't need a super duper match barrel so I ordered the E.R. Shaw kit from Midway.
nice choice!Quote:
Originally Posted by David_4
we will see you back here in a couple of weeks about the .25 build you'll be doing next lol
Leave it as a 358Win, barrel will need setting back to re-chamber to 35Whelen as the 358Win's shoulder is wider. Unless you go 35WhelenAI.Quote:
Originally Posted by David_4
Cheers...
Con
I ordered the 35 Whelen kit.
Download the whelen?? Isnt it already downloaded??
Take the chamber out to an STA then download that to whelen levels for the benchwork.....
The STA will be the right medicine for enough you could possibly encounter in the north American continent.
.358 Shooting Times Alaskan, no thanks. If I need that power I'll move to a 375.
if you mean the Holland; the STA has a bit more juice....
I went thru the same thoughts on the build that I am working on right now. I decided that I would go with the 338-06 the whelen was in the running.
The 338-06 is a great choice. I just don't have the time to reload as much as I used to, so I chose Whelen because it's pretty easy to find factory ammo.