Target Cartridge Selection Help, Iron Sight Rifle

Sharps45-70

Sharps45-70

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I am looking to build a period (1910-1915) target rifle on a Ross 1910/MkIII action.

The largest hurtle as always is cartridge selection. The rifle will be iron-sighted, and used between 600 and 1200 meters. Not concerned about much further than that. Don’t worry about cartridge pressure as these were proved for quite high pressures and will handle anything I could ever want to use. The barrel I will be getting will have a fast enough twist and I will be running heavy target projectiles almost exclusively. Between 26” and 30” in length.
I am not necessarily concerned with the "periodness" of the cartridge, mostly just wanting to emulate the performance of the 280 Ross without actually loading 280 Ross :p Some cartridges I was considering:

6.5x55 Swedish
6.5 Creedmoor
7x57 Mauser
7mm-08
7mm Rem Mag
308 Win
30-06

Any further suggestions or any reasoning ad to what would suit my purposes best? I am not recoil adverse, but I won’t be running a brake so I would prefer to stay away from heavy magnums.
 
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Alpheus said:
I would go with the Swede. Excellent all-round target cartridge. Period correct too.
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That is why i was considering it, for the versatility. However what is the accuracy potential of 6.5x55 compared to something more modern?

And Snider Shooter, I want to stay away from 280 Ross, pain in the butt!
 
Get the swede. It's still a very well respected round in Europe used for the task you are asking for. When handloaded it will perform just as good as a Creedmoor or 260 Remington.
 
7mmRM would be closest to the .280.
Are you planning on having a repeating rifle? Magazine issues?
Are you converting a .303 action? If so, the belted magnum might fit the boltface very well. All the others you mention have a smaller rim diameter.
A barrel with a Light Palma contour would finish at 30" and be appropriate. Apart from a bit more velocity, the long barrel would give a long sight radius.
 
tiriaq said:
7mmRM would be closest to the .280.
Are you planning on having a repeating rifle? Magazine issues?
Are you converting a .303 action? If so, the belted magnum might fit the boltface very well. All the others you mention have a smaller rim diameter.
A barrel with a Light Palma contour would finish at 30" and be appropriate. Apart from a bit more velocity, the long barrel would give a long sight radius.
Click to expand...

My thoughts as well! I was planning on converting a 303 action, and found a few converted to 30-06 for examples on how to address the bolt face for smaller rims. I was thinking 7mmRM might be a bit heavy recoiling with no brake, a steel buttplate (unless I did a period leather pad), and a long shot string, but I am not entirely against it.

I would like a repeater, but I am not sure what I would have to do to change the magazine geometry until I had it in front of me.
 
Another option might be the 7mmWSM. Ballistic equivalent of 7mmRM, shorter case. Has the larger rim diameter.
I suppose that it depends if you want high velocity performance similar to the .280, or lower velocity from a non-magnum.
A sight like this BSA Martin (intended for the II** rifle) would fit the Mk. III rear sight base, and provide greater range and precision than the regular Mk. III sight.

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tiriaq said:
Another option might be the 7mmWSM. Ballistic equivalent of 7mmRM, shorter case. Has the larger rim diameter.
I suppose that it depends if you want high velocity performance similar to the .280, or lower velocity from a non-magnum.
A sight like this BSA Martin (intended for the II** rifle) would fit the Mk. III rear sight base, and provide greater range and precision than the regular Mk. III sight.

View attachment 266178
Click to expand...

I currently have the Canada Tool & Specialty on my commercial MkII** and love it. I was looking for a CT&S, Martin, Sutherland, Pilblad, or Peddie target sight. Very hard to find in good shape it seems.

As for cartridge, the 7mmRM would fit in the action, but I am still unsure of recoil. Never shot one. How much worse is it compared to a normal .303 or a 30-06? Leaning a bit towards 6.5x55 as I know you can load it up a bit for long range target work.

Jerry, I was referred to you by someone else who rebarreled a Ross, and I wanted to go through you ordering a McGowen barrel for it. :)
 
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