Looking for suggestions - new rifle

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Ykdave

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Just looking for some thoughts/input on a new boomstick

I’m looking to put together a package that’ll get me out past 500 yards accurate enough for picking off coyotes as it’s main purpose. Aside from that, It would also double as my larger game rifle within reason

I’m way out of touch on what arms and calibers are out there these days. Currently my only centerfire is my trusty old sako 7mm rem mag. There’s nothing wrong with the sako and I think the 7mm round is a good round for what I want to do. It’s just an older gun with not much of a scope and I think I can do better for a long range rifle with something newer even if i do go with another 7mm

I don’t really want something that’s $5 a shot, but an oddball/expensive round isn’t out of the question if it’s worth it. Once I blast a bunch of rounds through it getting dialed in and comfortable it’s not going to get a box put through it every day

Suggestions on calibers, rifles, optics?
 
Buy yourself a Tikka t3x in 6.5 creedmoor and a crate of 143 eldx Hornady ammo. Throw a scope on and take joy in shooting under moa all day long, no special voodoo required.
 
I think you got what you need already. You can load lighter pills for small game, heavier for bigger game. 7mm rem is an accurate cartridge, Sako is a nice action, spend the money on a decent scope instead of a new gun.
 
I suppose I can throw a decent scope on the sako and see if it’ll do what I want. Worst case scenario the scope gets pulled to go on something else

Any recommendations for good box ammo to run through the 7 for long range critters? Only thing I’ve ever run through it has been cheap federal 150 and 175s and they do the trick for shorter shots at large game

At this point I do t have any reloading gear and don’t really plan on it as I don’t think I’ll ever shoot enough rounds to justify it
 
kman300 said:
Buy yourself a Tikka t3x in 6.5 creedmoor and a crate of 143 eldx Hornady ammo. Throw a scope on and take joy in shooting under moa all day long, no special voodoo required.
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I second this!

Drop a nice 4-16x50 optic (I have a Nikon Monarch 3) on it and enjoy the laser beam that 6.5 creedmoor is.
 
Yea I’m thinking at least 16x50mm optic. Even if it’ll see twice as far as it’ll shoot I like to be able to see what I’m shooting at lol

Just have an old bushnell 9x on the 7mm and although not bad for large game, a coyote at a couple hundred yards starts getting pretty small
 
I had considered a 243 a while back, but I figured if I purchase another gun I’d like to have my cake and eat it too. I’m sure a 243 will take down large game at a couple hundred yards. But I’m fat and I prefer their be no question about it dropping like a sack of potatoes where it stands, don’t need to have a heart attack tracking a wounded animal for 5 miles lol!

If I could put together a 243 package at the right price I’d consider it for a pest control gun, but cheap and accurate don’t usually mix so I’m thinking it’s best to have something that’s going to be a good deer/moose gun and undoubtably have enough long range accuracy and wallop for coyotes
 
Now that you mention that, I got a buddy with a pump 270 that’s got a stupid scope on it. I might have to borrow that and see what it’s all about if my 7mm isn’t going to do what I want
 
Hitzy said:
I think you got what you need already. You can load lighter pills for small game, heavier for bigger game. 7mm rem is an accurate cartridge, Sako is a nice action, spend the money on a decent scope instead of a new gun.
Click to expand...

^^^^This all day long, there's no reason the 7mm won't do the job
 
Sometimes a custom is the only way to get the "just right" rifle
I was thinking about a T3 CTR Creedmoor but already have a 308CTR. Wanted something lighter to be more universal but still able for a 600yd fox. I phone around and picked up an old Remmy action. At the IWA show I met a guy from Triggertech and managed to get a "sample". A phone call to Dolphin rifles got me a 20" 6.5 1/8 Hardy carbon barrel. This barrel weighs 1.2kg in the raw. John Murphy in Ireland fitted the barrel for me in 6.5CM and my son laid up an experimental carbon fibre E-Tac4 stock that will end up at around or under 800 grams (28oz). Planned scope is a 3-27 PMII or the 3-20x50 Ultra short PMII. Save the weight on the rifle but keep a top scope.
I never had a 6.5 before and have a lot to learn about them. Was hoping a 123gr would be good for quick shots at fox or Sika hind/calves. The 143ELDX might be for a longer range Sika deer. Hope to have the rifle without scope at or under 3kg 6.6lb.

Pic, action with aftermarket recoil lug, Hardy barrel, the new Spuhr Pica rail 20MOA, solid carbon fibre bolt knob I made myself. Action and parts of the barrel will be sprayed this week.
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I’m all new to reloading but I thought a half decent reloading gig alone would be over a grand plus supplies. Which is why I was thinking for the little bit I’m going to shoot, I’d rather look at something off the shelf if at all possible

I’m no gunsmith (imagine that!) but my old sako is said to have less than a box ran through it when I got it many years ago. I typically only put a couple rounds a year through it so it’s got maybe a couple hundred rounds through it in total. It’s always been a good deer/moose gun, but I’ve been sceptical of its long range accuracy just due to its age I guess

I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for a decent scope to put on it, and maybe try out some different ammo and see what results I get. I’ve got nothing really against using the old 7mm if it’ll do it, I just lack the faith I guess. The one and only thing I really don’t like about the old sako is the internal magazine. Not so handy for out crop checking and coming by the coyotes, by the time a guys got a couple rounds into it the coyote is usually onto me and heading to the bush full pin :runaway:
 
Try to find a used Bushnell LRHS 3-12x44. Awesome scope that’s not to big and bulky, but has a lot of target rifle features.
 
Reloading is worth it's weight in gold.
A decent set up won't break the bank, $300-$400 will get you everything you need, and you can load rounds you won't find in factory offerings from 100gr to 180gr, as mild or as hot as you want.
I use a 7mm rem for 1000m target shooting, it's an excellent long range caliber.
 
I have no doubt a 7mm isn’t a good caliber for what I want. Thus the reason I bought the 7 to begin with :)

I’m just a little Leary of a 30 year old gun being accurate enough to do what I want now, even though I’ve really go no reason to suspect it won’t, I’m just assuming newer is better when attempting to reach out to the limits of a caliber

I’m going to look for a kickass scope to throw on the old girl and see what it’ll do I guess. I’d still prefer to use box ammo regardless. , for the amount of shots I’ll take in a year I can waste a few shots before I could justify reloading
 
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