I have a long action 700 what to do with it

Jayph

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I decided a while ago to sell all but one of my rifles and start over with a couple custom rifles that I use alot, built the way I want them. I have two done and it's time for the last one. I have a really nice long action model 700 standard bolt face from the early 90's It's the only gun I kept and thats becasue my parents and old lady bought it for me.

This is what I have so far.
.22LR
.220 Swift AI [coyotes and gophers]
.25-06 Rem [deer and antelope]

I know the .25-06 will work on moose elk and black bear when I do my part but I would just feel better having something bigger. So what do I build? I know any cartridge out there with good bullets and shot placement will do it, but a .30-06 is boring and a .270 is what the gun was. I would like to start at 7mm and work up for bullet size so I don't have too much over lap with the .25-06.

I have considered
.280 AI and .338-06. I know I don't need it but also thought about a pt&g bolt and a .300-375 ruger but I don't really want to change bolts and the action is super slick and trued right now. I reload so ammo is of no concern. so if anybody would like to make a sugestion on what to build and why that would be great because there are way too many cartridges out there to decide on my own. :D
 
35 Whelen with a 21 or 22'' barrel.

Easy to carry and plenty of stopping power for a moose.

Shouldnt have any feeding issues either.

I'm currently working on building one as well.
Slowing gathering all the parts together.
Stainless McGowan barrel is on order and not in the picture.
As well, I have a VX-II 3x9 40mm scope for the top of it.

35Whelen-parts.jpg
 
I recommend a 30-06 Spfd. You can't go wrong with that calibre and you would be able to kill all the big game in NA with it. Get it in a 1-10 Twist for heavier bullets and you would be covered. .30 Cal is the way to go based on your current selection of rifles. Oh Yeah, it is boring but only because it does everything so well...
 
I would also go with a .30 or .338 cal. Maybe 308 norma, 338 win mag, 338-06. Another cartridge that always interested me was the 8mm rem mag.
Other than the 338 win mag thay are a little differnt than the norm.
 
How about a 375 Scovill??? It uses the standard bolt face and a 375 bullet would have MORE than enough punch for a moose!
 
8mm-06, 9.3x62, .35 whelen or just a plain old fashioned .280 if you're just determined to change it from the perfectly capable .270.
I highly recomend a plain old .280, if your getting a custom barrel you can call it 7mm remington express and realy mess with peoples minds.
 
I'd jump right over the 7mm's and the 30 cal and go 338-06.........just to be different.
I have one but haven't taken any game with it so I won't tell you how it works,..but I know it will work....first time out with less than max loads the 200gr went 2700....
 
Balistically the 35 Whelen is better than the 336-06 and would be my choice in the group of cartridges being discussed. It was a wildcat not that long ago which gives it macho-mystique, and is now a commercial round so if you ever decide to sell it, it is easier to move. I have personally seen many moose and bears fall to a 35 Whelan that a buddy has and it is impressive.
 
Balistically the 35 Whelen is better than the 336-06 ...

Actually it isn't... usually the larger bore prevails with same size cases but by some quirk the .338-06 outperforms the .35-06...

Hornady 7th Edition: 338-06 The resulting ballistics match the old 333 OKH wildcat from the mid-40's and exceed those of the 35 Whelen. Page 575
 
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Balistically the 35 Whelen is better than the 336-06 ....

How do you figure that?

It has slightly less velocity and uses bullets with lower ballistic coefficients and sectional density. Out to 250 yard the two rounds are comparable but past that the 338-06 really starts to widen the performance gap between the two.
 
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