What caliber to build/buy?

GRiNGo

GRiNGo

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Meadow Lake, SK
Hi, I've got a Tikka T3 stainless in 260 and a Sako A7 stainless in 300wsm. I do reload. I'm thinking of buying a T3 varmint in 260 or 7mag for long range gong and water bottle destruction but also want enough energy for a little longer hunting if necessary. My other thought is to buy the 260 varmint and rechamber to 260ai, 6.5-06, 6.5-06ai or 6.5-284. Or I have a varmint stock already so i could rebarrel my Tikka to one of the afor mentioned.

Thoughts, please.

Chad
 
GRiNGo said:
Hi, I've got a Tikka T3 stainless in 260 and a Sako A7 stainless in 300wsm. I do reload. I'm thinking of buying a T3 varmint in 260 or 7mag for long range gong and water bottle destruction but also want enough energy for a little longer hunting if necessary. My other thought is to buy the 260 varmint and rechamber to 260ai, 6.5-06, 6.5-06ai or 6.5-284. Or I have a varmint stock already so i could rebarrel my Tikka to one of the afor mentioned.

Thoughts, please.

Chad
Click to expand...

Chad, take a close look at the 6.5x55AI.
Right on the heels of a 6.5/284, and a very nice chambering to load for.
I have one, and I just love it.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
the 300wsm is a sweet cal..and will cover all of the game in north america ..have u thought of getting a .243 cal .it has low recoil and is very accurate if you do your part .another thought get a rifle that you can change barrels to any caliber ..keep it simple and enjoy yourself ..
 
.270 win for big game. You can get ammo at any hardware store when your in absolutely nowhere and run out, and if you are having a bad day you can still feel your shoulder after going through a box of ammo.

.243 win for varmints. Close ballistics to the .270 and the finding ammo rule is the same, its everywhere.

Rem 12ga pump for birds. Still need to upgrade to one that shoots steel for ducks, but the old beater is still great for chicken and partridge.

50 cal muzzy, inline. It adds an extra month to the season and allows hunting in provincial parks. With a little practice on a inline you can still reach out and touch something at 200 yards. I prefer TC, but there are may options.

Ruger 10/22. Sits under the seat of the truck collecting dust and getting scratched up, but when i see a gopher I can pop that clip in and she never lets me down.

I do have more but those are the tools of the trade that get used on a regular basis. the rest just keep the cabinet warm.
 
I will look at the 6.5x55ai. i have a T/C prohunter 50cal as well, but want a Tikka repeater. 300wsm is good, just not fun to shoot at targets, a little to much jump for fun shooting all day. As far as 270 and others they are great cals but i want something different and don't care if ammo is in stores because I always have enough and don't shoot factory anymore.
 
GRiNGo said:
Hi, I've got a Tikka T3 stainless in 260 and a Sako A7 stainless in 300wsm. I do reload. I'm thinking of buying a T3 varmint in 260 or 7mag for long range gong and water bottle destruction but also want enough energy for a little longer hunting if necessary. My other thought is to buy the 260 varmint and rechamber to 260ai, 6.5-06, 6.5-06ai or 6.5-284. Or I have a varmint stock already so i could rebarrel my Tikka to one of the afor mentioned.

Thoughts, please.

Chad
Click to expand...

7MM rem mag
 
I guess I would like a compromise of not huge recoil and enough done range energy. My 300 wsm has good energy a not huge recoil but more than is good for tiny tiny groups and target shooting. Just checking all my options.
Thanks.
 
What do you want to hunt at long range?
  • If deer is the biggest game than 260 Rem is fine.
  • If elk is the biggest game than you need to look at 7mm-08, 270 Win, 308 Win, 270 WSM and 7 Rem Mag.

Thoughts of some cartridges

6.5mm is tough to beat
Both 260 Rem and 6.5x55 are great long range target and deer cartridges. If you're not interested in moose hunting, the 6.5x55 might be the best choice since Lapua makes fanstastic brass and high quality match ammo is mass produced.
Also 6.5x55 is much more potent then 260 Rem and is almost as good as 270 Win when loaded to modern pressure.

Great all-rounders
Both 7mm-08 and 308 are good target cartridge (low recoil, low blast, good barrel life and excellent accuracy). The can lauch excellent hunting bullets at moderate velocities.

The greatest high velocity hunting cartridge
270 is a great long range cartridge and one of the best hunting cartridge.

The medium bore high velocity magnums
Both 270 WSM and 7 Rem Mag are great long range hunting cartridges at the limit of acceptable recoil and muzzle last. Accurate barrel life is much shorter than 7mm-08 and 308. Accuracy is excellent for both cartridges (270 WSM is one of the most accurate hunting cartridge).

The 2011 Summer of 270 WSM
One important warning, I spent much of last summer shooting a 270 WSM at long range and found that it's not a good idea: too much heat, blast and recoil. I spent much of my summer regretting not having bought a 7mm-08 instead. Only when shooting 110gr V-Max at 3500fps was I truly satisfied with 270 WSM (It's a super deer rifle with 110gr TSX at 3400-3500fps also).

Alex
 
Okay, but if I go with a factory barrel and bolt face would 6.5-284 be a decent cartridge for long range, and if so is 22.5 inch barrel okay or should it be 24inch? There are two T3 Varmint's for sale on EE one in 7mag and one in 260 (which i could leave or ackley it or 6.5-284 it). Or put a custom barrel on my T3, it is a 260, I have a synthetic stock and wood stock and a varmit stock, so I could put any barrel weight on it.
 
GRiNGo said:
Okay, but if I go with a factory barrel and bolt face would 6.5-284 be a decent cartridge for long range, and if so is 22.5 inch barrel okay or should it be 24inch? There are two T3 Varmint's for sale on EE one in 7mag and one in 260 (which i could leave or ackley it or 6.5-284 it). Or put a custom barrel on my T3, it is a 260, I have a synthetic stock and wood stock and a varmit stock, so I could put any barrel weight on it.
Click to expand...

Any long range rifle should have a 24" to 26" barrel, this is especially true from overbore cartridges (6.5-284, 25-06, 7 Rem Mag).
The 260 Rem T3 Varmint is a great low recoil 600 yards to 800 yards rifle but won't match a 7mm-08 for hunting. (will kill a moose at 150-200 yards)
The 7 Rem Mag T3 Varming is a great moderate/high recoil long range rifle and will kill any non-dangerous NA game at any reasonable range. (will kill a moose at 400+ yards)

260 Rem is an excellent target cartridge while 7 Rem Mag is an excellent long range hunting cartridge.
If you want to learn how to shoot, you should definitively get the 260 Rem for now.

I used to shoot extensively both a 243 Win and a 270 WSM but sold the 270 WSM after getting tired of beating myself senseless with it.

Alex
 
Hey Alex, thanks for the input. I really would like the 260ai in the T3 tactical. But the 7mag would be better for the larger game. I assume the 7-08 comment was for heavier bullets, cause 1/2 mm in diameter must not make much difference. Killed a lot of deer with .243, great cal.
 
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