As the title indicates, I am looking for opinions on the best 6-7mm custom chambering for a stable long range gun for deer sized game and whacking little itty bitty groups on paper... I am leaning to the 6.5mm grouping but am open to suggestions.
Your choice for a CUSTOM caliber in the 6-7mm range... why?
- Thread starter hoytcanon
- Start date
You'll get a lot of opinions but ill try to help you lean more to the 6.5.
For longer range deer hunting and paper punching I have a 6.5-06. I've never had a 6.5-284 to compare it to but they get about the same velocity and most would probably build a 6.5-284 on a long action anyways.
I use h1000 powder and see 2988'ish over the crony from a 8.5 twist 24.5 inch tube with 140 Berger vld's. recoil is just like a 270 with 140's. zeroed at 200 yards its only 9.5 MOA to 600. It's plenty for deer and you could load 140 partitions if your not into the bergers for hunting and still cleanly take a deer out to just about 600 yards if that's in your comfort zone or with that high SD use it for moose at closer ranges running a partition.
Build it a little heavy like a sendero and the recoil is nothing really.
I shoot 180 vld's out of a 7 mag as well that's built a little heavy and find that recoil wise the 6.5 is much more fun for long range paper punching. The bc of the 140 Berger is right up there too. Brass is easily made from running 25-06 brass through a 6.5-06 die.
260 rem is great too and lapua makes brass for it. Mine ran about 2675 with a 26 inch tube and the 140's.
For longer range deer hunting and paper punching I have a 6.5-06. I've never had a 6.5-284 to compare it to but they get about the same velocity and most would probably build a 6.5-284 on a long action anyways.
I use h1000 powder and see 2988'ish over the crony from a 8.5 twist 24.5 inch tube with 140 Berger vld's. recoil is just like a 270 with 140's. zeroed at 200 yards its only 9.5 MOA to 600. It's plenty for deer and you could load 140 partitions if your not into the bergers for hunting and still cleanly take a deer out to just about 600 yards if that's in your comfort zone or with that high SD use it for moose at closer ranges running a partition.
Build it a little heavy like a sendero and the recoil is nothing really.
I shoot 180 vld's out of a 7 mag as well that's built a little heavy and find that recoil wise the 6.5 is much more fun for long range paper punching. The bc of the 140 Berger is right up there too. Brass is easily made from running 25-06 brass through a 6.5-06 die.
260 rem is great too and lapua makes brass for it. Mine ran about 2675 with a 26 inch tube and the 140's.
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I probably should have mentioned that I'm doing a barrel stub on an H&R Ultra Handi rifle... I would overlook the Grendel for the Creedmoor, which I am looking hard at, as well as the 6.5-284 and 7mm-08 AI... hoping folks will help me narrow it down, or make life miserable by introducing new choices... also looking for something that will outperform my 7mm-08 that I currently shoot in the scenario I am looking to use this new gun.
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Sask_Hunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Saskatchewan
6.16x51 but I'd probably just get a 243 on a 700 action
Already shooting .243, 7mm-08 and .308 (as well as .22 K Hornet, .223, .30/30, 7.62X39, .44 Mag Carbine but these don't really impact the discussion)... the fact that I am currently shooting 6mm and 7mm is why I am leaning toward the 6.5mm group... other options/opinions?
paperslayer
Regular
- Location
- Chilliwack
If you want custom, 6.5-284. Works in a short action, 6.5 bullet selection is better than anything in 25 or 27 caliber and there are many powders that work well with it (RL-17, 4831, 4350, N-1/560 etc) and it with a long barrel these will get flying at 3000 fps, which has been used for years as a top performer in long range benchrest and F-Class. In a shorter barrel, I would expect some velocity loss, but not accuracy. Also, LAPUA makes its brass. 'nuff said.
There are many 5-digit custom sheep hunting rifles chambered in this caliber as it is known for its outstanding long range performance.
I have personally had several. Their down side is barrel life if you want to use them for lots of trget shooting. 1000 rounds is typical. They will still shoot better than any factory gun after 1000 rounds, but you won't win many competitions with it when it gets that high.
There are many 5-digit custom sheep hunting rifles chambered in this caliber as it is known for its outstanding long range performance.
I have personally had several. Their down side is barrel life if you want to use them for lots of trget shooting. 1000 rounds is typical. They will still shoot better than any factory gun after 1000 rounds, but you won't win many competitions with it when it gets that high.
I really like the 6.5-284 but when I compare the ballistics on comparable bullets to the 7mm-08 I already own, I have to think..."why?" The .284 Winchester though, holds a distinct performance edge... I found a good article if anyone is interested on the caliber and a short action build;
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek095.html
http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek095.html
