Old School Meets New School- Sheep/ Mountain Rifle
- Thread starter AR15meister
- Start date
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
284win is a reloaders cartridge. If your not into reloading the 270 is the right choice.
AR15meister
CGN Regular
The last part of your post is what I am struggling with. the idea of regret. My only hunting rifles are a .308 Model 70 FWT, a Christensen 26 Nosler, a 30-30 Win 94, a .500 nitro double side by side Sabatti and a .375 Win 70.
I loved all those rifles except the .500 which I sold after firing it the first time. The gun was way too light for the .500 nitro.
This rifle will essentially replace the old .308 FWT I bought as my first rifle. So I am thinking should I go .270 classic....30-06 versatility or .300 Weatherby badass......The weatherby I would have to run a 24" minimum and I would likely put a removeable brake on it.
Its hard to decide this stuff. My one buddy said I should build it .270 and as light as possible while maintain handling of course and then just look for a nice German made vintage .300 Weatherby.
This said....I do have a second receiver so a 2 rifle battery isn't out of the question....but the dough $$ starts getting stupid at some point.....
2 receivers, easy then one of each…. But I would be tempted to go with something lighter like a 243 or 7mm08 and then a 30-06 or your 300 Weatherby mag! 7mm08 would be a great mountain rifle and 300 well it would be great for the bigger stuff far far away(I’m not a magnum guy, never seem to see the need for them)
I've spent a lot of time thinking about these same ideas. I planned on doing a Model 70 as well for light packing and general North American game. While 7x57 fits the bill, and is perfectly period correct for a vintage Model 70, my choice was going to be 280AI. If you wanted, normal 280 is also perfectly fine. The reasoning for choosing that over a 270 was the wider variety of 7mm bullets than that of the 270 Win. The cartridges are for all intents and purposes, basically identical otherwise. If you have a long action, you might as well take advantage of it with a longer case than a 7x57. I will say though, if you never plan on handloading, it is a bit of a moot point.
I am also of the mindset that for what you're planning on doing, a big magnum really is quite pointless. A good bullet and load from a 270 or 280 is more than flat enough shooting for ethical distances, without the blast, recoil, and hard to find ammunition of the 300 Weatherby you're suggesting.
As an aside, if I were to do a Model 70 in a magnum cartridge, it could only be a 300 H&H. While you would need to find a H&H magnum length action, there really isn't anything else like it for smooth feeding, cool factor, and nostalgia.
270 Win or 280 (or280AI) are my vote.
I am also of the mindset that for what you're planning on doing, a big magnum really is quite pointless. A good bullet and load from a 270 or 280 is more than flat enough shooting for ethical distances, without the blast, recoil, and hard to find ammunition of the 300 Weatherby you're suggesting.
As an aside, if I were to do a Model 70 in a magnum cartridge, it could only be a 300 H&H. While you would need to find a H&H magnum length action, there really isn't anything else like it for smooth feeding, cool factor, and nostalgia.
270 Win or 280 (or280AI) are my vote.
The 300 Weatherby has one of those European belts that are unnecessary if you aren't building a break action double rifle, along with the magical radius shoulders.
Charles Newton was designing magnum performance into mountain rifles while Roy Weatherby was still just a toddler.
The .256 Newton and 30 Newton will do anything you need done out of a sheep/goat/caribou rifle - and if you have a 30/06 size action, they'll fit just fine. No European belt required on the case.
Built my sheep hunting rifle years back. Because I spent a lot more time climbing and hiking than shooting, I went with a lightweight rifle. Took a Rem 600, lengthened the mag box to allow 3.1" col, and put slim taper 23" barrel on it. Aluminum mounts and rings, and a small Leupold scope. Put it in a wildcat stock as soon as I could. Light, easy to carry, accurate. Not as pretty as it could be, but I found sheep country rough on rifles. - dan
very interesting choice that the 300hh ... on the modern version i will do the 300wsm still in model 70 not because it is better no doubt but because it is easier for the left hand shooter im ...
and in our moutains there is a lot of users of the wsm: mostly 270 and 300wsm. many hunters i know use only one rifle and one caliber and this is the 300wsm not all are gunnutz which is a shame.
i know a few ladies that are using 243 and 7-08 for their specific sheep rifle.
AR15meister
CGN Regular
I agree the H&H is a great old magnum but I am really wanting to stick with a very "American classic" cartridge. The .270 and 30-06 of course having mass appeal and the .300 Weatherby being a famous/infamous wildcat magnum popular in the 50's and 60's with the jet set game hunters of that second of big game hunting's golden age (again---my opinion).
I am going to drink some beers this weekend and make a decision.
I am going to drink some beers this weekend and make a decision.
It sounds to me like you really want a .270, so you should just go for it. Featherweight contour 22" barrel.
pete dobinson
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Courtenay BC.
For the non reloader a 300 win mag and 270 would be a good pairing.
In 284 WIN like mine Dan ? RJ
I agree........... The 270 is a Mtn rifle ! they are just so muc more nicer to handle than a 7 rem mag or alike......... loaded properly its perfect combination for sheep imo... never done it yet but done Tahr in nz-- with a 270...
Classic, youl love it.
And to make it Even more CLASSIER..... i used a MOSSBERGer!!! haa haa to the haters
Yes. Until the WSM/SAUM kids came along it was the most useful of the short action cartridges. Though the wildcat 7mm-350 Rem Mag was good too. But that required a magnum bolt face etc. - dan
