Bustercluck
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fort McMurray
I like those 156 Bergers. I shootem a bit slower with h1000. I haven’t ahot an animal with them yet, but they’re sure accurate out a long ways and maintain their energy.
Short Action Magnum Cartridge - Build Help
- Thread starter jayquiver
- Start date
Well things got interesting...after measuring bullets in cases and overthinking things. I ended up buying another action (long action), stock, and all the goodies for a 2nd rifle build
The 7mm barrel will go on the long action and be chambered in 7PRC, which leaves me the 6.5 barrel and the short action with 2 bolts.
Thinking either 6.5 creedmoor or 6.5 prc or similar. Then I want to buy another barrel for the short action,
Could do a short 308 win and whitetail bush gun! Maybe a fast 6 creedmoor...or 22 creedmoor.
What would you do? Need some fresh ideas. 308 is a nice cause it could be a good trainer, great barrel life on it.
The 7mm barrel will go on the long action and be chambered in 7PRC, which leaves me the 6.5 barrel and the short action with 2 bolts.
Thinking either 6.5 creedmoor or 6.5 prc or similar. Then I want to buy another barrel for the short action,
Could do a short 308 win and whitetail bush gun! Maybe a fast 6 creedmoor...or 22 creedmoor.
What would you do? Need some fresh ideas. 308 is a nice cause it could be a good trainer, great barrel life on it.
- Location
- Northern BC
Go 22 and or 6 creed for the 308 BF
Pair that with a 6.5prc.
after seeing what a 140 Berger elite hunter does to a stone sheep, I don’t think one needs to go for more bullet. In the case of my rifle I get better ballistics with the 140 vs the 156 based off the short barrel. I ran a 7mm for years but the 6.5 think is slowly making me question it. I need more sample sizes with the elite hunter moving forward. Plenty with the 143 eldx.
If you still feel the need the 7mm, 7prc is your answer.
Pair that with a 6.5prc.
after seeing what a 140 Berger elite hunter does to a stone sheep, I don’t think one needs to go for more bullet. In the case of my rifle I get better ballistics with the 140 vs the 156 based off the short barrel. I ran a 7mm for years but the 6.5 think is slowly making me question it. I need more sample sizes with the elite hunter moving forward. Plenty with the 143 eldx.
If you still feel the need the 7mm, 7prc is your answer.
- Location
- Northern BC
I got clickers on the second firing of my 6.5prc even on really reduced loads.
I ended up getting the chamber polished and I bought a cortina mandrel body die. They have gone away.
Out of my 20” barrel I am sending a 140 Berger elite hunter at 2863fps with 58.3gr N565. Realistically I could back that off a hair I was just chasing to break the 2850 mark
I ended up getting the chamber polished and I bought a cortina mandrel body die. They have gone away.
Out of my 20” barrel I am sending a 140 Berger elite hunter at 2863fps with 58.3gr N565. Realistically I could back that off a hair I was just chasing to break the 2850 mark
There OBSOLETE NOW !
So Jay what did you end up building or did you 
Not to mention the plethora of grain range and projectiles avail for the .308Win, in my mind that be the route I would go. I have 1/2 arsed been considering this of late actually…
Model Seven, SPS or Tikka T3/X Compact donor with a 20” IBI or the like Mtn Profile bbl to offset the M77 .270UL I have. The only issue I have is when the 7-08mm question inevitably comes into play and I can’t decide on one over the other..
After speaking with Dennis ( Go Ballistic) and taking a number of measurements of bullets in a 7 Saum case in a sa. I ended up buying a long action. Figured...F**k it, lets build two HAHA.So Jay what did you end up building or did you
Going do build two rifles. My Defiance Anit x LA, Manners stock, bottom metal will be shipped from Gary (Big Horn) today. I have everything for my SA already. Will ship everything to Dennis later this week or early next week.
Currently I have the following parts for my 2 builds. The will be "twins"
Defiance Anti X SA, with 308bf & magnum bf
Defiance Anti X LA with mag bolt face
Manners Pro Hunter Adjustable - black on black LA
Manners Pro Hunter Adjustable - black on black SA
Hawkins BM, with Hunter mags for the SA
Hawkins Obendorf M5 BM with Wyatt's box for the LA
Benchmark #5 sprial fluted 7mm 8 twist 24" barrel
Benchmark #5 spiral fluted 6.5 8 twist 24" barrel
Trigger Tech Special triggers x2
Long action will be a 7 PRC, 100%. Probably won't chamber a 2nd barrel for this for a while.
Short action will still finalizing some things. Leaning towards a 6.5prc and either a 6 creed, 308 or similar for the .308bf. Need to pick up one more barrel.
I recently went through a similar decision with a Tikka Action I am putting together.
I settled on 300 WSM. I think 7 SAUM/7 WSM may ultimately be better alternatives. To really utilize a lot of these short action magnums you need 2.98+ like you mention in your original post. For that reason I am using a long action bolt stop and ND shooting LA mags or AICS LA mags depending on chassis.
300WSM is right on the edge of what I find comfortable to shoot in a light-ish gun. 9.7lbs with optic and mag. I plan to hunt with 165-210gr bullets. I wanted something that could hunt any large game in North America at extended range, and take out for target practice to build confidence with. Without concerning myself with recoil, cost, barrel life, in the same way I do with a 300 PRC.
a 7mm would have less recoil with similar or higher BC bullets.
I do not have a large sample size on this; but my opinion is that a 6.8 or 7mm is the minimum diameter I would use for moose and other large game without paying close attention to bullet construction. IE; on large game with a 6.5 I don't think I would have as wide of selection of bullets. I would stick with "tougher" bullets like a copper mono or Accubond, etc. Not a berger hunting bullet. I'm sure lots of folks have has success with it other stuff but that is my opinion, subject to change as I gain experience.
I settled on 300 WSM. I think 7 SAUM/7 WSM may ultimately be better alternatives. To really utilize a lot of these short action magnums you need 2.98+ like you mention in your original post. For that reason I am using a long action bolt stop and ND shooting LA mags or AICS LA mags depending on chassis.
300WSM is right on the edge of what I find comfortable to shoot in a light-ish gun. 9.7lbs with optic and mag. I plan to hunt with 165-210gr bullets. I wanted something that could hunt any large game in North America at extended range, and take out for target practice to build confidence with. Without concerning myself with recoil, cost, barrel life, in the same way I do with a 300 PRC.
a 7mm would have less recoil with similar or higher BC bullets.
I do not have a large sample size on this; but my opinion is that a 6.8 or 7mm is the minimum diameter I would use for moose and other large game without paying close attention to bullet construction. IE; on large game with a 6.5 I don't think I would have as wide of selection of bullets. I would stick with "tougher" bullets like a copper mono or Accubond, etc. Not a berger hunting bullet. I'm sure lots of folks have has success with it other stuff but that is my opinion, subject to change as I gain experience.
why go short magnum at all?
This is why I chose the .338 federal instead of another magnum. I have 2 already (7RM and 338WM) so didn't want a 3rd.... why burn more powder to achieve similar result? Was my thinking anyways.
From a 20" barrel , my 160 gr load chronies at 2905
180's I'm seeing 2850fps
The other reason I love this caliber over the short magnums is that she launches 210gr nosler partitions at 2660 fps.
All with less powder than any of the short magnums and fires off a .308 bolt face and magazine length.
This is why I chose the .338 federal instead of another magnum. I have 2 already (7RM and 338WM) so didn't want a 3rd.... why burn more powder to achieve similar result? Was my thinking anyways.
From a 20" barrel , my 160 gr load chronies at 2905
180's I'm seeing 2850fps
The other reason I love this caliber over the short magnums is that she launches 210gr nosler partitions at 2660 fps.
All with less powder than any of the short magnums and fires off a .308 bolt face and magazine length.
I have a magnum bolt for my short action. So going to build something for it.
I also have a Cooper 338-06 with a 22” barrel. So I appreciate the 338 Federal.
Your running a 65x284 Right ?
Bustercluck
CGN Regular
- Location
- Fort McMurray
Yup, but pretty similar to the 6.5prc from what I understand. A friend of mine is shooting the same combo in his 6.5prc.
Yea but my 6.5 PRC runs FASTER then the my 6.5x284 but I like the 6.5x284 cartridge
It s one of the Best std bolt face cartridges
I have hunted with a few 300WM rifles and have a few 243's, 308's, 6.5CM, 4 x 270win. Looking back at close to 30yr deer shooting the overall best was the 308. Hated the 270's but never had a very nice rifle in that cartridge. 4x 300WM rifles seemed quite difficult to get to shoot very well. 6.5CM shoots well at long ranges and will drop deer but overall not as well as a 308. So I decided to try two new rifles this year. First one in 7PRC is built and shooting really well even without any load development. Fantastic cartridge. I am also just getting a 300WSM barrelled action built in Germany. I am expecting a lot from this cartridge as we just recently put a rifle together for a friend in 300WSM. She shot really well from the start without load development and is now dropping deer at stupid ranges. I am very impressed with that cartridge, seems to be a super 308. My friends rifle is built on a T3 action, proof carbon barrel with MDT XM mag system with around 3.287" max COL. I will build on a Short action ASH Rem Clone action, Proof light carbon barrel 22" and a Snowy Mountain Rifle mag system which has a max COL just shy of 3" 76mm. I will start with 178ELDX and see if I can get 208 ELDM going as well.
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