Which Cartridge?

[adamjp]

Building a medium range rifle that will be a step-down recoil and weight wise from my 300H&H (165gn @ 3300fps in a 10lb rifle). Little bit dual purpose, fluffies and medium game out to 400m or so. I will use it, but so will my kids as they grow.

What I know so far
I'm solid on the action. Ruger No.1. (Got a spare one of those)
Scope will be a Kahles 4-12 MZ. (Got a spare one of them too)
Barrel length will be about 24inch, muzzle dia. under .600. (Like it to be light - around 8lb with the scope)

Cartidge
I'm pretty keen on a 6.5/06 throwing 100gn Barnes TTSX for game and 95gn VMAX for fluffies (BC within a poofteeth of each other) @ 3500fps.
As recoil tolerance grows 140gn partitions will be on the cards.

Your challenge
Convince me of a better choice.

Be mindful that I've got a few other rifles.

[cam_mackps2]

Sounds good.
My only suggestion would be a 270win for factory ammo.
You can have 95gr (designed for use with the 6.8spc), 110gr or 130gr TTSX for game.
There is also the 110gr vmax for varmints.

[adamjp]

Sounds good.
My only suggestion would be a 270win for factory ammo.
You can have 95gr (designed for use with the 6.8spc), 110gr or 130gr TTSX for game.
There is also the 110gr vmax for varmints.

Understand what you are saying although you've not convinced me. If factory was a consideration I'd probably tend towards the 25/06 instead of the 270.

Closest I've come to factory ammo in the last 20 years was the 60 cartridges I bought for my 300 H&H.

Know anyone who wants to buy 50 x 180gn Winchester Failsafe bullets? Pulled from factory ammunition, stored ever since.

[L579]

My guess is you do not want a factory cartridge.How about a 6.5x55AI known accuracy of the swede and a few extra horsepower

[chappo555]

6br or 6x47. 58gr to 107gr pills. Less powder and blast and recoil. Will punch well above its weight. Great lapua brass and shit loads of projectile choice. Nuff said!

[Glenn]

Building a medium range rifle

How far is medium range?

6x47Lap with 75 grain bullets!!
Or 67 grains!
These can be shoot out to 600m.

Glenn

[chris.tyne]

What is the medium sized game that you mention likely to be.

[220]

257wby
ballistics speak for themselves
factory ammo available from a few manufactures including hornady
brass is easly formed from belted cases
If you ever decide to sell, its a factory round not some obscure wildcat that will only appeal to a few hard core enthusists.
Probably less about than some of the wildcats mentioned so you get the exclusivity of a wildcat with the benifts of a factory round

[stinkitup]

I shoot a 6.5x55 swede, the recoil is mild and it flattens most things. There is enough different 6.5 projectiles to use on pretty much any animal in aus from the 95 vmax and 100gr nosler BT's to 140-160 woodleigh, round noses and the other heavier pills. The 6.5/06 is not really much quicker than a swede with a strong action so your choice sounds fine. The 6br is a marvolous cartridge too and from a single shot no magazine worries. Once again plenty of proje choice. Both the swede and the 6br are pussy cats as far as recoil goes.

Ryan

[GregT]

6.5-284?

[adamjp]

Thankyou all, there is some good thought in these posts.

FWIW I've had a 6.5x55 ARCH (see the attached photo) and it was very close to the 30/06 case capacity wise.

The 6mm calibre does not have hunting bullets with enough weight to give good hits on goat/fallow sized animals at 400m. Short version is that a 95gn NBT (one of the better bullets and equivalent BC to the Barnes 100gn TTSX) is hard to launch faster than 3200fps, even from a 243.

I've already got a 257 Roberts and I quite like the calibre. The Weatherby case really needs a 26in barrel to wokr properly - and barrel life will be worse than the 6.5-284.

I've thought about a 6.5-284 and it has some merit, a longer neck would be nice (I get that with the 6.5/06).

Anyone have experience with a 260 AI, specifically what is the case capacity?

[louie the fly]

I have a 25-06 for same purpose. A dual-purpose rifle which is capable of taking bunnies and medium game such as goats at ranges past 350m. It works a treat.

85NBT for varmints @ 3400fps.
100Sierra for varmint/medium game @ 3100fps

25-06 has a flat trajectory, mild recoil, lots of projectiles to choose from, plenty of brass available, easy to reload, factory ammo if you want it, and it has plenty of energy at 400m to knock down any medium game given proper bullet selection and placement.

The only thing to keep in mind is that to get the full performance of the quarter bore, you will need at least a 24'' barrel.

cheers.

[adamjp]

I have a 25-06 for same purpose. A dual-purpose rifle which is capable of taking bunnies and medium game such as goats at ranges past 350m. It works a treat.

85NBT for varmints @ 3400fps.
100Sierra for varmint/medium game @ 3100fps

25-06 has a flat trajectory, mild recoil, lots of projectiles to choose from, plenty of brass available, easy to reload, factory ammo if you want it, and it has plenty of energy at 400m to knock down any medium game given proper bullet selection and placement.

The only thing to keep in mind is that to get the full performance of the quarter bore, you will need at least a 24'' barrel.

cheers.

Thanks, to be honest I am inspired by the 25/06 but going that extra 7 thou gives me a better selection of bullets.

Still open to any suggestions or issues that others may think should be considered.

[stinkitup]

Adam your improved swede looks interesting, I think the 6.5x55AI, 6.5x284 and 6.5-284 are pretty much same boat with similar trajectories like you say there are a lot good hunting 6.5mm pills. I think Rinso has a 260AI for comp so sling him a PM.

Ryan