varmint / tactical / long range rifle

deadkelly · Post by **deadkelly** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 6:55 am

hi guy's i had my heart set on a 243 howa HB for use as my long range everything rifle . mainly for shooting from vehicle at most of the pests we encounter in australia . now it is only after reading last night on some sniping forums & 1000 yd forums that the barrel wear seems to be a isue & as well a twist rates .

now the old 6.5x55 devil & 260 rem are awash inside my brain again . now i know the 260 vs 6.5x55 fight has been going for years & as far as i'm concerned i'll go for the 6.5x55 . mainly because i know in australia theres a chance that most little country gun shops have one dusty box of highland , rem or pmc sitting behind the counter . also there made on a std action length which allows for the projectiles to be seated out farther . & most 6.5's have a twist of 1:9 or faster for the long 140 gr projectiles .
now pluses for the 260 are a short action which the bench rest guy's like & maybe the abilitly to rechamber or rebarrel to 6.5x47L , & factory ammo is loaded to a higher preasure . but being a hand loader thats not a problem , btw i'm sure theres heaps more loaded ammo for the swede .
so i'm not sure what to do now , i don't really know of any HB varmint style rifles out there apart from a tikka t3 varmint in 6.5x55 & don't know about the 260 rem .
well i must say i have used a m38 6.5x55 as my hunting rifle for the last 16 years & have over 1200 cases , dies , all sorts of projectiles so that goes in favour of the swede . finally i think the 260 rem or 6.5 would allow for more pratice at the long range range . .
anyway i'm all ears for any input you guys have , especialy to do with rifles with heavy barrels .

adamjp · Post by **adamjp** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 7:11 am

Consider the Ruger 77 MkII VT in 6.5 Creedmore.

macca · Post by **macca** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 7:33 am

To be honest either will do the job very well and the range of pills available is good.I now prefer both in the AI version.Both will reach to 1000 yards or more so normal hunting ranges is a walk in the park.
As to the rifles bit more tricky but I would buy one shoot the factory out and replace with a barrel in the profile of your choice or sell the factory and replace at the start.
The Tikka would not disappoint as it is a great and accurate rifle.Seeing you have the gear for 6.5x55 go one in the Tikka.
cheers

deadkelly · Post by **deadkelly** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 9:18 am

macca wrote:To be honest either will do the job very well and the range of pills available is good.I now prefer both in the AI version.Both will reach to 1000 yards or more so normal hunting ranges is a walk in the park.
As to the rifles bit more tricky but I would buy one shoot the factory out and replace with a barrel in the profile of your choice or sell the factory and replace at the start.
The Tikka would not disappoint as it is a great and accurate rifle.Seeing you have the gear for 6.5x55 go one in the Tikka.
cheers

yep macca where on the same page & about the AI also . i thought about a tikka super varmit in 6.6x55 2 years ago but $1700ish i abit up there for me .
my plan in 243 was to shoot out the factory barrel then set it back & AI the chamber & have another go at it .
one more question . do i change bullet weight or use one bullet for everything ???? i'm in two worlds on this matter . 1 is long target types not only cost more ? but will over penetrate rabbits & other small game at close range & could go who knows where beyond the target . & the othe is to work out one awesome load & get in sink with the rifle & load & learn it inside out . so in theory i shouldn't need the mess about with scope settings . on that not sould i use a mildot or normal plex type crosshairs ??

trevort · Post by **trevort** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 9:49 am

rabbits and small game? whay do you need a cannon (considering the size of the game)? sounds like using a medium game/target calibre for a small game varmint rifle.

Maybe, just because you can?

macca · Post by **macca** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:39 am

deadkelly wrote: yep macca where on the same page & about the AI also . i thought about a tikka super varmit in 6.6x55 2 years ago but $1700ish i abit up there for me .
my plan in 243 was to shoot out the factory barrel then set it back & AI the chamber & have another go at it .
one more question . do i change bullet weight or use one bullet for everything ???? i'm in two worlds on this matter . 1 is long target types not only cost more ? but will over penetrate rabbits & other small game at close range & could go who knows where beyond the target . & the othe is to work out one awesome load & get in sink with the rifle & load & learn it inside out . so in theory i shouldn't need the mess about with scope settings . on that not sould i use a mildot or normal plex type crosshairs ??

Okay i personally prefer one projectile but it depends on a few things.
What is max and minimum range you expect to do the bulk of your shooting at?
i know you want to cover all game and that's okay but do you shoot something 70% of the time and the rest a combined 30% etc.
Will you being shooting paper or just game?
What is your budget rifle? Scope?
You could look at a 308 which can cover all bases and give long barrel life.
This info will help us give better advice.
cheers

Glenn · Post by **Glenn** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 1:03 pm

hi guy's i had my heart set on a 243 howa HB for use as my long range everything rifle . mainly for shooting from vehicle at most of the pests we encounter in Australia . now it is only after reading last night on some sniping forums & 1000 yd forums that the barrel wear seems to be a issue & as well a twist rates

How much shooting do you do?
How many shots a week?

If the numbers to the questions above are on the low side I dare say you will not have to worry to much about wearing a barrel out!

As to rechambering a factory barrel from 243 to 243 AI I would just buy a match grade barrel!

In your original post you said you want to shoot from a car and shoot pests?
So you want a varmint gun?

Glenn

Ackley Improved · Post by **Ackley Improved** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:25 pm

I think your a getting to worried about ballistics.. and barrel life... barrels are a consumable....

If you are considering shooting a comp like the practical/tactical comp like at Canberra the 6.5's and the 6mm's is where I would want to be.

I have a Sako TRG coming that is having the 308 barrel screwed off and a Maddco 6mm 1:8 getting put straight on... in 6mm Super LR. It is a modified 243. 105/107 projectile, 2217 powder for around 3000fps, and over 2000 rounds of barrel life. It will feed from magazine.

My other choices would be the 260, 6.5X47L, and 6X47L. You only have to see what is winning the tactical style matches in the US.. and its these sort of rounds.

If factory rifle is what you are after... Tikka T3, Manners stock, CDI bottom metal..... in 260Rem. BUT, I would check out mag length (if staying with factory DBM) and length to lands before committing to be certain it would work.

Of course, these rifles can double as a varmint rig, but if varminting.. and spotlighting I would go to 6mm.

Cheers

SnipeWench · Post by **SnipeWench** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 10:29 am

Which begs the question, AI - what are you gonna do with the TRG 308 barrel?

I think when I shoot out this 300WM barrel, I'll redo mine to something like 6x47L or similar.

Ackley Improved · Post by **Ackley Improved** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 11:21 am

SnipeWench wrote:Which begs the question, AI - what are you gonna do with the TRG 308 barrel?

I think when I shoot out this 300WM barrel, I'll redo mine to something like 6x47L or similar.

Its a little 20" 308 barrel. Will hold onto it, might want to screw it back on one day!

Cheers

Post by **MISSED** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 5:44 pm

To me Varmint,Tactical and Long range are three different rifles.

Seddo · Post by **Seddo** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 7:48 pm

my choice would be:

long range - 7mmRM, 280AI, 300RUM with a 30" tube

varmint - 22-250AI with a 26" tube

tactical - 308, 260 with a 20" tube.

my 308 LTR with 3.5-10 Mark 4 scope is good for steel and paper out to 800-900y before it goes transonic. At 1000y its all over the place.

deadkelly · Post by **deadkelly** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 8:35 pm

ok thanks guy's & sorry for taking awhile but been busy . for sure i need 2 rifles & the long range will have to wait for now . i really need to smash some debts & i've allowed myself $500ish ( hell i know that's sweet F all but it's all i got for now ) & i need something smaller than my 270 & rossi m92 454 , i don't have a rimfire anymore ether . i don't know what to do ! 22 mag , 223 , 22 250 & 243 come to mind . it will be used as a varmint rifle & spotlighting . i could reduce load i spose to cover the close in stuff

. i know of a stevens m200 22 250 with scope & trigger job for $450 with little use ( to loud ??? ) i can't really afford a howa or even a marlin . of the cheaper center fires i know of h&r & rossi singles , stevens , savage edge , mosberg bolt actions . i haven't looked at the 2nd hand market yet .

cam_mackps2 · Post by **cam_mackps2** » Thu Nov 24, 2011 10:40 pm

With the use of adi trailboss powder a 22-250 can be tamed down to around 22wmr. It is a little expensive since it only comes in the large container (what they normally use for 4kg). But it does give you options and a little goes along way.

deadkelly · Post by **deadkelly** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 4:54 am

cam_mackps2 wrote:With the use of adi trailboss powder a 22-250 can be tamed down to around 22wmr. It is a little expensive since it only comes in the large container (what they normally use for 4kg). But it does give you options and a little goes along way.

i already have some & blue dot is another . yeah i might grab this stevens in 22 250 .

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