ahh boys. decisions decisions.... thinking of a new gun project

[Scott7m]

I've still gotta get in touch with a good gunsmith on this topic.. ;)

but i'm trying to decide on what to do! i want a long range rifle i can hunt big fields with around here, as well as take out west elk/mule deer hunting

i started thinkin of stuff like the 300 wsm, 300 rum, 338 rum........ now i know they pack a whallop.... i just don't think i can stand the thump.. i'm a big guy but i've shot enough off the bench to know that if your not compfy your not going to do good on targets out past 300.

i've started looking at stuff like the 6mm br, the 6.5mm 284, and stuff of that nature..... I know that at 600 yards a big mulie will feel much more thump off of a 300 rum, but if i'm worried about getting my head knocked off, i probablywon't hit it anyways.. and a 6mm bullet in the boiler room will do the job much further than that.

i saw a good show the other night on a guy using huskema or something like that scopes, pre set to his gun, it was a 6.5mm -284, said they felt compfortable shooting out to 1000 yards.... i'm not interestedin 1000, but it'd be nice to feel compfy at 600

[trust me]

You'll burn a lot of powder getting "comfy" at 600. When you see what the slightest breeze is doing to you that far down range, it'll make you think twice about taking the chance of gut-shooting something.

[Scott7m]

You'll burn a lot of powder getting "comfy" at 600. When you see what the slightest breeze is doing to you that far down range, it'll make you think twice about taking the chance of gut-shooting something.

oh i know that, i've shot that far quite a bit......... always with 50-75 gr bullets.......

you have to allow for wind, and if it's 600 yards you'll have time to adjust your scope accordingly, if not.. don't take the shot.

[tex]

Scott, you sound like a 300 win mag kinda guy with heavy bullets.

[Scott7m]

Scott, you sound like a 300 win mag kinda guy with heavy bullets.

maybe, i'd like to shoot a 300 wsm or something similar to see if i thought the recoil wouldn't affect me..... i'm not saying i'm scared to shoot it, i've just done enough shooting to know that no matter how hard you try if that lil thought is in the back of your mind your groups start to open up and it's ugly... with my mark v 300 wby i'd be able to shoot 2-3 shots, then i'd start dreading it.. dang gun only weighed a lil over 5# though

[headoftheholler]

I've still gotta get in touch with a good gunsmith on this topic.. ;)

but i'm trying to decide on what to do! i want a long range rifle i can hunt big fields with around here, as well as take out west elk/mule deer hunting

i started thinkin of stuff like the 300 wsm, 300 rum, 338 rum........ now i know they pack a whallop.... i just don't think i can stand the thump.. i'm a big guy but i've shot enough off the bench to know that if your not compfy your not going to do good on targets out past 300.

i've started looking at stuff like the 6mm br, the 6.5mm 284, and stuff of that nature..... I know that at 600 yards a big mulie will feel much more thump off of a 300 rum, but if i'm worried about getting my head knocked off, i probablywon't hit it anyways.. and a 6mm bullet in the boiler room will do the job much further than that.

i saw a good show the other night on a guy using huskema or something like that scopes, pre set to his gun, it was a 6.5mm -284, said they felt compfortable shooting out to 1000 yards.... i'm not interestedin 1000, but it'd be nice to feel compfy at 600
Nothing wrong with a .270

[Scott7m]

Nothing wrong with a .270

ahhhh i've had one.......... there nothing more than a 27 caliber 30-06... i'd just assume to shoot the 30-06..

there are a lot more efficient-better shooting cartridges than the 270... although i will agree it is a good and very popular caliber.. it' just doesn't appeal to me

[Bray]

ahhhh i've had one.......... there nothing more than a 27 caliber 30-06... i'd just assume to shoot the 30-06..

there are a lot more efficient-better shooting cartridges than the 270... although i will agree it is a good and very popular caliber.. it' just doesn't appeal to me

If I were in your situation I would look real closely at the .270 WSM.

[Scott7m]

I've been looking at a 30BR... it's usually used for bench rest shooting. i just don't know if it's got enough pop to it or not....

it shoots a 125gr bullet 3000 fps..... which that has less pop than a 30-06.. but it will also shoot 1" groups to 300 yards.

i've never found any info on how much energy it's carrying out at 500 plus yards anyway.....

[rascaldog]

Scott check out the 260 Remington ballistics. The more I read about this cartridge the better it sounds. A lot of long range shooters are using this caliber now. Recoil on this short action caliber should be light. I agree with you on recoil. I am a pretty big guy myself (6'3" 260) but I still don't enjoy shooting heavy kicking guns. And let's face it if you don't enjoy shooting something you're probably not going to put enough rounds down the tube to ever get good with it. Good luck.

[Scott7m]

Scott check out the 260 Remington ballistics. The more I read about this cartridge the better it sounds. A lot of long range shooters are using this caliber now. Recoil on this short action caliber should be light. I agree with you on recoil. I am a pretty big guy myself (6'3" 260) but I still don't enjoy shooting heavy kicking guns. And let's face it if you don't enjoy shooting something you're probably not going to put enough rounds down the tube to ever get good with it. Good luck.

if your interested in the 260.... i think you most definitely need to look at the 6mmbr and 30br.... a 30 br will shoot a 125 grain bullet faster thatn a 260 will shoot a 107 gr bullet, and will do that with like 8-10gr less powder..... not to mention put 3 shots in a 1" group at 250 yards or further

www.6mmbr.com (http://www.6mmbr.com) understand this is a benchrest website, but that doesn't mean you can't build a rifle for hunting and use the same cartridge.

[WhiteRubi]

How about a .300 Win Mag Sendero? :D This baby has your name all over it. I'll make you one heck of a deal on it

[mwezell]

Scott, I love a 30 BR, but definitely not for a long range elk gun! Give me a call and lets discuss what you are expecting from a round. I think I may have just the ticket to give you what you want and save some green.(I'm getting the stuff together to do one up for myself)---Mike Ezell

[raktrakr]

Personally I'd shy away from the short magnums, based soley on ammo availability. "IF" I were looking for what you're wanting, I'd go with 30-06,.308 or 300 WinMag just because of "over the counter" load variety and availability. Also at those ranges,dont skimp on the scope

[Scott7m]

Personally I'd shy away from the short magnums, based soley on ammo availability. "IF" I were looking for what you're wanting, I'd go with 30-06,.308 or 300 WinMag just because of "over the counter" load variety and availability. Also at those ranges,dont skimp on the scope

i can almost bet i won't go with a round that i can buy shells for at walmart. I do my own reloading so that won't be an issue.. there is nothing wrong with a 30-06, i think a 308 is a bit small though..

i have a 30-06 with a 24" barrel... Havne't shot it at long ranges yet, but i love that gun for around here with my 3-9 nikon........ it may do fine out at 400-500....... but i'd like to have a 26" barrel and be able to use a 6-24x50 nikon monarch or something on it

[WSM Man]

I have had a 270WSM for a few years, and got a 300WSM recently. I have never had a problem at all with ammo availability, I've read about this issue, but only from those who don't own a short magnum. It seems us who do seem to find ammo plenty, but maybe there are some who can't, I don't know.....

I have bought WSM ammo for both of my guns at Walmart. Matter a fact, I've bought WSM ammo at several different Walmarts, and several different guns stores, and haven't not got what I wanted even once.

If your reloading your own as you said, it doesn't matter anyway.

The 300WSM kicks MUCH less than the 300Win Mag, and non existant compared to the 300 Weatherby Mag (ok, that may be a stretch, but there is a huge difference!!).

I can tell no difference in recoil in my regular .270Wins and the 270WSM.

I don't think the '06 or .308 will make you happy for what you want to do based on what you said in your first thread. The Ultra's, 300 or 7mm (not the Ultra Shorts), would be good, but they kick like a mule!!! You might build/get a heavy version of one of the Ultra rifles, to help with recoil or add a muzzle break, but ironically I haven't seen much ammo for the Ultra's around. Although I haven't seen any for sale anywhere, Remington Power Level ammo lets you chose your ammo for different applications and that helps the recoil issue for plinking, but to get the most from this gun you'll have to have full power (Level 3) so we are back to square one.

Anyway, the 300Win Mag would be a great gun for what you want IMO, but don't discount the WSM's on cartridge availibilty problems, cause there aren't any problems. Call around and check.

+1 on the get a good scope, and good luck with whatever you chose:)

[stalkingbear]

Since you're thinking about the recoil of the big .30s, I would strongly suggest 1 of the 7mm magnums-ALL the range/flat trajectory of the .30s, but without some of the recoil. For what you're wanting to do with it-1 of the 7mm would be perfect for you. basically the 7mm will recoil roughly 20%-30% less than a .30 bullet with same ballistic coefficent and velocity.

[mwezell]

Since you're thinking about the recoil of the big .30s, I would strongly suggest 1 of the 7mm magnums-ALL the range/flat trajectory of the .30s, but without some of the recoil. For what you're wanting to do with it-1 of the 7mm would be perfect for you. basically the 7mm will recoil roughly 20%-30% less than a .30 bullet with same ballistic coefficent and velocity.

Yep! Same BC and velocity, but not with the same weight bullet at the same velocity.:) You can't often match the velocity of a larger cal with a smaller one and the same weight bullet...at least with the heavier per caliber bullets. In other words.. you can drive a 180 grain bullet from a 30-284 faster than you can a 180 gr straight up 284 winchester, but the BC of a 7mm 180 gr bullet will be higher than the BC of a 30 cal 180gr bullet. stalkingbear, you know what I'm talking about.;)

[tex]

Regardless of the caliber you get, if you are thinking about going west, (which I think you are), you better think about weight. If you get a heavy gun, you will regret it, trust me. Now if you are going to stay on the plains, or hunt from horses, it will lessen the hurt. But yes, you will regret the extra weight. That was more important to me than the caliber. I chose a Remington in .270 Mountain LSS. I do not feel undergunned, because I can put the bullet where it needs to go.

We aren't going to reinvent the wheel here. www.24hourcampfire.com (http://www.24hourcampfire.com) See the various forums discussing rifles. Your answer is there, in spades, with every possible question you have, answered. For what it's worth, you still sound like a .300 winnie type of guy with a stainless set up and a fixed 6 power. Save the money for a pair of Zeiss, or Swaro's and then buy a good pack.

FYI drawings are coming up, and you don't have the time to learn all the ins and outs of the confusing rules for different states. I offer this to you: Idaho has deer tags over the counter, but access is difficult. Bull tags are OTC in Colorado. Draw New Mexico in 16, 52, or 34 and I'll tell ya where to find them. Pronghorns in Wyoming or Eastern Montana.

First get your gun, then figure out what you want to hunt. If I can help you I will, if I can't I will point you where to go. Only when you know what you want to hunt, do you start the "where" process.

Oh yeah Scott, get 1 more guy, or maybe 2 to go with you. Any more and the group becomes too hard to move in the mountains. Plus, the game density is much lower in most cases. If you are going DIY, then save for titanium and wool. Walmart has nothing you need, for a successful, comfortable backpack hunt. Hope this helps.

Oh, forgot to tell ya, I like the recoil. I like shooting big guns, don't bother me a bit. The kick of a .338 is pure joy, but those big guns that throw big bullets have big actions, with big bullets. And yes, I do even count the weight of the bullets. But total weight of your gear needs to be low, low, low. Make sure you will be happy carrying that rifle up slopes, down slopes, up slopes, down slopes. And doing it at 10,00 feet.

[Scott7m]

Regardless of the caliber you get, if you are thinking about going west, (which I think you are), you better think about weight. If you get a heavy gun, you will regret it, trust me. Now if you are going to stay on the plains, or hunt from horses, it will lessen the hurt. But yes, you will regret the extra weight. That was more important to me than the caliber. I chose a Remington in .270 Mountain LSS. I do not feel undergunned, because I can put the bullet where it needs to go.

We aren't going to reinvent the wheel here. www.24hourcampfire.com (http://www.24hourcampfire.com) See the various forums discussing rifles. Your answer is there, in spades, with every possible question you have, answered. For what it's worth, you still sound like a .300 winnie type of guy with a stainless set up and a fixed 6 power. Save the money for a pair of Zeiss, or Swaro's and then buy a good pack.



i feel i will be contacting you for information in the future, i'm just trying to start getting things together that i would need to take out there. I have a group here that goes to montana each year hunting for mulies/antelope. I feel that will probably be my first trip out west to see what it's like.. it's not a real hard hunt, from what i hear. but i want to get into it like that and then venture into some backcountry trips where i gotta survive with what we take in.
















FYI drawings are coming up, and you don't have the time to learn all the ins and outs of the confusing rules for different states. I offer this to you: Idaho has deer tags over the counter, but access is difficult. Bull tags are OTC in Colorado. Draw New Mexico in 16, 52, or 34 and I'll tell ya where to find them. Pronghorns in Wyoming or Eastern Montana.

First get your gun, then figure out what you want to hunt. If I can help you I will, if I can't I will point you where to go. Only when you know what you want to hunt, do you start the "where" process.

Oh yeah Scott, get 1 more guy, or maybe 2 to go with you. Any more and the group becomes too hard to move in the mountains. Plus, the game density is much lower in most cases. If you are going DIY, then save for titanium and wool. Walmart has nothing you need, for a successful, comfortable backpack hunt. Hope this helps.

Oh, forgot to tell ya, I like the recoil. I like shooting big guns, don't bother me a bit. The kick of a .338 is pure joy, but those big guns that throw big bullets have big actions, with big bullets. And yes, I do even count the weight of the bullets. But total weight of your gear needs to be low, low, low. Make sure you will be happy carrying that rifle up slopes, down slopes, up slopes, down slopes. And doing it at 10,00 feet.



i feel i will be contacting you for information in the future, i'm just trying to start getting things together that i would need to take out there. I have a group here that goes to montana each year hunting for mulies/antelope. I feel that will probably be my first trip out west to see what it's like.. it's not a real hard hunt, from what i hear. but i want to get into it like that and then venture into some backcountry trips where i gotta survive with what we take in.

as far as the zeiss, shew....... i already have a pair that i wish carl zeiss had up his rear end

[A.K.A. GROUSEGUNNER]

I went through this same dilema & decided on a 7 short mag for the same intentions you have. I'm slowly but surely collecting parts now, & plan on shipping them to Mr. Ezell once collected & money permits. I also thought about a .280 ackley. let us know what you decide on.

[Hoosier5]

Scott, you might consider the 7 m/m Shooting Times Westerner. Lots of power and long range shooting!

[therron258]

I used to have a savage .338, it was my first deer rifle, bought it when i was 13. The kick wasnt bad at all, i shot the crap out of that thing just for fun mostly.

I would definitely take a look at one, and have you considered the 325 wsm?