best caliber for a short action

[gunsmith1012]

Just looking for some ideas here. I want to build a dedicated gun for groundhogs and coyotes for 800 to 1500yards. this is what i have so far stockade 1000br stock, jewell trigger, 20moa rail and a stainless steel remington 700 short action. im open to any suggestions to cailber was leaning towards a 260 or a 6.5x47 lapua, but im not stuck on either. want to decide soon so i can order a barrel dies and brass. any info thankful for. been blasting them with the 338 lapua so far but an hoping for a more cost effective shorter caliber for these little guys.

[barnesuser28]

284 winchester. get a 8.5 twist barrel so you can shoot the 195 grain Berger EOL bullet when it comes out and you can use the 180 grain Berger or JLK at around 2850 from a 30" barrel. Run it through a ballistic calcuator, you will be impressed!

[angus-5024]

+1 for the .284 win. I would also throw the 7 SAUM in there, it'll give a bit more than the .284.

If you want a 6.5 for $$ savings... I have no idea.

[barnesuser28]

with the 284 winchester you can neck up Lapua 6.5x284 brass.

[4bycamper]

How about a 300 wsm? I know you said varmints but small diameter, light weight bullets tend too get lost in the wind at 1500 yards. A 208 gr A-max has a better chance of being 'minute of coyote' at that distance.

My 6mm rem is great at 500 yards but 1000 yards is a whole 'nother ball game.

[WildRose]

Originally Posted by gunsmith1012

Just looking for some ideas here. I want to build a dedicated gun for groundhogs and coyotes for 800 to 1500yards. this is what i have so far stockade 1000br stock, jewell trigger, 20moa rail and a stainless steel remington 700 short action. im open to any suggestions to cailber was leaning towards a 260 or a 6.5x47 lapua, but im not stuck on either. want to decide soon so i can order a barrel dies and brass. any info thankful for. been blasting them with the 338 lapua so far but an hoping for a more cost effective shorter caliber for these little guys.

Of the two I'd definitely go with the .260.

However that being said, if you are serious about small critters beyond 1,000yds I'd say take a long hard look at the .300wsm since you can throw much heavier High BC bullets from it than you can from the .260.

I keep hearing rumors of some heavier 6.5 super high BC bullets coming out anytime now from a couple of the manufacturers which if they do appear and prove out could change that equation but for now that's the way things shake out.

[Greyfox]

Another vote for the 260. It's my companion rifle to my 6.5x284 for high volume shooting at targets and varmints. Great accuracy , easy to load, long case and barrel life, and readily available Lapua brass.