what long range cartridge would work best for a remington short action

[timmyatnop]

Hello I have a 308 REM vsf ,if you had the option to make it a better long range caliber what would that be and why. thanks.

 

[elkaholic]

Hello I have a 308 REM vsf ,if you had the option to make it a better long range caliber what would that be and why. thanks.

With the short action, you are of course limited to the short mags. The easiest switch would be to the 300 WSM. You would have to have the boltface machined out and the barrel rechambered. This would be the cheapist as well as the easiest. If you plan on installing a custom barrel, then your options are open to other short mag rounds as well. Another option would be something like the 6.5/.284 which would not require a bolt mod but you would be somewhat limited to overall cartridge length with the long bullets in your magazine....Rich

 

[trebark]

Three questions...

1. Are you planning to just rechamber the current barrel?

2. Are you planning to rebarrel?

3. What is your intended use for the rifle?

***************

1 & 3. If you rechamber, you are limited to 30cal cartridge. I think Elkaholic is right that a good option is 300wsm. It shoots fast, flat and delivers a ton of energy. Does that match up with your intended use?

2 & 3. If you rebarrel, then the sky is the limit in terms of the cartridge you choose. There are many awesome cartridges in 6.5mm, 7mm and 30cal to choose from. My 308 was converted to a 260Rem. It is awsome and I use it for targets, varmints and deer.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f53/my-260-mcr-59628/

 

[backwoods83]

Well unless you plan on missing a lot a mag follower and buttstock shellholder with eliminate those OAL issues, but if not a 300wsm is pretty mean and idiot proof on the reloading end.

 

[Hondo64d]

Hello I have a 308 REM vsf ,if you had the option to make it a better long range caliber what would that be and why. thanks.

.260 Remington
No extra work required for feeding, boltface etc.
Good variety of high BC bullets available.
Effective on game.
Light recoil.

Just have it throated so you can reach the lands when your bullet of choice is seated to magazine length.

John

 

[Michael Eichele]

Hello I have a 308 REM vsf ,if you had the option to make it a better long range caliber what would that be and why. thanks.

'Better' is a subjective term. To me, making a factory 308 a 'better' caliber is installing a custom barrel, Wyatt magazine, floating/bedding the stock or replacing it with a different stock altogether, etc......Nothing wrong with the 308. Barrels last a long time, they are super accurate, good 1000 yard practice rifle, plenty of terminal performance, managable recoil, etc.....

Now if your idea of a 'better' caliber is harder hitting, then you will want to look at the WSM's or SAUM's.

If your idea of a 'better' caliber is less recoil then you may want to look at the 260 or 708. Maybe the 6.5x284.

Bottom line is you need to supply more information as to what kind of 'better' you are looking for. You have your ideas, I have mine and everybody else has theirs. Help us understand what your 'better' means.

M

 

[BountyHunter]

IF you go with the WSM (you will love it), do not waste your time or money on the factory bolt!

Buy a PTG bolt with M16 extractor ready to do and sell the factory bolt. You will be money ahead compared to converting the factory and you will have a much smoother and most importantly more reliable rifle. Been that route and is total waste of money and reliability.

BH

 

[timmyatnop]

Ok i think all i will ever shoot with it are deer and coyotes , I don't know , lots of paper and iron targets for sure ,was gona go with new barrel for sure. I guess i like the idea of less recoil , But i can always put a brake on it. Would the 6.5 bullets be good or should i stay with 30 cal? 1000 yard max thats all the room ive got down at the old farm. I like the idea of a detachable box mag. but its not set in stone. Could a guy load 210 gr bergers in 308 , or would they fall to fast and dialing for yardage be really tough?

 

[timmyatnop]

Ok iam thinking 243AI ,how much trouble is it to make ai brass .what's the process, Just load regular 243 and shoot it and now its ai ,is that all.? Can a person still buy 115 Dtac bullets

 

[Trickymissfit]

Ok iam thinking 243AI ,how much trouble is it to make ai brass .what's the process, Just load regular 243 and shoot it and now its ai ,is that all.? Can a person still buy 115 Dtac bullets

before I'd ever consider a .243AI, I would build a 6/250AI. A much better round all the way around, and you can form case out of standard 22-250 brass or better yet generic .243 brass. Mine will push 117 grain bullets at just over 3000 fps.
gary

 

[SBruce]

Most factory cases that become Ackley Improved's are not hard to form, for many years it has been said that the parent cartridge could be fired in an AI chamber without any problems. I forget the reason why, but it was once explained to me in detail by a gunsmith, and it made perfect sense. I just suffer from CRS sometimes

Some Ackleys are more difficult, because the shoulder is actually moved forward and then blown out to 40 degrees. My 6 Long Dasher is a perfect example of this, but it's not a standard AI by any means.

The guy that built it told me it would out perform the 243 AI. I don't know for sure, but I do know that I can easily get 3300 with 105's and H4350. It fits in a Ruger short action with plenty of room to spare. Probably very similar to the 6-250 AI that Tricky is talking about, and there are alot of good reports on that cartridge too.

260, 7-08, 6.5-284, 6.5X47 Lapua are also good choices IMO. Especially if you are interested in deer at 700 or 800 yds. The 6.5-284 probably holds the candle out of those 4.

In order to get the ballistics of a good 6 or 6.5, you've gotta go really heavy bullets in 30 cal. In fact, ballistically the 6 Long Dasher with 95's at 3300 has less drop and drift at 1000 yds then the 300 WSM with 180's at 3000 does. It doesn't have the energy or "knock down" power at 1000, but it's ballistically more friendly.

Lots of choices out there nowdays that are better than the 308 IMO.

 

[elkaholic]

I believe the reason is that the A.I. is .002 or .003' shorter at the shoulder which allows the standard to headspace.......Rich

 

[SBruce]

I believe the reason is that the A.I. is .002 or .003' shorter at the shoulder which allows the standard to headspace.......Rich

Yes, that is kinda ringing a bell. That would make sense huh?

 

[eddybo]

before I'd ever consider a .243AI, I would build a 6/250AI. A much better round all the way around, and you can form case out of standard 22-250 brass or better yet generic .243 brass. Mine will push 117 grain bullets at just over 3000 fps.
gary

Why a 6mm/250AI? your giving up 10 grains of capacity to the 243AI if both are loaded to the same length and the same quality brass is available for both. What is better, just wondering? I can push BN Dtacs nearly 3200 with 243AI and acccuracy is great.