Hmm What caliber?

[sniperjwt]

I am looking to build another rifle but like so many others im struggling on picking a caliber. It will be a hunting rifle however it will for surly be having a 30" barrel. Hunting will be out to 1000 yards. I love the 6.5mm bullets because of the BC and i do like wildcats so i have considered the 6.5-300 Win mag and the 6.5mmSTW. I also like the 338 bullets except for the price tag that goes along with shooting them. I have considered the 338 edge as well. I already have a 6.5-284 and 257stw so those calibers are out. Just sold my 7STW to fund this build so i guess that is not an option. It will be mainly deer size game so nothing to big is really needed (although still considered) but it does need enough energy to take down a large mature buck at that range. I just dont know where to go with it.

 

[J E Custom]

The next step up would be the 300 RUM.
Lots of bullet choices (Weight and style) can be loaded down to 30/06 velocities and up to very
high velocities and energies.

To a 1000 yards it will perform with the 338s.

Just a all round good cartrige.

J E CUSTOM

 

[4xforfun]

If you are talkin mature bucks to 1000 yards, leave the 6.5's at home. Minimum for me would be a 7mm, and it would need to blister out the 180 class bullets...I am talking the 7mm RUM and up sized cases. Those big 7mm bullets are BC wonders and work quite well on deer!!

30 cals.....300 WBY and up with any of the 210 - 240 VLD bullets.

338 cal....340 WBY and up.

Again, just my .02. If I was (and I plan to, by the way) going to build a LR deer sticker it would be a supercharged 7mm.....maybe a on a 338 lapua case. A 180 JLK at 3400- 3500 is a MONSTER at distance!!!! It smokes my 300 wby hunting gun with the 210 berger's at around 3000fps. I figure a 12 pound gun could be shot w/o a brake...I HATE BRAKES FOR HUNTING!!!

 

[bigngreen]

JLK at 3400- 3500 is a MONSTER at distance!!!!

Will the JKL survive that kind of launch?

 

[dirtball]

And then there are the 30 cal Wildcats, 30x338 Lapua Improved, 300AX, 30x378.
210gr at or above 3400 fps, come up on mine at 1,000 with 100 yd zero is 18moa, still doing 1900fps with 1700ftlbs energy.
Have not played with the heaver bullets YET.
Just another option.

Dave

 

[Nimrod1203]

I had thought about this same issue. What i came up with is i'd stick with a .300 RUM. Brass is cheaper than most of the other wildcats mentioned. Also, IF you ever wanted a .338 EDGE you'd have a ton of used brass on hand. Ballisticly at 1000 yards, the RUM is just as deadly as the .30x378....As far as flat shooting, it's about as good except for the 240 grainers. The .300 RUM with a 210 grainer would give you what your looking for and more....I don't actually have a RUM or other but i've done alot of research for my next build. All in all, unless i was going past 1000 yards, i'd stick with .30 cals. To me, .338 is wasted energy unless you're past 1k. Grain of salt on my .02
Nimrod

 

[LRSickle]

Sniperjwt, welcome to the world of gunbuilding. I was just at my gunsmith yesterday talking about a big decision I had to make...what gun to build next. He has a couch in his shop just for these purposes...kinda-like a gun therapist. I told him the parts, barrels and such I have hanging around and he suggested many different combos I could put together. I settled on a tactical bolt rifle in .308. Why? Not sure, just thought I would. I feel your pain..albeit a good pain.

I think JECustom has a good choice. The 300RUM is a great 1000 yarder.

 

[4xforfun]

Will the JKL survive that kind of launch?

I guess I can't answer that. I would think Kirby or one of his minions would have a good idea. Anyone with a 7 RUM or a 7mm Allen Mag would/should know more.

 

[angus-5024]

300 RUM is hands down your best bet. It hangs in there with the .338's to that distance and can be had without a brake. If you are going for elk at all I would say step it up to a .338, but your not so I think that the 300 RUM is going to be the best performance in the most convenient package. And even for elk your no where near undergunned.I really feel that the 300 RUM is one of the most versitile LR sporting rounds available today.

 

[leadchucker]

just whent through the same dilema myself. I ended going up with the .300 RUM. Glad i did. 210 bergers are bad whitetail medicine!

 

[AJ Peacock]

Can't go wrong with a 300Rum, but if you want something off the beaten path, I've heard good things about the 375Ruger-7mm. It will crank out the 180gr VLD's at 3200+ efficiently.

Just adding a little mud to the pot

AJ