All,
I have a Browning X-Bolt LR Stalker sitting in the safe, currently chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor on a McMillan Game Scout.
I really like Brownings. Their feature set (60* bolt, bolt lock, detachable rotary mag, M16 extractor) really appeal to me. The triggers have always been light and crisp enough for me.
That being said, the issues with this one: A) the barrel is 26", and B) I have several other 6.5 Creedmoors. (FYI: I also have a 6.5 PRC being finished, and an M70 Fwt in .30-06.)
The good about this one: with factory Federal or Hornady ammunition, it's a laser and I've gotten from .38-1.1 MOA consistently. Mostly around .89MOA.
However, I am considering tinkering. I have a call out to my gunsmith, but am currently overseas. I have a Brux .284" 1:8 #3 barrel in the basement, waiting to get used.
So, LA calibers like 7mm RM, 280AI, 280 are out. I could do SA, like 7SS, 7WSM, 7-08, 7-08AI. .284WIN isn't really a viable option between the limits of the Browning magazine (although they are long enough to fit my 6.5PRC rounds @ a COAL of 2.950" - I've done that at home with an extra WSM magazine) and the lack of factory ammunition that would provide any material benefit over one of the other more-common options.
Goals: suppressed hunting, both in Michigan for deer as well as out west for elk/muleys. In Michigan the average deer is taken at ~35 yards (for this, I usually use my 6.5cm with the 19" barrel). Out west, my personal absolute (perfect round, perfect conditions) comfort level is likely 750 yards; I'd like to stalk closer. I have no problems hitting steel at 1k, but I can't personally see shooting much beyond that (not the intent of this question) on game. I don't yet reload (would love to, but too many hobbies already). I'm not above paying for good ammunition from Hammer or Copper Creek. I don't often fly, and have other common calibers, so the availability of over-the-counter ammunition at every mom-and-pop store for this one is less critical.
So I am considering re-chambering it to 6.5 PRC, since the original barrel shoots well and at that time just cutting it back to 24", versus perhaps re-barreling it to 7mm-something.
Were I to choose 7-08 or 7-08AI, I could retain the same bolt-face. Were I to go with one of the magnums, I'd have to change that, but I could get a lot more "oomph" and security in range. My .30-06 is currently my choice for upcoming moose, but a 7mm would be appropriate as well, giving me redundant options - an argument against building another 6.5 PRC.
I've looked into various options, and a 140-grain-class bullet would likely suffice at my distance, especially a Hammer Hunter. Maybe it runs out of steam (1500 ft-lbs) before 750? The Sherman Short or RemMag would likely be the best option for the 160+ class bullets, whereas a 7-08 is likely limited to the 140-class anyway. The Hammer Hunter is 1.39" long, whereas the ELD-X is 1.4" long, so those would both be possibilities.
If one chooses the ballistics of the 7mmRM as a benchmark, you're looking at a 160-class at ~2950 fps. So, the 7-08 in stock form (same Precision Hunter ammunition) is listed at 2,770 fps for a 150 gr ELD-X. This is a loss of 500 ft-lbs.
From reading old threads, most guys were pushing the 7-08AI at 3000+ with the 140s:
That may be aggressive or wishful thinking, but seems to duplicate the .280AI and/or the 7mm RM.
Now, nobody makes factory 7-08AI, but there's where Hammer/Copper Creek would come into play. Then the argument with myself: if I'm willing to go that route, then why not just a mild load on a 7SS? At that point the only real benefit to the 7-08 is A) no need to change my current bolt-face, and B) I could still fire an off-the-shelf 7mm-08 (assuming I don't have the 6.5cm or '06 as a backup). The 7mm WSM carries the drawback of requiring a new bolt-face, but the benefit of factory ammo here (150 gr. GMX) or here (162 gr. ELD-X).
As the distance stretches beyond 500 yards through to the 700-range, then the need for higher-BC/heavier bullets like the 175+ comes into play. There, the 7SS shines and the rest kinda trail away. The 7WSM is likely the best option there, and the 7-08AI likely can't even keep up? But the 7WSM shows the highest factory loads only in the 160-grain class, except for Copper Creek who loads the 175 and 180 Berger hunting VLDs.
So... Am I dreaming that the 7mm-08 or 7mm-08AI would even meet my needs for the 700-yard range?
At the end of the day, I think it comes down to what my gunsmith tells me is the availability to change over or open up the bolt, and the need for factory ammunition (7-08 or 7WSM) vs custom ammunition (7SS or 7-08AI). Or, I could consider selling it. At that point, I could just buy the 7mm-whatever in a new configuration (ex: https://www.browning.com/products/f...-bolt-stalker-a-tacs-au-suppressor-ready.html).
I have a Browning X-Bolt LR Stalker sitting in the safe, currently chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor on a McMillan Game Scout.
I really like Brownings. Their feature set (60* bolt, bolt lock, detachable rotary mag, M16 extractor) really appeal to me. The triggers have always been light and crisp enough for me.
That being said, the issues with this one: A) the barrel is 26", and B) I have several other 6.5 Creedmoors. (FYI: I also have a 6.5 PRC being finished, and an M70 Fwt in .30-06.)
The good about this one: with factory Federal or Hornady ammunition, it's a laser and I've gotten from .38-1.1 MOA consistently. Mostly around .89MOA.
However, I am considering tinkering. I have a call out to my gunsmith, but am currently overseas. I have a Brux .284" 1:8 #3 barrel in the basement, waiting to get used.
So, LA calibers like 7mm RM, 280AI, 280 are out. I could do SA, like 7SS, 7WSM, 7-08, 7-08AI. .284WIN isn't really a viable option between the limits of the Browning magazine (although they are long enough to fit my 6.5PRC rounds @ a COAL of 2.950" - I've done that at home with an extra WSM magazine) and the lack of factory ammunition that would provide any material benefit over one of the other more-common options.
Goals: suppressed hunting, both in Michigan for deer as well as out west for elk/muleys. In Michigan the average deer is taken at ~35 yards (for this, I usually use my 6.5cm with the 19" barrel). Out west, my personal absolute (perfect round, perfect conditions) comfort level is likely 750 yards; I'd like to stalk closer. I have no problems hitting steel at 1k, but I can't personally see shooting much beyond that (not the intent of this question) on game. I don't yet reload (would love to, but too many hobbies already). I'm not above paying for good ammunition from Hammer or Copper Creek. I don't often fly, and have other common calibers, so the availability of over-the-counter ammunition at every mom-and-pop store for this one is less critical.
So I am considering re-chambering it to 6.5 PRC, since the original barrel shoots well and at that time just cutting it back to 24", versus perhaps re-barreling it to 7mm-something.
Were I to choose 7-08 or 7-08AI, I could retain the same bolt-face. Were I to go with one of the magnums, I'd have to change that, but I could get a lot more "oomph" and security in range. My .30-06 is currently my choice for upcoming moose, but a 7mm would be appropriate as well, giving me redundant options - an argument against building another 6.5 PRC.
I've looked into various options, and a 140-grain-class bullet would likely suffice at my distance, especially a Hammer Hunter. Maybe it runs out of steam (1500 ft-lbs) before 750? The Sherman Short or RemMag would likely be the best option for the 160+ class bullets, whereas a 7-08 is likely limited to the 140-class anyway. The Hammer Hunter is 1.39" long, whereas the ELD-X is 1.4" long, so those would both be possibilities.
If one chooses the ballistics of the 7mmRM as a benchmark, you're looking at a 160-class at ~2950 fps. So, the 7-08 in stock form (same Precision Hunter ammunition) is listed at 2,770 fps for a 150 gr ELD-X. This is a loss of 500 ft-lbs.
From reading old threads, most guys were pushing the 7-08AI at 3000+ with the 140s:
That may be aggressive or wishful thinking, but seems to duplicate the .280AI and/or the 7mm RM.
Now, nobody makes factory 7-08AI, but there's where Hammer/Copper Creek would come into play. Then the argument with myself: if I'm willing to go that route, then why not just a mild load on a 7SS? At that point the only real benefit to the 7-08 is A) no need to change my current bolt-face, and B) I could still fire an off-the-shelf 7mm-08 (assuming I don't have the 6.5cm or '06 as a backup). The 7mm WSM carries the drawback of requiring a new bolt-face, but the benefit of factory ammo here (150 gr. GMX) or here (162 gr. ELD-X).
As the distance stretches beyond 500 yards through to the 700-range, then the need for higher-BC/heavier bullets like the 175+ comes into play. There, the 7SS shines and the rest kinda trail away. The 7WSM is likely the best option there, and the 7-08AI likely can't even keep up? But the 7WSM shows the highest factory loads only in the 160-grain class, except for Copper Creek who loads the 175 and 180 Berger hunting VLDs.
So... Am I dreaming that the 7mm-08 or 7mm-08AI would even meet my needs for the 700-yard range?
At the end of the day, I think it comes down to what my gunsmith tells me is the availability to change over or open up the bolt, and the need for factory ammunition (7-08 or 7WSM) vs custom ammunition (7SS or 7-08AI). Or, I could consider selling it. At that point, I could just buy the 7mm-whatever in a new configuration (ex: https://www.browning.com/products/f...-bolt-stalker-a-tacs-au-suppressor-ready.html).
