"difficult" calibers

[therifleman556]

So which would you recommend and why given my circumstances?

Any, really with maybe the exception of the 325.

The 300 and 270 are easy to find brass and ammo for. The 7mm is probably the sweet spot for what you're looking to do. Any of them can be throated long to take advantage of the Tikkas length. If you're starting with a short action you will need the long action magazine and bolt stop to do this.

If I was you and starting from scratch I'd either do a fast twist 270 or the PRC, but I punch paper and steel more than hunt. The PRC has the advantage in brass and bullet selection if that matters to you.

 

[BDS05]

What cartridge is your tikka rifle chambered in BD.

I've loaded alot of cartridges over the years and the only inherent difference I've found is light recoil to heavy recoil.

Stock design,,, weight of it,,, and all the quality components that attach to it make things happen """so long""" as everything is set-up correctly.

Don't go to the shooting range if you see a old guy with a extra long beak ball cap and shooting a 303 British free hand ,,, its not the time or place to get schooled on how to punch holes at 900 meters with a rifle that some shooters would think is long past its days. LOL.

Wize to not under estimate the old worn out rifles you know. Ha

This rifle is currently a 7mm Rem. Accuracy started out bearable. It has grown worse. I've ordered new rings/bases and plan on re torquing everything once more. It has left a bad taste in my mouth and I'll take TINY groups for me to stay with this factory rifle / 7mm REM. Ive convinced mesyelf and MY WIFE I'm going to build. The old guy at the range is actually who I'm looking for. Kind of... I recently purchased a 30-06 Fieldcraft. For PRS, this caliber seems nonexistent. For hunting, this rifle retired the old 06 my old man handed down. I'm looking to fill my empty niches with this Tikka action.

I've got said calibers in mind but what makes one "difficult to reload"?

 

[BDS05]

Any, really with maybe the exception of the 325.

The 300 and 270 are easy to find brass and ammo for. The 7mm is probably the sweet spot for what you're looking to do. Any of them can be throated long to take advantage of the Tikkas length. If you're starting with a short action you will need the long action magazine and bolt stop to do this.

If I was you and starting from scratch I'd either do a fast twist 270 or the PRC, but I punch paper and steel more than hunt. The PRC has the advantage in brass and bullet selection if that matters to you.

Generalized response but which of the 7s?
That's part of this. I keep reading "x" is finicky on reloads. I'm obviously new to reloading and would like to keep it somewhat simple but not crippling on my first build I'm willing to reload for. WHAT MAKES "X" DIFFICULT TO LOAD FOR? 6.5PRC is currently very high on my list, 6.5x47, x284, 260 ai, 280, 300 and 7mm in whatever variance .

 

[highdrum]

7mm blaser mag runs flawlessly in a long action mag bolt Tikka, has same or better performance as wsm & rem mag, it's vastly different and is a great design, no idea why it never caught on. Norma sells brass, redding has dies. PTG has reamers.

 

[jebel]

I don't think you can differentiate cartridges by those that are "difficult to load for," as far as the reloading process. Some cartridges may have challenges because good quality brass or dies are scarce. Some bullets you try to load may be finicky to refine in a load, but that is bullet specific, not cartridge.

For a good long-range target load (1000 yards) that is also capable of taking elk out to 500-600 yards and does so with moderate recoil (the criteria as I understand them), the 6.5 PRC you've already identified seems like a reasonable choice. A couple others might include 7mm SAUM or 7mm WSM, which also use a magnum bolt face, also fulfill your other criteria, and have about the same recoil as the 6.5 PRC. These two 7mm cartridges are short action, so your long action would give them extra space in the magazine, if you want to use heavier, longer bullets (a good thing). ADG sells quality brass for the 6.5 PRC and the 7mm SAUM, which is an advantage.

 

[highdrum]

I'd go 6.5 saum over 6.5 prc any day.

 

[HARPERC]

Exotic to mean not generally found on standard die list, wildcats, or ancients not found on current ammo or component list. Extremes like the .17's, big Weatherby cases (.378). Intense per caliber .224 TTH, or 6.5 Ultracat. Something that requires multiple die set or fire forming to get brass. Something that uses less than a 100 grains of powder per throw.
As it becomes more clear what your building on, it throws out much of what I listed.
In the PRC's, SAUM's, and "standard magnums" such as the .264 Winchester Magnum, the mechanics are the same, and one can have a quality build around any of them.

 

[Plinker147]

I think "difficult"cartridges to load is a misconception and is really a difficult rifle to load for. Some rifles are hard to fine tune and get the perfect reload for. Some are easy to find loads for thus giving the impression it's an easy cartridge when in reality it has more to do with the rifle.

Some "difficulties" in reloading can be that when pushing speed envelopes for cartridges can be hard to find accurate loads that shoot well at max speeds.

Also wildcats could be considered "difficult" by some to reload. They really aren't difficult but require extra steps and require more knowledge than standard rounds.

If you want to keep it simple stick to the common cartridges that brass and data are abundant.

 

[HARPERC]

.....That's part of this. I keep reading "x" is finicky on reloads. I'm obviously new to reloading and would like to keep it somewhat simple but not crippling on my first build I'm willing to reload for. WHAT MAKES "X" DIFFICULT TO LOAD FOR?........

Let's turn this around a bit, What have you been told is finicky?

 

[Mustang72]

When you say your rifle doesn't fulfill your itch-is it because you just want something different or because your not getting the accuracy that you want? Your 7mag is more than capable of what you want and it could be a cheap and easy fix to get the accuracy that you want from it. There are plenty of things things that come to mind that could greatly affect your your accuracy.-- I would look for those and spend my money on reloading equipment and components. Of course if you just want something different than that's another story.

 

[MagnumManiac]

You want finicky, and why?
Ok, here's one I have myself and have built many for others.
The 338 Edge, aka 338-300RUM, is a hellava cartridge...........but it is very finicky with bullet choice, throat length and powder choice. The reason is that the 'ideal' throat length either covers ONE bullet style/weight or doesn't suit ANY bullet style/weight combo that isn't difficult to tune.
The other aspect is powder choice, powders that 'should' work seldom do the job and get poor accuracy, only stepping up to much slower powders seems to work.

Cartridges not finicky at all are 25-06, 270, 300WM, 264WM or 338WM.
Others I have personal experience with are 222Rem, 6.5x47, 6.5-284Norma, 22-250AI, 300 Weatherby, 340 Weatherby and 375 Weatherby.
Big bores that shoot well with ANY load or bullet are 416 Rigby/Remington, 404 Jeffrey, 458 Lott, 450 Rigby, 500 NE and 505 Gibbs. I have/do own them all, and their accuracy is remarkable.

Cheers.

 

[BDS05]

You want finicky, and why?
Ok, here's one I have myself and have built many for others.
The 338 Edge, aka 338-300RUM, is a hellava cartridge...........but it is very finicky with bullet choice, throat length and powder choice. The reason is that the 'ideal' throat length either covers ONE bullet style/weight or doesn't suit ANY bullet style/weight combo that isn't difficult to tune.
The other aspect is powder choice, powders that 'should' work seldom do the job and get poor accuracy, only stepping up to much slower powders seems to work.

No. I dont want want something that can possibly be that picky THIS go round. Perhaps I misworded somewhere. What you described is exactly what i was looking for. Thank you.

Cartridges not finicky at all are 25-06, 270, 300WM, 264WM or 338WM.
Others I have personal experience with are 222Rem, 6.5x47, 6.5-284Norma, 22-250AI, 300 Weatherby, 340 Weatherby and 375 Weatherby.
Big bores that shoot well with ANY load or bullet are 416 Rigby/Remington, 404 Jeffrey, 458 Lott, 450 Rigby, 500 NE and 505 Gibbs. I have/do own them all, and their accuracy is remarkable.
[/QUOTE]
Also what I was looking to get some feedback on. Thank you again

 

[therifleman556]

I don't think anyone would characterize the WSM (270, 7mm, or 300) as finicky. Brass is easy to find and load data is abundant. Another advantage (although I don't think many here would consider it one) is that they get good results without the slowest powders. Where I'm at, the nearest full line retailer for powder is 60 miles away. The store up the road and visited frequently stocks more middle of the road powders like RL19, 4831, and RL22. These are right in the 270 WSMs comfort zone so for me it works out nice.

 

[KyCarl]

I like my 6.5 X 284! It's not a magnum but it's pretty quick!