Which replacement barrel for (long range) hunting ?

[Juergen]

Hello !

I own a rifle with caliber .308 Win. and I am looking for a replacement barrel
with a caliber that has less wind drift than .308 Win.

Quite easy it is for me to change the barrel to

• .25-06 Rem.
• 6.5 x 47 Lapua
• 6.5 Creedmoor
• 6.5 x 55 SE
• 6.5 x 57
• 6.5 x 65 RWS
• 6.5-284 Norma
• .270 Win.
• 7mm-08 Rem.
• 7 x 57
• 7 x 64

because I only need to change the barrel. No changes needed at the system.

My requirements are

• not more recoil than .308 Win.
• same or better precision than .308 Win.
• working good with lead free bullets
• much less wind drift than .308 Win.
• much flatter trajectory than .308 Win.
• reasonable barrel wear
• more power than .308 Win. beyond 300 yards

Availability of factory ammunition is not an issue because I am reloading.

6.5 Creedmoor is shortlisted at the moment. Is 6.5 Creedmoor a good choice
or are some of the listed calibers better than 6.5 Creedmoor ?

Thanks for helping me!

Juergen

 

[MagnumManiac]

You do not say what action you have.
If a short action, I would recommend a 6.5x47 Lapua, 7-08 or 6-08/6x47.
I do not get the Creedless, so others may chime in on that one. The hype around it, is just that, HYPE. It does nothing better than any other cartridge of it's size.
I see the 6.5 Lapua to be a better cartridge.
If a short action, both the 25-06 and 270 will have to be ruled out.
The barrel wear issue is moot, a 308 can fire 10,000 rounds. As can a 223/5.56.
Barrel wear is something I don't look at.

Cheers.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I think you'd be handicapping the 6.5x284 in a short action also. That would be better suited in a long action IMO

 

[tdot]

It appears most of those cartridges are best suited in a Long Action, or at very least an XM action.

Any of the euro cartridges with a case length of 55, 57 or 64, will all work best on an action longer then a typical 308 length action.

I'm only seeing three cartridges on the list that would be appropriate in a short action. 6.5x47, 6.5 Creedmoor & 7-08.

I'd personally recommend that the Rem 260 should be added to the list too. Along with the Ackley Improved version of the 7-08 or Rem 260.

 

[Roninco]

Welcome,
The action length is important to your decision. But also consider availability of brass for your location.
Although we may recommend a .25-06 or 7mm-08 perhaps a European cartridge will be easier to obtain.
Also your intended use comes into play. Hunting Roe buck will be different than boar.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Oh, excuse my rudeness.
Welcome to the forum Juergen.

Cheers.

 

[Juergen]

Oh, excuse my rudeness.
Welcome to the forum Juergen.

Cheers.

I haven't seen any rudeness. Thanks for so many answers!

The rifle is a Rössler Titan 6 Luxus .308 Win. They don't say
anything about short action or long action. The magazine
is 88 mm = 3.46 inch long.

They have "bolt groups". The .308 Win. is in the bolt group "Standard",
please look at the PDF Interchangeable Barrel System.

All the listed calibers in my first post are in the group "Standard" which
means that I only have to buy another barrel to change the caliber.
Sometimes a different magazine is needed but nothing else.

That's quite cheap and comfortable for me.

But: Some of the listed calibers have a twist rate which is perhaps not appropiate
for long range hunting. For example 6.5-284 Norma has a twist of 1 : 9".
I would prefer 1 : 8".

Please look at the PDF Twist Rates.

The following calibers have a twist rate of 1 : 8" = 203 mm :
6.5 x 47 Lapua / 6.5 Creedmoor / 6.5 x 57 / 6.5 x 65 RWS.

I can get any twist rate for each caliber but the price is much higher:
perhaps $1200 instead of $700 for the barrel.

(One important point: The minimum caliber must be 6.5 mm = 0.264" or 0.250"
because it is not allowed to hunt hogs with a smaller caliber in Germany.)

Rössler is using barrels from the company "Lothar Walther" which are
quite good. I can shoot groups of less than 0.2 MOA with my .308 Win.
barrel and I don't want to lose precision when I change the barrel !

So the easiest way for me is to choose one of the 4 calibers
6.5 x 47 Lapua / 6.5 Creedmoor / 6.5 x 57 / 6.5 x 65 RWS.

To choose one of the other calibers I need a good reason
like less wind drift, more precision, more power etc.

Thanks

Jürgen

 

[Black Hat]

What are you planning on doing with this rifle?
I would stick with a .308 but if punching paper is what your after the 6.5×47 is a sweet little round.

 

[xsn10s]

Hello !

I own a rifle with caliber .308 Win. and I am looking for a replacement barrel
with a caliber that has less wind drift than .308 Win.

Quite easy it is for me to change the barrel to

• .25-06 Rem.
• 6.5 x 47 Lapua
• 6.5 Creedmoor
• 6.5 x 55 SE
• 6.5 x 57
• 6.5 x 65 RWS
• 6.5-284 Norma
• .270 Win.
• 7mm-08 Rem.
• 7 x 57
• 7 x 64

because I only need to change the barrel. No changes needed at the system.

My requirements are

• not more recoil than .308 Win.
• same or better precision than .308 Win.
• working good with lead free bullets
• much less wind drift than .308 Win.
• much flatter trajectory than .308 Win.
• reasonable barrel wear
• more power than .308 Win. beyond 300 yards

Availability of factory ammunition is not an issue because I am reloading.

6.5 Creedmoor is shortlisted at the moment. Is 6.5 Creedmoor a good choice
or are some of the listed calibers better than 6.5 Creedmoor ?

Thanks for helping me!

Juergen

Given the list you provided I'm going to assume you are using a long action. If that's the case then 6.5x284, a standard 284, or 7x64 would be on my list. I'd probably lean towards the 284 or 7x64, but I haven't loaded much lead free bullets. I'd consider a 30-06 too. For me the criteria would be what action the rifle is to be built on. What type of shooting/ hunting will it be used for. And what ranges you'll be shooting/hunting.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I'm surprised that no one suggested a 260AI.

 

[Juergen]

What are you planning on doing with this rifle?

I want to extend my distance for hunting. I look for a caliber that is better than .308 at long distances.
Please look at my requirements list in post #1.

I'm surprised that no one suggested a 260AI.

It is not on the list of my manufacturer. If I want to use 260AI
I have to buy a new rifle. I only want to buy a new barrel.

How can I check if my system is short action or long action or none of them?

 

[ducky]

Welcome Jurgen! I see you're from Germany, I enjoyed the little bit I was able to see of your country in 1993-94. What do you hunt mainly and what rifle are you shooting?

Since your rifle is a .308 it would be easier to stick with cartridges based off the same case. So 7mm-08 Rem and .260 Rem would be some top choices. 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5X47L would also be good choices with the limited info we have on your rifle.

Your other choices probably won't work well in your rifle. Most of your choices are going to be to long to fit properly in your rifle magazine if it's designed for the .308 Win. Some will work but you'll be severely limited on bullet choices having to stick with shorter bullets that aren't as good for long range shooting.

 

[shortgrass]

What action is it? Who made it? is what is being asked. Here, in the US (and MagManiac, who resides is Australia) when a 'new barrel' is mentioned, much of the time that means you are buying a barrel 'blank' that will later be threaded , chambered in your cartridge of choice and then crowned. Evidently, you are planning on buying a barrel that is pre-threaded and chambered for your action. "new barrel" here means "custom fit to your action", not a drop-in, plug n play.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I am familiar with the Titan 6, good rifle system with interchangeable barrels and bolt head sizes.
I have a 25-06 that is exceptional on hogs, but may not extend your range beyond 600 or so yards. Any of your 6.5's listed, except the Creedless, will shoot flatter than your 308. I am a fan of the 6.5 cal, if going this way, my own have 8" twists, except my factory Win Model 70 that has a 9" twist.
Even if you go 7mm, a 8" twist is the go.
A mag length of 3.46" puts it longer than some standard length actions and could even accomodate a belted mag cartridge.
So your choices are still up to you, I had a 6.5x55 Swede for many years and it was superbly accurate, it had the 7.25" twist, 4 groove Carl Gustav barrel.
I still think the 6.5x47 fits the bill, but you may want more oomph behind your bullet. I like 140gr class pills or 123gr in my 6.5x47.

Cheers.