HELP! Cant decide on caliber for next build

[Dano5001]

Hey guy's, starting to plan a new build and can't decide on caliber. If possible I am trying for 1k performance on Antelope, and 500 yard performance on Whitetail and Mule Deer.

I would like to stay away from a supermag needing a break if possible, but I am open to all suggestions.

My thoughts are, 280, 280AI, 7WSM, 260, 6.5-284????????

Let me know if I am even in the ballpark with 1k on Antelope without a big magnum.

Thanks for your help
Dano

 

[japple]

Out of the options you provided I would opt for the .260 or the 6.5x.284. If you want to consider other options look at the 6.5x47 or what I am going to build for an fclass rifle is a .284.

 

[Nape.270]

6.5x55 or 6.5x55AI good brass lots of high BC bullets bacicaly the same as a 6.5-284.

 

[JARHEAD1371]

Have you thought about the 7mm SAUM? It's easy to load for and will easily exceed your requirements.

 

[winmag]

Im a huge fan of the WSM family. You get high performance, readily available brass, no fireforming, no custom dies needed, and you have a legitimate 1k rifle.
I love the efficiency of the cartrige, and the fact that it doesnt have a dang belt on the case. Cost/efficiency/&performance all in one little hot rod case.
I love my 270wsm, and would love to get another in 300wsm. (infact Im ready to let my 300wby go just to get a 300wsm) If your a 7mm fan go for the 7wsm. You will not be dissapointed in high B.C. bullet selection, or performance of any in the wsm family exept the 325wsm (8mm). Wildcat bullets is even comming out with a 169.5 gr 277 bullet with an unbelivably high B.C. if you want to lean that way.
IMO, WSM hands down for the task you mentioned.
If you want a wildcat, look at the 6.5-300wsm, but its alot more work and less barrel life, for not a whole lot of gain, if any at all, in killing power over the 270,7mm,and 300wsm's.

 

[Dano5001]

What is the recoil like on those short 7's? I have an Encore in 7mm mag and it is no fun to shoot.

 

[winmag]

What is the recoil like on those short 7's? I have an Encore in 7mm mag and it is no fun to shoot.

True recoil is all science. X amount of powder to push x bullet wt. at x velocity in x wt. of rifle.....too much math.
Felt recoil is strictly a matter of opinion.
I would way rather shoot my wsm loaded hot than shoot any other magnum out there for felt recoil.
Ive only shot one 7mm,wsm, and to me felt recoil was noticeably lighter than the 7mags Ive shot. Somewhere between 30-06 and 7mag I would say. All in all, depending how hot theyre loaded, most wsm's feel about that same way to me. I have a limbsaver on mine, and Ive shot them with pachmyer pads too. I will say that the old school wsm's with the hard rubber pad had a bit more thump to them.
Ive never shot one with a brake on it, mostly because Ive never known anybody who thought it kicked hard enough to use one. I did see a thread on here a while back where somebody wanted to put a brake on one, but I think the guy had shoulder surgery or something.
If you know anybody who has one give it a try. Ill bet youll be pleasently suprised.

 

[Buffalobob]

Any of the hot 6mm's will kill an antelope at 1K with ease. The 243AI, 240 Wby 6-284, 6-06, 240 Gibbs etc etc loaded with a 105-115 VLD will do very well on deer. Recoil is low but barrel life is not so great but if you don't abuse it then you will have a fine rifle for many years. Obviously, you want some extra barrel length to make use of the large case capacities of these cartridges.

Moving up a notch in caliber, the 257 Wby is only hampered by slow twist and poor selection of bullets but if you can get Paul at Wildcat bullets to make you a batch of VLDs then you can do very well with a fast twist barrel. Once again you are going to need barrel length and to treat the throat gently to get good life out of the barrel.

 

[Booney]

7wsm good bullet selection,and will do every thing you want and the recoil is not bad at all.