Please help with caliber selection

JayR

Active Member
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Oct 20, 2010
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35
I am in the early stages of another build, trying to decide on a long or short action. But can not decide on a caliber, so far I have decided it will be something in .284 and this is going to be, what I think, a perfect all around gun. Moderate weight, 7-8ish lbs. 24" barrel. A gun, if I had to take one, I could carry for deer and elk and would feel comfortable out to 500 yds. I have a long barreled STW for anything beyond that, it just too heavy and long to carry. SO my question is, please give me the pros and cons of .280 remington AI, 7wsm and the good old 7 Remington mag. I reload, so factory ammo is no issue, but fire forming the AI cases would seem to be a pain. Your thoughts and input are appreciated.
 
I would do a 7 RSAUM in a 22-24" barrel. Plenty of horse power to 500 yards, even 700 yards with the 168gr Berger.
Factory brass is availible. Great caliber.
 
My wife and I use our custom 7SAUM and we love it. We are pushing the 162 A-max 3057 fps with about .3 MOA accuracy out past 800 yds. That's with a 28" barrel.

If you aren't dead set on a 7mm you might check out the 6.5/270 WSM. Just neck down Norma 270 WSM brass and it will push 140 or 142 gr 6.5 bullets with great velocities. From what I've heard, with great accuracy as well. Good luck.

BTW, how much does your STW weigh? Our SAUM weighs 15 lbs and we easily carry it around with our Eberlestock X1-A1.
 
I'm wanting a lightweight rifle for the same types of ranges, I was going to go with a savage with the accustock & trigger in a 270 WSM, any thoughts on that combo?
 
280 AI would be great for what your after Nosler makes brass and sells loaded ammo so no fireforming needed similar performance to 7rm wsm and saum
 
The down side to the 270 WSM is the lack of high BC bullets for long range.

For stock hunting bullets this isn't a real true statement. The poster was also talking about shorter ranges and 24 inch barrel I'm biased towards .277

.277 140 and 150 gr. BT's is about all I shoot. I have tried the 169.5 VLD's in my 29 inch target barrel though. Compare the BC of .284 150 and 160 gr and you are very close.

Just an example:

http://www.sierrabullets.com/bullets/BallisticCoefficient-rifle.pdf
 
The 7mm wsm is probably your best choice of what you mentioned. Without a doubt though, the 300 Winchester is a much more vesatile/all around bullet for everything north america has to offer. A model 70 is practically weighted and also comes in a feather weight edition. Nevertheless the .284, .280, and 7mm
are all good cartriges in the right rifle. Ammoguide has a decent balistics chart with load data.
 
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