Need new "light" rifle?

S

shooters

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Feb 28, 2007
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South Dakota
Too get to the point, I'm tired of packing around a heavy 300 RUM everywhere I go on the prairies for miles, but at the same time, its comforting knowing that I have a gun that will perform well out to extreme ranges. I rarely shoot over 700 yards on anything other than steel. I had this gun built a few years ago and its definitely a shooter for sure, but I know there are other options out there. I haven't owned many calibers, but I know there are some great light weight 700 yard guns out there that WONT turn your shoulder to burger after every shot. So, I'm really looking for a light weight rifle, less recoil than a 300 RUM or even a 300 mag, and capable of 700 yard max range on game up to big mule deer. I've had lots of options thrown my way in calibers.......

243, 25-06, 260, 6.5x284, 280AI......etc..

I'm really not sure on what route to take. I know theres some real performance calibers out there. I'm sure all these calibers are more than capable, but this is the place to ask. I'll be having a local gentleman build the caliber of my choice once I decide, and will stick with the NF 5.5-22x50. That's about the most weight I want to add along with the Seekins rings/base. Really want to keep it light. As far as the build, the gun builder will obviously use the barrel contour of my choice, etc......mainly just looking for a great 700 yard caliber that will perform nicely on large mule deer. Thanks!!!
 
shooters said:
Too get to the point, I'm tired of packing around a heavy 300 RUM everywhere I go on the prairies for miles, but at the same time, its comforting knowing that I have a gun that will perform well out to extreme ranges. I rarely shoot over 700 yards on anything other than steel. I had this gun built a few years ago and its definitely a shooter for sure, but I know there are other options out there. I haven't owned many calibers, but I know there are some great light weight 700 yard guns out there that WONT turn your shoulder to burger after every shot. So, I'm really looking for a light weight rifle, less recoil than a 300 RUM or even a 300 mag, and capable of 700 yard max range on game up to big mule deer. I've had lots of options thrown my way in calibers.......

243, 25-06, 260, 6.5x284, 280AI......etc..

I'm really not sure on what route to take. I know theres some real performance calibers out there. I'm sure all these calibers are more than capable, but this is the place to ask. I'll be having a local gentleman build the caliber of my choice once I decide, and will stick with the NF 5.5-22x50. That's about the most weight I want to add along with the Seekins rings/base. Really want to keep it light. As far as the build, the gun builder will obviously use the barrel contour of my choice, etc......mainly just looking for a great 700 yard caliber that will perform nicely on large mule deer. Thanks!!!
Click to expand...
Of your choices there the .243 is pretty light in the shorts for 700yds on anything but varmints. Yes if you make an absolutely perfect shot you can expect clean kills on larger animals with it at that range, but at that range of course absolutely perfect shots are rare.

You are leaving off the .264wm and 7mm Rem mag as well as the .30wsm and 7mm wsm all of which are good choices for your needs. The .280 Rem and .284 win should be considered as well.

Of those you list though my choice would be either the .260 or 6.5x284.
 
Watch this 688 yd. .243 drop a cow elk. :)


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY0w1c-gf18]Kasandra Cow elk 688yds.mp4 - YouTube[/ame]

joseph
 
joseph said:
Watch this 688 yd. .243 drop a cow elk. :)


Kasandra Cow elk 688yds.mp4 - YouTube

joseph
Click to expand...
Yes, we've all seen it. That doesn't make it the caliber of choice for doing so. A perfect shot with a bullet that performs perfectly will kill just about anything at long range.

The problem is, getting perfect shot placement and perfect bullet performance at long range is the exception rather than the rule.
 
I wouldn't settle for just any of the guns on that list, I was just mentioning a few that have been thrown my way. I've had quite a few try and steer me toward the 280 AI. I'm really not familiar with any of the short mags, or the Ackleys either. I'm very interested in them, just a little unsure. I think the 260 would be the lightest I'd go, but don't car much for a 300 win. The 308 is not on my list either. Very accurate, just never been a fan.
 
The .280 AI and 7mm WSM are neck and neck just behind the 7mm Rem Mag with comparable bullets.

There's a couple of good threads here if you do a little searching specifically detailing out kills on Moose, Elk, Both species of Bear etc so the performance is certainly there.

I was just eyeballing an awfully nice stainless M 70 in 30wsm (again just a hair lower on performance than the 300wm) over on Gunbroker. It'll probably sell under 800.00.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=376849771

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=376110233#PIC

The WSM's certainly have their place and the application you are talking about just screams for either the 7mm wsm or .264wsm (same case just necked down to 6.5).

I don't own one yet but I keep leaning towards the 325wsm in the Model 70 coyote light model.

They are not "light" in that they are not a mountain rifle weight, but they are lighter than the Sendero by a couple of pounds if I remember right. The taper on the muzzle is similar to a light varmint contour. I read somewhere on Winchester's site that the taper is similar to that of the Sendero but finishes around .750 at the muzzle end instead of .830.
 
IF you want good horse power and a mild recoiling rifle my list would go like this
.284 win, .280 AI, 7WSM, .270 WSM, 6.5 WSM, 6.5X.284
While all of these calibers are very comparable I think when barrel life, energy consideration, action size and trajectory are considered... .270 WSM and the 7WSM would be on the top of my list.
 
We are actually going to shoot the 280AI and the 270 WSM today after work. Havent shot either caliber. Maybe I live under a rock, but as many comments as there are about the WSM's, I never hear or see many with them or shooting them. Wouldnt mind trying one myself.
 
I've shot several WSM's (7mm & 300), and they are good calibers. The .280 AI is honestly one of the smoothest calibers I've ever shot, for the performance you get out of it. It's nowhere near the heavy recoil as the magnums in lightweight rifles, but it only sits about 150 fps shy of the 7mm RemMag's MV...

I have an old Ruger ultra-light (skeleton stock/stainless) 6 lb. 7mmRM, and it's brutal to sight-in. I have a buddy that shoots an old 700 ADL .270 Win, and he put 2 rounds through the Ruger and got up and said, "DONE!" and walked off. It's not a pleasure to shoot by any means. It doesn't bother me, since I've had it for 11 years now, but it only gets brought out on hunts where I'll be doing some walking or stalk-hunting.

I am not a recoil-sensative person. I've never been scared to pull the trigger on anything in my life. This is just my experiences with lightweight magnum rifles. The WSM's won't be any exception to the rule from my experiences. They are great calibers, just not very light in the recoil department.

But everyone has a different experience with every gun.
 
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I would go with a short action 7 SAUM with extended mag box , you can shoot 162 gr bullets ,and the recoil is mild .Save weight with short action ,less recoil , and still reach out to 700 and put game down with out a problem. Not to mention that the 7mm cal; has wide variety of good BC bullets.
 
Thanks everyone. Just to set my ego stranght......:) its not that Im recoil sensitive. I've shot a 300 RUM for years before Kirby Allen put a break on my first one. I just hate the feeling of a grenade going off and having to ask the person next to me, "where did I hit?" I love the 300 RUM with the Painkiller break on it.....I can always see bullet impact, but its the weight of the rifle that mostly bothers me. Now with all that said, I dont want an ultra light rifle with the recoil of an "unbreaked" ultra mag. I want a pleasant gun to shoot, and without the need to put a break on it to see bullet impact or "almost" impact......if that makes sense. In about 2 hours, Im gonna send a few 280AI down range as well as the 270WSM. Can't wait. Ill for sure look into the 7SAUM as well. I couldn't even find brass.
 
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