What short action std. Bolt face caliber is most versatile?

[Trickymissfit]

the 250 Savage will push a 100 grain bullet to about 2900fps, but at less than 45,000 cup of pressure. The improved case will add about 200fps with ease. In a modern bolt gun the case is good for 63K psi. I'd not be surprised to see 3200fps from the 250AI with the 100 grain bullet. Makes a great deer rifle, as well as a great varmint rifle.
gary

 

[JOHNNIE WALKER]

The 260 rem is a wonderful cartridge. 6.5 bullets are pretty easy to get. Extremely high B.C. The brass is becoming very plentiful aside from the fact that it could be formed from 7-08 or 308 brass. WSM cartridges are also short action, just food for thought. 6.5 WSM has some pretty wild ballistics.

 

[icelk]

How has the 284 served you in the short action? It seems pretty long for the remington sa

I had them install a Wyatt's internal mag box which allows me to seat bullets out to 2.99" oal. I have shot 150 sciroccos and 160gn accubonds. With the 140gn accubond and RL 17 I am getting 3200 fps and 1/2-5/8" groups @ 100yards.

 

[Buttermilk]

With "most versatile" being desired on a standard bolt face (assuming standard here means 0.473"), I'd personally go with a 284 myself. And do as icelk did...

Regards,
Rog

 

[Timnterra]

Wow that's impressive velocity from the old 284! Have you tried the 162 amax? I just got some that Ive had on order for what seems like forever. Did you have the smith cut a short throat to help get bullets seated to mag length?

 

[J E Custom]

J E Custom
I don't dislike the .308 i have owned several and I love the barrel life, inherent accuracy and mass availability of components I'm just looking for something different this time around.

I didn't mean you did not like the 308, just that you expressed your interest is something else.

There are lots of choices, but if you want to keep it simple the 260 or the 7/08 are hard to beat.

J E CUSTOM

 

[C.O. Shooter]

Could throw in there a 6.5x55 swede!

 

[Canadian Bushman]

The 284 win family is pretty impressive.

 

[morcey2]

Could throw in there a 6.5x55 swede!

I don't know if I'd put the 6.5x55 Swede in the "short-action" category. And it's rim is 0.480", not 0.473". (unless it's made by fed/rem/win in which case they use the wrong case head size). I don't really consider 260 or 7-08 to be short action cartridges either. They will work in a short action, but heavier/longer bullets will need to be seated really deep to fit most magazines.

I'm going to say 6.5 CM or 257 Bob.

Matt

 

[icelk]

I don't know if I'd put the 6.5x55 Swede in the "short-action" category. And it's rim is 0.480", not 0.473". (unless it's made by fed/rem/win in which case they use the wrong case head size). I don't really consider 260 or 7-08 to be short action cartridges either. They will work in a short action, but heavier/longer bullets will need to be seated really deep to fit most magazines.

I'm going to say 6.5 CM or 257 Bob.

Matt

257 roberts is a longer case than any of those you mentioned

 

[Canadian Bushman]

I dont think judging a cartridge's ability to fit in a mag is a fair way of determining the required action length.

 

[Timnterra]

The sad truth is that remington failed us by producing a short action that is too short, as was stated earlier. For my project and intended use as a coyote rifle it needs to be able to feed from the magazine. That said I will be shooting heavy, for caliber, long high BC bullets. My question would be on the 6.5 creedmor vs the 260 does the 260 suffer enough case captivity loss, when the same bullet is seated at the same COAL as the creedmor, to completely negate it's case size advantage?

 

[morcey2]

257 roberts is a longer case than any of those you mentioned

It is, but the loaded cartridges are usually about the same length as the others, at least when loaded to SAAMI max COAL spec:

260 Rem and 7mm-08 = 2.800"
6.5x55 = 3.150"
257 Rob = 2.775"

I dont think judging a cartridge's ability to fit in a mag is a fair way of determining the required action length.

For hunting, it most definitely plays a role. I could single-load 30-06 in a short action as long as it wasn't CRF, I wasn't loading from the mag, and I didn't plan on ejecting loaded cartridges.

Matt

 

[Canadian Bushman]

For hunting, it most definitely plays a role. I could single-load 30-06 in a short action as long as it wasn't CRF, I wasn't loading from the mag, and I didn't plan on ejecting loaded cartridges.

Matt

I didnt say it doesnt play a role, i said its not reasonable criteria to determine whether or not a cartridge is designed for a short or long action.

All those cartridges loaded to spec operate just fine in a short action. If you wanna throat the barrel deep and load heavy bullets out far enough so that they dont fit in a s/a magazine that is user preference. It does not change the design or intention of the cartridge.

A 30-06 loaded to spec will not fit or function in a S/A mag and may not always extract properly, making it a long action round.

I can stick rocks in my rifle, but that doesnt make it a sling shot.

Regarding the OP
Typically in rifles where quick shots and follow ups are required on small soft skin game that you dont intend to eat, taken at medium ranges, i would lean toward lighter bullets for flatter traj. and smaller leads.

I only have one rifle setup like this. The way i hunt, i just about always have enough time to single load a follow up if and when needed.