Caliber selection

SCSCHNUR said:

Might look at the .224 valkyrie as I just bought a CMMG 224 valkyrie 24 inchbarrel and it is fun. Shoot 1000 yds easy and is cheap on pocket book as I have owned 338 Lapua and 300WSM .

Click to expand...

I'd rather have my 24" 6.5 Grendel...

FIGJAM said:

I went through this same process about a month ago. I have similar calibers (204,223,243,25-06, 270 wsm, 325 wsm). I ended up buying a rem M700 5r gen 2 in 260. I bought my 11 year old son a 6.5 creedmoor for christmas last year and fell in love with the 6.5 caliber and their performance. I didn't want to get the exact same round, so I went with the 260 and have been very very happy with my choice. There are a ton of good 6.5 options out there, I would recommend looking at those.

Click to expand...

That rifle has been at the top of my "rifles to buy" list for a couple years now. Sadly due to job issues, I still have not been able to get one... But I'm now at a new job that pays ok, and is close to home (low fuel costs), so I'm hopeful it will be VERY soon.

If your desire is to go for a cartridge that's long range and accurate I suggest you first look into reloading. You're simply not going to achieve the accuracy your describing using factory ammo. When your desire is to achieve .75 or better accuracy from a caliber such as the 338's it's time to look into custom ammo developing loads from scratch. Every rifle has its own preference regarding powder and bullets and the only way to find what your rifle prefers is by developing your own loads. a 338 is a large cartridge and expensive to shoot. You can offset the cost of ammo by reloading. When you start paying $100 and up for a box of ammo which is not uncommon for a 338, the best solution to achieve the accuracy you want and keep costs in check is to reload.

Every rifle I own has its own powder and specific bullet. I spend a considerable amount of time conducting ladder tests using an array of powders and bullets to determine exactly what the rifle wants. Once you develop a load you gain the satisfaction of knowing that you've developed a cartridge that will allow the rifle to preform at its highest possible level of accuracy.

I spend more time reloading and developing loads than I do shooting. The satisfaction of developing a load that allows a rifle to preform at its optimal level can't be overstated.

mrb1982 said:

I shoot a 243 and 7 rem mag with 95 and 180 grain bullets. I have a 270 win BDL I shoot 130's out of. I have a 22-250 and 223. I am looking at something new, I just don't know what yet. I am thinking another magnum long range rig. I have always wanted a 300 win with 215's but is kind of close balliatically to my 7 except a little more energy. 300 RUM sounds entertaining but when getting to that size it starts to get more spend to shoot which I am not terribly opposed to.

A couple questions to help with my decision. Also if you have any personal suggestions of preferences or thought processes on the topic go ahead and let me know what you are thinking.

1) This most likely will be a factory rig, so how much velocity can I expect to get out of 215 grain Berger's in a 26" barrel on a 300 win mag and an RUM?

2) How much velocity will I expect to see out of 230's?

Any other caliber suggestions are cool. I am leaning towards more horsepower rather than less. Just because I guess.

Click to expand...

Depends on your definition of long range! If you want exceptional knock down power and great velocity? I shoot a 7mm STW 168gr Nosler ABLR at 3,305 FPS have taken many animals over 1,000 yds never lost one. Also have a 195gr Berger EOL load at 3,005 FPS. The 7mm bullet is about as ballistically efficient as you can get without stepping down to the 6mm or 6.5mm but you then limit yourself as to knock down energy at extreme ranges. If you want to step up to the .30 cal, I also shoot the 30-378 208gr at 3,300 fps. Both are barrel burners, replace mine every or every other year. Can't beat either one for long range hunting.

Barrelnut said:

I have a 300 RUM with a 28" barrel. Mine shoots the 210 VLD better than the 215 Berger... if I had it all to do again, I would have gotten a 338 Lapua. Brass has been a hassle with the 300 RUM for 5 years and it's not even that high a quality. 338 will beat it in the wind and has better brass that was cheaper than 300 RUM brass for a while... Savage makes a couple great 338 Lapuas that are 1k rifles outta the box.

Click to expand...

Butch's Guns TX, LLC 1305 Main St Vernon, Texas 76384 940-553-GUNS (4867) has some Remington 300 RUM brass for sale.

As far as my definition of long range, I am a 1000 yard kind of guy. My 7, 270, and 243 are all holding between .5 and .75 MOA at 840 yards right now. I am novice in my opinion buy always looking to improve. I don't own any custom guns. I just buy factory guns, spend money playing with them, reloading for them, whatever else, and then see what they can do. The projects keep me out of trouble! Lol

I actually do reload. Makes a big difference in accuracy and price. The creedmoor is starting to sound fairly appealing. Be a perfect hunting rig for my girls and then I can play too.

Are most people shooting the 140's out of them or going with 130's? Should I expect about 2600 fps from 140's and a 24" barrel?

mrb1982 said:

Are most people shooting the 140's out of them or going with 130's? Should I expect about 2600 fps from 140's and a 24" barrel?

Click to expand...

140s seem more popular. The 120 to 130 grainers are popular for hunting too. You will probably get 2700~2750 with something like H4350 or RL17 with the 140s. Some guys run them harder though 2800 or a little higher is not unheard of. There is a huge node around 2700 with the 140s. It's not the fastest but can be very accurate just south or north of 2700.

Barrelnut said:

140s seem more popular. The 120 to 130 grainers are popular for hunting too. You will probably get 2700~2750 with something like H4350 or RL17 with the 140s. Some guys run them harder though 2800 or a little higher is not unheard of. There is a huge node around 2700 with the 140s. It's not the fastest but can be very accurate just south or north of 2700.

Click to expand...

That much velocity even in just a a 24" barrel?

If

mrb1982 said:

That is a thought.

My dream custom was always a 300 win mag with a 28" barrel but I keep talking myself in and out of everything!

Click to expand...

you want to shoot the 215 230's ant any decent speed out of a 300wm you are going to have to have a custom chamber anyway, it needs to be throated for those bullets or else the Bullet will be seated into the cartridge so deep you will be loosing too much powder capacity. Go a 300 norma, I tell you though if you have never shot a 28 nosler throated for 195 Berger, you are missing out.They are a hammer and are so forging to load for. If you can't find a load in the .2's or 3's you are doing something wrong.

You ca

mrb1982 said:

Makes sense. That is pretty good velocity either way.

I am with you in the working up thing. My 7 mag has always liked hotter loads for whatever reason. But I have to work up to it.

I kind of have a thing for accurizing factory rigs. I have all Remingtons at this point. But I bed them, put a Jewel trigger in them, and serve them a hand load. Sometimes restock the gun if I feel like it. The only thing I use a Smith for is a brake or if I were to have to install an extended mag box. I kind of enjoy the project. Although a nice custom would be awesome, and not a whole lot more money in the end depending on the project, I do get a certain level of gratitude from the project.

I am starting to think about shying away from the super big boomers. Just a lot of money to shoot them in general.

300 win mag is definitely still catching my eye. Maybe go with a Long Range Stainless or regular long range and start going to work on it.

Click to expand...

You can have a custom action barreled up and you do the rest like the bedding and stock work and trigger. It would be money better spent than trying to work with a factory gun. And then you can have it throated properly for the longer high bc bullets do you won't be giving up powder capacity.

I like the .338's yes there is more recoil for those that are sensitive, one has to be comfortable with any rifle he or she chooses.
I feel this is most important. If one is going to cringe each time the trigger is pulled
then that's not the gun for you. The more you like shooting your rifle the more you will shoot it and become proficient and confident which is the key ingredient IMHO

mrb1982 said:

As far as my definition of long range, I am a 1000 yard kind of guy. My 7, 270, and 243 are all holding between .5 and .75 MOA at 840 yards right now. I am novice in my opinion buy always looking to improve. I don't own any custom guns. I just buy factory guns, spend money playing with them, reloading for them, whatever else, and then see what they can do. The projects keep me out of trouble! Lol

I actually do reload. Makes a big difference in accuracy and price. The creedmoor is starting to sound fairly appealing. Be a perfect hunting rig for my girls and then I can play too.

Are most people shooting the 140's out of them or going with 130's? Should I expect about 2600 fps from 140's and a 24" barrel?

Click to expand...

.5" to .75" groups at 840 yards? I find that very difficult to believe with a factory rifle, let alone a custom rifle.

drborsos said:

.5" to .75" groups at 840 yards? I find that very difficult to believe with a factory rifle, let alone a custom rifle.

Click to expand...

"MOA" not "inches". Inches would be impressive. MOA not inches

mrb1982 said:

It should be noted I don't "need" anything. This purely a want item.

The 338LM would be pretty cool. I expect more recoil and more everything when going bigger than my 7.

The 300 Norma Mag has always interested me. But probably isn't a factory offering, huh? Probably have to go custom for that I assume.

Click to expand...

I have a .300 Weatherby and .300 RUM and I shot a .338 Savage with a muzzle brake and the muzzle brake made a HUGE difference ,so much so that I installed a muzzle brake on my.300 rum so consider a good muzzle brake.On another note the 300 rum is over ore and rough on barrels where the .338 Lapua may give longer barrel life.