Son wants a long range high speed rig Which cartridge?

Oldschool280 said:

i have a savage long action doing nothing. I have a 300 win barrel that is a takeoff from a 116 that is unfired, but he wants something unique and without crazy recoil (he's 13) but he's not tiny 5'10 150. I'm thinking maybe santa could bring a new barrel or something. I see one company has every dang cartridge available ready to ship! We handload so not worried about availability too much. Thinking 6.5 -300 bee? 26 nosler? 264 winmag 6.5 or 7stw? Decisions decisions. Anybody shoot these without a brake and can give feedback on the way the shoot i'd appreciate it.

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Another vote for the 264WM. Love mine. 7 1/2 twist if available. Mine runs an 8 twist 26" Bartlien 5R in 3B contour. Fast and accurate. I think a thread on brake would be beneficial for shooting steel then run the thread protector when hunting. Be sure to get some 156EOLs and your name on the list for VV-N570 and Retumbo .

Non- mag I'd go 280AI or 6.5x06AI

6XC - stupid easy to work with and cheap to shoot, 3000fps with 115's. Nearly a mile supersonic. Super mellow recoil.
.243AI, 6mm Rem AI, 6-.284 - .473 bolt face awesomeness. Run 115's to a mile+ supersonic. with very low recoil. .24 cal is a little short on barrel life but unless he's a competitor it's not something you'll worry about for a long time.

6.5CM - don't let the pedestrian velocity fool you. 140's go FAR and it's very easy to learn on with mild recoil and blast.
6.5x74L - Better case design than the 6.5CM with virtually identical performance.
6.5x55 AI - 3100fps with 140's. Like a 6.5PRC but lower powder appetite.
.264WM - I just don't like belts but it is a way to get 6.5 bullets going stupid fast. Not enough of a gain over 6.5x55AI for my money.

7mm-08AI - All the performance you need to go to 1500, easy to shoot well, mild on the shoulder, small powder appetite, hits harder at long range than anything else I can think of with the same case capacity.
.280AI - Nearly 7mm rem mag performance. Nearly. All the way at 7mm RM levels for recoil and blast. Really an unsung hero. Berger 180's fly faaaar. It's nearly a magnum.
7RSAUM - If you're going to magnum then ditch the belt and throat the barrel long and you've got a long range toy with a ton of stomp at the long end but not severe recoil (about .30-06 level unbraked).

adk hunter said:

.280 AI please... Best job ever=Santa!

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This did cross my mind, the different reamers are confusing. Which is the most common for dies

257 weatherby or wildcat 6.5-257.

Oldschool280 said:

i have a savage long action doing nothing. I have a 300 win barrel that is a takeoff from a 116 that is unfired, but he wants something unique and without crazy recoil (he's 13) but he's not tiny 5'10 150. I'm thinking maybe santa could bring a new barrel or something. I see one company has every dang cartridge available ready to ship! We handload so not worried about availability too much. Thinking 6.5 -300 bee? 26 nosler? 264 winmag 6.5 or 7stw? Decisions decisions. Anybody shoot these without a brake and can give feedback on the way the shoot i'd appreciate it.

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Any of the cartridges listed are fine to use without a brake but all are very loud regardless. I have experience with 6.5-300 & 7 STW....both are accurate and impressive killers.

Oldschool280 said:

i have a savage long action doing nothing. I have a 300 win barrel that is a takeoff from a 116 that is unfired, but he wants something unique and without crazy recoil (he's 13) but he's not tiny 5'10 150. I'm thinking maybe santa could bring a new barrel or something. I see one company has every dang cartridge available ready to ship! We handload so not worried about availability too much. Thinking 6.5 -300 bee? 26 nosler? 264 winmag 6.5 or 7stw? Decisions decisions. Anybody shoot these without a brake and can give feedback on the way the shoot i'd appreciate it.

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6.5 Creedmoor, 280 Ackley Imp., 7mm08

Oldschool280 said:

i have a savage long action doing nothing. I have a 300 win barrel that is a takeoff from a 116 that is unfired, but he wants something unique and without crazy recoil (he's 13) but he's not tiny 5'10 150. I'm thinking maybe santa could bring a new barrel or something. I see one company has every dang cartridge available ready to ship! We handload so not worried about availability too much. Thinking 6.5 -300 bee? 26 nosler? 264 winmag 6.5 or 7stw? Decisions decisions. Anybody shoot these without a brake and can give feedback on the way the shoot i'd appreciate it.

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The 6.5x284 is good as is your 6.5 creedmores !

6.5x.284 gets my vote . Components and dies readily available. Accurate as all get out. HTH Lyle

6xc. Unique, very little recoil, and stupid easy to get a very accurate load

25-06, long barrel life, little recoil, no need for a noisy brake. Great combo varmint/deer cartridge. Easy to find brass that won't break the bank. Been shooting one since 1965, on the 3rd one at present time.

I love 6.5s and have 3 versions -- .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor (CM) and 26 Nosler. The CM is for an AR platform and the others are bolt action.

For hunting, I almost always use the 26 Nosler instead of the others, especially if the game possibilities might be varied and/or shots might be long. I have used the 26 Nosler on all sorts of African game. Works great here in the North America too for things like deer, antelope, elk. I don't shoot high volume through the 26 and always allow time between shots at the range for the barrel to cool. I am an inch taller and 5 lbs lighter than your son. The 26 is comfortable to shoot without a muzzle brake. I would not go <26" in barrel length. I use an 8 twist.

For higher volume shooting, the .260 and CM are cheaper on the wallet and barrels. These are essentially the same round ballistically. The CM wasn't readily available (off the shelf) for my bolt action platform and the .260 was readily available for the AR. Nice comparison of these 2 alternatives here: http://americanshootingjournal.com/260-remington-vs-6-5-creedmoor/

Oldschool280 said:

i have a savage long action doing nothing. I have a 300 win barrel that is a takeoff from a 116 that is unfired, but he wants something unique and without crazy recoil (he's 13) but he's not tiny 5'10 150. I'm thinking maybe santa could bring a new barrel or something. I see one company has every dang cartridge available ready to ship! We handload so not worried about availability too much. Thinking 6.5 -300 bee? 26 nosler? 264 winmag 6.5 or 7stw? Decisions decisions. Anybody shoot these without a brake and can give feedback on the way the shoot i'd appreciate it.

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I would not build anything for long range with out a brake you need to be able to see your bullet strikes when you are shooting just for your own feed back

Oldschool280 said:

i have a savage long action doing nothing. I have a 300 win barrel that is a takeoff from a 116 that is unfired, but he wants something unique and without crazy recoil (he's 13) but he's not tiny 5'10 150. I'm thinking maybe santa could bring a new barrel or something. I see one company has every dang cartridge available ready to ship! We handload so not worried about availability too much. Thinking 6.5 -300 bee? 26 nosler? 264 winmag 6.5 or 7stw? Decisions decisions. Anybody shoot these without a brake and can give feedback on the way the shoot i'd appreciate it.

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I shoot long range regularly. I have two rifles. A 270WSM and a 338 Lapua Magnum. The 270WSM is a great cartridge. I have killed animals over 500 yards the Lapua from will reach from 500 to ?? I have knocked elk down at 900 yards with the 270 but do not recommend it. Check the ballistics of a 270 or 300 WSM against the 6.5 Creedmoor. I am not a fan of the 6.5 Creedmoor or the PRC a lot of hype to make Hornady money. in my opinion.