Best short action cartridge for long range

[jwcrabb]

Guys,
I looking to build a short action rifle to use specificly for whitetail deer out to 400 yds. I know thats not real long range, but more than normal shots. I want to use a Remingtion 700 short action. We hunt in South Texas with long Senderos. I would like to shoot bullets in the 120g range. What caliber do you suggest? Thanks

 

[Browninglover1]

6.5 creedmoor, 7mm-08, 243, etc. Almost any cartridge will be capable of taking down white tails at 400 yards.

 

[ntg]

Me, I don't hunt white tails but I'd go with 7-08 because I've wanted one for a while and it would be great within the range you specified. The 260rem should also do the job for you. Heck, if you really want to play, a 22-250 that can handle heavy bullets would do (you'd have to have a custom 1-7 or 8" twist barrel).

 

[Outlaw6.0]

Whitetails at 400yds & in with a remmy short action & 120-ish bullet weight

Run any of the increasingly popular 6.5's: 6.5Creedmoor, 6.5x47 Lapua, 260 Remington etc. Load up some 130grain pills & hammer those buggers.

Barrel life will be better than 2k in most cases & ballistics are dern good. OR..... you can go completely overkill like I usually do & chamber for some sort of short magnum WSM or SAUM... pick your caliber


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[jwcrabb]

The existing 700 action I have was off a .308. Wouldn't the bolt face be wrong for the short Mags?

 

[Outlaw6.0]

Yessir, bolt fact & mag rails would have to be modified which is no big deal for a
'smith that knows what he's doing.

I bought a 700 S/A in .308 once That lasted about 40 rounds & it was off to the 'smith... she's a 7.82 Lazzeroni Patriot now



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[johnnyk]

All the following suggestions are given with the intent of using a 26" (or longer) barrel.
The 243 AI with 1-8 twist, .257 Roberts AI (kind of a "middle" action). The .260 Rem (and AI vers) with a 1-8 twist. I would say the 6.5-284Norma, but I think it fits better in a LA too. I have that round in a LA Savage and it is unbelievably accurate and final.
If you're not against opening the bolt face and feed rails then I'd say look at the .270WSM. This is a little hot rod and a show stopper for whitetails. With handloads, this is 7Mag performance.
On this same line, the 7WSM and 300WSM would fit the bill also.
There's a list from .24 - .30 cal. I could be happy (for a short time) with any of these. Good luck and let us know which route you go. JohnnyK.

 

[barnesuser28]

I think a 284 win throated to fit a 120 or 110 grain Barnes TTSX in the mag would be one heck of a whitetail stopper. Do i hear a Bang-Flop???

 

[cwinner]

I think a 284 win throated to fit a 120 or 110 grain Barnes TTSX in the mag would be one heck of a whitetail stopper. Do i hear a Bang-Flop???

+1, my mid range hunting rifle is a 284 win shooting the 120TTSX at 3,200 fps....I shoot a coues buck at 412yds last year and this combo worked perfectly, I also have a 6.5Creedmoor for a match rifle and its sweet but for a primary hunting caliber I think the 7mm might have a slight advantage.....

 

[ishootkittens]

*looks around*

I dont see many supporters for the .300wsm or the 7wsm! ***! Increased barrel life, short action, ballistically similar to their bigger brothers with decreased recoil?!?!?! I mean i love the .260rem but the short mags are definately my favorite when it comes to the short action calibers.

 

[benchracer]

The key here is that the OP is talking about taking diminutive Coues deer at 400 yards and less. The 300WSM and 7mmWSM are needlessly powerful for this application.

I agree with others that the smaller diameter, milder cartridges are what is called for given the parameters specified by the OP. Anything from a .243 to a 6.5 would do nicely.

 

[ishootkittens]

There is no such thing as needlessly powerful..

 

[benchracer]

OK. Then why not recommend a .408 Cheytac or a .50 BMG? Hell, why stop there? The ideal rifle for hunting Coues Whitetail at 400 yards and less is a 155mm artillery piece or a 120 mm main gun mounted in an Abrams for you recoil sensitive sissies.

No such thing as needlessly powerful... That is absurd!

 

[roninflag]

JW- if you have a 700 short action already build a 260 remington ( 8 or 8.5 twist) or a .243 ( 8 twist). hgowever , you could buy a sako 75 or 85 varmint in 260 remington, ( or .243 of course these would be a 10 twist ) and be done. no wait. same price. a remington sendero in 7wsm , or one of the longs actions in .264 or 7mm rm. would get you past 400 yards easily.