Filling the caliber gap... what?

[hawk45]

What would be a good caliber to fill the gap between my smaller short action calibers (223/.243/.260/.308) and my 300WM? The WM is my only long action. I wish somebody made a factory .284 on a long action (though I guess I could build one).

 

[MudRunner2005]

.22-250 AI
.220 Swift
.25 Souper
.25-06 AI
.257 Wby Mag
6.5-284 Norma
7mm-08
.280 AI
7mm RemMag
7mm STW

 

[hawk45]

Thinking these don't do anything more than what I have now in my SA calibers:
.22-250 AI
.220 Swift
7mm-08

6.5-284 Norma (not sure the 100fps of this over the .260 is enough to justify)

Possibilities:
.25-06 AI
.257 Wby Mag
.280 AI
7mm RemMag
7mm STW

 

[Short Case]

What would be a good caliber to fill the gap between my smaller short action calibers (223/.243/.260/.308) and my 300WM? The WM is my only long action. I wish somebody made a factory .284 on a long action (though I guess I could build one).

You have the gap in your 260, with the bullets out there the 6.5 is a very good round. Other then that a 7mm short mag would be a good round.
I myself like the Remington SAUM over Winchester WSM, the WSM has to short
of a neck for me. But to get the most out of any of these round you have to
reload.

 

[hawk45]

You have the gap in your 260, with the bullets out there the 6.5 is a very good round. Other then that a 7mm short mag would be a good round.
I myself like the Remington SAUM over Winchester WSM, the WSM has to short
of a neck for me. But to get the most out of any of these round you have to
reload.

I do reload and have always been interested in the 7WSM or SAUM but brass is so elusive.
How do you come about brass? I've been looking for a few years and never seen SAUM anywhere.

 

[varmintH8R]

+1 on 280AI. It's a good mid-level 7mm without going major overbore (not that there is anything wrong with that). And you need a 7mm (it is not a want). The 280AI can reach way out, but can also be loaded down depending on your needs.

Don't sleep on 22-250 either, it truly fills a gap between 223 and 243. I once knew a bunch of whistle pigs that could attest to that...

 

[MudRunner2005]

Don't forget, everyone truly needs a big-bore .257 caliber, too. Like the .257 Wby.

I think if he went with the .22-250 AI, .257 Wby, .280 AI, and 7mm STW, he would do a good job of bridging his gaps.

 

[varmintH8R]

Don't forget, everyone truly needs a big-bore .257 caliber, too. Like the .257 Wby.

I think if he went with the .22-250 AI, .257 Wby, .280 AI, and 7mm STW, he would do a good job of bridging his gaps.

Just to be thorough he should throw in a 338 as well

 

[Deleted member 48126]

Not sure if the 7wsm was mentioned...but also consider the 7 rem mag (and a .30-06 since every American should own one)

 

[Beng]

I don't want to talk you out of buying a new gun, but I don't see a gap between .260 and .300 Win. I'd rather say there is a gap from .300 Win upward, assuming the listed cartridges are all you got. Well, you can shoot just so many guns, can you?

 

[woods]

270 Winchester
280 Remington
280AI

All long action '06 calibers that will fit ballistically between your 7-08 and 300 win mag

260 is too close to the 7-08 ballistically and 7 mag is too close to the 300 win mag

My "pivot gun" is a 280AI

Whitetail - take the 6.5 rem mag and 280AI
Elk - take the 338RUM and 280AI

 

[hawk45]

Thanks guys.. really just looking for something between the .260 and 300WM for now, and thinking it will be a 7mm caliber.

Ones I really like I can't buy in a factory gun, so looks like I'll have to do a full custom or a Savage build.

I'll probably go with a .284 or 280AI.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[MudRunner2005]

You will thoroughly enjoy the .280 AI. I've shot several of other people's over the years from sporter-barreled LW hunters, to heavy-barreled 1K monsters, and to call it a smooth shooting and extremely capable caliber, is an understatement. For as fast as it is, it's where it's at, IMO.

Can't wait till I get mine built...

 

[Tikkamike]

Just to be thorough he should throw in a 338 as well

and a 375 of some sort... but to answer the OP question...every self respecting guy should have a 25-06