Re: Not my first long range
Great question! Elk is the game. Working backwards...I'm thinking of topping this build with the Huskemaw 5-15. With that much glass I should be fairly comfortable at 400 yards and be able to reach another 100 or 200 if need be
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Wow... With 600 yards as your desired maximun effective range, you've got a ton of options caliber-wise that would fulfill your needs, and the 300 wsm with the right bullet & powder combo would reach out to 1k and then some, as well as the 300 wm. I guess the next thing I'm wondering is whether you plan to be stationary... Spotting from vantage, or on the move, carrying your rifle up and down slopes during your time in the field. Each plays to how I might recommend one gun over another. If more stationary type hunting... I'd go with a heavy barreled option, and if you are planning to be on the move, then I'd lighten things up, as much as possible and perhaps even go with a different caliber that produces less recoil given that lighter rifles produce more felt recoil. The 7mm rem mag comes to mind if you aren't tied to the big 30s. There's more than enough punch in the 7rm to bust elk way out past 600, but I'm not sure why you indicated to 300wsm and my first thought is that you may already reload for it for your benchrest shooting. If that's the case, and you go with a lighter rig for mobility... Then whatever you get... I'd highly recommend a brake to offset the recoil that will undoubtedly be produced in a 300wsm light weight option. I tend to be drawn to heavy barreled guns and then suffer over the treks I make, but it's a love affair Im willing to endure to go heavy in the field. I usually feel it afterwards!
You've got tons of options if you go custom...depending on how much coin you want to throw down... But there are some amazing factory options as well. The sendero and laredo come to mind, if you are looking for accurate heavy options, and if you are looking at going really light, there are some great carbon fiber barreled options that stunned me when I first saw one. Thought I was looking at a light barreled 22-250 and it was actually a 300 wm. I'll say this one more time though... If you go light with any of the magnums, please don't try on the macho man britches... Get a brake. The rifle I just mentioned, was brake less and well...it beat the heck out of the guy trying to find a good load for it and I actually was feeling sorry for him by the time he called it quits... And still he had what I consider horrid groups out to 100 yds. 3-5". The poor guy could hardly lift his hand to shake mine goodbye.
Now some guys are going to recommend even lighter bullets for your intended range, 280, 270, 6.5x284, etc... And I definitely think it's user preference. But... Given that you already shoot distance off the bench and likely have the discipline to shoot longer distances, if you are like me, you'll always find that the elk decide that if you plan to max out at 600 yards, that they'll be teasing you from 675 yds with no way to close the gap. I think it's better to have more than less in these instances, so I think your wsm is a fine choice.
Good luck Chopper and I hope you find a rifle that makes you smile when you pull it out if the gun cabinet. I'll be crossing my fingers that whatever you go with, that it likes whatever you decide to feed it...and keeps em tight.
