What Caliber for 600yd Whitetail? (New rifle Build)

[hankle]

I'm looking to build a 600yd hunting rifle. I'll be starting with at Rem 700 LA left hand, trued. I'm planning on a 24" bartlein barrel. I'm not scared of wildcats or Ackley Improved either. I reload so, I'll be developing the loads. The current rifle is a 270win, but I'm thinking there is more bang for the buck in LR performance and aftermarket support. Most of my hunting is within 350yds or so, but I'm wanting a reliable option out to 600yds. This will double as range gun for some fun and probably run 2-300rds per year on the high side.

I'm leaning towards a 260rem or 7mm 08 in the LA. These guys not restricted to mag length can be pretty impressive.

I currently load for:
308, 7mm Rem mag, 7mm 08, 270 win, 223
And I have a 6.5 Creedmore on order for my son. We'll be loading for it as well.

Must haves:
-Long Range Support in brass and projectiles, at least in the manufacturing side. I'm not expecting everything to be in stock. (I'm not against fire forming good brass)
-Decent barrel life ~1800-2000rnd minimum
-Enough kinetic energy for deer at 600yds

Would like to haves:
-cross over powders or projectiles to current reloading stock
-Factory ammo options are nice, but not required.
-Something that is powder efficient
-No one ever complains about low recoil...

Feel free to add details of barrel length, twist, reamers, and load data.

Thanks very much for the info!

 

[Trm82]

7-08 with 150 eldx gets my vote.
Will do everything you need out to 600 yard and cheap to shoot.

 

[Ksduckhntr]

6.5x55 with any of the ackley improved versions. Would fit nicely in a long action, unique enough to be "cool", great brass options (lapua) and in a pinch can order some ammo if need. Or 280ai and be done.

 

[zerosprk]

A 260 or 7-08 ought to get it done if you do your part. That said, so will a lot of others, including your 270.

 

[Jester560]

.284-06 would be my choice.

 

[budlight]

I have some AI's. I have some limited life barrels. So I fire form with the perfected AI rounds powder levels. They chrono within the ES.

I have a 7STW wildcat. So baby 7mm's have never interested me. I'm a lifetime 270 win person and the 270 AI was a natural improvement. .277 we lacking in VLD bullets until Wildcat and Matrix bullets came along. I've perfected the 169.5 and 175 grain bullets.

One thing that I have learned from hunting is that High sectional density bullets just punch holes in critters. 270's with 150 - 190 gr just leave the deer standing and you wonder if you somehow missed and then in what seems like an eternity they fall over. tiny hole in and out on your classic broadside heart and lung shots. So on my deer hunting days I use 129,130, 135, 140 grain out of my .277 caliber rifles. I have 26 and 29 inch .277 to get the most velocity out of the slowest powders and still have good case life. Often the most accurate rounds are below max loads. My advice is to use at least 26 inch barrels

One of my farvorite .277 with good BC is the Barnes. Pre-season I spend time at the range paper punching out to 600, but it seems like every season the game is relatively close. I have one 428 yard laser verified by friends before shooting and it was a bang flop.

129-grain LRX BT Sectional Density .240 Ballistic Coefficient .463

I acquired a custom 257roberts AI with a 26 inch and it has always been a one shot on deer and antelope. It's near the velocity of 25-06


I don't own a 260 rem. I do have 243's and 308's. 308 AR10's are my pig guns. 243 is varmints and up to antelope.

 

[The Oregonian]

Sounds like a 6.5-284 would fit the bill, although almost no factory ammo. Share bullets with a 6.5CM, low recoil, no downside really.

 

[BillLarson]

7 mag. makes a shooter look better.....

 

[Taylorbok]

284 win with proper twist and throat for 180's or lighter solids.

My real choice would be a 6mm to shoot the heavies fast but your 2000rd barrel life tosses that out the window.

 

[simo hayha]

284win
280ai
7x57 cause it ain't a creamoor
7x300 wm
7wsm
7saum

 

[VinceMule]

My 7mm Rem Mag, Remington 700(s) factory, with Gentry muzzle break, Boyd's pillar bedded stock, Jewel trigger, barrel free-floated,

140g Nosler ballistic tips shoot 2.5-3" at 600 yards,
140g Nosler BT
Rem brass
9 1/2 primer
bullet seated to just barely touch the lands, not a jam
65.5-66g of IMR 4350
3200 fps plus depending on the barrel
100 yard groups are a bullet hole opened up
Scopes are high power, 6x24 and 8x32

150g Nosler ballistic tips/150g Nosler C/T
Rem brass
WINCHESTER Mag primer
72-73g of R#25, Start your load work up at 68g, SD is less than 9 fps
Bullet just barely touching the lands
3200 fps plus
Groups at 100 are a single bullet hole, opened up
Groups with the 154g Hornady Sp are tiny also
Hint, sort bullets by ogive length, and keep the copper out of your barrel.

Same barrels
168g Berger vld hunting
71g of Retumbo
Fed 215
Rem brass
Play with bullet jump
3050-3100 depending on the barrel, start your load work up at 68g

You will not shoot these small groups IF your barrel is loaded with carbon and copper. My cleaning regiment is down to bare metal every 20 shots to keep these barrels shooting this way. When shooting off of a rifle rest, Hold the forearm down instead of squeezing the rear bag with your left hand.

 

[antleredacres]

My Remington 700(s) factory, with Gentry muzzle break, Boyd's pillar bedded stock, Jewel trigger, barrel free-floated,

140g Nosler ballistic tips shoot 2.5-3" at 600 yards,
140g Nosler BT
Rem brass
9 1/2 primer
bullet seated to just barely touch the lands, not a jam
65.5-66g of IMR 4350
3200 fps plus depending on the barrel
100 yard groups are a bullet hole opened up
Scopes are high power, 6x24 and 8x32

150g Nosler ballistic tips/150g Nosler C/T
Rem brass
WINCHESTER Mag primer
72-73g of R#25, Start your load work up at 68g, SD is less than 9 fps
Bullet just barely touching the lands
3200 fps plus
Groups at 100 are a single bullet hole, opened up
Groups with the 154g Hornady Sp are tiny also
Hint, sort bullets by ogive length, and keep the copper out of your barrel.

Same barrels
168g Berger vld hunting
71g of Retumbo
Fed 215
Rem brass
Play with bullet jump
3050-3100 depending on the barrel, start your load work up at 68g

You will not shoot these small groups IF your barrel is loaded with carbon and copper. My cleaning regiment is down to bare metal every 20 shots to keep these barrels shooting this way. When shooting off of a rifle rest, Hold the forearm down instead of squeezing the rear bag with your left hand.

Unless you just want a new rifle (and I can understand that) your .270 Winny is an excellent 600 yard rifle. Given the newer powders and higher BC .277 Bullets ( I use 145gr. ELDX) you have a very flat shooter with enough energy for any WT or Mule Deer.

 

[Franko21]

The 7mm-08 would be perfect on a short action. I am somewhat hesitant to suggest one on a long action because I am not sure how well it will run. For your use case I would go with a .280AI but it's going to give a bit less barrel life.

 

[Taylorbok]

@VinceMule you posted all that with out mentioning what cartridge any of those loads are in.