What more do I need?

[Sully2]

AT PRESENT:
Rem 700; 22-250; VLS Varmint model; 26" heavy Brl with
Leupold 6-18X fine X hair scope

Stiller; 22-250; "walking varminter"; 24" Brux brl #4 taper
Zeiss 4.5-14 scope

Rem 700; 243 VLS varmint model, 26" heavy Brl with
Zeiss 4.5-14 scope

Rem 700; 6mmBR caliber; (single shot) Shehane Tracker-Varmint stock
Brux heavy barrel; 6.5-18 Zeiss scope

Stiller; 25-06AI; Laminated stock from Stockies; Brux #4 barrel
Nikon 4.5-14 w/side focus

Rem 700; 260 caliber w/heavy barrel (Brux) Remington VLS
Laminated stock; Zeiss 6.5-18 scope

Coming to a gun vault near me….Stiller TAC action in caliber
7mm-08 with a Brux #3 taper stainless barrel and Jewel trigger
in a brn laminated Stockies stock and a 6.5-18 Zeiss on top

So with all that out of the way...what caliber from 22 to under .30 do I need or should have? Health prevents me from an African safari or a mountainous Elk hunt....but I can sit and shoot gophers and such all day long...*S*

Help me out fellas.

 

[barnesuser28]

Ya need a good 222 rem, maybe build a look a like to a rem 40x? It was the benchrest cartridge of choice before the 6ppc. It also shot the smallest 5 shot group ever, .009" CTC at 100 yards shot by a McMillan (forgot the first name). That or a 6.5x47 Lapua.

 

[Sully2]

A 222 for target work..? Maybe?? Dont need the 6.5 x 47 Lapua with the 260 Rem in the vault.

 

[barnesuser28]

the 222 rem has lapua brass and would be an awesome prairie dog or gopher rifle, awesome accuracy and a nice mild chambering that wont burn a barrel out in 3 rounds lol.

 

[300 ultra]

I love my 204 Ruger. I shoot it more then my 22-250 anymore. That seems like it would fit in your rotation nicely.

 

[Sully2]

I love my 204 Ruger. I shoot it more then my 22-250 anymore. That seems like it would fit in your rotation nicely.

Ive been thinking about one of those. Made on say a Model 7 action??shorter ( maybe 20") barrel.....thin..whispy sort of stick. Premium trigger in it and may even keep or make it as an ADL model ( no bottom metal at all)....The idea lingers in my pea brain!

 

[MudRunner2005]

You're missing several...

.257 Wby Mag
.280 AI
7mm RemMag
7mm STW
.308 Win
.300 WinMag
.338 Lapua

I think you'd have it about covered if you got those.

 

[lightflight]

+1 on the 204 Ruger

 

[Sully2]

You're missing several...

.257 Wby Mag
.280 AI
7mm RemMag
7mm STW
.308 Win
.300 WinMag
.338 Lapua

I think you'd have it about covered if you got those.

I said..or at least think I said...not 30 cal or larger.

Ive got the 25-06AI to fill in the spot of the 257 Wetherby
7mm-06 to cover me for 7mm RemMag
Dont want a "ShootingTimesWestern" anything ( Of any caliber)

 

[Sully2]

+1 on the 204 Ruger

Im seriously pondering a .204 caliber. In a light easy to carry "shorter range" gun because my 22-250 Hv Bbl Shoots as well as a 204 and can hit even further out.

 

[varmintH8R]

204 Ruger is a good call!

 

[Sully2]

204 Ruger is a good call!

I think so personally. Especially for a lighter weight walking around rifle / scope. Put say a 2-7X on top and it would be as light as a BB gun..*S*

If Im after "pasture grizzles" at longer ranges Im pulling out my 22-250 cause Ive seen what it can do...but wayyyyy to heavy to be dragging all over creation

 

[MudRunner2005]

I said..or at least think I said...not 30 cal or larger.

Ive got the 25-06AI to fill in the spot of the 257 Wetherby
7mm-06 to cover me for 7mm RemMag
Dont want a "ShootingTimesWestern" anything ( Of any caliber)

Sully, I hate to disagree with you on this, since we agree on everything else...

But, a 7mm-08 will never compare with a 7mm RemMag. I have had 3 7Mags (still have 2 of them, 1 got stolen), and still have my old 7mm-08 that I've had for 15 years now. The 7mm-08 is an excellent caliber for deer hunting...But it is not, and never will be quite on par with the 7mm RemMag and no where near the STW or RUM.

I think you're on track to a nice collection, and I can see you are a fan of the smaller bore calibers. I own a couple myself, and had a few in the past.

Even though you don't want anything .30 or larger, it appears you like short-action calibers. I feel everyone needs a heavy barrel .308 Win sitting in the stable for range shooting. The barrels last incredibly long, and reloading components are readily available just about everywhere. Under 50gr of powder means it's cheap to reload.

I did notice you also didn't have any 6.5's listed... The 6.5x284 Norma is a great little round for deer and LR shooting. And Lapua makes brass for it, which is also a huge plus, IMO.

If you don't mind me prying a little bit...What do you not like about the STW calibers? Sorry, but it struck my curiosity...

Once again, this is just giving my opinions, like you asked, and asking a couple questions. In the end it is your call, I was just trying to be helpful.

 

[westcliffe01]

I don't see a 6.5x55 Swede listed, but don't know from personal experience how close that is to the 260 Rem. Depending on how long my first 6.5x284 lasts, I might go that route afterward.