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And it never ends... There is always something else to chase if you're just after more. For me it's about trying to find balance. Between what I want and what I need. Between performance and barrel life & recoil.I built my 6mm AI on a 270 action for that reason and don't regret it. However, I get to thinking if I am going to go long action, why not do a 25-06 AI. Then again, why not step on up to the Weatherby since I have already gone to the long action? Where does it end?
I get that but if 90% of this rifle's life is spent hunting, is barrel life really that important? Of course I want to have a rifle I can hunt with for many years but I don't think shooting 25-50 times a year, after fire forming and load development of course, is going to mean the rifle will be rendered useless after a few years. I don't shoot my rifles to the point that they are hot, I will stop and let them cool or cool them myself before I let that happen. I guess I wasn't to the point as much as I should have been. After break in and load development I likely won't shoot over 25 times a year and I will move on to another chambering and focus on that a while. I like to have a new project that I can focus on on my days off. Shoot one week a few times and then clean the following week and I might not have a chance to go back to the range for a few weeks again.
Then that's part of your equation that you are trying to balance. If you don't need over 800 rounds of barrel life, build the f@#&ing laser. I'm sure it will be a blast to shoot and hammer whatever you hit. A hyper speed 25 may be in my future too since I have a 25 cm that will last a long time for practice.
That is what I'm thinking too. I've actually thought about building a 25 CM for exactly what you just said and then a laser for hunting.
Back 17 years ago Winchester came out with a 25WSSM. A little better ballistics than the 25-06. Got one for Jill and she shot a few deer and Plains Game Animals in Africa. I wanted to use it for Coyotes.
If you've got 6mm dies and brass that's probably the way I'd go. When you consider new dies and probably different powder, bullets it'd be less expensive to build with what you've got. On top of that as far as I know there's more selection with6mm bullets and it will kill as well on most medium size animals WITH the proper bullet choice. The venerable .243 has killed a.train load of deer so a.6 AI should also.
I appreciate it and I think you are right. As much as I want to work with something different right now might not be the best time.
I think you are on the right path, as for the scope, just keep shopping around you'll find one soon enough in the price range you want, just have a little patience, all things come to those that, yep... wait. Good luck Cheers
Well you picked the least fun option. ;-( I was interested in following your new hotrod build.
Yes I was looking forward to building a new rifle and I will but it will be down the road a little bit. I never gave this rifle any chance at all so I'm going to work with it and see how it does and then look at something different. I won't be able to shoot any of the long heavies I don't think but I will be able to get some speed with other bullets. I'll check out the Bushnell.
