Caliber advice

[LVJ76]

For caliber I'm a 7mm guy. So, for something lightweight a 22" 7SAUM, works great out to 700 yds so just over your goal of 600. I've been reading great things about the 7mm SS and the 7mm Sherman Max, Elkaholic can provably give you more info on these, but im sure they will also work great for your goal.

I like the 7mm caliber because it has better ballistics than the 30 Caliber Cartridges and it has a wide range of bullet weights from 100gr to 195gr.

Hope thia helps

 

[yorke-1]

The 300 wsm is a little more efficient, but benefits from a slightly higher saami spec psi.
The "issue" is the shorter barrels require faster powders. This means snappier powders. Some prefer the punch. I prefer the push and will take a 300 wm due to the slower powders used and is better at pushing heavies than the 300 wsm.
Everyone has their favorites. I'd gladly take my 300 wm for my do all rifle. Also thankful I'm not limited to 1 rifle. The 215 Berger makes the 30 cals something special.

This isn't accurate and it's been discussed on here many times. The fastest powder in a long barrel will still be the fastest powder in a short barrel.

 

[Calvin45]

This isn't accurate and it's been discussed on here many times. The fastest powder in a long barrel will still be the fastest powder in a short barrel.

Yup. My 270 has a 22 inch barrel and 4831, 7828, rl 22, 25, all provide higher performance than 4350, 4064, or rl19. The blast and flash with slow powders is very notably worse than fast powders in short barrels however, and this consideration certainly would be good reason to choose a faster burn rate in a shorter pipe, but not because it'll perform better.

 

[Wolf76]

This isn't accurate and it's been discussed on here many times. The fastest powder in a long barrel will still be the fastest powder in a short barrel.

I should have stated it better. Faster powders aren't "required", they are VERY often used to avoid the massive blast and flash that comes with powder still burning as the bullet exits the barrel.

 

[yorke-1]

I should have stated it better. Faster powders aren't "required", they are VERY often used to avoid the massive blast and flash that comes with powder still burning as the bullet exits the barrel.

That also isn't accurate. Do some testing with identical loads in both short and long barrels and the results will surprise you. I've compared identical loads in short (18-20") barrels and long (28-30") barrels and the results are the same whether burning 25gr of powder or 140gr of powder. Some powders just produce more flash than others based on the composition of the powder. It's not directly tied to burn rate.

 

[DJ Fergus]

I am looking for advice on caliber for a custom build.
Max range: 600yds
Game: Medium to large sized game
Rifle Specs.: Barrel length less than 26 inches (I want the rifle to be easy to maneuver and carry but hit like a hammer)

I was originally thinking 300 WM but with a barrel less than 26 in I don't think it would be a good choice. What about 300 WSM?

30 cal or 7mm. 7mm Rem mag is my all around favorite but I wouldn't want to go less than 26" barrel with it. Yes, 300wsm or winmag typically going to hit harder than 7mm RM within 600yds depending on bullet choice. Over the years I have figured out that it really is true about bore size: there is no replacement for displacement, but you also have to consider the skill needed to be consistent behind that ultra light 30cal magnum. It certainly can be done and 600 yards shouldn't be a problem. I have a 300 winmag , 7mm rm, 300 Norma, and just recently sold the second 270 wsm I've owned. The 7mm RM is the most pleasurable for me to shoot of those 4 magnum calibers. Just my thoughts and everyone has their own likes.

 

[popgun240]

I am looking for advice on caliber for a custom build.
Max range: 600yds
Game: Medium to large sized game
Rifle Specs.: Barrel length less than 26 inches (I want the rifle to be easy to maneuver and carry but hit like a hammer)

I was originally thinking 300 WM but with a barrel less than 26 in I don't think it would be a good choice. What about 300 WSM?

I shoot a Browning ABoltIII in 300 Win Mag. Using Barnes LRX-BT 175 gr bullet's loaded to a Muzzle Velocity of 3100 fps, you get over 1500 fp Muzzle Energy at 600 yards. 3.5" high at 100 yards is on at 300, 10" low at 400, 24" at 500 and 48" low at 600 yards. I'm a disabled Vietnam Veteran and an Amuptee so I need a good resonablely accurate rifle. It has a 26" barrel and is easy for me to handle. I'm over 6'2".

 

[arch408]

You sure know how to open a bucket of worms. Everybody has their favorite. I built a Senduro 7mm STW last year with a 27 inch fluted barrel. Love it, but it's not a joy to carry. I have a large stash of 8mm RM brass. I also have a 7mm RM, .300 SAUM, 700 Mountain rifle .338 WM, .300 RUM and a .338 RUM. All have pros and cons. My SAUM is a titanium ultra light with a Leupold ultra light scope. That's my carry gun. The 7mm RM is a good compromise and ammo is sold every where. The .338 WM and.300 RUM are as big as I like without a muzzle brake. The .338 RUM is a fairly light weight rifle and recoil is vicious with out a muzzle brake so I put up with the noise. If I built another long range rifle, I'd look at the .300 PRC and 28 Nosler. I'd probably stay with a 28 or 30 caliber Magnum type rifle unless you want to install a muzzle brake. Oh, and if you use a normal 700 magnum action you will probably have to do some feed rail work. Ultra Mag actions have wider rails and cut out magazine boxes. If you make an Ultra Mag, I'd use a Wyatt magazine box so you could seat heavy bullets out further and take advantage of the large case capacity. Well that's my take on the subject. Pick your poison and good luck. I'm ordering a .260 AI RemAge barrel for a .308 action I've got to make a switch barrel rifle. I also have a long Magnum action I contemplating on making a switch barrel rifle using the RemAge barrels. You might consider doing that. Then you could several magnum calibers at your beck and call with a simple barrel switch. Ready made barrels are reasonable at Northland shooters supply and Criterion can custom chamber if you desire other than their standard calibers.

 

[Deleted member 110544]

6.5x284 light recoil and easy to load for accuracy.

 

[Lee Goodwin]

Yup. My 270 has a 22 inch barrel and 4831, 7828, rl 22, 25, all provide higher performance than 4350, 4064, or rl19. The blast and flash with slow powders is very notably worse than fast powders in short barrels however, and this consideration certainly would be good reason to choose a faster burn rate in a shorter pipe, but not because it'll perform better.

Sometimes the slow burn powders are fun to shoot at dusk and it looks like a fire breathing dragon.

 

[djm670]

With ranges limited to 600 yards & medium to large game, only one cartridge came to mind, the classic .375 H&H. It shoots very well from a 26" barrel and hits like a LARGE hammer. When I bought mine I was pleased to see it didn't have any more felt recoil than my .300 mag.. It is definitely worth considering!

Objective data comparison: .300 WM vs .375 H&H
rifle weight in lbs - recoil energy in ft-lbs - recoil in speed ft/sec

300 Win. Mag. (150 at 3320) 8.5 23.5 13.3
.300 Win. Mag. (165 at 3110) 8.0 26.2 14.5
.300 Win. Mag. (180 at 2960) 8.5 25.9 14.0
.375 H&H Mag. (235 at 2700) 9.0 29.5 14.5
.375 H&H Mag. (270 at 2690) 9.0 36.1 16.1
.375 H&H Mag. (300 at 2530) 9.0 37.3 16.3

I suppose it depends on the bullet weight one uses....and the stock profile/geometry..... ???

 

[5.56×250]

Objective data comparison: .300 WM vs .375 H&H
rifle weight in lbs - recoil energy in ft-lbs - recoil in speed ft/sec

300 Win. Mag. (150 at 3320) 8.5 23.5 13.3
.300 Win. Mag. (165 at 3110) 8.0 26.2 14.5
.300 Win. Mag. (180 at 2960) 8.5 25.9 14.0
.375 H&H Mag. (235 at 2700) 9.0 29.5 14.5
.375 H&H Mag. (270 at 2690) 9.0 36.1 16.1
.375 H&H Mag. (300 at 2530) 9.0 37.3 16.3

I suppose it depends on the bullet weight one uses....and the stock profile/geometry..... ???

I guess that if you compared , say, a 215gn in a 300WM against the 235gn in the 375H&H, the recoil could be close enough to the same if you took in to account the differences in rifle design and weight.

 

[Lee Goodwin]

Objective data comparison: .300 WM vs .375 H&H
rifle weight in lbs - recoil energy in ft-lbs - recoil in speed ft/sec

300 Win. Mag. (150 at 3320) 8.5 23.5 13.3
.300 Win. Mag. (165 at 3110) 8.0 26.2 14.5
.300 Win. Mag. (180 at 2960) 8.5 25.9 14.0
.375 H&H Mag. (235 at 2700) 9.0 29.5 14.5
.375 H&H Mag. (270 at 2690) 9.0 36.1 16.1
.375 H&H Mag. (300 at 2530) 9.0 37.3 16.3

I suppose it depends on the bullet weight one uses....and the stock profile/geometry..... ???

 

[Lee Goodwin]

Can you do a .338 comparison...please.