Caliber selection

[Barrelnut]

You could get into the Savage or Remage build your own rifle with a prefit barrel game. Lots of fun with a shorter turnaround than a costum along with pride and satisfaction of doing it yourself. That 300 Norma would be a great one to start with!
It's a ton of fun. IMHO anyway.

 

[.222 ND]

A Middle of the road 6.5 such as a 6.5 saum gets you some longrange potential and don't break your shoulder or the bank. Just depends on how much trigger time your going to invest. If your a competent shooter that isn't going to spend much time burning ammo the bigger calibers are more attractive because they are not going to see many rounds, but if your going to spend a lot of time at the range maybe you want something that is more pleasant to shoot.

 

[mrb1982]

Well, I have a 22-250 that someday is going to see a rebarrel, so that one probably has 6.5 creedmoor written all over it.

I probably just need to get back to my basic thoughts from long ago. I don't really have a need for a "super mag" so to speak.

The 338 RUM is also intriguing. I know custom is the sure fire method but not sure what I will do yet.

Anybody wanna tell me their velocities of a 300 win mag with 215's in a 26" barrel?

The Remage thing is also interesting. I have thought about it quite a bit but by the time I buy a few tools and whatnot I could just have it done by a smith. Who knows what will happen.

 

[FEENIX]

Anybody wanna tell me their velocities of a 300 win mag with 215's in a 26" barrel?

If you do a search, there are plenty on .300 Win Mag and Berger 215 but the most interesting is Jeff's post >>> https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/comparing-the-berger-210-vld-to-the-215-hybrid.88657/

and for Berger 230 and 300 OTM >>> https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/berger-230-and-300-otm-hybrid-terminal-results.80283/

 

[WeiserBucks]

I've owned 2 300 WM rifles and done load development for a friend. My two rifles were 24" and 26" custom barrels , my friends rifle is a REM 700 SPS 26" . The 24" made 2800 with H1000 , the two 26" rifles made 2860 and 2900 respectively. 215s are tough to beat in a WM in my opinion. I still have the 24" rifle and it's not for sale , period.

 

[mrb1982]

Anybody have much experience with the Christensen Arms Mesa Long Range? 28 Nosler could be interesting but I already have a .284 caliber.

 

[johnnyk]

"Anybody wanna tell me their velocities of a 300 win mag with 215's in a 26" barrel?"

I ran out of RL-26 but 74gn's pushed the 212gn ELD-X's at 3000 (+/- 5fps) in my 26" Savage 112BVSS.
I want to stress the importance of working up slowly. Obviously not all barrels will do this.
I took mine up a few more notches and busted the ejector!

 

[mrb1982]

"Anybody wanna tell me their velocities of a 300 win mag with 215's in a 26" barrel?"

I ran out of RL-26 but 74gn's pushed the 212gn ELD-X's at 3000 (+/- 5fps) in my 26" Savage 112BVSS.
I want to stress the importance of working up slowly. Obviously not all barrels will do this.
I took mine up a few more notches and busted the ejector!

Makes sense. That is pretty good velocity either way.

I am with you in the working up thing. My 7 mag has always liked hotter loads for whatever reason. But I have to work up to it.

I kind of have a thing for accurizing factory rigs. I have all Remingtons at this point. But I bed them, put a Jewel trigger in them, and serve them a hand load. Sometimes restock the gun if I feel like it. The only thing I use a Smith for is a brake or if I were to have to install an extended mag box. I kind of enjoy the project. Although a nice custom would be awesome, and not a whole lot more money in the end depending on the project, I do get a certain level of gratitude from the project.

I am starting to think about shying away from the super big boomers. Just a lot of money to shoot them in general.

300 win mag is definitely still catching my eye. Maybe go with a Long Range Stainless or regular long range and start going to work on it.

 

[johnnyk]

Great minds think alike. I was just looking at Savage's 112 Magnum Target in .338LM yesterday. Found a few of them on the web for less than $1k but then the tinkerer/cheapo in me came out. Priced one barrel maker's product at $535. That was for a pre-fit 28", 1-9" twist, stainless, fluted, Savage varmint contour in 338LM. Afterwards, looking at .338LM reloading component prices, I said "forget it, I don't need that". I would love to build one, test and shoot it but it's really not sensible for me in my area and too darn expensive to run.
I've got two .300's (Savage 112BVSS and Remington Sendero) and may stay with the same chamber but definitely gonna go 28, possibly 30" for the next barrel(s). There's also a chamber reamer available that makes shooting the 210gn + bullets more effective, for lack of a better term. Let's you run the bullets out for a better powder fill (read as velocity). For now, the .300(s) will suffice.

 

[mrb1982]

Just had the opportunity to get my hands on a Long Range. I am actually pretty pleased with it I could see myself turning one into a project. I might have to keep that in mind.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Not having read all posts, I will put my own spin on it.
My interest in LR shooting began simultaneously with a 264WM & 300WM with informal rock busting and steel. I moved on to F-Class with both the above cartridges, then built another switch barrel that has so far had 22-250AI, 260AI & currently 6.5x47.
You really don't need a 30 cal if you already have a 7mm.

As we are limited to .323" bullets here in F-Class, a few of us tried getting .338" cal accepted, to no avail, after we built 338 Edge's and realised their potential.
We use these informally on practice days, and I also built a 338-416Improved 40degree and it shoots flat! I'm still waiting on a McMillan stock for it, and the brake to be finished.
We're not allowed to use brakes on our ranges, so the rifle weighs 18lbs all up and loaded.

As you can see, I have a preference for .338" cal...for a very good reason, it bucks wind, hits WAY harder and is scary accurate IF you can handle the recoil WITHOUT a brake.
It's also perfect for deer or elk, which is why I also have a 338-06 and 338WM in a few different hunting rifles.

Cheers.

 

[mrb1982]

How many firings could someone expect to see out of 300 RUM brass anyways?

 

[Hatrick]

I am at 4 with Nosler brass, 93 grs. Retumbo, 180 gr. Accubonds. No problems.

 

[mrb1982]

I am at 4 with Nosler brass, 93 grs. Retumbo, 180 gr. Accubonds. No problems.

How many brass did you think I would need of a barrel?