Custom Rifle Cartridge Choice

[freefloater59]

A timely post, I'm on the brink of kicking off a rebuild and this discussion has pushed me over the edge. I've burned the throat out of my Win Pre 64 M70, 264 Mag, 22" Featherweight so I've been contemplating calibers that fit the long mag action. Great examples of ideas and I really like something in 7mm cal. I have another 264 mag so the and jump to 30 cals leaves the 7mm gap. My objective is to keep the Featherweight balance, something more mountain rifle handy, so the I've decided on the 7x61 Sharpe & Hart. Although not as sexy as many of the newer 7mm's it's a very efficient cartridge for a 7mm. I already have dies, brass and even a couple of boxes of original Norma ammo. I have an original Schultz & Larsen Mauser 7x61 S&H but with a 1/12 twist bbl (big mistake by Schultz & Larsen), but since I have other calibers to shoot 120~140 gr bullets, this build is 150 and heavier sizes and the right twist rate. I know the 7 Rem Mag may be a more rational choice, but I dont have the dies. Any other 7x61 S&H owners out there?

 

[Winnett1]

6.5 X 284. or .260 don't leave the 6.5mm out of the equation. The 6.5 has been and still is one of the most popular bullets ever made and just see what they have been are are using in Europe. The 6.5X55 probably took more African animals than any other cartridge. the 260 Rem will reachout and touch at 800yds then add the 6.5 X 284 with the correct bullet good to 1K yds. Plus reloading you can go from 85 gr to 153gr + bullets for any small or big animal.

And included would be a 6.5-06

 

[manitou]

280ai

 

[lancetkenyon]

If I were to buy a used rifle w. 300 +/- rounds through it, a 28 Nos would be off the table. That could be as much as 75% of barrel life gone already.

I would be looking at a 7RM, .300WM, 6.5SAUM, .280AI, etc.

 

[Spoonbill]

I might do that for my next rifle; my smith has a 300 RUM; Brux on order. Told him to do another 300 RUM, but the optionality of bullet seating with either the Nosler or PRC has me wondering...

Bryan Blake built my two 28s; one is on a Stiller action and the other a Borden, both with McM stocks. Bryan makes his own barrels (one took first place in a recent F class national comp). I had him build me the second one to practice with so I don't burn out the hunting rifle, but both are so darn accurate I almost hate to shoot them. I have found an Edge, Lapua, and RUM (shooting 225s) have almost identical wind drift, so I find myself practicing with them quite a bit; yesterday I shot my Savage Lapua as well; shot hit just below that circle but with a 1.5 wind hold. Shot it later that day at 500 in a somewhat stiffer wind (different location) and hit dead nuts on. Takes quite a bit of wind before you have to hold more than 1.5 MOA at 500 with these.

I shoot a 308 at 500 a lot too, but it has so much more wind drift than the above cartridges that it isn't a good substitute for wind practice. But that rifle has a mil reticle, so when I look at mirage to judge wind I think in terms of mils, not MOA, which helps (I think).

Not to overstate the obvious, but the only way to get good at calling wind is to either eat a lot of pea soup or shoot a lot. It is so much easier with a 28N, 300 RUM, or Edge/Lapua than lesser calibers but the price is barrel life. Nothing is free.

Thanks for your post. It has many thought provoking points for consideration. I have wanted my first build to be just this sort of rifle and am leaning towards the 300 PRC. The only issue holding me back is recoil. Any comments from the larger community would be appreciated!

 

[Jud96]

If I were to buy a used rifle w. 300 +/- rounds through it, a 28 Nos would be off the table. That could be as much as 75% of barrel life gone already.

I would be looking at a 7RM, .300WM, 6.5SAUM, .280AI, etc.

That's a very good point. Thank you

 

[Coyote01]

That's a very good point. Thank you

I disagree. I own 2 28's and barrel life is much greater then what's being spread around. Like any rifle if you take care of it longevity is not really an issue

 

[LRNut]

If I were to buy a used rifle w. 300 +/- rounds through it, a 28 Nos would be off the table. That could be as much as 75% of barrel life gone already.

I would be looking at a 7RM, .300WM, 6.5SAUM, .280AI, etc.

I would be leery of buying any long range rifle used, esp a 28N. For one thing, why is the seller selling? I sure wouldn't sell my 28s - they are tack drivers. But even if accurate, the bbl life question is a show stopper. Sure, the seller can say the tube has 300 rounds down it, but you have no way of knowing; I haven't seem too many bore scope pics on a For Sale ad, but that might be helpful.

That said, I bought a .338 Edge used; the guy who sold it posted pics of his loads. Said it pained him to sell, but he was shooting BR competitively and needed to raise money to buy a lathe and other tools. I bought the rifle for 3K to include an NXS along with 200 new pieces of 300 RUM brass. That rifle turned out to be super accurate.

 

[Coyote01]

I would be leery of buying any long range rifle used, esp a 28N. For one thing, why is the seller selling? I sure wouldn't sell my 28s - they are tack drivers. But even if accurate, the bbl life question is a show stopper. Sure, the seller can say the tube has 300 rounds down it, but you have no way of knowing; I haven't seem too many bore scope pics on a For Sale ad, but that might be helpful.

That said, I bought a .338 Edge used; the guy who sold it posted pics of his loads. Said it pained him to sell, but he was shooting BR competitively and needed to raise money to buy a lathe and other tools. I bought the rifle for 3K to include an NXS along with 200 new pieces of 300 RUM brass. That rifle turned out to be super accurate.

I also agree who in their right mind would sell a 28 LOL. My opinion is that's the sweetest round you can get.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I disagree. I own 2 28's and barrel life is much greater then what's being spread around. Like any rifle if you take care of it longevity is not really an issue

I have loaded for 39 different 28 Noslers. When run at max and more than 3 rounds at a time, 400 rounds of ACCURATE barrel life is very realistic. Seen a few go that fast. 600-800 is very realistic when taken care of. 1000 is pushing it. Unless you are defeating the purpose of building a 28 Nosler, and running them at 7RM speeds.

 

[Calvin45]

I have loaded for 39 different 28 Noslers. When run at max and more than 3 rounds at a time, 400 rounds of ACCURATE barrel life is very realistic. Seen a few go that fast. 600-800 is very realistic when taken care of. 1000 is pushing it. Unless you are defeating the purpose of building a 28 Nosler, and running them at 7RM speeds.

I'm finding this hard to believe (though I sure ain't calling you a liar, let that be understood as well). The 28 Nosler is basically a standard length action 7stw, shorter wider powder column but more or less same case capacity. I know the 7 stw isn't exactly friendly to barrels but I also know that people on here routinely do well with them waaaaaay north of 400 rounds per barrel. Either that or they're full of it. Either way, something about this isn't adding up to me. I just don't quite get it. Perhaps differing acceptable accuracy parameters?

 

[lancetkenyon]

I'm finding this hard to believe (though I sure ain't calling you a liar, let that be understood as well). The 28 Nosler is basically a standard length action 7stw, shorter wider powder column but more or less same case capacity. I know the 7 stw isn't exactly friendly to barrels but I also know that people on here routinely do well with them waaaaaay north of 400 rounds per barrel. Either that or they're full of it. Either way, something about this isn't adding up to me. I just don't quite get it. Perhaps differing acceptable accuracy parameters?

A 195 @ 3150+ w. 87+ gr of RL33/N570 will eat throats and fire crack barrels in short order. Pressure, heat and friction are a mother....

I run mine at 3084fps. I did my load development in 48 rounds. Have shot it another 9 when I swapped scopes. It os a long range elk rifle only. Should last me a lifetime, and probably (hopefully) a couple generation's lifetimes. I have plenty of other rifles to shoot with.

The fastest barrel I have ever seen needing to be replaced was at 46 rounds....when the owner left a laser bore sighter in the end of the barrel and he touched off the first round after I finished his load development....