New gun build for LR Whitetail and Muley’s

[befree1776]

Looking for some suggestions on what caliber I should choose?

This is my first run with having a custom build and looking for guidance on caliber.

 

[Sockeye66]

Action length would do a great deal towards that decision.

 

[DJ Fergus]

There's a lot of good choices out there for what you want to do. If you aren't going to reload I would say a 6.5 prc would be nice. If you are going to reload then there's a ton of great cartridges: 7mm rem mag, 7mm saum, 280ai, 6.5 saum, 264 win mag just to name a few. If you are set on a short action I would go for the 6.5 gap 4s. All the 7mm rounds I mentioned would be best in a long action.

 

[LVJ76]

@djfergus pretty much covered it, I will add the 300 Win Mag to that list though.

Now I'd choose the 7mm Rem Mag but that just me, I'm a 7mm fan.

 

[DJ Fergus]

@djfergus pretty much covered it, I will add the 300 Win Mag to that list though.

Now I'd choose the 7mm Rem Mag but that just me, I'm a 7mm fan.

Same here for the 7mm rem mag. It's ballistics with 180s & up are hard to beat. I run a 180 eld at 2860 easily. I would have to run my 147 elds up to around 3150fps or more to match the wind wind resistance of the 180 @ 2860fps.

 

[Tiny Tim]

More info please. Is recoil a factor? What kind of distances do you plan to shoot? Most of the above choices are great. Do you reload or do you want readily available ammo to shoot?

 

[befree1776]

Action length would do a great deal towards that decision.

Was looking for caliber suggestions that would be appropriate for Whitetail and mule deer. I don't care whether it's a long action or short action. Just want something that will be effective out to 1000

 

[befree1776]

More info please. Is recoil a factor? What kind of distances do you plan to shoot? Most of the above choices are great. Do you reload or do you want readily available ammo to shoot?

I currently have a browning 300 WinMag which I've been working on for years. Shoots pretty well out to 800 probably not is good is the guns you guys have but it's the best I can do with what I have. With this build it will be my first custom. I like the 300 WinMag as long as it has a muzzle brake on it. Just didn't know if I wanted two of them. When I first started doing work on my Browning (Boyds stock, pillar bed, ELDX loads H1000 powder, 0.015 jump) the plan was for an elk hunt. I now realize the elk hunts are out of my price range so I'm looking more for some thing for my every year Whitetail hunts and hopefully In a couple years I may be able to do a mule deer hunt. I am I suppose preferable to the long action rifle but want to find balance between knockdown power and the game I'm hunting. Perhaps I am looking to reduce recoil a bit. I'm certainly not getting any younger. I do plan to reload. I reload for pretty much everything I shoot. I feel pretty confident reloading.

 

[Tiny Tim]

7RM tough to beat overall. If your open to Wildcats. The Sherman line is intriguing, but it's a buy-in for the equipment. Performance is top notch.

 

[Huntnpack]

The 6.5 PRC would be a great choice.
build a mid weight 7-8# all up. 20-24" bbl.
1-7.5 or 1-8 twist. 156 Berger's or 124 Hammers. Get the best glass you can.
pleasure to shoot & carry. Good luck !!

 

[Draftmule]

Buying ammo off the shelf 7mm Rem mag or 270 WSM plenty ample for heavy bucks. I would guess would not win the modern day popularity contest but unique combination of down range power, super flat trajectory and mild magnum recoil is the very fine 270 Wby.

 

[WV338]

I know it's not the new kid on the block but you can't go wrong with the old 270 Winchester. A friend of mine has one and he has taken mule deer out to 550 yards in Utah.

 

[Franko21]

My first choice would be a 7mm Rem Mag with a fast twist barrel so you can use long and heavy bullets. My second choice would be 300 Win Mag. Both have a wide selection of good factory ammo available and components if you reload.

 

[Backcountry sports]

There's a lot of good choices out there for what you want to do. If you aren't going to reload I would say a 6.5 prc would be nice. If you are going to reload then there's a ton of great cartridges: 7mm rem mag, 7mm saum, 280ai, 6.5 saum, 264 win mag just to name a few. If you are set on a short action I would go for the 6.5 gap 4s. All the 7mm rounds I mentioned would be best in a long action.

Try 270wsm very flat and accurate a little lighter to pack and less recoil