Re-barrel dilemma

[arch408]

Howdy Folks,

I'm looking for a little input on which direction to go. I have a Nosler M48 Liberty chambered in 26 Nosler. I have it in a McMillan game hunter stock. I am sentimentally attached to the rifle for several reasons so a new gun isn't an option. I would like to rebarrel it with a proof carbon fiber sendero lite at around 22 inches. The trouble I'm having is which cartridge to go with. The 26 slams mulies and does horrible things to pronghorn. I like it as a hunting cartridge, and now days with things crazy it's one of the only things on the shelf consistantly. My concern is I don't want another rebarrel in the near future. Once I work up a good load and get good dope on the rifle out to 1200 yards the throat is going to be half gone again. I'm thinking something like the 6.5 PRC, 7mm WSM or SAUM. I do have some brass and dies for the SAUM already, but I'm not opposed to buying more ammo or dies. I also have several boxes of 26 Nosler still. Should I just go with the Nosler again or should I go one of my other choices? I'm spinning my tires at this point. No the 7mm Rem mag is not an option. I don't want any belted cartridges. Not looking for anything bigger either as I have a full custom 300 PRC. What do you folks think?

Thanks
SShultz

I vote for SAUM, but aren't you wasting some action length? That being the case, would you consider the 6.5 or .300
PRC? I've bought a 700 short magnum action that I'm am going to make a switch barrel rifle using the switch lug and utilizing the Wyatt magezine box. Also, if you have no use for your .26 Nosler, how much would you want for it? 6.5mm is not my favorite bore, but I have a .26 Nosler. 6.5 RemMag, 6.5 Grendel, and a 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[Badgerclaw]

If you have 6.5 bullets laying around, want something with better barrel life, has available factory loads and is cheap to shoot, I would say 264 win mag would be the perfect option. It will out perform the 6.5 PRC and pretty much any 6.5 besides the ultra hot rod barrel burners (6.5-300wby, 26 Nosler, ect.)

If the belt on the cartridge bothers you that bad, put each round on a lathe and turn it off. However, I have yet to hear a convincing argument as to why a belt hurts anything. People just dont like the looks.

 

[antelopedundee]

Have not read all of the pages, but if not mentioned you can't go wrong with a .264 Win mag. Except for some differences in MV all of that stuff is more alike than it is different. Dead is dead.

 

[DirectDrive]

I vote for SAUM, but aren't you wasting some action length?

This ^^^

Might be time for a new build on a short or medium action in 6.5PRC

 

[Treeslug]

If you have 6.5 bullets laying around, want something with better barrel life, has available factory loads and is cheap to shoot, I would say 264 win mag would be the perfect option. It will out perform the 6.5 PRC and pretty much any 6.5 besides the ultra hot rod barrel burners (6.5-300wby, 26 Nosler, ect.)

If the belt on the cartridge bothers you that bad, put each round on a lathe and turn it off. However, I have yet to hear a convincing argument as to why a belt hurts anything. People just dont like the looks.

Then again, if barrel life is that important, there is always the Daisy Red Rider BB Gun. They seem to last forever. As for the belted magnums, I think they look manly. Maybe that is because I grew up when magnums were more powerful and the belts distinguished them from the milder .308's and .30-06's. It is a personal thing. Just tryin' to add a little humor because that is about all I have left anymore.

 

[Joefrazell]

Saum

 

[JemezDave]

6.5 PRC would be my choice for deer and antelope in your scenario. I would take that over the nosler.

 

[Len Backus]

I hate to say this, but everyone that had one before you was a "fan"? Perhaps, more intelligent? You sound like a complete ***** with one statement. New bullets? All the PRS guys switched to 6mm at least a year ago. So I have no clue what your talking about. Now your a fan boy? Really slow aren't ya?

Joe. You don't belong here.

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