Son wants a long range high speed rig Which cartridge?

[Tom Wright]

i have a savage long action doing nothing. I have a 300 win barrel that is a takeoff from a 116 that is unfired, but he wants something unique and without crazy recoil (he's 13) but he's not tiny 5'10 150. I'm thinking maybe santa could bring a new barrel or something. I see one company has every dang cartridge available ready to ship! We handload so not worried about availability too much. Thinking 6.5 -300 bee? 26 nosler? 264 winmag 6.5 or 7stw? Decisions decisions. Anybody shoot these without a brake and can give feedback on the way the shoot i'd appreciate it.

It's the current craze, but having brought kids up shooting, before I'd go the long range for a 13 year old, I'd try to improve his basic shooting skills out to 2-300 yards in all the basic positions first--prone, sitting, kneeling and upright/free hand. there is a tendency of everyone wanting to shoot from the moon, when first they may not be ready. If he's not consistent in the above, then he's not ready to move on.

Many shows with long distance hunting shots filmed don't show the team that is there to make it possible, nor do they record often the missed/failed shots and wounded animals.

Now basic question--what caliber? Shooters are gravitating to the 6mm as the holy grail. I have two--good for what it's supposed to do, not so for what it's not. I've used it to shoot a 300# mule deer at 275 yards, and many smaller animals at everything from 50-400. BUT I also have seen this cartridge hit animals that couldn't be recovered because they didn't do enough damage when placement wasn't right.

I just returned from a South African 5 week safari for plains game carrying two rifles--a Browning xbolt in 300 win mag and a TC Venture in 6.5 Creedmore. Neither is a custom or souped up rifle--pretty much off the shelf but with good Leupold glass. Both are designed to be a light gun BUT they absorb most of the recoil created WITHOUT a brake. The 300 Win Mag shoots like a 270/243 based on recoil. Using both I took animals out to 400+ yards off of a variety of sticks. Luckily most were one shot kills, but it's always a combination of two things--shot placement and good well made bullets and cartridges. In these two situations it was 143 grain Hornady Performance Hunter in 6.5, and two for the 300 Win Mag--180 grain Swift AFrame and Barnes 165 grain., with LOTS of practice off the bench, on sticks and various other positions.

You mention some almost wildcat cartridges--if he's going to hunt with the rifle, stay away from the more exotic calibers--they're hard to impossible to find in Africa, Europe or small mountain towns in the US. Good luck!

 

[MoaFlat]

"" Son wants a long range high speed rig Which cartridge? ""

What part of that question did the creediots not understand ?

This Creediot convert for one, shooting match over 1 mike consistently 6CM using 110SMK 3100FPS. Solution: speed over mass with very nice projectile.

 

[moa_shooter]

7mm rem mag is my favorite for anything long-range

 

[Pappabear]

Depending on what you are shooting but nothing beats 300WM for hunting. Belted nonsense is nonsense.

 

[moa_shooter]

Depending on what you are shooting but nothing beats 300WM for hunting. Belted nonsense is nonsense.

but 300wm has more recoil

 

[Oldschool280]

1. Mag bolt face only? Most anything can be tamed with a quality brake.
   
   If a new bolt face is an option a 6x284 would run like a scalded ape. The 6.5mm version is pretty sweet too
   
   Joe S.

   We do have a few bolt faces! Thanx for the input

 

[vancewalker007]

A 7mm Rem Mag would be my choice for kids first long range rig. It's the cartridge I'm taking to Africa next year for my wife to use on plains game.

-With the proper throat and twist to shoot a175-180 it's a great long range cartridge
-Lots of Factory ammo is available to choose from if you're not a handloader
-It's a great travel cartridge because of ammo
-Brass is available in lots of different price ranges
-Its fairly mild recoil without a brake and a ***** cat with a brake.

 

[25WSM]

Every kid needs a 257wby mag. Easy recoil. Kill like thors hammer struck them in the head. Super accurate. I have one shooting in the 2s and another in the 3s. And these are hunting rifles. Roy's favorite elk round. Not sure why really. I have 2 for sale. Don't need 3. Been my favorite for 30 years. I'm building my self a 6.5 Saum right now. Should be great also. Shep

 

[Raudy707]

For a young man, I'd say 25-06 or 270 wsm. You can get well over 3k fps and shoot out a good long ways with a site in of 3" high at 100 yds. Should be great for coyotes to elk as an excellent starter kit. Have fun!

 

[moa_shooter]

25-06 and 7mm rm are probably two of the best long range rifles calibers you could want to have

 

[Kimber7man]

6.5 SAUM. The 156 Berger will carry a long way. Antelope aren't hard to kill, a lighter recoiling rifle will help him shoot more often, and nothing beats spent primers....

 

[Oldschool280]

A 7mm Rem Mag would be my choice for kids first long range rig. It's the cartridge I'm taking to Africa next year for my wife to use on plains game.

-With the proper throat and twist to shoot a175-180 it's a great long range cartridge
-Lots of Factory ammo is available to choose from if you're not a handloader
-It's a great travel cartridge because of ammo
-Brass is available in lots of different price ranges
-Its fairly mild recoil without a brake and a *Rule 4 Violation* cat with a brake.

We have a 7mag with 26" barrel real sweet to shoot!

 

[vancewalker007]

We have a 7mag with 26" barrel real sweet to shoot!

Then you're there just go shoot and get great at it.

 

[moa_shooter]

We have a 7mag with 26" barrel real sweet to shoot!

just have him build one like the one you have