Tell me what Caliber to build...

[lancetkenyon]

Do you reload?

The answer to that question will either eliminate 80% of the responses, or open up a world of opportunity.

 

[CKyleC]

Do you reload?

The answer to that question will either eliminate 80% of the responses, or open up a world of opportunity.

Yes!
I have plenty of powder and bullet choices on hand. I'm much more open to new bullets than a powder I don't have.

 

[FEENIX]

Chambering. I don't have anything other than a stock at this point. I'm not as concerned with hunting distance as I am overall performance, which is why I said in my original post "as heavy a bullet as fast as possible". That said, I'd like to shoot at least a 160gr bullet, I think.

I shoot 215 Berger out of my .300 WSM. At 2850 FPS, it is not too shabby to 1KY.

 

[cjl2010]

Single shot or mag fed? Heavier bullet as fast as possible leaves you in short mag territory. 270wsm, 7 saum, 300 saum, 7wsm, and 300 wsm. Plus the Sherman cartridges but you are stuck, as I was, with little help if you get a dud. If you want a wildcat options are endless.

 

[lancetkenyon]

What do you intend to hunt with it?

 

[lancetkenyon]

Single shot or mag fed? Heavier bullet as fast as possible leaves you in short mag territory. 270wsm, 7 saum, 300 saum, 7wsm, and 300 wsm. Plus the Sherman cartridges but you are stuck, as I was, with little help if you get a dud. If you want a wildcat options are endless.

I helped you as much as I could!

 

[cjl2010]

I helped you as much as I could!

You were awesome! Helped me the entire way!

 

[cajun]

short action is going to be the limiting factor. 7 saum, 300 wsm.

 

[FEENIX]

What do you intend to hunt with it?

I asked the same thing.

 

[CKyleC]

I helped you as much as I could!

This needs explaining!!

 

[Bucklowery]

300wsm is where I would be

Thanks

Buck

 

[CKyleC]

I asked the same thing.

I purposely haven't stated what I plan to shoot with it. This isn't about a specific target animal. I want to focus on the heaviest bullet, as fast as possible. That said, I'm not hunting in Alaska anytime soon, but if I was, I'd take my 338 win mag. I have multiple calibers that would cover anything I could hunt, outside of dangerous game.

I'm in the process of getting more serious about my shooting/reloading. I want to take this opportunity to build something that maximizes the performance of a short action.

You guys are waaaaay more knowledgable about this stuff than I am. That's why I'm asking here. I realize that I don't even know enough to provide enough info to answer your questions.

 

[Phil Rizzo]

And what mag gives you max length…that works?

 

[Jakeweb09]

He may prefer a lot less recoil than the 7 SAUM, 6.4x 47 Lapua is about as idiot-proof as they get..

He said a heavy bullet fast….saum fits that bill much more then a 130 at mid speeds.