Wanting to build a rifle questions.

[Doublezranch]

Hahahaha!!! Good one!!

 

[FEENIX]

What's the long action vs short action?

Extracted from gunsmithing sticky (http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f37/bolt-face-diameters-36661/) courtesy of JE Customs ...

Short actions with a bolt face .Dia of .384 +/-
17 Rem, 204 Ruger. 222 Rimingtion, and 223 Rem.

Short actions with a bolt face .Dia of .470 +/-
225 Winchester, 22/250 Remingtion, 6mm Norma BR, 243 Win, 250 Savage, 260 Rem,
6.5/284 Norma, 7/08 Rem, 284 win, 300 Savage, 308 Win, 338 Federal, 35 Rem, and
the 358 Winchester.

Short actions with a bolt face .Dia of .540+/-
223 WSSM, 243 WSSM, 25 WSSM, 7mm Rem saum, 7mm WSM, 300 Rem saum, 300
WSM, 325 WSM, and the 350 Rem Mag.

Long actions with a bolt face .DIA of .470 +/-
220 Swift, 6mm Rem, 240 Weatherby Mag, 257 Roberts, 25-06 Rem,
6.5x55 Swedish, 270 Win, 7x57 Mauser, 7x64 Brenneke, 280 Rem, 30/06 Springfield,
8mm Mauser, 338/06 A Square, and the 35 Whelen.

Long actions with a bolt face .Dia of .540 +/-
257 Weatherby, 264 Win Mag, 270 weatherby Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm Weatherby Mag, 7 STW,
7mm Rem Ultra Mag, 300 H & H, 300 Win Mag, 300 Weatherby Mag, 300 RUM, 303 Brit,
8mm Rem Mag, 338 Win Mag, 340 Weatherby Mag, 338 RUM, 375 H & H, 375 Weatherby,
375 RUM, 416 Rem Mag, 458 Win Mag, and the 458 Lott.

Long actions with a bolt face .Dia of .585 +/-
30/378 Weatherby, 338 Lapua, 338/378 Weatherby, 378 Weatherby mag, 416 Rigby,
416 Weatherby Mag, 460 Weatherby Mag, and the 470 Nitro Express.

 

[FEENIX]

Mine is a 6.5X284. Long action means magnum caliber where short action is usually anything 3006 or smaller.

FYSA, my .6.5x55 Swede, 30-06, and .270 AI are long actions and are non-magnums. However, my .270 AI with 175 Matrix (2993 FPS MV - accuracy load at the moment) is performing at my friend's factory 7MM Rem Mag Weatherby Accumark performance with factory HSM 180 Berger VLD (chronoed at 2845 FPS MV).

 

[Chugach]

Just buy a tikka or savage and use the left over $$$$ to actually go hunting. You'll learn more about what you want and don't want in a rifle way better in the field than you ever would on the internet. I know the long range sniper shots are really cool and geeking on guns is sweet (I reload and make liberals uncomfortable too) but in all actuality any of the well made off the shelf guns will do the job especially on large targets like elk. Hell with 4k you could buy 2 nice rifles and still have $$ left over to go on a nice hunt. For what it's worth



That's a stock tikka t3 (on a lead sled) in .270 at 100yds. The two random shots are from sighting in my new Zeiss scope. I'm a fan of the on the shelf calibers. Yeah I like to reload but it's nice to know that I can walk into most gas station/mini marts and buy rounds if need be (at least here in Alaska). For my $$$ and here in AK I'd go with a two guns. One in .270 and one in .338. I actually prefer hunting elk, sheep, and caribou with the .270. Lighter gun, less recoil, and cheaper to get good with.