What Caliber for 600yd Whitetail? (New rifle Build)

[VinceMule]

7mm Rem mag, thanks Taylor!

I also did not mention the 175g Nsoler long range accubond. Brother and I found nodes with

R#22 at 2850

R#26 at 3030

Bug hole groups with each. The 175g Nos LRAB likes to be seated no more than .005 off the lands in 5 different 7 mags, we do have to sort the bullets by ogive lengths. These 175g N LRAB really put a lot of shock on deer, great penetration on quartering shots coming and going.

 

[hankle]

My Remington 700(s) factory, with Gentry muzzle break, Boyd's pillar bedded stock, Jewel trigger, barrel free-floated,

140g Nosler ballistic tips shoot 2.5-3" at 600 yards,
140g Nosler BT
Rem brass
9 1/2 primer
bullet seated to just barely touch the lands, not a jam
65.5-66g of IMR 4350
3200 fps plus depending on the barrel
100 yard groups are a bullet hole opened up
Scopes are high power, 6x24 and 8x32

150g Nosler ballistic tips/150g Nosler C/T
Rem brass
WINCHESTER Mag primer
72-73g of R#25, Start your load work up at 68g, SD is less than 9 fps
Bullet just barely touching the lands
3200 fps plus
Groups at 100 are a single bullet hole, opened up
Groups with the 154g Hornady Sp are tiny also
Hint, sort bullets by ogive length, and keep the copper out of your barrel.

Same barrels
168g Berger vld hunting
71g of Retumbo
Fed 215
Rem brass
Play with bullet jump
3050-3100 depending on the barrel, start your load work up at 68g

You will not shoot these small groups IF your barrel is loaded with carbon and copper. My cleaning regiment is down to bare metal every 20 shots to keep these barrels shooting this way. When shooting off of a rifle rest, Hold the forearm down instead of squeezing the rear bag with your left hand.

Sorry, I didn't see what cartridge this data is for? Thanks for the all the info!

 

[hankle]

Sorry, I didn't see what cartridge this data is for? Thanks for the all the info!

Late on the the trigger, I see the 7mm mag now...

 

[memtb]

Given your parameters and the simple fact that you have nothing above .30 caliber…..you really need a quality .338 WM in your stable!

Then you can keep only those that you love to shoot a lot and is good for varmint. One for plinking/varmints and one for all of your hunting! This should simplify your life considerably…..you can thank me later! memtb

 

[Salmonhead]

I'm looking to build a 600yd hunting rifle. I'll be starting with at Rem 700 LA left hand, trued. I'm planning on a 24" bartlein barrel. I'm not scared of wildcats or Ackley Improved either. I reload so, I'll be developing the loads. The current rifle is a 270win, but I'm thinking there is more bang for the buck in LR performance and aftermarket support. Most of my hunting is within 350yds or so, but I'm wanting a reliable option out to 600yds. This will double as range gun for some fun and probably run 2-300rds per year on the high side.

I'm leaning towards a 260rem or 7mm 08 in the LA. These guys not restricted to mag length can be pretty impressive.

I currently load for:
308, 7mm Rem mag, 7mm 08, 270 win, 223
And I have a 6.5 Creedmore on order for my son. We'll be loading for it as well.

Must haves:
-Long Range Support in brass and projectiles, at least in the manufacturing side. I'm not expecting everything to be in stock. (I'm not against fire forming good brass)
-Decent barrel life ~1800-2000rnd minimum
-Enough kinetic energy for deer at 600yds

Would like to haves:
-cross over powders or projectiles to current reloading stock
-Factory ammo options are nice, but not required.
-Something that is powder efficient
-No one ever complains about low recoil...

Feel free to add details of barrel length, twist, reamers, and load data.

Thanks very much for the info!

The 7 mag and 270 you already have do it easily. 308 probably does too, as well as the Creedmoor you have coming. If you just want something new, the 6.5 PRC fits in there. Little more *** than the 260, uses similar powders to 7 rem mag and 270 win, same bullets as the 65CM on its way, recoils little, barrel life should qualify, brass and loaded ammo are readily available (from us of course) and in the field it performs very closely to 7 RM from what Ive witnessed.
We have lots of brass and loaded ammo available.
North American Ammunition Company
616 299 1349
Paul

 

[hankle]

Unless you just want a new rifle (and I can understand that) your .270 Winny is an excellent 600 yard rifle. Given the newer powders and higher BC .277 Bullets ( I use 145gr. ELDX) you have a very flat shooter with enough energy for any WT or Mule Deer.

This rifle never shot great. I put a bedded Bell and Carlson on it, then free floated it. After that, it shot worse. It was around 1.75-2" groups at 100yds. I put one of those hideous limb saver barrel dampeners on it and that got me back to .75-1", which kept me from selling it.. Back in 2016, I did a simple load development with IMR 7828 and 140sst. The best she would do is around 1". We sold the house and man cave where i reloaded, I bought a farm and business, this robbed my shooting and reloading time. I just got everything set back up a couple months ago and I'm back to reading ballistics before bed-LOL

I've got a trued 700sa in 223 with a bartlein that we have dialed in and I'm spoiled with it! I'm consistently getting 5-6" groups at 600yds with it. I want my Hunting rifle to keep up...

Do you have a pet load for your 145eld?

 

[KurtB]

Standard bolt face on current donor would point me to 6.5-284, 6.5-06, or a 280 Remington. #2 contour Hawk Hill in 8 twist for either 6.5 or 7mm. Setup the 280 to shoot 180 eld or 180 scenars. Setup the other two to shoot 140 berger vld. My current lefty 700 is 6.5-284 with a 23" 8 twist Hawk Hill. Love it.

 

[hankle]

Given your parameters and the simple fact that you have nothing above .30 caliber…..you really need a quality .338 WM in your stable!

Then you can keep only those that you love to shoot a lot and is good for varmint. One for plinking/varmints and one for all of your hunting! This should simplify your life considerably…..you can thank me later! memtb

Your wisdom has got me smiling!

 

[biednick]

Most of the cartridges you listed would work well. 223 is a no go at that range. In a short action I'd go 6.5 Creedmoor, but it doesn't make sense in a long action. Same with 308. In your position I'd probably do 7-08 since you already have everything to load for it, it benefits pretty significantly from loading long, and you won't need to change bolt faces.

 

[Another Casual]

No wrong answers on your list. 260AI or 7mm08AI would be a ton of fun, but the dies can be pricey/are harder to find (same issue with an improved 6.5x55). Nothing wrong with a straight 7mm08 either, but I don't seem to find deals as frequently on the projectiles and you can't get SRP brass for it without necking down (I'm running low on large rifle primers). 280AI seems to be gaining in popularity and has some good brass options, even some (expensive) factory ammo. You gain velocity at the expense of recoil, barrel life, and cost per round. Not sure you need the extra speed for deer at the distances you listed. That being said, I've always wanted a 280AI for no particular reason.

 

[hankle]

No wrong answers on your list. 260AI or 7mm08AI would be a ton of fun, but the dies can be pricey/are harder to find (same issue with an improved 6.5x55). Nothing wrong with a straight 7mm08 either, but I don't seem to find deals as frequently on the projectiles and you can't get SRP brass for it without necking down (I'm running low on large rifle primers). 280AI seems to be gaining in popularity and has some good brass options, even some (expensive) factory ammo. You gain velocity at the expense of recoil, barrel life, and cost per round. Not sure you need the extra speed for deer at the distances you listed. That being said, I've always wanted a 280AI for no particular reason.

7mm-08ai has my wheels turning...

Agreed on the 280AI! I kind of wish that I had done that instead of my 7mm mag. The two are close to filling the same gap and the 280ai is more efficient.

 

[30378wbymag]

6.5 PRC, one and done!!! I've always been a .30 cal. dude, .300 Winnie, my big .30 my oldest shoots a 30.06 (deer) .35 Whelen (elk). I got into the 6.5 game with my Grendel (what a SWEET little cartridge), HAMMER coyotes and quite a ways out there! So when my youngest wanted to hunt I gifted him my 300 Winnie and bought a CA ELR in 6.5 PRC and I absolutely love that cartridge, it's a sweetheart to load and shoot, and shoot it does!!! There is a plus as well, same bullets for your sons new rifle!!!

 

[Joejack]

6.5 Sherman 140gr Bergers @3190fps good for more than 600yds

 

[RB II]

280 AI is a very versatile rifle with a fast twist 1-8 or so barrel. Shared bullets with 7 mag. 1-8 twist will easily handle 175 bullets. Very comparable ballistics with the 7 mag. The 280 AI also has the standard sized .470 bolt face, so magnum action/bolt required.

Or just do another 7 mag except fast twist. Same dies, brass, bullets, powder, everything you already have plus the ability to shoot the heavies.
I have a 28 Nosler and when the barrel burns out, 7 mag is a very likely candidate for the re-barrel if I don't go back 28N.