What rifle would you build?

[X'n Tex'n]

Just to add another option, that's the 300 mega on right, followed by 7max, 6.5ss and 6br, lol. Sent to my son yesterday as a guessing game. The 300 mega has the 215 hybrid seated long (long action reamer). Bullet .025 off lands. Base of bullet slightly above neck/shoulder junction. Finished rifle yesterday so I don't have any load data. Starting with 62gr h4350. Already fireformed; I have another barrel for that.

Barrel is 18" krieger 1:9.5. Christensen Modern Precision Rifle chassis (the right folding and weight piqued my interest), Curtis Valor long action...

 

[William W.]

Interested in hearing what folks say. I also hunt in Texas and ordered a 18" 308 barrel to use this upcoming season. I plan to shoot the 168 accubond long range out of it because I have a large supply. I'm hoping to get at least 2650 and if I do that will still be going 1775 at 600 yards where I hunt. I was able to hit 2615 with that bullet in my 16" 308 so think it's doable.

This is my 20” 308 from which I shoot 180 Nosler BT and Accubonds against TN Deer. Per my Magneto-Speed chronograph, I get 2596 fps from the former with 45.5-grains of VVN550. I use Southern Precision for most of my rifle work, now.

If I were after Pronghorn at range, I would use its cousin in 300 Win Magnum with Accubond 210’s.p (which was a thin-barreled Walmart Remington 700 until a friend swapped-in an old 300WM 5R barrel which miraculously fit back into my pillar bedding as he carefully indexed the recoil lug).

In its 7mm form, I shot my best TN deer that I called-in on public land

 

[HandgunHTR]

What reamer did you use on the 338 Mega, I know there are two different free bore options.
Thanks

I used the .270 FB reamer so that I could load heavier bullets if I wanted to. Still get amazing accuracy from the 225s though.

 

[Turpentine21]

I would like to build a 6.5-06

I built one last year and really like it. Book loads are very anemic for it but if you have enough barrel length and work up carefully with the right powder you can make it sing for sure.

 

[Muledeerhuntingfreak]

Interested in getting ideas from the crowd for a rifle build for the 2025 hunting season.
Intended use is mostly Whitetails in TX and pronghorn if the gods of the draw allow it.
Distance: 600 and in.
Desired Barrel length: 18 inches to shoot suppressed
Desired muzzle velocity: 2800-2900 or faster.
Desired bullets: any heavy x caliber cup&core bullet, Berger, ELDs and the like. I’d leave monometal bullets out of the equation here.
Thanks

The only way you're going to push something like that would be with a 300 Win Mag with those speeds I can't get that out of my 270 I can't get that out of my 7M Rem Mag I reload all the time 150 grain eldx bullet the fastest I can get out of it with accuracy is 2660 with H4831sc I can get faster but with less accuracy it's all over the paper

 

[Turpentine21]

18” barrel with a velocity > 2800? You are asking for a short action with a low grain and poor BC bullet…. Not sure I can recommend a setup that will be an efficient killer given the parameters.

Although I’m certain someone will argue with me about this…. It will be the same guy who shoots bull elk with a 6.5 CM.

With that said, I have killed Mule Deer and Cow Elk at 500 yards with a 16” 308 shooting 168s and 178s. With an 18” or 20” barrel I bet you can get 2575 - 2600 FPS without having to go to a lower grain bullet.

I'll second what you said. With a 20" barrel on my 7.62 x 51 chambered DPMS g2 I get 2625 confirmed by drops on the range with AR Comp and 168 AMAX. That's with no pressure signs and Winchester brass and I'm not going any higher. I can drop 1.4 grains less with LC 85 Match or LC 67 Match brass and get 2620. A stiff load of Varget runs 2740 with the 168eldm in my 26" barreled 700. With an 18" barrel I would think the exact same numbers you mention, 2575-2600.

 

[southpa]

Necking down a 7PRC?

Or are you talking about the 7-6.5 PRC, more commonly known as the 7 PRCW?

6.5-7prc. So yes necking down a 7prc. I'm sure the 7-6.5prc (7prcw) is fairly popular but the 6.5prc already gives less than desirable velocities with 156s in my opinion. I see no need to neck it up to shoot a bigger bullet. I'm no fan of the 6.5s or PRCs in any flavor but if I was gonna dabble with a 6.5 the 6.5-7prc would interest me depending on what it does. I think it's an interesting combo.

 

[akmtnhnt]

The only way you're going to push something like that would be with a 300 Win Mag with those speeds I can't get that out of my 270 I can't get that out of my 7M Rem Mag I reload all the time 150 grain eldx bullet the fastest I can get out of it with accuracy is 2660 with H4831sc I can get faster but with less accuracy it's all over the paper

Then you have issues. All kinds of cartridges do what he's asking that are nowhere near a 300wm.

 

[Turpentine21]

Phil, not at all. The heavy for caliber bullets in both 22 and 6mm caliber perform exceptionally well, even when hitting heavy bone or having to travel into the chest cavity. There are plenty of posts on various forums of necropsy photos taken by people who have shot animals up to and including elk with 22 and 6mm bullets at various impact speeds and angles. I highly encourage you to check them out. I have taken quite a few animals (whitetails, axis, blackbuck, hogs, black bears) with a 105 grain 6.5 mm bullet out of a 6.5 Grendel case. Distances were from 20 to 525 yards. Angles from perfect broadside to heavily quartering towards and away. Every one of them died quickly.

Bullets have come a very long way, even since the 90s, so some of the "absolute truths" out there no longer apply.

Not to say I don't like the thumpers. I just built and am having a blast shooting my 338 Mega. But I fully realize it isn't necessary for the type of hunting that I do. It doesn't make it less fun though. It also isn't the gun I am pulling out if I want to shoot a whitetail, pronghorn, or black bear.

I can say I've seen my Grendel AR do some amazing things out to 450 yards with a 123 eldm. I take mostly shoulder shots. Most of the deer I shoot with that combination just drop. Which I never would have believed unless I saw it myself. As the Grendel with thermal is my main depredation gun I have racked up a lot of kills with it. But, I'm talking 95-100 pound does and hogs up to 275#. My son has a Korean K2 in 5.56 I've been tempted to let him try out and be the Guinea pig but i'm limited to mag length which would likely keep me in the 69-75 grain range. If I were actually hunting big bucks however I'd be more inclined and confident to remain at 6.5 caliber and up.

 

[JAYgs8163]

The only way you're going to push something like that would be with a 300 Win Mag with those speeds I can't get that out of my 270 I can't get that out of my 7M Rem Mag I reload all the time 150 grain eldx bullet the fastest I can get out of it with accuracy is 2660 with H4831sc I can get faster but with less accuracy it's all over the paper

Here’s a 18” Proof 9 twist 308 barrel with a 168 and 46 grains of Varget. It’s actually pretty easy to get there. This is a SwissP bullet made by Norma and used by their Military. Super accurate.
5shot group

 

[Baylor243]

With a suppressed short barrel on mid-range, midsized ungulates.....I'd look no further than a 7mm08 and 140gr loads.

Sad but true...It'll kill 'em all.