What rifle would you build?

[Rodbolt]

I'd do a 7-08, increase barrel length 2" and shoot 160ish grain bullets.

 

[Turpentine21]

I'm definitely old school. 6.5-06 or it's AI version would do what you want to do. Plus brass is very easy to find. I love my 6.5-06 but I run 140s and 147s from a 26" barrel.

 

[Mike D Texas]

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

Easy button - 6 Creed. Texas whitetail aren't hard to kill at all.

If you just want more horsepower, 6 SAUM.

No need to get bougie with the parameters you laid out.

 

[haisardao]

Easy button - 6 Creed. Texas whitetail aren't hard to kill at all.

If you just want more horsepower, 6 SAUM.

No need to get bougie with the parameters you laid out.

I happen to have a 6 SAUM reamer right here, waiting for a Hart barrel to arrive, might just need to make it a shorty!

 

[lancetkenyon]

Looks amazing, I shoot a 25 SST but get nowhere near that speed from a 26 inch barrel. Are you using 6.5 PRC/SI dies? Thanks

I have a 26" 25SST. 133s @ 3240fps w. H1000 in a well broken in barrel.

This 25PRC/SI has 74 rounds down the barrel so far.

Using my 6.5PRC/SI bushing FL die, just swapped to a .285 bushing.

 

[FEENIX]

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

This depends on whether you are trying to fill a gap. I hesitated to respond when you first posted because I did not know what you had in your inventory.

 

[haisardao]

I have a 26" 25SST. 133s @ 3240fps w. H1000 in a well broken in barrel.

This 25PRC/SI has 74 rounds down the barrel so far.

Using my 6.5PRC/SI bushing FL die, just swapped to a .285 bushing.

Mine is around 100 fps slower, I'm at 3110 with 135 LRHT and H1000(59), I am right at 102 rounds through my barrel so it might speed up a bit.

 

[haisardao]

This depends on whether you are trying to fill a gap. I hesitated to respond when you first posted because I did not know what you had in your inventory.

Thanks, yes, Gap filling would be the rational approach, but I am past the point of salvation in that regard. Just looking for a new fun project>
H

 

[FEENIX]

Thanks, yes, Gap filling would be the rational approach, but I am past the point of salvation in that regard. Just looking for a new fun project>
H

I know what you mean. I never had a .25 cal or owned a Weatherby cartridge. I am not a fan of a proprietary cartridge, but I caved in and went with a .257 Weatherby. It is a 22" 1:7" suppressed. I am propelling the 163 Chinchaga at 2915 FPS out of it with still room to spare. So, a 133/135 Berger out of 18" would meet/exceed your FPS goal. Good luck and happy, safe shooting/hunting.

 

[Aoudad shooter1975]

I know what you mean. I never had a .25 cal or owned a Weatherby cartridge. I am not a fan of a proprietary cartridge, but I caved in and went with a .257 Weatherby. It is a 22" 1:7" suppressed. I am propelling the 163 Chinchaga out of it with still room to spare. So, a 133/135 Berger out of 18" would meet/exceed your FPS goal. Good luck and happy, safe shooting/hunting.

I have been a 257 wby Uber fan -- got my first one when I was 19 and 29 years latter still have two in the safe. I swore off wildcats about 15 years ago--I have been really watching hoping someone would commercialize a 25-6.8 western or a 25-7 PRC--I'd prefer the shorter so I could maximize a good burn in a short tube, and the fast twist and heavy bullets cases would work perfect. Love using suppressors--and for Texas 25s are the perfect do all...

 

[Coldfinger]

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

6 prcsi has got me chewing on a rechamber and new bolt! Thanks LanceK

 

[Coldfinger]

22 creed 1-7.5 twist 88 grain VLD

You won't hate it...

^^^^^^^^^

 

[lancetkenyon]

22 creed 1-7.5 twist 88 grain VLD

You won't hate it...

I am assuming you mean 88 ELD-M?
Or 90 VLD?

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

Go with a .257 or 6.5mm and would have at least 20"-22".