What short action caliber??

[remingtonman_25_06]

I was just thinking of a short action cartridge that would be good for hunting deer and coyotes say out to 800 yards or so. I would think the 7-08 or 308 would be capable with the VLD bullets. I was thinking of the 162g amax in the 7-08 at 2700fps, or the 168g in the 308 at 2750fps. Your thoughts??

 

[Guest]

If it were me and those were the two choices I'd go with the 7-08 w/ 162 AMAX hands down.
Better BC with the AMAX equals more energy, less drift and flatter trajectory.
Wayne aka WAMBO

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Who makes a decent factory heavy barreled rifle with at least a 24" tube in a 7-08?? I was running the ballistics and it looks like the 7-08 does beat the 308 in every category /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Geezer]

You'd get more motor, but less magazine capacity, out of a 270 or 300WSM.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Thats a little more HP then I want.

 

[Supermag]

Remington has a 700 CDL in 7-08 with a 24" tube.

Personally, I would say get a 700 VSF in 308 caliber for longer range shooting. The 168 grain match bullets will work great for most things out to that range in with the 308.

 

[James Jones]

Run the ballistics on the 175gr bullets out of the 308 at 2650-2700fps.

I asked the same question a while back and I ended up building a 260 Rem

 

[Michael Eichele]

Most that know me know that I am a very big 308 fan. 708's are great too, but in these medium calibers its best to stick to a much more narrow spectrum of bullets for optimum performance. The 162 AMAX is an awesome bullet, by far about the best choice for the 708 and deer but you had better hope that bullet shoots well in your 708. For me, 1 choice is not good enough.

If you should go with the 308, stay away from the 168 for beyond 300 yard hunting. The 155, 178 AMAX and the 175 SMK as well as the 190 SMK are awesome 1000 yard performers. I have a 190 SMK load that delivers 2657 FPS, has over 1000 pounds of energy at 700 yards and only drops 112" from a 300 yard zero. I also get 35" of drift for a 10 MPH wind also. This load is VERY hard to beat, esspecially when it averages 0.5 MOA at 1K.

Good luck!

 

[Coyboy]

Go with the 260 and the 140 a-max. With my AI and this bullet I have killed 2 mulie bucks, 2 whitail doe, and a whitail buck. Shortest was 275, with 2 over 600, all one shot kills.