which caliber ?

[Beluebow]

I agree with some of the other posters on the 6.5 whatever. The lowly old 243 and Winchester brass is gonna be a dang cheap combo.

 

[akdad]

if you reload a factor may be if you can get small primer brass. Is nice to be able to use either primer sometimes.

 

[Catbrain]

been loading for and shooting 308 (mostly) for about 20 years and some 223. Have not tried any 308 beyond 180 gr noslers. They are one hole at 100 through the savage. I limit the M1a to 150 and 165gr- but with 150 gr A-max or nosler I can get about 1/2 moa on a good day. (the previous owner was an elderly bench rest shooter who accurized it )

what would be considered "heavy for caliber " in 308 or 30-06 ? Higher than 180 ?
I think some of the ww1 era bolt guns were throated for 220 gr round nose..... I will have to research to see if springfiels went with a shorter throat before WW2 when they started using 150 gr bullets.

Heavy 308 would not be going all that fast- but it would get there --- prob 30-06 would do a bit better heavy---

 

[Catbrain]

belue----
can you lengthen the throat on a 243 barrel and still get
the long rounds in a box mag ? I think 243 is an under rated round---

 

[huntinghuasna]

6.5 Creedmoor easily gets my vote.

I reload for many rifles and the 6.5CM hits the easy button. That cartridge is inherently accurate and very efficient. You'll have mild recoil, long barrel life, plethora of loaded ammo choices, and lots of reloading options with very long brass life. My 6.5CM hits transonic @ ~1,260 yards, I've taken it out further. Reliable accuracy out to 1,260 is more than plenty for most, take paper at further distances and limit distance on small critters based on your ability. I have a few different rifles/loads and with my 124g Hammer Hunter load I'd feel comfortable with bullet performance out to 550 yards on deer.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

I'm really enjoying, my New, 6.5 Creed Tikka,..
I shoot the accurate and Low Recoiling,. 130 gr. ELD-M's ( .553 BC ) for, Steel Practice / Predators and, the Deadly, 143 gr. ELD-X's @ 2,700+ FPS for,.. Bigger Game.

 

[Mike D Texas]

thanks---
wont be doing supressor--- too much red tape ect.
will research 6.5x47 and 6.5x284 and re-look at the
creed. PRC brass is over 2$ each- and mostly not in stock. 270WSM is about the same and not in stock.
the creed does have way less expensive brass. Usually when something is that popular- there is a reason.

Well in the case of the Creedmor it's excellent marketing.

 

[Catbrain]

sounds like the 65 creed is like the v8 mustang.
don't mess with success......
super to 1200 and doesnt burn barrels----
and cheap to feed---- that sews it up pretty well for me---

 

[dug]

A bolt gun build was mentioned and if your going to handload for it , the 260 rem is a lil more horsepower, without going to a long action ,extended magazine box will accommodate the better BC bullet offerings .

 

[Catbrain]

shot a friend's once on the bench but dont remember anything but recoil
I will look up balistics of that and compare to 6-5
and see how it fares- and if brass is available.
if its a 308 parent case--- it should be just a bit faster than 7mm-08 ----since its a bit smaller.

 

[Rflshootr]

243 Win on a long action.
6mm Berger 95's, 105's or 115 VLDs.
Easily a 600 yard gun with lower recoil.

 

[Catbrain]

my 308's will go to 600. Even my 223 will probably get there in some fashon.
Like to be supersonic to past 1000 ----i think 6.5 creed is super to 1200 - give or take--- if I remember right.
So far 6.5 creed is the frontrunner. (not doing moose )
Probably gongs, coyotes and maybe a deer.
im not especially recoil sensitive- but less is better in general I suppose ! 300 winmag would be my limit for "fun" purposes. Hunting only could be more where you dont shoot too many shots. I remember 243 being VERY loud-
but easy recoil. (seemed to me at the time way louder than 223- but I was only 14 then- what did I know-)

 

[Rflshootr]

my 308's will go to 600. Even my 223 will probably get there in some fashon.
Like to be supersonic to past 1000 ----i think 6.5 creed is super to 1200 - give or take--- if I remember right.
So far 6.5 creed is the frontrunner. (not doing moose )
Probably gongs, coyotes and maybe a deer.
im not especially recoil sensitive- but less is better in general I suppose ! 300 winmag would be my limit for "fun" purposes. Hunting only could be more where you dont shoot too many shots. I remember 243 being VERY loud-
but easy recoil. (seemed to me at the time way louder than 223- but I was only 14 then- what did I know-)

You think a 6mm won't? Here is a range card for the little 95VLD hunting Right from Berger's calculator....

Input Parameters
Bullet Diameter	0.243 inches	Zero Range	200 yards
Bullet Weight	95 grains	Sight Height	1.65 in
Ballistic Coefficient	0.239	Muzzle Velocity	3100 fps
Temperature	59 F	Wind Speed	5.00 mph
Altitude	500 feet	Wind Direction	9 o'clock
Inclination	0 degrees	Berger Bullets	Copyright 2013

Range Card
Range (y)	Velocity (fps)	Energy (ft-lbs)	Elevation (moa)	Windage (moa)	TOF (s)
0​	3100​	2028​	0.00​	0.00​	0.00​
100​	2901​	1775​	1.19​	0.30​	0.10​
200​	2707​	1546​	-0.00​	0.60​	0.21​
300​	2521​	1341​	-1.91​	0.91​	0.32​
400​	2342​	1157​	-4.18​	1.25​	0.44​
500​	2171​	994​	-6.75​	1.62​	0.58​
600​	2007​	849​	-9.64​	2.01​	0.72​
700​	1849​	721​	-12.89​	2.44​	0.88​
800​	1698​	608​	-16.54​	2.90​	1.05​
900​	1552​	508​	-20.66​	3.40​	1.23​
1000​	1413​	421​	-25.35​	3.96​	1.43​
1100​	1280​	346​	-30.69​	4.57​	1.65​
1200​	1155​	282​	-36.85​	5.24​	1.90​
1300​	1063​	238​	-43.96​	5.98​	2.17​
1400​	1015​	217​	-52.15​	6.71​	2.46​

...and it just gets better with the 105's....

Input Parameters
Bullet Diameter	0.243 inches	Zero Range	200 yards
Bullet Weight	105 grains	Sight Height	1.65 in
Ballistic Coefficient	0.278	Muzzle Velocity	3000 fps
Temperature	59 F	Wind Speed	5.00 mph
Altitude	500 feet	Wind Direction	9 o'clock
Inclination	0 degrees	Berger Bullets	Copyright 2013

Range Card
Range (y)	Velocity (fps)	Energy (ft-lbs)	Elevation (moa)	Windage (moa)	TOF (s)
0​	3000​	2099​	0.00​	0.00​	0.00​
100​	2831​	1869​	1.28​	0.27​	0.10​
200​	2666​	1658​	-0.00​	0.54​	0.21​
300​	2507​	1466​	-1.99​	0.81​	0.33​
400​	2353​	1292​	-4.30​	1.11​	0.45​
500​	2205​	1134​	-6.89​	1.43​	0.58​
600​	2063​	992​	-9.76​	1.76​	0.72​
700​	1925​	864​	-12.92​	2.12​	0.87​
800​	1792​	749​	-16.41​	2.51​	1.03​
900​	1664​	646​	-20.28​	2.92​	1.21​
1000​	1540​	553​	-24.58​	3.37​	1.39​
1100​	1420​	470​	-29.37​	3.85​	1.60​
1200​	1305​	397​	-34.73​	4.38​	1.82​
1300​	1196​	333​	-40.78​	4.95​	2.06​
1400​	1098​	281​	-47.62​	5.57​	2.32​

But don't take my word for it.....do some research. Look at some 1000 yard benchrest match scores and groups where they shoot a little itzy bitzy teeny weenie 6mm BR's.

Sunday GunDay: The Rifle that Shot Smallest 1K Group in History « Daily Bulletin

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

 

[Radman]

I am just starting to consider building a longer range gun---may 600
to 1000 for plinking and maybe coyote. Thinking of a Precision aero
receiver (bolt action) as I like its features and its reasonably priced.
Thinking of a long but fat fluted barrel (all steel) maybe 26-28 with
maybe a sound mitigation device (they work well)

I shoot 308 and 223 mostly. I think I need a higher BC than 308 will give me. I am tinkering with 60 gr V-max in 223 but I know that will be weak past 600. I am leaning towards something in 6mm or 6.5 or 7mm. I think I like 6.6 PRC but I dont like the brass prices. Like a little umph that 6.5 creed. there is 243Win, 7mm-08, 260rem and 280 rem, there is 270 win. Like to have something I can get inexpensive new brass for --- and something that will take the long, high BC bullets. Like to keep the reciol down to 308 win levels or less. Dont want a barrel burner either.

and considering the "Old" calibers--- can I just have my barrel
cut with a longer leade to accommodate the newer High BC bullets ? or it there more to it than that. ( I'd like it to be box magazine fed too- BTW) Would that mean going to a medium action and mag so my longer OAL will fit into a magazine ?

Im sure many of you have asked these same questions----
Thanks ahead of time for your thoughts.....
Tim

In "the old calibers" I'm a long-range fan of the .270. Great long-range accuracy, plenty of umph, not a lot of factory ammo choices. Lots of choices out there.