how do you plan a long range HUNTING rifle

mr.big

mr.big

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do you build it around a bullet that you want to use,or build the rifle and use what it likes,
I have a Rem 700 LA standard,700 LA Magnum,700LA Ultra Magnum,and a Model 7 Magnum action and a Model 7 standard action.and A 700 SA with standard bolt.

I like the Classic Wood stock or a BDL with a satin finish,I would like balistics of the 300RUM but can get by with a lot less ft lbs energy,,

any AB at .588 BC and 3200 fps or other combinations that achieve the same balistics without the recoil and 60 rounds a pound is what I want.

25-300 Win Mag with the 110 AB looks tempting.
270 Dakota with 140 AB doesnt look shabby
6mm-06 or 6-284 with the 117 Tubb Bullet may be how it goes

but I hear Nosler is working on a 175-180 7mm AB and the 7mm Claunch could get the nod then.

a 130 25 cal AB would make it a no brainer,,the 300 Win Mag necked to 25 firing 130 AB with BC`s in the high 5`s at 33-3400 would be the real deal.

it looks like Nicole is getting a full ride at UT Martin next year and if that happens I am doing something with that RUM,its just about too much to handle.

it will be a light varmint type gun made to be hunted from blinds with rests and have a 28-30 inch bbl and more than likely a 4.5-14 Ziess or a 5.5-16 Nikon.
 
The BC requirements, with currently made Accubonds only offers the 200 grain 30 caliber.

I`d look to where I am looking and check out the Hornady A-Max line. The 7mm 162 has .625 BC.

Outside them Berger offers their VLD line as a hunting bullet now, and the 6.5 130 grain with .595 BC is in the requirement bracket.

That one would be the most pleasant to shoot, and easily driven to the 3200 fps requirement out of the 264 Win Mag.

Keeping in mind how much you shoot, I`d opt for the mildest round that meet the criteria, and a cut rifled barrel, to insure the longest possible barrel life.

I`d personally opt for the 162 A Max. The Claunch (as you said) will also do 3200+ nicely, as would a couple other 7mm cats in the safe.

A custom 7mm STW set up for 162 A Max bullets would be hard not to go with.

7mm 162 A-Max, 168, 180 Berger
6.5 140 A Max. 130, 140 Berger
 
Mr Big,

It all depends on your definition of 'long range hunting' on how to build your gun.

First you need to decide on what animals you want to hunt (so you'll know the minimum ft-lbs of energy needed at the distance you'll be hunting). No brainer you'll need to go with the bigger calibers for elk, and can get by with smaller stuff for varmits.

Next you need to set realistic expectations of just how far you actually plan on hunting/shooting. Is 'long range' 300-500 yards? If so, BC is fairly irrelevant. Is it 500-700? Pretty much anything around .5-.6 would be just fine. 1000 yards? Need to think really hard about the extremely heavy for caliber bullets by custom manufacturers (wildcat bullets, etc).

Once you know your realistic range expectations, you can then build the rifle. Just pick anything you want in any configuration for 500 and in, but obviously you'll actually need to pick a bullet and build the rifle around it if you're wanting the most extreme efficiency (ie, long throating the rifle to increase capacity, building a short mag or a .284 win case on a long action to improve capacity).

I'm probably planning something similar to you for my next build. Something up to deer sized game in an 8-9lb rig good to 500-600 yards with little recoil. In my mind, I'm leaning towards the 257 WSM or 6.5 WSM as I've got an extra s/s 700 action laying around with the WSM bolt face. Probably a #3 or #4(fluted) barrel. I've got to figure out how much case capacity the 140 6.5 bullets will take up, but I think they'll be fine.
 
I could probably get by with .5 BC if I could get it on up to 3400,around 750 is as far as I can practice reasonably so that will be my limit,I got a 500 yard rang here and Ronnie has a pretty flat 800 at his house.

I would rather stay away from the match bullets and stick with the Sierra SBTGK or the AB bullet,,I doubt ever being able to hunt anything bigger than mulies,so a 6.5 140 should work,,I was lookin at stuff last night and the 6.5-06AI looks interseting from a 28 inch bbl.
 
the 6.5 bullet shouldn`t take up any space in a long action WSM if made right should it,that is one of my options also the 6.5 WSM in a long action.
 
you think there would be a BIG improvement going WSM over the 06AI case in the field using 130 gr bullets??
 
The 6.5 WSM built in a long action would not lose any case capacity due to magazine length, but you would lose 2 or 3 rounds in the mag well versus the 6.5-06, and that is something to consider!

Now, if you can build the 6.5 WSM on a short action, still seat the big bullets out far enough to preserve case capacity, but fit in the mag box, well, heck, to me seems hard to beat

A reasonable expectation would be around 3250 fps for the 140's and prolly 3350 for the 130's out of the WSM parent case on a 24 inch tube... you may very well be able to get 3500 fps on a 28" tube with the 130's.

Of course, you always have to take into consideration all the 1000 yard BR guys who have gone with the 6.5-284... There's gotta be something special about the 6.5 bullet!
 
Hate to muddy the waters any more, but a short mag and a 6.5 bore tells me to tell you to neck down the 300 Saum.

It would fit much better in a S/A and the case size would be spiffy to boot. Nosler brass available.

The 30 vs 35 degree shoulder would feed better too. Heck I might have to do that one.

My shooting buddy and me were discussing this very possibility today at the range.

Something else to ponder.
 
I would rather use the long action,it is what I was raised on and it just feels better to me and it will be easier to get everything to work in.

the 280AI case necked to 6.5 should scare 3200 with 130-40 gr bullets from a 28 inch bbl.

a 270 Win will get over 3100 with 130`s.
 
If I am planning a long range rig for the up coming season I'll look for a gun with a heavy 24-26" barrel in .308 or any similar 7mm or .30 magnum then find a load it likes and ofcourse top it with a big target scope :grin:
 
Definately go the efficient (sp) route.

Excuse my spelling.

I wonder if a bushing swap in an FL, S-Type Redding die would get a guy a 6.5 Shamu going?
 
sooo many options,,I am looking to get the highest Bc in the smallest bore that will go fast enough for 700 yard shots without it being so overbore it wont last 500 rounds,,I am convinced it will be some case with about 65 or so grs case capacity in 6.5 or 75 grs in 7mm.with the early edge going to the 6.5,,the 6mm-06 with the 117 Tubb bullet is not out either.kinda worried about bbl life on that one though.

if I was Building it today ,I would start with my Blue Steel 700 standard long action,with the Jewel trigger,send it to whoever does Tims Bench Guns and tell them I want whatever bbl they recomend as BEST,to be finished at 28 inches,and chambered for the 280 AI case necked to 6.5 throated so the 130 AB would stop just out front of the donut and be .005 short of the rifilings,the bbl would be a tad lighter than the Rem varmint probably .700 at the muzzle,the stock I would love to be wood but will go with a McMillian more than likely,the mounts would be Leupold MK4,and the scope a 5.5-16 Nightforce,then send the whole thing off and have it finished like PMC`s Whisper.

that should shoot a heavy enough bullet with a high enough SD to kill at range and a high enough BC fast enough to hit at range and the rig should be accurate enough to leave the blame to the nut behind the trigger.
 
TiminTN said:
Definately go the efficient (sp) route.

Excuse my spelling.

I wonder if a bushing swap in an FL, S-Type Redding die would get a guy a 6.5 Shamu going?
Click to expand...

if you started with the 7mm case it should,,the 6.5 RSAUM and the 280AI case would be near the same capacity wouldnt they??

I have a M7 300RSAUM I got in a trade I havent shot but the other one I had didn`t feed and only held 2+1 while the 700 SA may handle it better.
 
That would get it done nicely.

My smith builds all my stuff, not just the bench guns, and is a super guy. I can tell you he will recommend Krieger or Bartlein.

I have had such great luck with Krieger, I see no need to change. I ordered 2 more a month or so ago, for the bench guns.

I have a 6 Dasher reamer needs using.

The fun is the planning and it will drive you crazy waiting.
If/when you decide something definate, a reamer order will be necessary.

I can assist you with that, and I use a guy he recommended for that. It is a lengthy process so I`d get things going asap.

Reamer prices will run around the $200.00 mark, and take a few months.

No money down, as this is a prince of a guy as well.
 
You added another post I missed, the Saum and the 280AI cases seem to be very similar.
I`d use a 700 S/A and do a Wyatts modification. I have extra followers made special for the Wyatts box, I`d let you have 1.

The Wyatts box is a deal maker. You ought to see how this looks.
I am not saying it is better than your idea at all, just another option.
 

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