Mauser rebarrel

[ebb]

260 remington

 

[DocDoc]

All BTs are not the same. It is my understanding the 7mm 120 gr was tougher than most.

 

[David Milisock]

Going to have my old 8mm Mauser “98” rebarreled. It does not shoot great now so I am going to do something different.
It is sporterized now with a decent stock and a Tunney trigger.
My goal is to do a nice shooting all around cartridge that my son could also take to the woods when old enough, so recoil is a concern. Something popular so ammo will be easy to find if needed.
My thoughts are either a 7mm-08 or a 308.
My current stable has the following
.223, .243, 26-06, 280ai and a 30-06.

Other suggestions?

A stupid thought would be an 06. I say this as my sister in law shoots one that I load for. I down load 150's for her and it works well. No need for 150's at 3,000 FPS a decent 2,500 FPS load is plenty.

I'd put a 24" or a 26" tube on her, restock for his frame using a recoil reducer pad, then download the cartridgeteachinghim to handle recoil. As he grows you can adjust the stock, the rifle can then be loaded up to elk or bear and he has a rifle dad gave him all his life.

I have a handgun that was my dad's and it's very special.

 

[Sean1]

I was wondering where the "fragile" issue is coming from with the Ballistic Tips?
I have yet to recover one from a deer.
Even my 257 Roberts with the 100gr BT leaves an exit hole.
And i've heard of people taking elk with the 120gr 7mm BT.
I know that a 140gr BT out of a 280 Rem will give a pass through on a 250lb bear at 172 yards.

As for a pass down rifle, with my daughter, step son, grand daughter, grand son, if they don't want to learn to reload so they can shoot a given rifle, then it's on them.

Rarely have had an exit hole with a 150gr out of a 30-06.

 

[David Milisock]

Rarely have had an exit hole with a 150gr out of a 30-06.

Are you hitting the shoulder? My sister-in-law gets exits wounds with 150 Hornady round noses most times but the range is usually within 100 or less.

 

[DGP4]

I agree with the 30-06 using lighter loads. It is a very flexible cartridge that can shoot anything from 110 grain to 220 grain bullets. With H4895 you can do 60% loads that will recoil lighter than a .243.

 

[SBS]

The problem with .30-06 in a military 98 is the length. Factory ammo is too long for the magazine box on most 98's. That means either seating the bullet deeper (handloading) or finding a commercial t/g made for the .30-06 length and milling the feed ramp farther forward to match the longer box. OP wanted a caliber that factory ammo would work in the action.

 

[DGP4]

I have a Mauser 98 actioned sporter with a .270 WIN Douglas barrel that shoots lights out and loading the cartridge is not a problem. Feeds perfectly with both factory ammo and my hand loads. I can set the bullets out quite far without any loading problems.

 

[Sean1]

Are you hitting the shoulder? My sister-in-law gets exits wounds with 150 Hornady round noses most times but the range is usually within 100 or less.

Not normally. I actually wonder if the Ballistic Tip didn’t undergo a change in construction through the years. My experience was from 20-25 years ago. Curious if they beefed up the jackets on them since then.

 

[Sean1]

The problem with .30-06 in a military 98 is the length. Factory ammo is too long for the magazine box on most 98's. That means either seating the bullet deeper (handloading) or finding a commercial t/g made for the .30-06 length and milling the feed ramp farther forward to match the longer box. OP wanted a caliber that factory ammo would work in the action.

My concern as well. Part of the reason I am thinking about a short action. Plus I already have an 06.

 

[Twicepop]

How about t

Going to have my old 8mm Mauser “98” rebarreled. It does not shoot great now so I am going to do something different.
It is sporterized now with a decent stock and a Tunney trigger.
My goal is to do a nice shooting all around cartridge that my son could also take to the woods when old enough, so recoil is a concern. Something popular so ammo will be easy to find if needed.
My thoughts are either a 7mm-08 or a 308.
My current stable has the following
.223, .243, 26-06, 280ai and a 30-06.

Other suggestions?

How about the 6MM Remington, the same basic length as an 8MM Mauser and body taper also, so no feed rail modifications should be needed. It will do everything the ,243 WIN will do and a little better by about 100-150 FPS. It doesn't burn throats as bad as the .243 and recoil shouldn't be a problem either.

 

[ronemus]

Rather than the 7-08, I'd recommend the .284 Win; it works very well in the mid-length '98 action. Mine easily shoots half MOA (it's my Competition rifle for NRA Long Range). The .284 has just enough room in the case to make good velocities with heavy bullets; I like the Hornady 162 A-Max or 154 Interbond at 2900+ fps for paper or game, respectively. The '98 magazine lets me seat those long bullets out enough to leave room for powder. I think the .284 is very efficient - a magnum case in 7 mm takes a lot more powder for not much velocity gained and shortens barrel life dramatically.

 

[Sean1]

How about t

How about the 6MM Remington, the same basic length as an 8MM Mauser and body taper also, so no feed rail modifications should be needed. It will do everything the ,243 WIN will do and a little better by about 100-150 FPS. It doesn't burn throats as bad as the .243 and recoil shouldn't be a problem either.

I here you but my concern will be availability of 6mm ammo.