Well, on the fence here! This will be a new build, custom action and barrel, really want to do it once! and will be 30cal. It's my catch all, moose, caribou and interior grizzly bear rifle. I have a somewhat dedicated 7mm for sheep. Bear is typically a given, they will move onto a kill remains, just depends if you want to target them and how long you have to hunt. My bear this year took two days to show up, last night of hunt. Shots for bear always limited to 200 or so, just saying...Also have a couple 375's, which have a place no doubt, but not focus here,
General purpose rifle, and max range would really be limited to 500-600 yards, not wanting to start LR hunting discussion, just stating max ranges expected, and ranges I shoot to regularly at paper too,
My current pet rifle is a 300wm, but wears a brake, but also weighs 8 pounds, looking to go into the 9-9 1/2 range, shot a bit unbraked with a different 300, okay but at top end at this rifle weight for me.
pros on the 300wm, just flatter all around,(200 yard zero) 3 inches or so at 300, 7 at 400 and a full 12 or so at 500. (general drops)
pros on 30/06, less recoil, lapua brass, only giving up above trajectory, and giving up less in windage, just 3-4 inches at 500, 62-65 load charge, vs 69-72, no belt? not that I've really had issues
Cons on the 300wm, recoil really, unbraked. but could load down to the 2900 or so, range with the 180. Brass, well its just not lapua
Cons on 30/06, not a laser, but we are dialing for shots over 290 or so anyway? or at least I do, Does not give up a ton of windage though. Maybe not a con but don't mind a 25-26 barrel, not sure where that puts me at velocity)
Have not found a good "tweener", again, just going off nosler load data, but the 30/06 with 180's is averaging 2700, the 300wm is at 3000. Where is the 180 at 2850??
While not a deal breaker, my smith has a .336 reamer for the 300wm, gives me the chance to clean necks, they only have a .340 for the 30/06. Not saying I can't buy a reamer, but again, is some extra cost and another variable.
On the tweeners, looking at the 30/06 improved. I reload 100% of my ammo, so that's not an issue but have to give some barrel life to fire forming. And smith does not have reamer so buying one to go this route, and have not looked into dies....
My seasons are closed, already looking to next year! love to get some thoughts, a kind of, what would you do opinions. Have some time issues, need to give a bolt face to builder to get things going
On a side note, whats the thoughts on a 11 twist? Shooting 180-200 grainers? The 12 gets the vote from the bullet makers, but Remington standard twist is 10, assuming because they also want fellas to be able to shoot 165 on 150's too.
All thoughts, opinions welcome!
General purpose rifle, and max range would really be limited to 500-600 yards, not wanting to start LR hunting discussion, just stating max ranges expected, and ranges I shoot to regularly at paper too,
My current pet rifle is a 300wm, but wears a brake, but also weighs 8 pounds, looking to go into the 9-9 1/2 range, shot a bit unbraked with a different 300, okay but at top end at this rifle weight for me.
pros on the 300wm, just flatter all around,(200 yard zero) 3 inches or so at 300, 7 at 400 and a full 12 or so at 500. (general drops)
pros on 30/06, less recoil, lapua brass, only giving up above trajectory, and giving up less in windage, just 3-4 inches at 500, 62-65 load charge, vs 69-72, no belt? not that I've really had issues
Cons on the 300wm, recoil really, unbraked. but could load down to the 2900 or so, range with the 180. Brass, well its just not lapua
Cons on 30/06, not a laser, but we are dialing for shots over 290 or so anyway? or at least I do, Does not give up a ton of windage though. Maybe not a con but don't mind a 25-26 barrel, not sure where that puts me at velocity)
Have not found a good "tweener", again, just going off nosler load data, but the 30/06 with 180's is averaging 2700, the 300wm is at 3000. Where is the 180 at 2850??
While not a deal breaker, my smith has a .336 reamer for the 300wm, gives me the chance to clean necks, they only have a .340 for the 30/06. Not saying I can't buy a reamer, but again, is some extra cost and another variable.
On the tweeners, looking at the 30/06 improved. I reload 100% of my ammo, so that's not an issue but have to give some barrel life to fire forming. And smith does not have reamer so buying one to go this route, and have not looked into dies....
My seasons are closed, already looking to next year! love to get some thoughts, a kind of, what would you do opinions. Have some time issues, need to give a bolt face to builder to get things going
On a side note, whats the thoughts on a 11 twist? Shooting 180-200 grainers? The 12 gets the vote from the bullet makers, but Remington standard twist is 10, assuming because they also want fellas to be able to shoot 165 on 150's too.
All thoughts, opinions welcome!
