Caliber Suggestions?

[bucksnort]

Gents,

I'm looking for suggestions with regard to benchrest calibers. Long ago, when I considered 'benchrest' shooting, the .222 and then the .22-250 were the HOT calibers. Now, after reading some of the posts on this forum, I see that the 6MM might be the way to go,?). I've also seen the Savage, 6.5 x 284 Lapua being commercially available. Does it shoot? I'd prefer not to get into a fully custom rifle for now. I'd just like to know what some thoughts are.
Thanks, Ed

 

[FBecigneul]

Buck. The answer to your question is best answered knowing where you live and what type of benchrest is prevalent in that area. There are two basic forms of benchrest: score and group. The widest used caliber in group benchrest is 6mmPPC. There are a few who shoot the parent cartridge for the 6mmPPC, .220Russian and some shoot.22PPC shortened. The widest used caliber in score benchrest is the .30BR, which is most often formed by expanding the neck of a Lapua 6BR Norma out to .30 caliber. There are a few who bring their group shooting rifle with the 6mmPPC barrel on it and they hold their own.
Yikes, as I shoot 100 and 200 yard matches, I answered for those distances.

 

[bucksnort]

FB,
I'm located in SW Washington. The range I shoot at has a 100, 200 & 300 yard line. I'm looking for a caliber/rifle suggestion that is VERY accurate, and economical to shoot. Sounds like I might be answering my own question??
Thanks again, ED

 

[cliffe]

savage is making a 6mmbr factory rifle now,i don't know what it is called, maybe take a look at one at savage arms. cliffe

 

[nonliberal]

I would say for 100-300yards your best bet would be a PPC or BR with a caliber of 22,6mm, or 30cal.

The 6.5-284 that Savage makes does shoot but for what your wanting I wouldnt go that route. It eats barrels pretty fast, burns more powder than needed for the 300 range, recoils more than needed for the same reason. The 6.5mm bullets cost a bit more and have limited choices.

For most of the reasons I said I wouldnt use it for your needs it is a great long range caliber 600-1200 yards. Shoots high BC bullets pretty fast.

Like cliffe said, Savage makes a LRPV in 6br that would fit your needs very well.
http://www.savagearms.com/12PrecVarm.htm

 

[Ben31]

I am not a competative shooter yet. I don't even have a gun anymore, but I would like to purchase one I could use for some long range compatitions as well as some hunting trips with my brother. I know that the 308 has been a long range round for a long time, but could I find something I would like "all around" better? Maybe a flatter shooter, or something that recoils less? I would like to be able to spot my own bullets down range, but don't want to lug around beast of a gun... that said I do want a target rifle though. What should I consider/buy?

P.S. I can handle recoil - ex. 378 weatherby 416 rem. but I want something for accuracy's sake... would be nice to see the target when you pull the trigger!

 

[Forum Boss]

You can find a reasonably good used PPC rifle with a custom action for, typically, $1500-$2000 without scope.

But I assume that's more than you want to spend.

For simplicity, you might consider buying an older Bench gun with a trued Rem action. You can sometimes find these for well under $1000. Then get a .22 barrel chambered in 220 Russian. I've shot the 220 Russian, with a no-turn neck, in a tunnel in Texas and it produced groups in the zeros and ones.

This unmodified 220 Russian cartridge can be very competitive and you don't have to mess around with fire-forming and custom dies. Recoil is minimal.

To save money, you could probably even get a used 22 caliber Benchrest barrel and have it set back.