Help build a rifle for Hunting/Varmints

[ArkieDave]

My first post after over a year of lurking!

I'm wanting to build a rifle whose main purpose is for deer but our Arkansas camp has been getting some varmint action as well. Coyotes sighted for first time last month, and occasionally a fox or bobcat taken.

I like the Stiller Predator repeater action but have several questions.

Can the new Remington Detachable Box Magazine be fitted with this action in aftermarket stocks or would a regular floorplate be much less hassle and expense?

I'm open to chamberings from 6.5mm to .30cal favoring 7mm's but haven't settled on anything. Longest possible shot is around 400yds along powerline with most being around 250. It would be nice to try and harvest a doe or varmint at 400 yds for bragging rights.

I'd like the twist to be biased towards the heavier hunting bullets. The cartridge would need to have enough energy at 400yds for deer with a hunting weight bullet.

Is a muzzle brake a must or could I save that expense? I'm concerned about muzzle blast.

Would I need a regular or angled scope bases?

Any help with my dream gun/wish list appreciated.

Dave

 

[Forum Boss]

Dave,

Glad you've decided to post. I'm sure you'll get lots of different suggestions. It seems to me your needs would be well-served with a 6.5x47 or a 6.5x55. The latter, however would require a long action if you want to use the heavy bullets.

For varmints you could shoot the very accurate 100gr Sierra Varmint bullet. For deer, there are many choices, but I'd look at the new 6.5mm 130gr Spitzer AccuBond® Part #56902. A 6.5x55 would be able to run that at 2950.

For shots out to 400 yards you should not need an angled scope base, but if you use Burris Signature Rings,double-dovetail or Weaver style), you can easily add elevation in the future if you decide to try longer distances.

The muzzle brake will reduce recoil, but make the rifle louder. I would consider it if you plan to do a lot of varminting and want to see your hits.

 

[Trigger]

I have a Predator on a 30 BR. The gun was built by Jerry Stiller for cast bullet shooting. I love the Predator, you cannot
go wrong with one.

 

[M700]

Four hundred yards at deer... Nice...

Whitetail I'd guess. How heavy do they get? You don't need a super duper blaster magnum to kill deer, not even at 400 yards. Although I've played with a lot of cartridges over the years, I generally use a .308, a 7mm Rem mag or a .25-06... Have taken varmints, predators, deer, and larger with those three. No problems.

None will require a sloped/angled scope base. A flat base on my .308 gets me to 600 yards no problem.

Am thinking that since you like the 7's, a 7mm-08 might be close to perfection. Mild cartridge, easy to load, easy to shoot, accurate as all get out and very effective on medium game. If not that one, then maybe the .260 Rem,6.5-.308) or one of the other fine deer-rifle cartridges. No reason one of the .30-06 based cartridges,.25-06, .270 Win, .280 Rem) wouldn't work either...

No need for a muzzle brake. My .300 RUM didn't have one and I shot it just fine. Various .300 mag & 7mm Rem mags over the years have never had brakes on them either. They're just obnoxious, not necessary.

Varmints? I've had a blast shooting 'em with light 110 & 125 gr bullets from my .308 Win. Also, a deer bullet will do a fine job on a coyote. You weren't going to save the skin were you?

After four decades of hunting, I've found it's where you hit 'em, not what you hit 'em with, that really counts. Regards, Guy

 

[Austin]

A 6.5x57,7x57,30-06 in long actions and 260,7mm08,308 in a short.A 284win isnt bad.Any short mags will work.Or a 6.5-284 will do it all.

 

[ArkieDave]

Before lurking here I was partial to the .280 Rem maybe even AI.

But all the talk about the 6.5-284 has me curious. I have decided against some thunderboomer magnum though.

Don't hear anyone talking about hunting with the 6.5/284 though.

I like the wide selection of hunting and varmint bullets offered in 7mm and am concerned about availability of 284 brass in the future.

At least one can always make 280 from 30-06 brass.

Dave

 

[Forum Boss]

A straight .284 with Winchester brass would be a good hunting choice with a wide selection of bullets. You might get a little more accuracy necking up Lapua brass, but I don't think the extra cost would be worth the marginal benefits.

I still think a 6.5x55 would do the job and you would have a wide choice of excellent brass and very high-quality hunting ammunition. This is a well-established cartridge.

Likewise, nothing wrong with a 7mm-08 or .308 for deer out to 400 yards, I just think if the rifle is going to do double duty as a varminter, I'd stick to a 6.5mm for less recoil and lower weight bullets.

 

[tightneck]

As I get older, I get more averse to recoil, and for the type of use you are describing, you don't need a heavy recoiler. If you really don't feel you will ever try your hand at larger game with the rifle, I think the 6mmAI would be an excellent choice. A 6.5x55 or 57 would be good low recoilers also. If you think one day you may take the rifle out for an elk hunt, then the 280AI would be an great cartridge for that and recoil is still not that bad.

 

[okie]

I have four hunting 6.5-284's they work fine,no better than a 308 or a 7mm-08 or a 25-06 or a .270 I'd lean towards a bigger bore, if you hunt enough you'll pull a shot, miss judge the wind or distance and shoot one too far back. just my two cents: a .30 cal gut shot deer is easier to find than a .25 cal gut shot deer. I know you should not shoot them there!!! but it will eventually occur, and like i said my opinion only. I've had to take my dads hounds to look for more deer shot with "smaller" cartridges than the "bigger" ones USE ENOUGH GUN.

 

[Preacher]

Why no mention of the Remington 7mm SAUM ?
My factory rifle shoots so good I have a Bartlien barrel ordered for my 3 lug BAT, and a Improved reamer just waiting.
The new bolt should be here in a few more weeks........

 

[ArkieDave]

I seriously considered purchasing a Ruger in 7mm SAUM but have read that it's lost the popularity contest with the WSM's and availability of brass might become a problem. I guess I could just purchase enough brass to shoot out the barrel and rechamber for something different down the road.

One buddy mentioned a positive aspect of the SAUM. That was no one at camp will be borrowing your ammunition.